On the rooftop of one of the tall buildings in the heart of the bustling city, Kojou stood leaning against the rusty metal railing, his half-lidded eyes carrying a look of clear boredom. The cold night breeze brushed against his skin as if mocking his wasted patience. Two whole hours had passed while he waited, without a single sign or hint of Natsuki's appearance, as though she was deliberately testing his endurance.
He lifted his head toward the sky where faint starlight scattered, pierced by the colors of neon lights rising from the city below. He exhaled slowly, his grumble escaping faintly along with the mist of his cold breath:
"You're really late, Natsuki-chan…" he muttered in a tone blending weariness with a hint of sarcastic reproach, before casting a sidelong glance.
Behind him, out of nothingness, a glowing purple magic circle took shape. The intricate lines that composed it seemed alive, pulsing as shards of violet light whirled around in a small spiral, before a brief flash illuminated the rooftop for a heartbeat, then faded, leaving only a lingering shimmer behind.
From the circle stepped Natsuki, walking calmly beside Astarte. Both were dressed in elegant yukata, as if they had just returned from a lively festival in the city.
Natsuki wore a deep black yukata embroidered with interwoven threads along the sleeves, carrying a traditional touch yet never losing the eccentric grace that defined her style. Her long black hair, usually left to flow freely, was tied this time into a simple bun, giving her a slightly more mature air, though her petite frame still made her appear like a middle school student.
Beside her, Astarte looked like a living painting of colors. She wore a light violet yukata adorned with delicate butterfly patterns, as though ready to flutter away from the fabric at any moment. Her silky blue hair was styled into a side ponytail, tied with a ribbon shaped like a butterfly, perfectly matching her attire. In her hand she carried a wooden box filled with steaming takoyaki balls, the savory aroma rising into the night breeze and filling the air with mouthwatering warmth.
"You left me waiting for two hours just so you could enjoy some festival?"
It was clear Kojou was not pleased with this treatment. Even if he was immortal and had endless time, he still had plenty of other things he would rather do than waste two hours waiting.
Wondering what those things were?
Of course—sleep or video games. He was still a teenager, after all, and needed some distraction every now and then, especially since he had been busy non-stop lately.
"Don't be like that. I just took Astarte to enjoy the festival for a bit," Natsuki said.
Her words aside, the satisfied expression on her face at seeing Kojou's irritation revealed the truth—she had done it to punish him for his constant cheekiness toward her. And judging from her delight, her plan had worked perfectly.
"I see. In that case, I guess I've got no choice," Kojou muttered. Though he didn't completely buy her excuse, he decided to let it go after seeing Astarte's face glowing with joy.
"So, did you enjoy the festival, Astarte?"
"Accept," she replied without hesitation, picking up one of the takoyaki balls with a toothpick and holding it out toward Kojou. Her intention was obvious.
Kojou froze for a moment, staring at the steaming round ball she extended toward him. She wasn't simply offering it—she held the skewer right in front of his lips, as though waiting for him to open his mouth like a child being fed for the first time.
His eyebrow arched in surprise before he let out a faint sigh, his expression half-embarrassed, half-resigned. Finally, he leaned forward and bit into the takoyaki from her hand.
The hot, savory flavor burst across his tongue instantly, almost mocking his earlier frustration. He shut his eyes for a moment, trying to maintain his usual composure, but a small twitch at the corner of his lips betrayed the enjoyment he felt.
Noticing this, Natsuki crossed her arms and smirked mischievously.
"Hah? Even the Fourth Primogenitor gets fed like a spoiled kid now? Looks like even you can't resist Astarte's innocent little charm."
"No comment." Kojou shrugged lightly, savoring the takoyaki until the last bite before turning his gaze back to Natsuki. "If you didn't plan on inviting me to the festival yourself, then why exactly did you call me here?"
Natsuki fell silent for a few seconds, her sly smile never leaving her lips. The cold wind tugged at her tied black hair, and the moonlight glimmered in her blue eyes, giving her an enigmatic, unreadable presence.
She lifted her folding black fan and waved it lightly before speaking in her usual teasing, yet calm voice:
"Oh~ Were you really expecting something romantic? Sorry to disappoint you, but you're not exactly in a position to be choosing dates, Kojou-kun."
She stepped forward, closing the distance between them. The air around the magic circle she had appeared from moments earlier was still tinged with remnants of violet energy, stubbornly refusing to vanish.
"I called you for a completely different reason," she continued, her tone turning more serious beneath the playful edge. "There's something that requires your help… or rather, your presence as the Fourth Primogenitor is absolutely necessary."
Kojou tilted his head slightly, half his face shrouded in shadow as he regarded her warily.
"Something dangerous? Don't tell me it's got anything to do with those stupid birds that keep wrecking buildings lately."
As he spoke, two golden lights appeared in the distant sky, intertwining and parting again as they moved closer to their location.
Astarte cut in quietly but firmly, still holding the wooden box in one hand while pulling out her phone with the other.
"It's time for the fireworks."
She tapped her phone, and almost immediately fireworks shot into the sky on the eastern side of the island.
"Oh~ Looks like you really thought this distraction through," Kojou said, his voice dripping with false admiration and biting sarcasm. Clearly, Gigafloat Management Corporation had approved Natsuki's request to have him deal with the annoying pigeons, but it was also obvious they wanted to avoid more news linking Kojou to incidents that tarnished their reputation. After all, the church incident, along with Vatler and Gardos, had been enough to give them headaches for quite some time.
"Don't be so sarcastic. I'm the one asking for your help, not them."
"I know. That's the only reason I haven't walked away yet."
As he spoke, Kojou ignored the fireworks entirely, focusing instead on the two winged figures clashing in the sky above.
The first had the body of a young woman, indistinguishable from a human girl except for the angelic wings sprouting from her back. A strange mask covered her face, and though she wore no clothing, her entire body was wrapped in bandages like a mummy.
The other appeared in a similar state, but her short silver hair and brilliant blue eyes were strikingly familiar to Kojou.
"…Kanase," he breathed under his breath. He recognized her instantly—the silver-haired winged girl was the same one he had been with that very morning. Now, she was transformed, locked in battle with another figure in what looked like some bizarre ritual.
...
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