I Sealed Sukuna’s Finger#451+452: Sister Was Right! Hagoromo-Gitsune: This Kind of Thrill-Seeking

Not until the sunlight filtering through the paper windows gradually tilted westward did the Japanese-style room finally quiet down.

Ding dong~

As the clear chime signaling the elevator's arrival rang out, the elevator doors slowly opened on both sides. A young man carrying a suitcase in each hand emerged.

The Chūō Ward—Tokyo's most expensive real estate—could sell even tiny forty-to-fifty square meter studio apartments at exorbitant prices. Usually, an entire floor connected four, five, six, seven, eight households sharing one elevator.

But in the apartment building where Bokue Keikain lived, each floor had only two doors—two units per elevator. More spacious, more private, and naturally the price multiplied accordingly. Similar to the apartment Yukino Yukinoshita lived in during high school in Oregairu, it basically qualified as luxury housing.

Inside the apartment—

Right now, Hagoromo-Gitsune resembled a little fox who'd successfully stolen grilled saury.

Unlike her sister who'd transformed into a nine-tailed celestial fox early on, Hagoromo-Gitsune's talent fell far short of Yasaka's. So even though these thousand years of continuous reincarnation had finally elevated her to nine-tailed celestial fox status, her strength still showed clear gaps compared to her sister.

Not just in combat ability, but also in—

"Mmm... alright, alright~"

Accompanied by Yasaka's voice from nearby, looking toward the sound revealed the blonde beauty currently extending both arms to embrace the young man before her around the neck. Her wide kimono sleeves concealed them both like a standing screen.

"Mou~ honestly... Bokue, you could let Ka-chan go by now, right? Besides, today's Hagoromo-Gitsune's main event. You should prioritize taking care of Hagoromo-Gitsune. How can you keep focusing on Ka-chan..."

"Because—"

Bokue didn't continue, just turned his head to indicate with his eyes the black-stockinged girl whose stamina bar was clearly nearly depleted.

To be fair, it wasn't that he kept focusing on Yasaka—it was that if they continued with Hagoromo-Gitsune, she might end up growing a tenth tail.

There had to be limits. Getting sent back into the reincarnation cycle because of this would be way too weird.

However, Bokue didn't just leave Hagoromo-Gitsune lying there. He turned sideways, reaching out to support the straight-haired sailor uniform girl's back, lifting her from the floor into his arms and settling her on his lap.

"Then let's rest a bit."

Saying this, Bokue used his other hand to lift the blonde beauty, withdrawing her from her station and moving her to the side.

A pair of fox sisters, one on each side.

Now it was just right.

"Sister really is blessed, encountering such a wonderful child."

Hagoromo-Gitsune gently rested her cheek on the young man's shoulder, her gaze following his chest as she smiled toward her sister on the other side—also low on stamina.

"Yeah... I guess so..."

Yasaka's cheeks already carried a faint blush. Hearing her sister's teasing made them flush even deeper.

But Hagoromo-Gitsune's next sentence made her face burn completely.

"So when exactly did Sister claim him?"

"...Eh?"

Yasaka first froze slightly, then stammered.

"That's... from what I remember, probably... maybe..."

Not that she really couldn't remember—how was she supposed to answer this kind of question?!

Though Hagoromo-Gitsune's talent had never matched hers since childhood, her mind worked far more cleverly. Otherwise she couldn't have created the reincarnation technique.

But being clever should be applied properly! Why suddenly ask about this now?!

"Hehehe, has Sister already forgotten?"

Hagoromo-Gitsune smiled slightly, teasing further.

"No, it's not that... how should I put this..."

The blonde beauty over there was still hesitating about how to tactfully reveal the fact she'd eaten a younger man, but Bokue had already spoken up for her.

"If we're talking about the first time with Yasaka, it was exactly ten years ago."

Ten years ago, hmm... hmm?

Hagoromo-Gitsune—whose soul age had long exceeded four digits—originally didn't think ten years was problematic. But thinking again, human lifespans differed vastly from demons. Ordinary humans lived at most brief centuries.

And given Bokue's age, ten years ago would have been emmm...

"I see."

When she looked up again toward the blonde beauty on the other side, Hagoromo-Gitsune's pitch-black eyes already held a knowing smile.

"I never knew Sister enjoyed this kind of play?"

"Uh... well, how should I explain... it's not what you're thinking..."

Seeing her cradle-robbing exposed, Yasaka's face flushed so red it nearly dripped blood.

"We demons don't really care about physical age. Plus, young Bokue was so cute and well-behaved, with such a likable personality. That was just..."

"Fox nature?"

Hagoromo-Gitsune completed the phrase for her sister.

Though she had no intention of mocking—just narrowed her eyes and made a request.

"So are there photos? I'd like to see."

"Photos, well..."

Yasaka was about to say yes, but reconsidering, all her photo albums were in Kunou's room drawers. If she went to get them, she definitely could, but right now she was covered in Bokue's essence. Plus Kyōkotsu was currently in Kunou's room too. If seen like this...

"What I looked like as a kid? Probably like this."

Huh?

Accompanied by the young man's voice from behind, Hagoromo-Gitsune and Yasaka suddenly felt emptiness beneath them, causing them to sit directly on the floor.

At the same moment, something new appeared in Hagoromo-Gitsune's lap.

Looking down, she saw a miniature Bokue sitting on her legs, his appearance having changed somewhat.

First, he'd shrunk from one-eighty directly to about one-thirty-something—from a well-built high schooler to a small elementary school boy.

His features were nearly unchanged, just more youthful and tender, but the aura between his brows was unmistakably him.

"B-Bokue? Why did you suddenly become like this? How'd you do it?"

Unlike Hagoromo-Gitsune who needed various details to confirm, Yasaka recognized him instantly, her cherry lips parting in surprise.

This matched her memories of young Bokue perfectly.

"How should I explain..."

Bokue shifted position to lean into the black-stockinged girl's embrace behind him, looking skyward as he thought briefly.

"Simply put, I can now change my physical form by altering my soul's shape. So I can freely switch between any age."

Right, I'll use this form when returning to Itogami Island—definitely going to shock Natsuki... the young man thought.

However, the moment this thought emerged, Bokue felt an extremely burning gaze from above.

Looking up, he saw Hagoromo-Gitsune's pitch-black pupils flashing wildly with love mixed with some deeper desire. Her lips moved as if murmuring something.

"Some things can't entirely be called Sister's fault, hehehe..."

<><><><><><><><>

Though continuing would be a nice choice, considering today was Hagoromo-Gitsune's first time, overall restraint would be better.

So moments later, Bokue had dressed again.

Though not in what he'd worn arriving, but something matching his current body size, carefully collected by Yasaka...

"These clothes look kind of familiar?"

Scene change—inside the Japanese room, Bokue still sat in Hagoromo-Gitsune's lap.

The straight-haired fox girl behind him held him tightly with both hands like a treasured possession. He looked down at the light-colored kimono fitting a seven-or-eight-year-old boy—the style somewhat similar to what Sasuke Uchiha wore at Orochimaru's place in Naruto, with similarly short sleeves convenient for rolling up to fight anytime.

But whether his imagination or not, this kimono gave Bokue an inexplicably familiar feeling, as if he'd worn something similar as a child.

"Not similar~"

As his words fell, the room's door slid open. The blonde beauty walked in carrying a freshly washed and folded small haori, coming before Bokue to kneel on the tatami. Before him, she unfolded the haori in her hands.

What met his eyes was a large "BOKUE" character on the haori.

"Huh? This one, I remember..."

Seeing this character, Bokue hissed as if vaguely recalling something.

"This is what you wore as a child, Bokue."

Yasaka smiled faintly, reaching behind him to drape the haori over his shoulders.

"Remember how you often stayed here as a child? Back then the shrine had at least two sets of your spare clothes. After you left, these clothes stayed here. I thought they'd probably just stay in storage forever. Never expected I'd see you wear them again today."

"Oh~"

With this reminder, Bokue completely remembered.

Right, not similar—these were clothes he'd actually worn. After leaving Kyoto at age seven, they'd remained at the shrine.

"Such an adorable child..."

Watching from behind, Hagoromo-Gitsune couldn't help biting her lower lip. Pink hearts practically emerged from her pitch-black pupils, her eyes glazed like thickened sauce.

If her stamina situation allowed, she'd really want another big battle~

"Alright, I should probably head back now."

Glancing at the window where the westward-tilting sunlight gradually tinged with red, Bokue estimated Kunou would be waking from her nap soon. He patted Hagoromo-Gitsune's hand, signaling she could let go.

"Ara, leaving already?"

Hearing the young man was departing, Hagoromo-Gitsune immediately pursed her lips, her voice carrying threads of reluctance.

"You want to return to the Keikain family so badly? You used to stay at Sister's place all the time as a child."

"Not the Keikain family—Itogami Island."

Bokue explained.

After all, he'd promised La Folia he'd return to have dinner with her and Sayaka once things were settled here. He'd already stood her up once. Though La Folia had forgiven him, he couldn't do it twice.

Of course, he definitely still needed to return to the Keikain estate. Yura probably didn't know Abe no Seimei had been dealt with yet. Though she likely wasn't too worried, he should still inform her.

"Oh right, about Itogami Island..."

Hearing Bokue mention Itogami Island, Yasaka seemed to remember something, making a soft sound.

"Earlier I said it'd take half a month before I could move—that was because of my sister's situation. But now that Abe no Seimei's been dealt with, there's no problem. As for the moving date... would tomorrow work?"

"Of course, no problem."

Bokue agreed without hesitation.

Then he stood from Hagoromo-Gitsune's lap, gave each fox sister an embrace and kiss, then waved.

"Alright, I'll head back today then. See you tomorrow."

With that, he vanished in a flash.

The Japanese room returned to silence. After a brief pause, Hagoromo-Gitsune looked up at her sister.

"So what exactly do you plan to do, Sister?"

"Hmm? Do about what?"

Yasaka was caught somewhat off-guard by her sister's sudden question.

Hagoromo-Gitsune narrowed her eyes slightly, pursing her lips.

"About my dear little niece, of course. Right now you're always doing it behind Kunou's back. After moving to Itogami Island where there'll be other women everywhere, no matter how much you try hiding it, you won't be able to. Little Kunou isn't that slow."

"About that..."

Bringing up Kunou's situation, Yasaka couldn't help hesitating, but the faint blush rising on her face indicated this was far from ordinary hesitation.

"So what happened?"

Hagoromo-Gitsune also vaguely sensed some hidden circumstances.

"The thing is... Kunou actually already knows."

After much hesitation, Yasaka still sighed helplessly and spoke frankly.

"The day before yesterday when Bokue and I were doing it, Kunou happened to see us, so then..."

Hagoromo-Gitsune looked puzzled: "How'd she see? Don't you always do it while little Kunou's sleeping?"

"That's right, but that time the day before yesterday..."

Revisiting old matters, Yasaka flushed so red she nearly dripped blood.

"Remember after you left Kunou's bedroom, we did it again?"

"Yeah, I heard."

"Actually... we... didn't change rooms."

"?"

"Then Kunou woke up midway... and accidentally saw..."

Listening to her sister's confession, Hagoromo-Gitsune fell completely silent.

So you were seeking thrills by doing it right beside... the pillow? Didn't even change rooms?

"So yesterday during the day, Kunou asked me about it..."

Yasaka's voice grew quieter and quieter.

"I know Kunou's liked Bokue since childhood. But she's still too young right now. I promised when she grows up a bit more, then..."

"Then together?"

Hagoromo-Gitsune completed the sentence.

The blonde beauty nodded with a flushed face.

"...Yes."

"I know doing this might be a bit... that, but..."

Whoosh~

After a moment of silence, Hagoromo-Gitsune tilted her head, her gaze sweeping past the ceiling with seeming casualness.

"Thinking about it, maybe Kyōkotsu could join in too."

"Eh?"

Before Yasaka could react, Hagoromo-Gitsune pushed herself up from the tatami.

"Oh right, Sister, I'm going out tonight."

"Out? Where?"

"Tōhoku."

"...Why Tōhoku?"

Yasaka froze slightly.

Their current location was Kyoto in the Kansai region, while Tōhoku lay in Kantō—a bit north beyond even Tokyo.

"Ten years ago, Bokue was nearly killed by those Keikain branch families conspiring with Tōhoku's Hero Village. You know about this, Sister?"

Hagoromo-Gitsune's nine tails flicked. The aura of standing at the pinnacle of all demons immediately emanated.

"Now the Keikain branch families are all dead. But those Hero Village people are still living well. This makes me... slightly displeased."

"I see."

Understanding her sister's resolve, Yasaka also stood with a faint smile.

"But let's leave after dinner. Just so happens... I haven't gone out for a walk in quite a while either."