The following morning, 9:00 AM. Itogami Island International Airport.
"Hey, Bokue—Mom's arriving soon. What should we do?"
Within the crowded terminal hall, external skies displayed gloomy overcast conditions—seemingly mirroring La Folia's current emotional state. She occupied public bench seating while voicing worried concerns toward the adjacent young man.
"What do you mean, 'what should we do'?"
Bokue reclined against the backrest, head tilted upward. One hand gripped fresh-pressed sugarcane juice purchased from the terminal convenience store. Hearing the silver-haired princess's voice triggered slight head rotation, his tone carrying genuine confusion.
"Is your mother some terrifying individual?"
"Not particularly..."
La Folia bit her lip, voice reducing to volumes audible only among their trio.
"Mother is genuinely gentle. Except yesterday evening while bathing, Nagisa-san mentioned—remember? That afternoon, Mother called my phone. Except we were... engaged at that precise moment. Plus Mother overheard our sounds..."
"Mm..."
Bokue contemplated briefly before attempting vocalization. However, Sayaka—positioned on his opposite side, manifesting inherent lady knight attributes—blinked while interrupting.
"Eh? Nagisa-chan mentioned that? This happened? I possess zero recollection."
"Because by then, you'd already lost consciousness."
Bokue stated this bluntly without ceremony.
This triggered momentary freezing from Sayaka.
"Eh? I lost consciousness... ugh!"
Following brief stunned duration, the War Dancer rapidly processed implications—recalling yesterday evening's bathroom events. Powerful embarrassment followed immediately.
Her expression radiated flustered indignation as she glared fiercely at the adjacent young man.
"Mind your own business! Are you mocking me? Besides, that wasn't my fault. You're the one who insisted on teasing me like that. Including Lady La Folia's current situation—frankly, you caused it. Honestly, does your brain contain nothing beyond those activities..."
"So you're suggesting I should demonstrate more seriousness going forward?"
Bokue shot her a sideways glance.
"I... I didn't say that exactly..."
Sayaka turned her face slightly aside, arms crossing before her chest—cheeks flushing with tsundere humming.
"After all, you maintain this behavior daily. Suddenly demanding complete seriousness would probably create problems. Plus, physical conditions reflect onto mental states. Eventually, if genuinely suppressed, you might go completely berserk—secretly venting on Yukina excessively until breaking her completely."
Bokue: "..."
Extremely difficult determining what image exists within the War Dancer's mind. Despite relationship establishment duration, she still mentally constructs such scenarios—even dragging Yukina into them.
How to phrase this... Aren't you two childhood friends who grew up together? Why do Yukina's outcomes in your mental narratives consistently resemble corrupted protagonists from extreme doujinshi?!
Though simultaneously—that blonde antagonist role perpetually starred himself regardless.
"Regardless, I'm repeating myself: future Yukina mistreatment is absolutely forbidden! Understood?!"
Sayaka delivered low-voiced threats with fierce intensity.
"Or if you genuinely cannot restrain desires for extremely excessive activities, then you you you you... come to me instead! I'm several years older than Yukina at minimum. I can withstand your roughness..."
"Ara ara~ As I mentioned."
Hearing this, La Folia's smile carried pointed implications.
"Sayaka-san genuinely possesses lady knight aptitude. Correct?"
"I suspect she—like Yukina—equally lacks comprehension of your reference..."
Suddenly, external airport zones transmitted large aerial vehicle landing sounds. While speaking, Bokue reflexively redirected his gaze toward the terminal's massive panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows—observing the tarmac beyond.
His eyebrow raised noticeably.
"Speaking of which—is that airship your mother's current transportation..."
He raised one hand, gesturing approximate directions toward external tarmac areas.
"Hm?"
The silver-haired princess followed indicated trajectories.
Across the terminal exterior—amid various flight numbers' scheduled takeoffs and landings—one dramatically-distinct futuristic combat airship descended gradually from overhead skies.
How to describe it... The immediate association resembled Avengers: Age of Ultron's S.H.I.E.L.D. massive vessel. Something called Helicarrier or similar...
Though currently appearing above Itogami Island's airport—this vessel wasn't movie-scale enormous. Approximately proportionally reduced to standard large passenger aircraft dimensions. Currently, all exhaust ports had rotated uniformly downward, expelling fierce flames during gradual descent. The entirely silver-gray hull displayed Rihavein royal emblems prominently.
Distantly, airport tugboats towed mobile boarding bridges toward the airship's landing coordinates.
"Y-yes."
The silver-haired princess—still uncertain how confronting her mother—nodded with slight rigidity.
"Understood. We should proceed toward reception preparations."
Bokue drained his beverage completely before casually discarding the empty container into nearby waste receptacles. He rose from public seating.
Two minutes later, the trio reached boarding gates. Simultaneously, the previously-landed Aldegian royal transport had completed airport passage docking. One stunning silhouette emerged gracefully.
A young beautiful woman possessing silver hair matching La Folia's styling wore ceremonial dress. Around her neck hung a golden necklace inset with rubies. Despite having a high-school-aged daughter, her appearance remained exceptionally youthful—time had carved zero traces across her features.
Without the lipstick adding mature married-woman charm, she could pass completely as an adult-sized Kanon Kanase.
She approached their trio before tilting her face upward with gentle smile.
"Long time no separation, my adorable La Folia-chan. I'd intended asking about your Itogami Island adaptation progress. However, judging from yesterday's phone call sounds, you're apparently experiencing considerable 'happiness.'"
"Mo-Mother!"
La Folia naturally comprehended her mother's "happiness" reference specifics. Her cheeks flushed crimson instantaneously.
Then Polyphonia redirected toward Sayaka, maintaining radiant smiles while bowing slightly.
"Lady Kirasaka, thank you sincerely for serving as my daughter La Folia's guardian throughout this duration. Your dedication is genuinely appreciated."
"N-no, this is nothing..."
Being thanked by queen-class individuals triggered rapid hand-waving from the flustered War Dancer.
Finally, Polyphonia's gaze settled upon Bokue—occupying central positioning. The instant her sight contacted the young man's features, imperceptible brilliance flashed through her eyes.
"And this handsome young gentleman must be... hehe, just teasing! No guessing required. Previously, La Folia transmitted photographs of you both. First meeting—please treat me favorably, Bokue-kun~"
"Just 'Bokue' suffices."
Bokue stated simply.
Suddenly, Sayaka interjected conversationally. She tilted her head, peering into the passage interior.
"Speaking of which... Your Majesty Polyphonia, where are your escorts? Still collecting luggage?"
Quite peculiar. Normally, such circumstances demanded bodyguards establishing secure perimeters before principals emerged.
Surely she didn't travel without protection?
No... logically impossible. National queens traveling abroad—regardless of local security quality—require four or five personal bodyguards minimum for contingencies.
The War Dancer maintained this assessment.
However, Polyphonia simply shook her head with gentle smile.
"No escorts whatsoever. This visit involves only myself alone."
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