After my shower, I sat on the edge of the bed in a pale lavender chiffon robe, sipping tea with deliberate grace. Yet my mind lingered on the bittersweet flavors of our recent adventures.

Senior Sister... I wonder how she is now. She rushed off earlier—Kara and Xueno’s news hit her hard. *Sigh.* If only I could hold half the place in her heart that Xueno does. True, she’s blushed before me once or twice... but what does a blush mean against real love? How could I—a loveless shut-in—ever understand that gap?

Just then, a cold glimmer flickered from the corner of my room where the hidden magic circle lay.

Feyn Senior materialized within the teleportation array, clearly arriving from her own quarters.

Her damp hair cascaded over a flowing black nightgown. Water droplets trailed down her porcelain-pale arms. She hugged herself, leaning against the wall, head bowed.

"Senior Sister?" I stood and approached, but she remained silent after teleporting.

"Senior Sister... I know Xueno’s situation weighs on you. You should rest. These past battles have worn you out."

Feyn’s voice dropped to a whisper: "So you’re chasing me away?"

"Huh?" That faint reproach made my heart skip. I ached to pull her close, to wrap my arms around her slender frame—but what did she truly feel? "N-no! Stay as long as you like. What’s wrong? Are you upset about Xueno?"

"Yes... but not only that..."

"Huh? Why?"

Bathed in moonlight, her glistening lips trembled as if holding back words: "Am I... a bad woman?"

"Huh?? Are you exhausted? Why say that all of a sudden?"

"How do you see me? I claim to seek my true love, yet flirt with other women along the way—adventuring together, playing games... even kissing..." Her face stayed hidden, but her voice carried a trace of sorrow.

"Other women... meaning me?" The words stung, yet I forced a smile. "Senior Sister, you kissed me, played games with me—all to coerce me into helping you find Xueno. Your motives were pure. That doesn’t make you bad."

*Even I didn’t believe that.*

"Mmph..." Feyn Senior flinched as if struck, doubling over to cover her face.

A soft sob escaped her. What turmoil could make her weep like this? *Sister, you cry for another girl... how can I ever help you?*

"I don’t know... I don’t know what to do... I want to find Xueno now, but... but..."

I stepped closer, hands clasped behind my back. Leaning in, I pressed a kiss to her forehead.

*Whoever you love—you’ll always be my untouchable Senior Sister to me. Even when burdened by guilt, you’re beautiful.*

*I fell for all of you—not just parts.*

Feyn stiffened, as if my kiss shamed her. She stood abruptly, wiping her eyes. Arms crossed, she turned her back to me against the wall.

*Why do you crumble like this whenever Xueno’s mentioned? Why do you cry so easily?*

*Though... a tearful Sister is still lovely. But these tears aren’t for me.*

Huh?

*Wait—if it’s only about Xueno, why cry now?*

*Senior Sister... what truly hurts you? What traps you?*

*Could it be... our impending farewell? Shouldn’t I be the one crying?*

"Senior Sister... now that we have leads on Xueno... does that mean you’ll leave the Undercity soon?" The question tore at me, but I had to ask. I couldn’t bear waking to a thank-you note saying she’d "remember me."

She turned, meeting my eyes with tender gaze—and a flicker of reluctance.

I might be clumsy with girls, but I’m not blind. That reluctance was real. Though I couldn’t decipher its roots—duty? Affection? Or something deeper?

*If it’s just duty... because I risked everything to save those girls for her... if she stays only out of obligation before my Adult Ceremony... then I’d rather she left.*

Though no moon shone over the Undercity, the glowing crystals cast an eerie blue light like moonbeams.

"Senior Sister." I offered a bittersweet smile in the gloom. "Go find Xueno. I’d join you, but the Adult Ceremony chains me here. Name what you need—I’ll command the Undercity to aid you."

"Kuroti..." Her gaze held not gratitude, but quiet reproach. "Are you chasing me away again?"

"Huh? No, I—"

"You don’t understand! You don’t understand at all!" Her voice cracked, raw with sudden fury.

"Senior Sister? But weren’t *you* desperate to find Xueno? If the Undercity holds you back, don’t worry! Go freely!"

"Go freely? Don’t you care about yourself at all?"

"Myself?"

"Stop playing dumb! Trying to ease my guilt? Your acting’s terrible, you silly girl! With a body that sensitive—how can you be so reckless about the Adult Ceremony? What happens if Sulia wins? Have you even thought about that?"

"Sulia Senior...?"

"And Sulia might not be the worst! Do you truly want that Jester Bull—or some savage, filthy monster—to ‘teach’ you adult lessons alone for three days and nights?"

"Huh? A monster... teaching me?" My face burned. "Never!"

"Exactly. So what will you do?" Feyn’s tone shifted, dripping with big-sisterly allure.

"What do you mean?"

"...Think carefully." She crossed her arms, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Since you helped me, Sister might grant you one favor tonight. Just tonight."

"A favor? I’m grateful for our adventures, Senior Sister, but... I can’t think of anything right now. I won’t hold back if I do." I beamed innocently up at her.

My cute act only ignited her glare.

Her chest heaved, making her ample curves tremble. Brow furrowed, breath steaming, she suddenly loomed over me and shouted—utterly unladylike:

"FINE! LET THE JESTER BULL DISCIPLINE YOU FOR THREE DAYS AND NIGHTS!!!"

With a flash of light, she vanished through the magic circle, fury trailing behind her.

I stood alone in the dim room, watching blue stardust fade in the corner. Bewildered.

*What did I do wrong this time, Sister?*