Rozen had thought he might obtain at least some information from Natsuki.
Unexpectedly, when Natsuki answered the call and Rozen succinctly stated his purpose, she immediately shot back with a single line:
"Stay out of this matter."
Her tone carried an unmistakable warning.
"What?"
Rozen hadn't anticipated this response and was momentarily stunned.
Natsuki, however, remained cold and detached.
"There are indeed some underlying circumstances regarding Avrora, but it's nothing major. Just stay home quietly—if you want to go out with Asagi and the others, fine, but don't come back too late. If I don't see you at home after dark, prepare to be punished."
Having said this, she seemed ready to hang up immediately.
"Wait, Natsuki-nee." Rozen quickly stopped her, deeply puzzled. "At least tell us what's going on with Nagisa and Avrora. We need some reassurance."
"Oh?" Natsuki replied bluntly. "Then rest assured now. Akatsuki Nagisa was taken out by her own father—he wouldn't harm her. As for Avrora, I didn't stop her from leaving, which means I approved it. Do you really think I'd let anything happen to that vampire?"
That was true.
Natsuki would never endanger Avrora, just as Gajou wouldn't harm Nagisa. With these two vouching for their safety, there shouldn't be any danger.
Moreover, Natsuki clearly knew more but couldn't disclose it.
"I'm a national Attack Mage. Some classified information can't be shared even with family. Understand?"
She was trying to reason with him.
However...
"Doesn't that just confirm something is happening to Nagisa and Avrora?" Rozen didn't accept her explanation, instead frowning deeply. "What exactly are you all scheming, Natsuki-nee?"
His question made Natsuki fall silent.
But not for long.
"Just stay out of it. Go have fun or whatever."
Her tone was impatient.
"Natsuki-nee!"
Rozen's voice hardened.
What followed was an unexpected reaction from Natsuki.
"I said stay out of it!"
For once, she raised her voice sharply, almost shouting at him.
Rozen was taken aback.
Then...
"You just came back. All I want is for you to stay by my side safely and not get dragged into messy affairs again." Natsuki's voice lowered, as if struggling to control her emotions. "I'm begging you this time. Alright?"
Rozen was at a loss for words.
In Natsuki's tone, he detected something he'd never heard before—pleading.
The usually domineering, aloof Natsuki was practically begging him just to remain where she could see him. This alone revealed how deeply Rozen's two-month disappearance had affected her.
She was afraid—no, terrified.
Terrified he might vanish again.
Terrified of losing him.
For someone who saw Rozen as her entire world, this fear could drive her to madness.
Natsuki seemed to regain her composure.
"Just leave this matter alone. With me here, nothing will happen to those two girls."
With that, she hung up.
Listening to the dial tone, Rozen felt a tumult of emotions.
"So? What did Natsuki-chan say?" Kojou asked anxiously.
Yukina, Asagi, and Motoki also looked at Rozen expectantly—they hadn't heard Natsuki's side of the conversation.
After a brief pause, Rozen smiled and replied:
"Natsuki-nee said there's nothing to worry about."
His tone was light.
"Nothing to worry about?"
The group was puzzled.
"Yeah." Rozen maintained his relaxed expression. "I overcomplicated things. Avrora was able to leave so easily because Natsuki-nee pulled some strings. She wanted Avrora and Nagisa to go out and relax, to stop worrying about me. That's why she specially arranged their exit permits. Those two are probably fine—the lack of contact is likely just poor signal in the countryside."
His explanation eased their concerns.
"Guess we were overthinking it," Asagi sighed.
"Now that I think about it, if Natsuki-chan allowed Avrora to leave and Gajou-san went with them, there couldn't really be any conspiracy, right?" Motoki added with a shrug.
"Are you sure about that?"
Only Kojou still seemed uneasy.
After all, while they hadn't heard Natsuki's words, Rozen's earlier statements during the call had suggested something more serious.
Yukina remained silent, studying Rozen's composed face as if trying to discern his thoughts.
Clapping his hands, Rozen addressed the group:
"Alright, let's stop worrying needlessly. Since Natsuki-nee approved Avrora's departure, she must have everything under control. She wouldn't let anything happen to Nagisa and Avrora. If she says they're fine, we should trust her."
These words seemed more for himself than the others.
No one noticed, however, and they all nodded in agreement—except for Kojou, who still couldn't shake his doubts. The conversation gradually shifted to lighter topics, and soon even Kojou was drawn into the banter between Asagi and Motoki.
Rozen and Yukina, however, stayed quiet.
Yukina kept subtly observing Rozen.
Rozen remained expressionless, lost in thought.
...
Later, the group had lunch together, wandered around the mall, killed time at an arcade until mid-afternoon, accompanied Asagi to clothing and electronics stores, and finally parted ways as the sun began to set, each heading home.
Rozen and Yukina also began their journey back, but the atmosphere between them was heavy with unspoken tension.
Just as they neared home, Yukina finally spoke up.
"Is this really alright, Senpai?"
Her question was cautious.
Rozen smiled wryly.
"What's not alright about it?" he replied helplessly. "If Natsuki-nee says so, I'm willing to trust her."
He truly couldn't bring himself to refuse her when she was like that.
After all...
"Natsuki-nee has only ever had one goal—to protect me."
Rozen lifted his gaze to the penthouse apartment ahead—his and Natsuki's home.
In truth, he desperately wanted to tell her:
"I can protect you now, Natsuki-nee."
When would this stubborn sister ever learn to rely on him a little?
What a vexing thought.