Time passed quietly.
Before she realized it, the bowl of red date and red bean porridge was already empty.
"Are you full?" Arthur asked with a smile.
"Mhm, I'm full." Yotsuya Miko nodded with a gentle smile.
In her amber-gold eyes, Arthur's figure was reflected—rippling with tenderness like spring water.
Arthur placed the dishes on the round table by the bed, then chuckled.
"Then rest a bit. Later, take a shower before heading to school."
"School?" Yotsuya Miko blinked in surprise.
Her cheeks flushed slightly as she murmured, "Um… in my current state, I don't think I can go to school."
Last night lasted for two and a half hours.
Though it became increasingly comfortable, in the end she was the first to collapse.
Her body was still sore and weak.
And that place was far from well—how could she possibly attend school?
"Don't worry, it's fine." Arthur laughed softly, reaching out to stroke her head.
"Eh??" Yotsuya Miko blinked, confusion flickering in her eyes.
"Just watch me." Arthur's lips curved.
Under her puzzled, curious gaze, he raised his right hand, spreading his fingers.
He activated Sky Magic.
A violet-golden radiance shimmered between his fingertips.
Countless motes of light drifted into Yotsuya Miko's body.
Her expression shifted to surprise.
She felt streams of comforting warmth coursing through her meridians, spreading through every limb.
The soreness and weakness dissipated.
Her spirit lifted, brimming with vitality.
Strands of warmth gathered at a certain place below, washing away all discomfort as if nothing had happened.
Her whole body felt as though a great weight had been lifted.
The sensation was so soothing that Yotsuya Miko couldn't help but close her eyes.
Ten seconds later, Arthur clenched his hand and the magic dissipated.
"It's over already?!" Yotsuya Miko sounded reluctant.
"Then let's do it again."
Amused, Arthur spread his fingers once more, casting the spell again.
Warmth flooded her body again.
This time, however, the effect wasn't as intense—likely because she was no longer injured.
Still, she smiled happily.
Because Arthur had repeated the treatment just to satisfy her whim, she felt a sweet sense of being cherished.
This time, Arthur continued casting Sky Magic for a full minute.
Only when Yotsuya Miko said it was enough did he stop.
Otherwise, he would have kept going.
After all, his energy was infinite—he could afford to be willful.
"…Could you step out for a bit?" Yotsuya Miko suddenly asked.
"Why?" Arthur raised a brow.
Her face flushed. "Um… I want to put on clothes."
"Oh, I see." Arthur chuckled, then teased, "After all we've already done, why be shy now? How about I help you dress?"
"Wha—!!" Yotsuya Miko's eyes widened, her face turning crimson, as if steam were about to puff out of her head.
What he said was true, yet her maiden's modesty screamed in protest.
"How about this instead…" Arthur's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Since we both need to bathe, let's save water and shower together."
"T-Together?!"
Her eyes widened even further, trembling as her mind involuntarily pictured certain scenes.
Her cheeks flamed even hotter, her body warming as if set ablaze.
"It's decided then." Arthur's tone left no room for objection.
"???" Yotsuya Miko blinked blankly—then—
"Ahhh!!"
With a sudden tug, Arthur whipped away the blanket covering her.
She instinctively tried to cover her most important places with her hands.
Smiling, Arthur leaned down, lifting her into a princess carry once more.
Her face was so red it seemed it might drip blood.
Eyes squeezed shut, hands still covering herself, she allowed herself to be carried.
Embarrassment screamed at her to hide beneath the quilt, but she didn't hate his boldness.
He carried her into the upstairs bathroom.
Setting her down, Arthur turned on the showerhead and filled the spacious tub.
The bathtub was massive—big enough for three people to bathe without crowding.
It even had mood lighting, water massage, and automatic temperature control.
"Miko…"
When Arthur turned back, she was squatting on the floor, arms clutched tightly around herself, trying to hide.
Her bashful appearance was unbearably adorable.
Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye.
After bathing, both of them changed into their school uniforms.
Yotsuya Miko glanced into the mirror and widened her eyes in delight.
She had changed.
Her skin was paler, smoother, without the slightest blemish.
Her features seemed subtly refined, though she couldn't say how—only that the overall effect was harmonious.
Simply put, she looked even more beautiful.
"Miko, time to go." Arthur approached, dressed neatly.
"Mhm, let's."
Yotsuya Miko turned to him, eyes soft as rippling spring water, lips curved in a gentle smile.
She had packed all the things she needed for school yesterday, including her textbooks.
The two of them shouldered their bags and left together.
On the way, Yotsuya Miko messaged Yurikawa Hana, telling her not to wait.
Normally, the two of them met at the North District bus stop around 7:40 and went to school together.
It was only 7:33 now—just in time to let Hana know, so she wouldn't be kept waiting.
Meanwhile—
"What's going on?" Hana frowned slightly when she got the message, baffled.
Unable to figure it out, she simply replied 'Okay', then boarded the bus to school alone.
As for her questions—
She'd just ask Miko in person later.
Time flowed swiftly.
By 8:00 a.m., Arthur and Yotsuya Miko had arrived at the school gates.
Along the way, they encountered an evil spirit.
By now, Yotsuya Miko could face such things calmly.
After all, last night she had personally exorcised eighteen of them.
Following his principle of "better to strike than to spare," Arthur used psychic force to annihilate it.
He gained a tiny amount of energy—barely enough to raise his upper limit by a few hundred-thousandths.
Low-level spirits' entries in the compendium were hardly useful to him anymore.
Once at the station, the two kept a discreet distance apart.
Yotsuya Miko didn't want to be the subject of school gossip.
If she appeared too close to Arthur, rumors were inevitable.
For the sake of a peaceful campus life, she had made the suggestion.
Arthur thought it over and agreed.
After all, there was plenty of time ahead.
If she wanted it this way for now, then so be it.
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