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However, in the end, Nagisa wasn't able to reach her goal.
It wasn't because of any other reason; it was simply... because they ran out of time.
Although theoretically, based on their average pace of fifty-seven times in five hours, just twenty more rounds should have only taken about two hours at most. Starting at 5 PM would mean finishing by 7 PM.
But the actual situation was different.
Considering they still needed to finish preparing dinner, eat, and then shower before leaving the house—and particularly since Bokue couldn't move around while helping cook dinner, lest Nagisa get distracted and accidentally cut herself—the efficiency of these two hours wasn't nearly as high as the previous five-hour marathon.
Thus, when they'd just finished the seventeenth peak inside the bathroom, the doorbell suddenly rang from outside.
"Hm… I think I just heard something, Big Brother. Did you hear it too? Was it the doorbell?"
In the bathtub, Nagisa, who'd just descended from yet another peak, slowly calmed her breathing, uncertainly pricking up her ears to listen carefully.
But that sound didn't come again.
Bokue, however, had heard it quite clearly.
Although Nagisa had been quite loud earlier, hearing others shouting was quite different from hearing yourself shout, so he clearly distinguished the doorbell ringing amidst everything else.
"Yeah, it seems so. What time did you and Yukina agree on?"
"Uh… we decided to leave around seven o'clock."
Nagisa counted quickly on her fingers.
They'd finished dinner around half-past six, and after spending so much additional time here in the bath, it was indeed almost seven already.
"Oh no, Yukina-chan must've come because it's nearly time! What do we do??"
Realizing her close friend was waiting just outside the door while she herself was busy doing such things inside, Nagisa—who had never lived in a dormitory—suddenly felt the embarrassment of being asked by her bunkmate why the bed was creaking suspiciously late at night.
Thankfully, she'd just finished a round and thus wasn't stuck in that frustrating situation of being halfway up the mountain and having to suddenly stop.
But the main issue remained:
Yukina was right outside, and they hadn't even finished washing up. Even after they got out, they would still need time to dry their hair and get dressed—going out directly with wet hair would certainly be a dead giveaway…
"You stay here and finish bathing. I'll go open the door."
Just as Nagisa was deep in her dilemma, Bokue suddenly spoke, lifting her gently off himself and placing her carefully at the opposite end of the tub. Immediately after, he gripped both edges of the bathtub and rose from the water in one smooth motion.
As soon as his feet left the water, golden spiritual flames ignited, instantly evaporating every droplet of water clinging to him—completely skipping the usual drying and hair-drying process.
In just a moment, Bokue swiftly dressed himself with the clothes previously left near the sink, opened the bathroom door, and slipped out into the hallway.
His actions were extremely swift and efficient, taking less than ten seconds in total. By the time Nagisa came to her senses, she found herself alone in the bathroom.
The vibrant crimson color gradually faded from her eyes, returning to their normal soft wine-red shade.
She glanced down quietly at the large bathtub beneath her, which was far too spacious for her petite body, her fingertips lightly skimming the rippling water.
"Hmm… it's already getting a bit chilly. Big Brother's warmth really feels so much better, huh…"
Meanwhile, out in the living room, Bokue quickly reached the front door. As he pressed the handle down and pulled it open, Yukina Himeragi's slightly hesitant figure appeared clearly in his sight.
Realizing the door had opened, Yukina immediately raised her head, surprise evident in her eyes as they met Bokue's gaze.
"Eh? Bokue-senpai? Why… are you at Nagisa's home again?"
"Is there a problem?"
Bokue shrugged innocently.
"Wasn't it the same yesterday? You were sleeping next door at your own place, and I stayed over at Nagisa's. And aren't you supposed to be the 'observer for the Fourth Primogenitor'? Should you really be asking me that?"
"I…"
Yukina hesitated for a moment, clearly unsure how to respond.
"Right, um, where's Nagisa? We agreed to go shopping together tonight, and just now, when I rang the doorbell, I thought I heard her voice from inside. It seemed like she was shouting something…?"
"Oh, Nagisa's still taking a bath."
Bokue paused slightly.
"As for the shouting you heard earlier—it was probably just her singing loudly while bathing."
Singing...?
Yukina blinked again, somewhat puzzled. She hadn't realized Nagisa had a habit of singing in the bath, but then again, everyone had their own quirks, didn't they?
At that very moment, the bathroom door burst open, and Nagisa hurriedly stepped out, wearing clean clothes but with her hair still damp. A towel was casually draped around her neck as she quickly trotted toward the front door, waving energetically at them.
"Sorry, sorry! I was still in the bath, so I couldn't open the door right away, Yukina-chan. Um, what were you two talking about just now?"
"Oh, nothing much."
Seeing her friend appear so hurriedly, Yukina offered a gentle, reassuring smile.
"Bokue-senpai just opened the door for me and explained that the sounds I heard were just you singing in the bathroom."
"S-singing…?"
Nagisa froze slightly, her smile suddenly stiffening.
She hadn't sung anything in the bathroom at all! If Yukina-chan had indeed heard something… that could only mean…
Instantly, her heartbeat quickened, her face flushed bright red, and she gently balled up her small fist, softly pounding it against Bokue's shoulder in embarrassment.
"Mou, Big Brother! You didn't have to tell Yukina-chan about that sort of thing!"
He could've just said Yukina-chan misheard it! What if Yukina-chan later realized the singing didn't sound right, thought about it carefully, and then discovered the truth!?
Big Brother… you meanie!
"Alright then, since you two are both ready to head out shopping, I won't tag along this time. See you later."
With a faint snap of his fingers, Bokue vanished on the spot before even finishing his sentence.
"Eh? Where are you going…?"
Yukina's words abruptly trailed off into silence.
Fortunately, Nagisa quickly filled in the pause.
"Big Brother said he had plans tonight to see Asagi-senpai. He'll probably also be heading downtown later. Maybe we'll even run into him there!"
"Asagi… Ah, I see."
In Yukina's mind instantly flashed the image of a certain blonde high school girl.
So it was her.
Yet she didn't notice Nagisa quietly placing a hand upon her belly, which seemed slightly swollen—ostensibly from eating too much at dinner.
The True Ancestor girl gently licked her lips, a charming smile completely out of character for her innocent demeanor quietly curving the corners of her mouth upwards.
"I suppose those missing three rounds… will just have to wait until next time~"
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