The next morning.
When Rozen awoke in his own bed at the Minamiya residence, he finally felt the reality of his return settle in.
"Even though I got quite the scolding yesterday..."
Being back in the Minamiya household gave Rozen an indescribable sense of security.
Perhaps it was because Natsuki's overprotective nature during his time living here had ensured he rarely encountered any unexpected incidents that made him feel so at ease here.
This sense of comfort was similar to what he'd felt living with the Kirigayas - that feeling of not needing to plan his next move, just living an ordinary life.
"Could it be that I haven't matured as much as I thought, and I'm still just a child at heart?"
This self-deprecating thought brought a wry smile to his face as he got out of bed.
Naturally, the room contained no one else besides Rozen.
Despite her protests, Yukina had ultimately been prevented from moving in by Natsuki's intervention.
Though clearly dissatisfied, there was no helping it - Natsuki wasn't magnanimous enough to allow her brother to share a room with another girl, even when Yukina repeatedly clarified she didn't intend to share the bed, claiming she could sleep just fine meditating in a corner.
"As a teacher, how could I possibly allow a student to sleep meditating in a corner when staying over?"
Using this reasoning, Natsuki sent the unconvinced Yukina packing.
This elder sister remained as always - outwardly domineering but inwardly more tenderhearted than anyone, the very picture of "tough bark but soft core."
While Yukina failed to move in, that didn't mean she'd relax her surveillance.
Rozen could easily detect four shikigami stationed throughout his room: a moth-shaped one behind the wardrobe, a gecko under the bed, a spider on the ceiling, and a butterfly by the window - thoroughly monitoring his every move.
"Isn't this stalker-level behavior?"
Rozen silently complained.
Not just Rozen - the girls within him also had choice comments about the shikigami.
"Is this what you call dedication?" Artoria [Alter] remarked.
"Kind of gross, no?" Jeanne [Alter] didn't pull her punches.
"As an Assassin, I have mixed feelings about this," Serenity admitted, unsure how to react.
"...I see. So this is surveillance," Mash murmured thoughtfully, with a tone that suggested she was "taking notes," which unsettled Rozen slightly.
In the end, Rozen could only resign himself to the situation.
"Well, at least it's not some creepy old man. Being watched by a cute girl isn't the worst deal, right?"
This was the best consolation he could muster.
With that, Rozen got dressed in this world's casual clothes and tidied up.
"Caw!"
Kinu, who had been perched on the windowsill appearing to doze, opened its golden eyes and fluttered over to land on Rozen's outstretched arm.
After playing with the golden crow for a moment, Rozen instructed:
"Return to my blood as a Beast Vassal, Kinu."
In this world, Rozen had no intention of wandering about wearing Kinu.
The reason was simple - it would draw too much attention.
Unlike previous worlds where he'd either battled Onmyouji or stood out at magical academies, here even Demons adopted ordinary human attire to blend into life at the Demon Sanctuary. Thus, Rozen saw no need to wear Kinu constantly.
"Caw!"
Kinu seemed indifferent, obediently turning crystalline before dissolving into a blood mist that seeped into Rozen's body.
Now his blood housed one deity, one divine dragon, four Servants, and ten Beast Vassals standing guard.
As for Gyokuto, Rozen saw no need to dismiss it.
The ring form was inconspicuous enough, with all effects being internal, making it perfectly fine to wear normally without concealment.
Satisfied, Rozen smiled and left his room.
...
Exiting his room, Rozen found Kanon preparing breakfast while Astarte readied morning tea.
"Confirming the Divine Child's awakening," Astarte mechanically reported from her position near the head of the dining table.
"Ah, good morning, Senpai," Kanon greeted warmly, turning from arranging breakfast bread to smile at him.
Natsuki sat at the head of the table and regarded the newly risen Rozen with measured indifference.
"Now that you're up, prepare for breakfast. Sit down," she instructed, tapping the adjacent seat with her lace fan.
That seat had always been Rozen's designated spot - neither in the past nor present had anyone else apparently dared occupy it.
When Kojou had once boldly attempted to sit there during his stay, he'd mysteriously vanished, only to reappear minutes later in the dining room soaking wet as if fished from the ocean.
Thus, as if declaring that only Rozen could sit beside her, no one had dared claim that seat since - not even during Rozen's two-month absence.
Remembering this, Rozen smiled faintly and took his customary place.
Unfortunately, his smile vanished in the next instant.
"Astarte," Natsuki called with deliberate calm.
"Command accepted," Astarte replied impassively, having apparently prepared in advance as she brought over a stack of papers.
"Thud!"
The pile landed heavily before Rozen with an audible smack.
"...What's this?"
Rozen stared blankly for a long moment before managing to ask.
"These are all the worksheets, exams, and review materials from your two-month absence, including supplementary classes and extracurricular coursework," Natsuki answered immediately.
"..."
Rozen fell silent.
Surveying the paper mountain before him, he turned an incredulous look toward Natsuki.
"Hmph." Natsuki remained merciless. "Do you have any idea how many attendance credits you missed vanishing for two months? You even skipped finals. If I hadn't covered for you, you'd be repeating the year regardless of grades. Complete these, attend my specially arranged winter break make-up classes, and you can recover all your credits and exam scores in one go - still able to maintain your top-ranking honors student status next year. Do you have any complaints?"
...Meaning not just worksheets, but winter break make-up classes too?
"Don't worry, Senpai," Kanon offered kindly. "Akatsuki-senpai will be joining you - his attendance was insufficient too because of Yuuma-san."
...That was hardly comforting.
With New Year's just two days away and year-end approaching, was he really doomed to grind through study materials now?
"Well? Any objections?" Natsuki narrowed her eyes at him.
"...No, none."
Rozen answered honestly.
He truly had no objections - he just slightly regretted coming back.