"Kanon, you… already knew?"
Shichen didn't remember ever telling Kanase Kanon he was the Fifth Primogenitor.
"Mm. Verthiana told me."
"That one…"
If Kanon hadn't brought her up, he would've forgotten—impressive that she was still quietly helping with the cats in the back hills.
He didn't mind Kanon knowing his identity; it wasn't some forbidden secret.
"Aren't you afraid?"
"I'm not."
Kanon smiled and shook her head. "Onii-chan is Onii-chan. You're so good to me—why would I be scared?"
"I see. Then you don't mind that I kept it from you all this time?"
"Mm."
"Good…"
"So, Onii-chan—are you going to drink my blood? You look like you want to right now, don't you?" Kanon knew at least a little about vampires.
"No. Don't worry." As he spoke, the crimson in his eyes faded and his gaze returned to normal. "I don't need to drink your blood."
"Onii-chan, you…"
A visible hint of disappointment flickered in her eyes. "Is it that you don't like drinking my blood?"
"Why would you think that?"
"Then why won't you?"
"…Kanon, I think you've misunderstood. I help you—save you—not because I'm aiming to drink your blood."
"I know."
"Do you? Then you can't offer it just to thank me, either."
"I'm not offering it out of gratitude. I simply want you to drink my blood."
"Kanon…?" He stared at her, caught off guard.
"Onii-chan, I like you. You've always stayed with me, helped me. Your gentleness, your presence—I fell for you," Kanon said, hand over her heart, smiling brightly.
"I see." His eyes couldn't help following her hand and locked, for a heartbeat, with the place she touched.
"Mm. Just don't misunderstand, Onii-chan," she said, fully aware of his glance and utterly unconcerned.
"Are you really… not afraid?" The crimson returned to his eyes.
"I'm not. If anything, I'm looking forward to it."
"Didn't think you'd have a thought like that," he teased.
"It's your fault, Onii-chan," Kanon said, mock-chiding.
"Mm, it's all my fault. Which means I should make it up to you."
"I'll help you, then."
Kanon leaned back into his arms, hands resting on his shoulders, standing openly and drawing close—then kissed him first.
Shichen didn't hesitate; he held her smooth, soft form and returned the kiss.
Kanon closed her eyes.
He went a little deeper, and she—new to this—let him guide her patiently, step by step.
After a while she had to come up for air; they parted and she breathed hard, chest rising and falling.
He leaned to her neck; fangs slid down and pricked lightly—blood welled.
Head tilted back, Kanon tightened her arms around his neck, eyes closed, her expression tender.
He stopped quickly; his lips were stained red.
"Onii-chan…"
Dazed, she leaned in again and kissed him. There was the taste of iron, even though she'd never tasted iron itself.
The office was silent—until, inevitably, Shichen's hands couldn't behave and the "doctor" checked her heartbeat; now and then a soft murmur slipped out.
…
When they left the university, Kanon was wearing a fresh uniform—one Shichen had borrowed from Himeragi Yukina's place. He hadn't gone all the way with her. He'd just been with Kaguya and the others recently; that urge wasn't so strong, and the timing wasn't right.
He'd chosen Yukina's uniform because Avrora's and the others' sizes didn't fit Kanon—too small. Yukina's build was about the same.
With or without Kanon leading him, Shichen could find her foster father. The two of them went to the man's lab; Shichen burned everything without a word—and rescued a girl who'd been brought in as a test subject while he was at it.
"Kanase Kensei, from now on I'll be taking care of Kanon. I'll make her happy. As for you—stay out of her life."
"…With the Fifth Primogenitor looking after her, I can rest easy," the man said.
"Heh."
Unmoved, Shichen took Kanon home. He expanded the apartment's space again to give her a room, then helped set up all her things.
That settled it: Kanase Kanon would be living with him from now on.
He would have to tell Natsuki, though.
"Onii-chan, that's… not clean…"
"Kanon is very clean."
"Mm…"
In Kanon's room, he couldn't resist another round of affection, sampling "everything" about her. Tiger meat really was delicious—worthy of one of the Four Sacred Beasts.
After he'd had his fill, he left Kanon's room with Yukina's uniform and returned it. With Itogami summer all year, there were plenty of summer uniforms—no shortage.
Kanon was a bit dehydrated, so he told her to rest at home and headed back to campus alone—just in time for lunch.
While eating with Yukina and the others, he mentioned that Kanon would be living with him going forward. He didn't share the details; he'd leave it to Kanon to decide what to say.
"Sensei… why are you suddenly bringing Kanon home to live with you?" Yukina asked, face set—clearly displeased.
"Yeah!" Avrora forgot to stay angry. The real rival was Kanon; Kaguya and the rest were at least "sisters."
"So jealous," Nagisa murmured.
"Kanon's got troubles at home. I couldn't leave her there," Shichen said.
"What kind of trouble?"
"You'll have to ask her yourselves—if she wants to tell you."
"So that's why you were angry this morning?"
"Mm."
"I see. So it's resolved?" Yukina let out a breath. Seeing his serious face, she figured it wasn't about coveting Kanon's looks—this was about real business.
"Mm, it's done."
"Sensei, can we visit her after class?" Nagisa asked.
"Of course."
…
"What? That Kanase Kanon is living at Sensei's place now?"
On the way home after school, Asagi learned too—Shichen told her himself; there wasn't much to hide. Even in the upper division, everyone knew Kanon's "saint" reputation.
"Mm. Trouble at home. She'll be on her own otherwise."
"I see… You're not going to… do anything to her, are you?" Asagi couldn't help asking.
"Do what?"
"Do… never mind," Asagi dropped it. She knew he was the Fifth Primogenitor now; the women around him were a fact of life. But she still wasn't letting go.
"Kanon, we're back."
"Welcome home, Onii-chan~"
Kanon had mostly recovered—her face healthy and glowing, though the spring in her eyes when she looked at Shichen was almost overflowing.
"Kanon, we came to see you."
"Nagisa, Yukina—and Asagi-senpai…"
Kanon didn't hide anything—she told them the truth. Hearing what her foster father had done, everyone was furious, each itching to go teach Kanase Kensei a lesson—even Avrora.
Kanon earned everyone's sympathy at once; no one was jealous.
Asagi and the others stayed for dinner before heading out. Natsuki had things to do and was avoiding Shichen anyway—so she didn't join them.
After dinner, Shichen walked Asagi and Nagisa home—lingering a while at Asagi's door to practice her kissing a bit—then returned. He ran into Natsuki just coming back.
"Natsuki, Astarte—back already?"
"Yes, Shichen-nii."
"Mm…" Natsuki sipped her tea without looking at him.
"Natsuki, there's something you should know."
Kanon was sitting on the sofa across from Natsuki; she didn't yet know she'd be staying.
"Hold that thought—help me first," Natsuki said instead.
"Help? Trouble at work?"
"Something like that… You're coming out with me later. We need to find someone… I think."
"What's that mean?"
"A synthetic angel appeared last night. I need you to find her—preferably grab her."
Natsuki had pieced together a lot, but she was still behind.
"That? Already handled," Shichen said, stepping behind Kanon and stroking her hair. "She's right here."
~~~
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