"W-what are you going to do?"
"Nothing much—just checking how you're developing… your heartbeat's pretty normal."
"Mm…"
In Shichen's room, the soft rustle of fabric was maddeningly distracting. Avrora, like a little lamb being coaxed along, curled in his arms with a scarlet face, letting him "bully" her.
Her nightgown wouldn't stay on and slipped to the floor; her head felt hazy, and her heartbeat only sped up.
Shichen, the big bad wolf to her little lamb, flexed his fingers as he felt the changes in her pulse—even as he "collected the protection fee," sampling the little lamb.
To be safe, he had laid a barrier and damped all spatial fluctuations; unless someone physically came to his door, no one could tell what he and Avrora were doing.
At this hour, no one was likely to come anyway.
The little lamb was tense and frightened and didn't dare resist—this was far beyond the usual "fee" she was used to paying.
He practically tasted his way across her upper body.
The sensation was strange, the flutter it stirred in her heart far stronger than what the normal "protection fee" ever caused—
it made her feel unlike herself.
Fortunately, Shichen didn't go too far. He stopped after a light taste, then simply held her and went to sleep.
Going step by step mattered. He could feel Avrora's tension and fear; this time was only to give her a little mental preparation.
Next time—or the time after—she wouldn't be so afraid.
Avrora did feel warmly "looked after" by Shichen. She'd thought he would keep going, but he surprised her by holding back.
In his arms she felt warm in body and heart alike. She could tell that Shichen truly cared about her.
Curled against him, she could see only his chin when she looked up—but that was safety enough. As drowsiness washed over her, she nestled against his chest and quickly drifted off.
...
On the last day of October, the weather was still muggy; a morning walk was enough to sap your energy.
But that was only for a few—most people were buzzing.
The city's unique Bahrain Festival had arrived—Itogami's Halloween-like celebration.
Costumed parades filled the streets; humans and demon-kind alike reveled in the holiday.
There were stage performances everywhere—schools included.
It was exactly the kind of day students loved—perhaps because any day that wasn't a class day was a favorite.
Everyone was in high spirits; even sweating faces didn't show a hint of irritability.
Saikai Academy canceled classes that day, and Shichen accompanied Avrora and the others around the school's events.
It felt a lot like a culture festival.
There wasn't much to see in the junior-high division; the high-school division was more fun. Aside from teacher Minamiya Natsuki, Shichen had one other acquaintance there.
"Koyomi, thanks for showing us around the high-school wing," Shichen said to Hiina Koyomi, who kept a little distance from him.
Hiina Koyomi was a glasses-wearing girl with plain twin braids—unremarkable at first glance.
Look closer, though, and her features were quite cute—just cool and aloof.
Facing Shichen, she couldn't not be cold; after all, he had smacked her bottom twice in public.
The sting of that heat still burned in her memory.
Hiina Koyomi was, of course, Shizuka Koyomi—one of the Lion King Organization's Three Saints, inheritor of the previous "Shizuka Koyomi" title and rank—one of Japan's strongest magus-enforcers.
Ordinary people had no idea; to them she was just a second-year in Saikai Academy's high-school division.
"It's nothing," Shizuka Koyomi replied flatly, not even looking at him.
She'd never imagined he'd have the gall to ask her to lead the way. Was that a vampire's thick skin?
He wasn't even afraid of retaliation… well, fine—he had no reason to be.
She'd planned to avoid him forever—what if he spanked her again?
Who knew what quirks this man had. The problem was how hard he'd hit.
What baffled her most was that the Lion King Organization had no intention of moving against this impossible "Fifth True Ancestor"—in fact, they were putting their bets on him.
Especially after they learned she'd been spanked. She didn't understand.
"Koyomi, are you really that cold to your teacher?" Shichen asked.
"...Sorry," Shizuka Koyomi murmured after a moment's hesitation.
She was afraid he'd smack her in front of everyone. If that happened, she'd have no face left to show at school.
"That's better. It's not like we're enemies." Shichen smiled.
"..." Lips pressed together, Shizuka Koyomi said nothing. In her heart, how could they not be enemies?
"Sensei, how do you know Shizuka-senpai?" Aiba Asagi, who'd been trailing them, couldn't help asking at last.
"As a teacher, isn't it normal for me to know students?" Shichen said.
"But… have you actually met Shizuka-senpai before?"
Unlike Avrora—who was happily preoccupied with food—Asagi could tell something was off between Shichen and Shizuka Koyomi.
"I'm not with you every day. Of course you wouldn't know."
"Then… what is your relationship with Shizuka-senpai?"
"Don't worry—we have no particular relationship," Shizuka Koyomi answered first.
"Eh? Ah—oh…" Under her level gaze, Asagi felt as if her little thoughts had been laid bare and flushed, embarrassed.
"What do you mean 'no relationship'? Teacher and student is a relationship, isn't it?" Shichen said with a smile.
"Then can a teacher hit a student?"
"Eh? Sensei, you hit Shizuka-senpai?" Nagisa blurted.
"No. We were just fooling around, right?"
"Mm…" Shizuka Koyomi certainly didn't dare tell the truth.
"So that's how it was."
"Alright, let's not dwell on trivialities. There's still lots to see in the high-school wing."
"Okay!"
With Shizuka Koyomi leading, they didn't miss a single fun class or delicious food stand.
They didn't even need lunch.
Even so, a whole morning of wandering was tiring—especially for Kojou and Yaze Motoki, who had already started complaining.
Funny—those two could play basketball all day without a peep.
Shichen told them to rest there while he went with Shizuka Koyomi to buy drinks.
She didn't want to go with him, but she didn't dare refuse, either.
At the vending machines, Shichen fed in coins and made selections. "Koyomi, want anything?"
"I'm fine."
"Mm?"
"Then… juice."
"Okay." He selected a juice box for her.
"..." Shizuka Koyomi watched him silently, unsure what he was getting at.
Only after paying for everything did Shichen ask, "How's Zaharias doing now?"
"…He's got six vessels already," she answered honestly.
"Six, huh? Pretty fast. And the other four?"
"They've been in this city all along."
"Is that so? Sounds like the ritual's about to begin," Shichen said, nodding.
"You…" Shizuka Koyomi hesitated.
"If you want to ask something, ask," Shichen said, handing her the juice.
After a pause, she took it and asked slowly, "Can you stop him?"
"What do you think?" Shichen shot back.
"You called yourself the Fifth True Ancestor. You can, right? And you devoured the Fourth True Ancestor's soul."
"Heh. You know quite a bit… pity that arms dealer knows nothing."
"So you…?"
"Relax. I won't let him run wild in this city. This is my city," Shichen said mildly—yet something in his tone made Shizuka Koyomi want to bend the knee.
"Your city… In that case, the city's five hundred sixty thousand people are in your hands."
"You don't have to say it… But since you do, how about some compensation?" Shichen suddenly leaned in.
"W-what are you doing?" Shizuka Koyomi took a step back until she bumped the wall, eyes darting around.
Thankfully, no one was nearby.
"What do you think I'm doing?" Shichen leaned closer, breath brushing her pale ear.
Her ears flushed immediately.
"I-I don't know…"
"Really don't?"
"You're not going to…?" She clapped both hands over her rear, spooked.
"Heh~ Of course not. Last time was because you wouldn't listen. I don't have some special kink."
"..."
"The Lion King Organization didn't give you any instructions?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Shizuka Koyomi frowned.
"Forget it. No rush," Shichen said with a shake of his head, stepping back and turning to leave.
Shizuka Koyomi exhaled in relief, then hurried after him. "What do you mean?"
"I already said it, didn't I? If this city is mine, then its 560,000 people are mine… which means—
you're mine, too."