Near Kinkaku-ji, we passed through a torii in a secluded spot, entering a completely different world. Old houses lined the streets, like an Edo-period set from a historical drama. The dim space and eerie air were filled with youkai—some with one eye, others with long necks, walking tanuki, and kappa—all eyeing us curiously.

A fox-eared woman guided us toward the fox princess's location.

"Is this the youkai world?" I asked.

"Yes," she replied. "This is where Kyoto's youkai reside. It's like the field spaces used in devil Rating Games, created similarly."

"Rating Games are known here?" I said.

"We can watch them. Some youkai are huge fans."

"So this is the hidden capital? The Backstreets, or Back Kyoto?"

"Exactly. Most youkai live here, though some reside in surface Kyoto."

We passed through the houses into a forest, where a massive red torii—three times larger than Senbon Torii—loomed. Sensei, Serafall, and Tiamat stood beyond it.

"Hey, you made it," Sensei said.

"Yoo-hoo, we've been waiting☆" Serafall waved.

"Yo, Issei," Tiamat greeted.

I waved back. Between them stood the golden-haired fox girl, now in an ornate Sengoku-era princess kimono, not her miko outfit. She looked every bit a tiny princess.

"Kukoe-sama, I've brought them," the fox woman said, vanishing in a puff of foxfire.

So that's foxfire? Cool to see in person.

The princess stepped forward. "I am Kukoe, daughter of Yasaka, leader of Kyoto's youkai." She bowed deeply. "I'm sorry for attacking you due to my mistake. Please forgive me."

Everyone looked at me. I'd fought her, and the others, tasked with protecting Matsuda and crew, hadn't met her. Guess it's my call.

"If the misunderstanding's cleared, I'm good. We know your situation, so don't worry," I said.

"B-But I harmed you…" she stammered.

She seemed really torn up, but no real harm was done. I knelt to her level. "You were worried about your mom, right?"

"Y-Yes… but I caused you trouble…"

"You apologized because you knew it was wrong, yeah?"

"Of course!"

"Then we won't blame you. You owned up to it." I smiled, patting her head.

Kukoe blushed, fidgeting. "…Thank you."

"No prob!"

Misunderstanding resolved, apology accepted. All good.

Oh, wait. I whispered, "Those guys I threw… they okay? I went kinda hard…"

"They're skilled fighters. They're fine," she whispered back. "Though I didn't expect them to be handled so easily…"

Haha, good to know they're okay.

Sensei nudged me. "Nice one, Hero Oppai Dragon. Great with kids."

"Don't call me that here! I never claimed that title!" I protested.

"Doesn't matter. Everyone calls you that," he smirked.

Ugh, no use arguing with him.

"Don't spread Oppai Dragon propaganda here!" Serafall huffed. "As the star of Magical☆Levia-tan, I won't lose!"

Why the rivalry?!

Typical Demon King behavior, I guess.

Kukoe spoke up. "I know it's selfish, but… please, lend us your strength to save Mother!"

Inside a mansion, we heard the full story. Yasaka, the nine-tailed fox ruling Kyoto, left days ago to meet an envoy from Mount Sumeru's Indra but never arrived and lost contact. Youkai investigated and found her escort, a crow tengu, near death.

"He told us Mother was attacked and kidnapped," Kukoe said, her face grim.

"What about him?" I asked.

She shook her head sadly.

Sensei and Serafall suspected the Khaos Brigade. "When factions try to unite, trouble brews," Sensei said. "Odin had Loki; now we've got terrorists. They really hate us, huh?"

He was pissed—probably because his peaceful days were ruined. Same here.

An elderly tengu beside Kukoe spoke. "Governor, Demon King, please help save Yasaka-hime. We'll do anything."

He showed us a painting of Yasaka—a stunning blonde in a miko outfit, fox ears perked, and… massive boobs, even through her robes. That's Kukoe's mom?!

"Onii-chan, you're drooling," Miu said.

Crap! Not now, with Kukoe in trouble! But… she's gorgeous.

Sensei continued. "The kidnappers are still in Kyoto. The city's energy isn't disrupted. Yasaka, the nine-tails, balances Kyoto's forces. If she were gone or dead, the city would show it. She's alive, here, with the terrorists."

Kyoto's a special place. If they're using Yasaka for something, we need to act fast, or the city could suffer.

"Serafall, any devil-side leads?" Sensei asked.

"Nothing yet," she replied.

"Tiamat?"

"Same," Tiamat said.

Sensei looked at us. "We might need you to move. We're short-handed. You're used to fighting strong foes, so we'll count on you when the time comes."

"Yes!" we responded.

Kukoe and the tengu elder bowed deeply, tears falling. "Please… save Mother…" she pleaded, voice trembling.

I stood. "Leave it to us! We'll save your mom and crush those terrorists!"

Making a kid like her cry? I'll destroy them. My anger was boiling.

"Ugh, exhausted…" I dove onto my futon. Dinner done, bath taken—what a day.

After leaving Back Kyoto, we returned to Kinkaku-ji, woke Matsuda and crew, and resumed sightseeing. Bought souvenirs, hit the planned spots, and back at the hotel, discussed plans with Kiba and Sitri's crew. We'll keep touring until Sensei calls.

Tomorrow, we're off to Arashiyama, with Kukoe as our guide—an apology for attacking us. We're over it, but it's her gesture, so we accepted. She must be anxious about her mom; hopefully, tomorrow distracts her.

Will she hide her ears around Matsuda and them? Koneko-chan does, so probably fine.

Those fluffy ears… I wanna touch them again.

What now? Matsuda and Motohama are probably peeping at the girls' bath, butunion—guarded by Rossweisse and Sitri's crew, so they're doomed.

I could take a different route to peep, but…

Knock knock.

Miu, probably. I opened the door.

There she stood in a yukata, hair damp, cheeks flushed from her bath. A water droplet slid down her neck to her chest—damn, that's seductive.

"Came to hang, Onii-chan… You okay? Nosebleed!" she said.

"Uh, yeah," I mumbled, wiping it.

Her yukata look was new—cute, but insanely alluring. Post-bath glow?

"Come in," I said.

"Thanks!" she chirped, stepping inside.

["Turned on by your sister's yukata?"] Ddraig teased.

Shut up! Those peeking boobs got me!

"Juice? Fridge has plenty," I offered.

"What's there?"

"Orange, apple, grape, mix."

"So many?"

"Came with the room. Free drinks, hotel said. Guess it's compensation for this place."

"Free drinks? Nice!"

I poured two glasses, handing her one. She chugged it. "Phew, post-bath drinks hit different!"

"Like an old man," I teased.

"Pfft, I'm still young!" she pouted, cheeks puffed.

Her reactions are too cute. I sipped my juice. "How's your first Kyoto trip?"

She'd been hyped, researching and shopping with me for it. I'd visited once in elementary school, but that's it.

"So fun! The sights are grand, unlike anything in Galepein. And…" she smiled.

"And?"

"Traveling with friends, making noise—it's my best memory."

Right, she was a shut-in like Gasper back then, mostly playing indoors. This is her first school trip.

"Glad you're happy. Makes me happy," I said.

"You enjoyed it?" she asked.

"Of course."

Despite everything.

As we reminisced, Matsuda and Motohama's voices echoed. "Issei!" "Found you!"

They're coming here?!

"Miu, barrier!" I said.

"Why?"

"No way they're ruining our sibling time!"

She nodded, casting a dome-shaped barrier around us, hiding us from them.

Bang! They burst in.

"Where's Issei?" Matsuda said, scanning.

They can't see or hear us.

"Maybe he knows about that peeping spot!" Motohama said.

"What?! He'd know!" Matsuda replied.

"He's gonna peep first!"

"Let's go! He's not getting all the fun!"

They ran off.

A peeping spot?! I'm curious! Wanna go!

But… I want this moment with Miu more.

"Drop the barrier?" she asked.

"Wait, someone's coming."

Asia, Irina, and Xenovia appeared, peeking in. "Issei-san?" "Not here?" "Probably peeping. Sounds like him."

That's my rep, huh? Fair, I might've gone if not for Miu.

They're safe to reveal ourselves to, but as I moved to tell her—

Miu covered my mouth, pushing me onto the futon! "Shh!" she signaled.

What the hell?!

Unaware, the trio said, "Guess we'll come back later." "Let's play ping-pong, Xenovia!" "You're on!" "No one's here, I'll turn off the light."

Click. Irina switched it off—thanks for saving energy, but not the point!

They left, closing the door.

What's happening?! Dark room, just us, Miu pinning me down—this is too much!

"M-Miu? What's going on?" I stammered.

"I've been wanting to tell you something since coming back… needed us alone," she said.

"Alone?"

"Yeah. Everyone's always around at home."

True, between Rias and the others, we've had no alone time. Plus, Raiser's rehab and Alice's town kept us busy.

What's she need to say, so privately? A secret worry? As her brother, I've gotta listen.

Above me, she muttered, "If pushing doesn't work, push him down, push him down, push him down…"

What's that mantra?

"O-Onii-chan…" she started.

"Y-Yeah?" I replied, nervous.

Her words hit: "Can you only see me as a sister? Not… as a girl anymore?"

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