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Thus, Xenovia and Irina's enrollment plans for the next semester were settled.
Meanwhile, as spring gave way to summer and the weather gradually grew hotter, the eagerly-awaited summer vacation finally arrived.
"Everyone worked hard this semester. Starting today, enjoy your two-month summer vacation! Students, see you in September~!"
On the day the final exam scores were released, after distributing the class results, the homeroom teacher stepped onto the podium and swiftly concluded with a short, crisp farewell before directly announcing the end of school.
Then, grabbing her already-packed bag without looking back, she strode out of the classroom swiftly.
Clearly, she was looking forward to the annual long vacation even more than her students.
As soon as the homeroom teacher left, summer vacation officially began.
The classroom immediately bustled with excitement. Some students had already prepared to leave as soon as their scores were handed out, hurriedly slinging backpacks over their shoulders and calling their close friends to discuss which arcade to visit later.
Asia carefully put away her stationery, then turned joyfully to Bokue seated beside her.
"Summer vacation has finally started, Bokue-san!"
"Yeah."
Bokue leaned back leisurely in his chair, gazing out the window. Compared to Asia, he wasn't nearly as enthusiastic about the concept of summer vacation.
The reason was simple.
As a former Saint of the Church, Asia's daily tasks hadn't been that heavy. Aside from daily prayers and occasional demonstrations of her miraculous healing powers to attract believers, her previous life had been leisurely compared to the heavy schedule of morning and afternoon classes in school.
Additionally, having hardly attended any formal education before, Asia naturally found herself struggling a bit with the high-school curriculum.
Fortunately, grades weren't particularly important for her right now—otherwise, she'd probably have to hire a tutor.
But now that summer vacation had finally arrived, she could completely set aside those difficult textbooks and thoroughly enjoy her free time.
Of course, most importantly, they'd already agreed earlier to spend their summer vacation in the Underworld.
Thus, she'd get to spend every single day with Bokue-san—hehe…
Thinking of these next two months of happiness, the blonde-haired nun couldn't help smiling dreamily.
"However, you'll probably have to head to the Underworld first without me. I might need a few days before I can go."
Bokue retracted his gaze from the window, turning back toward Asia.
Asia snapped back from her pleasant fantasies and blinked in confusion.
"A few days? Bokue-san, do you have other plans?"
"Sort of."
Bokue stopped playing with the pencil in his hand, sighing lightly as he leaned further back in his chair.
"Because of something with the Jujutsu Association, there was originally an event scheduled during the summer break. Honestly, I'm too lazy to get involved, but I have to go back home first to let them know I'll be absent. Otherwise…it'll become really troublesome, especially if they consider it as me ditching the event—my little sister will never let me hear the end of it. Besides, I've been away from home for so long, so it's about time I went back to visit."
"I see."
"So, Asia, please let Rias and the others know once you're back at the old school building. I'll leave right away, and I'll meet up with you guys in the Underworld later."
"Yes! Got it, Bokue-san."
❁❁❁❁
The scene shifted to the Keikain household.
As Bokue opened the front door and stepped inside, he found Kuroka sprawled lazily on the sofa, swiping idly on a tablet.
Hearing the noise at the entrance, the cat-eared girl instantly tossed the tablet aside. Twisting her body around 180 degrees, she leaned over the sofa's armrest, peeking toward the entrance before gracefully flipping off the sofa and hopping lightly towards the doorway.
"Ara~ Why's Bokue home so early today? Did you finally decide to quit that annoying school and dedicate yourself entirely to staying home and making lots of little Kurokas with your Onee-san~?"
"What nonsense are you saying…"
After changing his shoes, Bokue stepped into the living room and gently flicked Kuroka's forehead as he passed by.
"Didn't I mention yesterday I'd only be out in the morning to collect exam results, so I'd be home by noon? You forgot already?"
"Eh? Did you? When was that?"
"Last night, after eleven o'clock, when I was helping you wash up."
"Umm…At that point, my head wasn't exactly clear anymore, you know~? I'd just had a stomach full of that stuff from Bokue. Who had the energy to remember something like that?"
Towards the end, the cat-girl's voice took on a clearly proud tone—though it was unclear exactly what she was so proud about.
"Alright, enough of that~ more importantly, Bokue, didn't you say you went to collect your exam results this morning? Hurry up and hand them over for Onee-san to inspect. Let me warn you first—if you scored badly, there's a reward. But if you scored well, there's a punishment~!"
"You actually care about that?"
Bokue lightly caught hold of Kuroka's mischievous hand.
"Also, shouldn't it normally be rewards for good scores and punishments for bad ones? Kuroka, what's with this weird reward-and-punishment system of yours?"
"Well, I haven't finished explaining yet~"
Kuroka smirked meaningfully.
"Onee-san's reward-and-punishment system is simple. The number of points Bokue's grades fall short of a perfect score…is exactly how many times we'll do it tonight~!"
"…Exactly who is this reward-and-punishment system intended for?"
Bokue twitched the corner of his mouth.
Besides, if they were to really "do it" as many times as the difference from a perfect score, he wasn't exactly sure whether it was a reward or a punishment.
Wouldn't it outright kill a certain cat?
"Okay, I'm going to pack my things a bit. I'll head to Kyoto this afternoon."
"Eh? Kyoto? Why?"
Kuroka tilted her head, curious cat ears twitching slightly.
Bokue stopped walking, making a telephone gesture with his hand.
"Didn't my little sister call me some mornings ago to participate in that social event with the Jujutsu Association? I'm too lazy for it, plus it's summer vacation now, so I'll just head home to report that I'll be skipping it. And also…"
At this point, Bokue paused slightly, seemingly recalling something from the past.
Kuroka adorably tilted her head even further.
"And also?"
"Ah, never mind. I'll go pack my stuff first. Someone might be arriving shortly, so remember to open the door for me."
Bokue waved his hand dismissively, turning around and entering his room, leaving Kuroka standing alone, head tilted cutely, twin cat-tails swishing curiously behind her.
Hmm… Why did it feel like Bokue was hiding something from her?
Ding-dong—!
At that moment, a clear, melodious doorbell echoed from the entrance, snapping the cat-girl out of her musings.
Kuroka turned to look at the door, ears twitching slightly as she slowly formed a questioning expression.
Just now… Was that the doorbell?
How incredibly rare. Usually, no one ever came to ring the doorbell directly. Even deliveries were always placed in the lobby's package locker instead of brought to the door.
Who could it be?
Adjusting her kimono, Kuroka went to the door and slowly opened it.
Outside stood two girls dressed in Kuoh Academy uniforms—one with short blue hair, the other sporting orange twin tails.
The six eyes met in silence for a moment.
Suddenly, realization dawned on Irina, and she gasped, pointing dramatically at Kuroka.
"Ah! It's the vixen from Bokue's message last time!"
"Who's a vixen?! I'm his childhood sweetheart!"
Kuroka instantly bristled.
"And I'm clearly a cat! What's this nonsense about a fox?!"
"Don't talk nonsense! I'm obviously the childhood sweetheart here!"
Seeing the entrance about to erupt into full-blown war, Bokue, who had just entered his room moments ago, poked his head back out and looked toward the front door, waving calmly.
"Irina, Xenovia, you're here? Come inside and have a seat. I'm just about done packing."
"…Mm."
"Hmph!"
"Sorry for intruding…"
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