I Sealed Sukuna’s Finger#376+377: What's Going On? Opening Two Doors at Once

The earlier talk about getting food wasn't just empty words.

So ten minutes later, at the familiar barbecue restaurant in central Itogami Island—

"You know... we've got quite the crowd for barbecue tonight."

The aroma of grilled meat filled her nostrils, the sizzling sounds reached her ears. In the private booth, Asagi sat somewhat awkwardly beside Bokue, glancing around at the others at their table.

She meant "awkward" in the purely physical sense.

After all, last night there'd been three of them—just herself, Bokue, and Tokoyogi Yuuma. That number was more than comfortable for the booth—downright spacious, really.

They could've laid down to eat if they'd wanted.

But tonight, besides the three of them, there was also Nagisa, La Folia, Kanon, Sayaka, Natsuki, and Astarte, plus some unknown classical beauty in elaborate twelve-layered robes.

Even Yukina, who should've been at the apartment, had been dragged along.

Ten people total at one table. Good thing the booth was roomy with L-shaped sofas wrapping three-quarters around the table—each side could fit three adults.

Since Astarte and Natsuki were both petite, the two of them together counted as one adult, which just barely let everyone fit.

"Isn't it nice though?"

Bokue was still studying the menu, responding casually to his girlfriend's complaint.

"You only had a bowl of noodles for dinner anyway. That amount for you... I mean, it's been a while, you're probably hungry by now. You should eat something more, or sleeping on an empty stomach will be uncomfortable."

He'd almost said "that amount wouldn't even count as an appetizer for you," but after catching his girlfriend's "gentle" gaze, he diplomatically changed course.

"Still, I didn't expect we'd be included too~"

La Folia clasped her hands together, eyes sparkling happily.

"Right..."

The Sword Shaman narrowed her eyes in dissatisfaction.

"So what exactly happened?"

Yukina genuinely had no idea. Tonight had been like any other—she'd simply eaten dinner, gone to her room to read, and stayed there until Bokue suddenly dragged her out for a late-night meal.

She hadn't noticed anything about witch invasions or spatial chaos.

Pretty sudden.

"Well~ it's a bit of a long story. Better to explain properly when we get back."

Nagisa, back in her original body, smiled.

"I see. Then what about Miss Natsuki?"

Yukina remained puzzled, turning her gaze to the two witches at the table.

"And this woman who looks so much like Miss Tokoyogi is..."

"She does look alike, right? Right?"

Before the Sword Shaman could finish, Yuuma made a cute peace sign with a grin.

"Of course she does! Don't be too shocked, but she's actually my mom... Right, 'Mom'?"

The short-haired girl leaned affectionately toward the silent Tokoyogi Aya beside her.

Sensing her daughter's movement, the Witch of Notaria's body trembled beneath her kimono.

The two packets of crackers at the Special Security Force building had barely restored her ability to think. After all this time to calm down, she'd recognized her current situation clearly.

As the former Grand Librarian who'd controlled the entire Library, she'd naturally been able to control Tokoyogi Yuuma through her magic and methods—whether granting power or having her execute the prison break plan.

Yuuma had been nothing but an obedient puppet to her, with no possibility of resistance.

But now Yuuma had completed their contract and could live freely for herself, no longer needing to follow orders. Meanwhile, she herself had become a mere mortal with her witch powers completely sealed.

Tokoyogi Aya knew exactly what she'd done to her "daughter."

She'd never been a good mother—couldn't even claim the title of mother.

Now the tables had turned. With their positions reversed, she was the lamb to the slaughter. Tokoyogi Aya couldn't imagine what kind of reckoning and revenge her daughter would exact.

What was going to happen to her...

Just thinking about it made Tokoyogi Aya bite her lower lip and tremble slightly.

Fortunately, her loose kimono concealed her distress. Yukina didn't notice, simply nodding after receiving a reasonable answer without pressing further.

"So she's Yuuma's mother. She certainly looks young... And Miss Natsuki? You haven't said a word since we sat down."

"...What do you want me to say?"

After a brief silence, Natsuki who'd been mute since sitting down finally raised her head, revealing ice-blue eyes filled with either resignation or complete surrender.

"Whatever. None of it matters anymore. My life is over anyway."

Eh?

Was it really that dramatic?

The Sword Shaman was startled by the bleak tone, but before she could ask more, Bokue's voice rang out.

"Waiter~ Yes, we'll start with these... Please hurry, someone here is about to faint from hunger."

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The late-night meal was actually pretty lively overall.

Ten people at a table wasn't small, and with chatty girls like Nagisa, Yuuma, and La Folia present, there was no risk of awkward silence.

Even Asagi, busy catching up on dinner, and the shy bunny-like Kanon would occasionally chime in.

By comparison, the low pressure emanating from the two former witches, Natsuki and Tokoyogi Aya, could be completely ignored.

And so time passed to after the meal.

Outside the barbecue restaurant on the commercial street in central Itogami Island—

"Well then, we'll head home first."

Nagisa waved goodbye with a cute smile, standing beside Yukina who was also ready to go home and sleep.

"See you... later, Big Brother~"

"Sayaka and I should probably return to the hotel too."

La Folia tilted her head with a smile.

"Let's call it a night here."

"Um... yeah."

Sayaka hesitated briefly but ultimately just nodded without saying more.

"Do whatever you want. I'm definitely going back—I have tons of reports to write."

Natsuki exhaled lightly and turned away, hiding her expression.

"Let's go, Kanon, Astarte. And just so we're clear, Astarte, you disobeying my orders today isn't over. Once this busy period ends, I'll punish you properly."

"Master..."

No sooner had Natsuki issued her threat than the blue-haired maid appeared at Bokue's side, looking up at him with eyes that, despite showing no emotion, somehow appeared pitiful as she tugged at his sleeve.

"Don't worry, she's just talking."

Bokue's palm fell gently, ruffling the blue-haired maid's head.

"Oh right, I'll come help recharge you tomorrow, Astarte."

"Mm...!"

With an emphatic nod, Astarte's tone revealed complete anticipation.

Finally, Tokoyogi Yuuma approached the youth with her young, silent "mother" behind her.

"Oh, Bokue, um... actually, never mind. It's nothing. Anyway, good night. We're heading back too."

"??"

Bokue formed two question marks.

Her hesitation had been so smooth it seemed rehearsed.

This was obviously her way of telling him to come find her later!

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

Scene shift—Bokue and Asagi had returned home.

It was getting pretty late. They'd met Natsuki at the Special Security Force headquarters at six in the evening, then Nagisa had called about the body swap, followed by tracking down Tokoyogi Yuuma in Nagisa's body, and so on and so forth.

After all that running around, it was nearly ten at night.

"Haah~ What an exhausting day."

Still changing shoes in the entryway, Asagi couldn't help covering her mouth to yawn—with the same hand she'd just used to remove her shoes.

"I was looking forward to a nice dinner after work, but then all this happened."

"...You say that like you didn't just have a 'nice dinner.'"

Hearing his girlfriend's complaint, Bokue couldn't help his side-eye.

"Well I did eat... but look at everything that happened before that."

Asagi pouted, defending her position.

"Work's tiring enough without being dragged to the Special Security Force headquarters afterward. Now I'm getting sleepy."

"Isn't that perfect though?"

Bokue shrugged.

"It's late anyway. After your bath, you can just go to sleep—"

"What, you're going out again?"

The blonde girl who'd been yawning drowsily a second ago immediately turned alert, eyeing her boyfriend suspiciously.

"Sort of..."

Bokue rubbed his forehead helplessly. 'Yuuma, you really gave me a challenge here.'

"Remember when Natsuki and I both left at the Security Force building?"

"Yeah, but what's that got to do with anything?"

The blonde girl looked puzzled.

"Well..."

Bokue nodded, then briefly explained how Nagisa and Tokoyogi Yuuma had swapped bodies, and how Yuuma used the True Ancestor's power to break into the Prison Barrier to rescue her "mother."

Of course, he omitted certain details—like Natsuki being the Prison Barrier's administrator, or Tokoyogi Aya being imprisoned for major crimes.

Basically, it became a modern version of the tale of a child splitting mountains to save their mother.

"S-so Tokoyogi came to Itogami Island to save her... um..."

After hearing the whole story, Asagi was stunned but couldn't find any fault with it.

From an objective standpoint, it was exactly as Bokue described—even if it was only part of the truth.

But even partial truth was still truth.

"Exactly."

Bokue nodded.

"But forcing True Ancestor power through a mortal body might leave side effects. When we parted downtown earlier, Yuuma wanted me to check her over, but she felt awkward asking with you there."

"Huh? Why?"

Asagi blinked in confusion.

"It's just a medical check. Why would she be embarrassed? She could've just asked."

"Of course she'd be embarrassed—asking to meet someone's boyfriend at her hotel late at night, right in front of his girlfriend..."

"Okay, okay, I get it! No need to continue!"

Before Bokue could finish, Asagi raised her hand to stop him.

"It's fine, go ahead. I approve. Just come back early when you're done."

After all, they'd known each other since childhood. And it wasn't like they'd be alone—her mother would be there too.

Nothing could happen with her mother present, right?

The blonde girl thought to herself.

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So after bathing with Asagi and successfully tucking her into bed, Bokue teleported directly to the hotel suite in central Itogami Island.

The familiar living room.

When Bokue opened his eyes, warm bright light streamed down from the crystal chandelier overhead. The air carried a faint wine aroma.

At a glance, the short-haired girl sat on the living room sofa. Her usual jeans and shirt were gone, replaced by a backless evening gown that balanced sensuality with elegance. The black strapless top accentuated her modest curves, while dark lace stockings hugged her long legs.

"Ah, Bokue, you finally made it."

She looked up at the arriving youth. Wine bottles and glasses sat on the coffee table, the deep red liquid gleaming seductively in the transparent glass under the lights.

"Pfft..."

With absolutely no intention of sparing her feelings, Bokue burst out laughing without thinking.

"W-what's so funny?!"

Breaking character instantly on both sides, Tokoyogi Yuuma's face flushed red seeing him laugh.

She knew she looked completely different from her usual image.

It was like your normally sloppy buddy who always shows up in pajamas and flip-flops for barbecue suddenly getting a girlfriend—not only wearing a sharp suit and slicking back his hair, but even sticking a red rose in his lapel.

Sure, the contrast was stark, but did he have to laugh that hard?

She was still a girl—couldn't he spare her some dignity?

"No... nothing, just a bit surprised... cough anyway..."

Using the cough to hide his smile, Bokue quickly changed topics to divert attention.

"So you called me here to..."

Before he could finish, spatial magic rippled through the air. The short-haired girl who'd been on the sofa suddenly appeared before him.

She straightforwardly took his hands and placed them on her waist, tilting her face up on tiptoes, wine-red eyes flowing with desire as rich as aged wine.

"Idiot Bokue, what else could it be for... Come on, hurry up. Take me."

Perhaps due to shared East Asian cultural sensibilities, Japanese could be quite euphemistic about certain things.

When a Japanese girl said "take me," that "take" could have another meaning entirely.

"Right here?"

Bokue raised an eyebrow, glancing around.

"But what about Miss Tokoyogi Aya..."

"Don't worry, she's already asleep."

Tokoyogi Yuuma pulled him to sit on the sofa while manually releasing restraints and calibrating docking coordinates with a slight smile.

"I put her to sleep before you arrived."

"Is that so."

Though somewhat surprised, Bokue accepted this explanation.

"Sodayo~"

So the moment the short-haired girl settled into position, simultaneously in the suite's bedroom, a certain twelve-layered beauty bound hand and foot on the bed seemed to share the sensation. Her delicate neck arched high as her body went rigid, muffled but intense sounds bursting from her sealed lips.