Dressed in his specially customized Anti-Demon Corps uniform, Naoki joined the three girls at the dining table. The aroma of breakfast drifted from the kitchen, where the Manager—a middle-aged woman in an apron—was still busy clearing away the cooking utensils.
Naoki sat beside Tenka, directly across from Yachiho and Sahara. The table was spread with typical Japanese dishes: grilled fish, tamagoyaki, miso soup, steaming white rice, and various side dishes.
Naturally, the two lovebirds wasted no time putting their affection on display, entirely unconcerned with how anyone else might feel.
"Naoki-kun, open wide~" Tenka held out a piece of tamagoyaki with her chopsticks.
Though mildly self-conscious under two pairs of watching eyes, Naoki opened his mouth and accepted the bite. "Delicious."
"So happy~ Now Naoki-kun's turn to feed me."
Naoki picked up a piece of grilled fish with his chopsticks and held it out to Tenka's lips. She accepted it with a blissful smile, her eyes squinting like a cat being doted on.
"Mm... this fish tastes even better because it came from Naoki-kun's hand."
"..."
Sahara and Yachiho could only watch with expressions that defied easy description.
Yachiho chewed her rice just slightly harder than usual, while Sahara kept her focus firmly on the miso soup in front of her, doing her best not to look at the sweet exchange across the table.
Setting aside the two still-single girls being subjected to morning PDA, the breakfast atmosphere was pleasant. At least, for the couple.
After a few minutes of food and affection, Naoki decided to address something more serious.
"So, Tenka—what are my duties?"
He set down his chopsticks and looked at Tenka with a focused expression. Naoki had no intention of living as a freeloader doing nothing. He was serious about his role as a member of the Anti-Demon Corps.
Seeing his dedication—so unlike most young men, who might have used their exceptional status as an excuse to be idle—Tenka felt a deep satisfaction. Her eyes lit up with pride. She raised three fingers, ready to explain.
"The Anti-Demon Corps has three functions and duties. First, exterminating Shuuki. Protecting the human world from the threat of monsters that emerge through the Mato gates."
Her index finger rose.
"Second, exploring Mato. Venturing into Mato's territory to secure resources—especially Peach Blossoms—and also to search for people who have been lost or abducted into this dimension."
Her middle finger followed.
"Third, guarding the gates. Maintaining the stability of the dimensional gates connecting Mato to the human world. Ensuring no Shuuki slip through, and no humans enter without authorization."
Her ring finger joined the others, completing the three.
"That's it."
Naoki nodded in understanding. The Anti-Demon Corps was essentially a specialized military organization formed to combat monsters called Shuuki in an alternate dimension known as Mato. Clear enough.
He had imagined his girlfriend would assign him to patrol and eliminate every Shuuki he encountered—a duty befitting someone with his abilities. As it turned out, he was wrong.
"For now, Naoki-kun's assignment is... to study."
"Hah?"
Naoki stared in disbelief, his eyes slightly widening. He had just "graduated" from life as a student, and now he had to study again?
As though she could read his thoughts from his expression alone, Tenka gave a sweet laugh. She reached out and tapped the tip of Naoki's nose gently.
"Learning never truly ends, Naoki-kun~ You need to learn the fundamentals of the Anti-Demon Corps from Riu-sensei. It will serve you well in the future."
Naoki exhaled, but didn't argue. He trusted Tenka's judgment.
"Since you say so, I'll follow your arrangements."
He recalled the old woman he had encountered the day before at the Tenth Unit's headquarters, during his first meeting with the other Chiefs.
Myouga Riu, Chief of the First Unit.
Although already elderly—in her sixties—Riu still possessed remarkable physical capabilities and was deeply respected by the other Chiefs, and even by the Supreme Commander herself. The woman was nearing retirement and was in the process of training her successor, but her depth of experience was beyond question.
Worth noting: Riu was the primary mentor who trained new recruits before they officially joined the Anti-Demon Corps. Dozens of currently active members had been shaped by her hands.
"Well then, let's go." Tenka rose from the table.
She glanced toward Yachiho and Sahara, who were still finishing their breakfast. "Yachiho-chin, Sahara-chin, I'm heading out for a bit."
"Take care, Chief." Yachiho gave a polite nod.
Sahara nodded as well. "Hope your day goes well."
Tenka then activated her Peach Blossom Blessing, «Ame-no-Mitori».
*BUZZ!*
In the middle of the living room, a circular portal with glowing violet edges opened.
Tenka took Naoki's hand and stepped through together. The portal closed behind them, leaving Yachiho and Sahara to return their attention to their breakfast.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
The dojo at the First Unit's headquarters was expansive. Its wooden floor had been polished to a shine, reflecting the glow of traditional lamps hanging from the ceiling. On the walls hung an assortment of traditional Japanese weapons—katana, bokken, naginata—serving more as decoration than functional arms.
Tenka had explained their purpose to Riu, who greeted them at the dojo entrance. The old woman listened carefully, then gave a single nod of agreement.
"What I said yesterday wasn't empty words. Watching that boy fight the Supreme Commander... I want to train him with my own hands."
"Please look after him, Riu-sensei."
"Of course."
With that, Tenka said her farewell and left, leaving Naoki alone in the dojo with Riu. She gave a brief wave before disappearing through the portal she opened.
Now, there was only Naoki and the old woman before him.
Riu looked Naoki over from head to toe. Her eyes, still sharp for her age, analyzed the young man's posture, balance, and readiness.
"Boy, prepare yourself. My training is not easy! Don't quit halfway through." Her manner was firm, without concern for the fact that the person before her was currently the most exceptional individual in the world—the only man with a Peach Blossom Blessing.
Naoki straightened his back. His eyes met Riu's without wavering.
"Yes! Sensei!"
Riu smiled faintly—a rare expression on her wrinkled face.
"Good answer. Go change your clothes over there."
She pointed toward a door in the corner of the dojo.
"Understood."
Naoki walked toward the door she indicated, leaving Riu standing alone in the center of the dojo.
"Oh, right..." Riu suddenly remembered something. "I forgot to tell him the changing room is in use."
She gave herself a pat on the forehead. There was an additional Chief taking part in her training session today, currently changing in the very same room. She should have told Naoki from the start.
"Oh well." Riu shrugged, looking entirely unapologetic. "Consider it a small bonus for the boy. Haaah... I'm getting more forgetful."
Her words were at odds with her physical condition, which showed none of the significant decline typical of someone her age in their sixties.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
Naoki was unaware of the old woman's mischief. He walked casually toward the changing room, turned the unlocked handle, and opened the door—then stopped.
"Eh...?"
Inside the room, a girl stood frozen in the middle of the changing area. Long blue hair cascaded beautifully, a stark contrast to her porcelain-white skin. Those large, lash-framed eyes were now wide open, her lips parted slightly.
The girl was none other than Tsukiyono Bell—the timid and easily frightened Chief of the Third Unit.
And she was wearing only her underwear.
Plain white cotton underwear, without the military uniform that typically wrapped around her well-proportioned body. Without the uniform, she looked far more fragile and unassuming—utterly unlike the image of a Unit Chief who was supposed to project authority.
Her porcelain skin seemed to glow under the changing room light. A flush of red began creeping from her neck, rising to her cheeks, spreading across her entire face as she bowed her head in mortification. Her slender yet strikingly feminine frame—narrow waist, rounded hips, a chest that was quite full even beneath a simple cotton bra—was plainly visible as she froze in place.
Several seconds passed in excruciating silence.
"Kyaaa!"
A high-pitched shriek pierced the quiet. Bell quickly crouched down, both arms wrapping tightly around herself. Her face was now fully red, all the way to the tips of her ears, which had grown hot.
"Well, that's a normal feminine reaction." Naoki commented without thinking, still standing in the doorway.
If it had been Tenka, the woman would surely have smiled at him, perhaps opened both arms and invited him to be intimate right then and there.
But Bell? This girl was reacting like the typical anime heroine—embarrassed, flustered, and frantically trying to cover herself.
"U-Um... Kamikawa-san, please don't look..."
Bell's eyes glistened. Her voice was weak and helpless. She looked nothing at all like an authoritative Unit Chief—just an ordinary girl who was deeply shy and now found herself in the most mortifying situation of her life.
"Ahem..." Naoki cleared his throat, turned his back to Bell, and clarified that he bore no fault here. "Look, this isn't entirely my fault, alright? You're also at fault here for not locking the door while changing."
Bell gave a small nod, still crouching.
"Um... Bell knows she's in the wrong." The girl admitted without deflecting or making excuses—an attitude rarely encountered, especially among women who tended to be defensive in situations like this. "Could Kamikawa-san please go outside?"
Naoki smirked faintly. "No way. I also need to use this changing room."
Bell raised her head, her teary eyes going wide in disbelief.
For some reason, Naoki had a change of heart. The slightly wicked side of him wanted to tease this girl, known for being exceptionally shy, self-deprecating, and easily flustered. Seeing Bell in a state of panic like this... was somehow amusing.
"Anyway—hurry up and get dressed. I won't peep."
"Alright..."
Not daring to argue further—especially in her current half-undressed state—Bell complied. She began moving quickly, reaching for the clothes laid out on the bench.
On his side, Naoki heard the rustle of clothing behind him. The sound of fabric sliding against skin, small sounds that would mean nothing in ordinary circumstances, yet in this context felt very... noticeable.
Fortunately, that morning his libido had been thoroughly drained by Tenka. Had it not been—had he still been in a "full" state—Naoki might not have been able to stop himself from using «Golden Hour» combined with «Decimal Point» to do unspeakable things to Bell.
After all, his morality was quite flexible. He could lower his own threshold whenever he chose. That was a fact he recognized and accepted about himself.
"Bell has finished changing. Kamikawa-san can turn around."
That bashful voice broke the silence.
Naoki turned around.
Bell was now wearing a traditional karate uniform—a white dogi with a black belt tied around her waist. The uniform was somewhat loose, yet still unable to fully conceal the shape of her body. Her full chest caused the front to pull slightly, while her slender waist made the black belt stand out in contrast. The long sleeves were slightly rolled at her wrists, revealing her pale skin.
She stood awkwardly, both hands in front of her, fingers pressing together.
"You look fitting in that." Naoki said honestly.
Bell bowed her head. The red in her cheeks deepened.
"Th-Thank you..."
This was the first time a man had complimented her. Bell was accustomed to being ignored or looked down upon because of her shy and timid nature. Such a simple compliment felt unfamiliar, yet also pleasant.
Naoki drew closer. Bell bowed her head lower still, her heart pounding. She didn't know what this man was about to do.
"By the way—just call me Naoki. We're colleagues from now on. May I call you Bell?"
Bell raised her head slightly. Her eyes met Naoki's for a second before dropping back down.
"That's... Uhh... Alright."
"Good." Naoki smiled faintly. "Where are the karate uniforms?"
Bell pointed toward a cabinet in the corner of the room. "Over there."
"Okay."
Naoki walked toward the cabinet, opened it, and took out a karate uniform at random. As his hand reached for the dogi, in the mirror reflection on the cabinet door, he saw Bell beginning to edge slowly toward the door, attempting to slip away.
"Wait!"
Bell immediately froze. "Yes!"
Naoki turned, watching her standing rigid near the door. The girl looked genuinely anxious, like a child caught trying to steal a cookie.
Looking at Bell with her social anxiety like this... it reminded Naoki of Goto Hitori, alias "Bocchi"—the famous anime character with extreme social anxiety who even struggled with normal communication.
Of course, Bell wasn't as bad as Bocchi. She could still interact, still fulfill her duties as a Unit Chief, even if her leadership style was... unique. But the essence was the same: a girl who was deeply shy and easily flustered in social situations.
"What are you doing here, Bell?" Naoki asked while removing his uniform.
Bell's face immediately heated up again. She bowed her head lower, not daring to look. Her fingers gripped the end of her karate belt more tightly.
"This is Ren-chan's—I mean, Commander Yamashiro's orders." Bell explained in a trembling voice. "She told Bell to train under Riu-sensei again."
Naoki nodded, his hands continuing to undress. "Hmm."
Bell inadvertently raised her head slightly—and saw Naoki, who had already fully removed his top. A broad chest with naturally formed muscle, a hard six-pack abdomen, toned arms... all of it fully visible before her.
Realizing what she was looking at, Bell's face went as red as a tomato. She immediately bowed her head again, nearly bringing her chin down to her chest.
"After witnessing Naoki-kun using «Canopus» far more skillfully than Bell herself, Ren-chan told me to improve my physical conditioning." Bell continued, doing her best to ignore the fact that the man in front of her was now half-undressed.
"I see."
Now Naoki understood the reason behind the girl's appearance here.
«Canopus» was Bell's lethal Peach Blossom Blessing. As had been mentioned before, this ability was the equivalent of the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception. Once the user successfully employed it correctly, it was the end for whoever became the target.
Unfortunately, Bell consistently failed to show «Canopus»'s true potential because of her own limitations: chronically low self-confidence, extreme shyness, and an undertrained physique. Meanwhile, Naoki—a skilled copier—had demonstrated greater mastery of the ability when using it against Ren.
No wonder Ren wanted Bell to grow. Watching someone else—especially a man who had only copied «Canopus» days ago—wield her own ability more proficiently must have been a crushing blow to Bell's self-esteem. And Ren, as both a close friend and superior, surely wanted to see Bell rise from that.
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