Rikka buried herself completely in the blanket, curling into a ball, effectively becoming an ostrich to resist Nibutani's external verbal magic attacks.
Just then, Yuta knocked on the door, breaking the silence.
"Are you dressed?"
"Yes, you can come in."
Yuta entered and immediately saw a spring roll on the sofa; he knew without looking that it must be Rikka.
"How is it?"
"She has quieted down; she might already be asleep."
Nibutani pointed to the ostrich over there. If Rikka was still shy, then pretending to be asleep to avoid communication was the best option.
Yuta approached the small spring roll, a doting smile on his face.
Rikka's adorable appearance from just now was still imprinted in his mind and hadn't left, though Rikka was always this cute anyway.
Perhaps it was precisely because of her innocent and lovely demeanor that he fell in love with her.
"Is that so... Then I'll take her back first."
Yuta's brave direct approach caught Nibutani off guard. They had originally agreed that the Totsukami family would send them home one by one, but Yuta wanted to take Rikka and leave first.
"After all... her house is just above mine."
Yuta showed a hint of shyness on his face. Nibutani realized that Yuta had probably already planned his next move.
If that was the case, then there was nothing wrong with it. Wasn't this the opportunity for the two of them to be alone naturally that she wanted to create?
Planting flowers with intention, they don't bloom; planting willows without intention, they grow into shade. A heaven-sent opportunity, how could it be missed?
Yuta stepped forward and gently pulled away the blanket wrapped around Rikka. Rikka felt the movement, tensing up and her face flushing red.
Nibutani just said she was asleep... then she was asleep! She wasn't awake yet!
Yuta reached out and helped Rikka sit up, suddenly feeling that Rikka's body was not quite right.
Unlike before, there was no soft, weak feeling; instead, she was incredibly stiff. Yuta lifted Rikka's arm, and Rikka's hand remained suspended in the air, stiffly held aloft.
Yuta understood; she was pretending.
He sighed slightly... What else could he do? Spoil her, of course.
After helping Rikka sit up, Yuta gently draped Rikka's plush coat over her to prevent her from getting cold outside. Then, with Nibutani's help, the incredibly stiff Rikka was carried onto Yuta's back.
Throughout, Rikka's body remained rigid, especially after Yuta carried her on his back. Yuta's body temperature, which he found so comforting, passed through two layers of thick clothing to her body... It was as if Yuta was hugging her tightly.
Rikka became even shyer, burying her head in Yuta's back, refusing to come out.
Carrying Rikka all the way out of the Totsukami family's house, Isshiki Makoto and Nibutani stood at the door, seeing them off... Koushou was still asleep. Totsuka had eaten more liqueur chocolates than Rikka and hadn't sobered up yet. Ikenouchi Maki had been called away by Totsuka's father, who said there were some things to discuss...
So they still needed to wait here a bit longer, at least until everyone was present.
"By the way... have you seen Wuwei?"
"Wuwei? I heard he left early."
Yuta heard this news and his mouth twitched uncontrollably. This news was a disaster for him... He knew there was still a Christmas luxury yacht event! And this guy leaving in such a hurry definitely meant no good!!!
But what could he do? He didn't object anyway...
"Then I apologize... We'll be leaving first. We'll leave the rest to you all."
Sighing slightly, Yuta supported Rikka's thighs, slung Rikka's bag over his shoulder, and walked away with Rikka on his back.
Since Rikka wanted to sleep, he would just carry her like this. Anyway, Rikka was light, and spoiling her a bit wouldn't hurt.
Moreover... he had a surprise.
Nibutani watched the departing pair, and her eyes met Rikka's, who had turned her head.
Rikka's mind had cleared up considerably. Since the two of them were leaving like this, it would take some time to get home from here...
She absolutely had to seize the opportunity, just as Nibutani had said!
This exchange of glances, which could be called an encrypted conversation, was seen by Isshiki Makoto, but he didn't understand it and was greatly shocked.
Since this couple was also starting, they should leave too. It wasn't good to keep staying at someone else's house...
Ikenouchi Maki also came out, standing excitedly beside Nibutani and the others.
Almost everyone was present. Nibutani was about to arrange for Isshiki Makoto to wake up Koushou when she felt a slight push from behind. A soft, floppy hand rested on her shoulder, and Totsuka leaned half her body against Nibutani, speaking incoherently.
"Master... Where is Master death..."
Totsuka had eaten more cake than Rikka and hadn't sobered up yet. She was still in a half-asleep, half-awake state, her head feeling dizzy.
Looking at Totsuka leaning on her, Nibutani felt a wave of helplessness.
"She's already gone back with Togashi."
This sentence touched Totsuka's raw nerve... She had been by Master's side for two years. For two years, she had always been Master's best and most loyal servant, until Dark Flame Master interfered... Master now talked constantly about Yuta, Yuta, which annoyed her.
Now, Master had been abducted by that Dark Flame Master! Her most important Master was gone, boo hoo hoo...
With the thought of bringing Master back, Totsuka was about to chase after the two who had already walked far away, but Nibutani stopped her in time.
Totsuka hadn't changed her clothes yet; she was still wearing that off-the-shoulder Christmas evening gown. It was so cold outside; she couldn't be allowed to catch a cold.
Nibutani merely placed her hand on Totsuka's shoulder, and that stopped Totsuka's movement. Somehow, Totsuka just didn't want to resist, even if she kept saying she didn't care, she didn't take another step forward.
Instead, it was Nibutani's helpless and seemingly perfunctory attitude that made her feel doubly irritated and helpless.
"What do you mean death..."
"Huh?"
"Lately, you've always been perfunctory with me death... Totsuka, I've always been very serious when launching attacks."
"What, you've come to me this time?"
A drop of sweat trickled down Nibutani's helpless face... This kid, she wouldn't let her have some peace and quiet. Rikka had been abducted by Yuta, so she came to her because she had nowhere else to vent?
But Totsuka wasn't thinking that way. She suddenly turned her head. The distance between Nibutani and Totsuka was extremely close, and combined with their height difference, Totsuka had to look up at Nibutani, but she didn't have the mind to care about that now.
"You used to deal with me very seriously, whether it was offense or defense, and you would desperately chase after me death..."
Totsuka's voice gradually choked up, and tears unconsciously flowed down. Her best Master was gone, and her sworn enemy, who used to fight and play with her, no longer accompanied her as before...
Totsuka felt a strange sense of betrayal. Perhaps the reason she humiliated Nibutani tonight during the Great Revolution game was that she hoped Nibutani would get angry with her and fight her like before.
But there was nothing. Even though she did such outrageous things tonight, once the game ended, Nibutani was still as gentle as ever, which made her unhappy and unwilling, always feeling an emptiness in her heart.
Burying her head in Nibutani's chest, feeling the embrace that she had once missed so much, Totsuka cried.
Nibutani hadn't expected Totsuka to actually cry. She felt a wave of helplessness, yet she could somewhat understand her feelings. This kid... perhaps this matter was truly very important to her...
"Alright, don't cry, don't cry."
Bending down slightly, Nibutani gently wiped away Totsuka's tears. This action made Totsuka feel a little better.
"Then..."
"Hmm?"
"Then take me to Master death!"
"Give me a break, why did it turn out like this--"
Christmas was far from over, and Nibutani's helpless wails echoed in the air filled with love.