I Sealed Sukuna’s Finger#368+369: I Like Your Boyfriend Too, Body Swap

As the sun set over Itogami Island, Asagi Aiba emerged from the Keystone Gate's main entrance, her workday finally over. The moment she stepped into the plaza, a wave of hot air hit her, making her instinctively hold her breath.

God, it's hot...

The area was packed—students on summer vacation meeting friends for dinner, mixed with office workers like herself just getting off the clock.

"Hmm..."

Asagi scanned the crowd, frowning when she didn't spot a familiar figure. He had promised to pick her up at five, but it was already five past. Where was he?

Just as she began to wonder, a familiar voice called out from behind her.

"Sorry, Asagi. Running a bit late."

She turned to see the face she'd been waiting for.

"Oh, Bokue, you're here..."

A smile automatically touched Asagi's lips, but she quickly suppressed it, stepping onto her tiptoes to narrow her eyes at him.

"I just got off work, and you're still late. Spill it. What was so important that you almost forgot about your girlfriend?"

"I could never forget. Nothing like that..." Bokue laughed it off.

He hadn't forgotten—he'd just been held up by Nagisa. After an intense afternoon session, he'd accidentally knocked her unconscious while trying his "Daily summary" move. The frantic effort to revive her had cost him five minutes.

Not wanting to explain that, Bokue quickly changed the subject. "Anyway, more importantly—what do you want for dinner?"

"Dinner, huh..." Asagi answered without much thought. "Let's keep it simple. We can just grab some ramen somewhere."

Huh?

Bokue froze, reaching up to press the back of his hand against her forehead. Asagi didn't flinch, just blinking at him in confusion.

"What? I don't have a fever."

"No... I was just wondering if you were sick and lost your appetite. Or maybe you're mad at me?" Bokue still looked puzzled.

Asagi was a legendary foodie. Though she watched her figure more carefully now, she still lived for good food. For her, a mediocre dinner felt like a wasted day—a failure to properly "reward" herself.

"I'm not sick or angry!" Asagi rolled her eyes, understanding his concern. "I just have other plans tonight. Do you really think I'm the type to throw a tantrum at my boyfriend?"

"Well, no..." Bokue scratched his cheek. "So what's this about other plans?"

"It's about Miss Natsuki," Asagi sighed helplessly. "She called me around noon asking for you. Apparently, that Kanon Kanase girl is awake, and Natsuki wants us both to stop by tonight."

"...Why didn't she just call me directly?"

Bokue's brow furrowed in confusion. It made no sense. If it was about Kanon, Natsuki should have contacted him. Why go through Asagi?

"Hmm~ Maybe she just didn't want to hear your voice?"

Asagi's guess was surprisingly close to the truth.

Bokue: "..."

Well, that was possible... After all, the gothic lolita often complained his presence alone was suffocating.

"Did she say what time?"

"Six o'clock."

"...That's less than an hour from now." Bokue checked his phone, lost in thought.

"Exactly. That's why I said we should just grab ramen." Asagi nodded, then grabbed his arm and turned back toward the Keystone Gate. "Come on, I know a good ramen place in the building. Second floor."

"Alright."

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After their quick dinner, Bokue and Asagi headed to the Special Security Force headquarters. Since it wasn't their first visit and Natsuki had cleared them, they walked right in without any trouble.

When they reached the underground level, everyone was already gathered in the medical bay where Kanon had been treated. Besides Natsuki, Astarte, and Kanon herself, Sayaka and La Folia were also there.

Seeing them arrive, La Folia was the first to approach, a welcoming smile on her face.

"Good evening, Bokue-kun. And this must be..." She turned her gaze to the blonde girl beside him.

Bokue... kun?

Asagi's eyebrow twitched. In Japan, adding "-kun" to a man's first name was a sign of close friendship... or something more intimate. Between unrelated men and women, it was usually reserved for couples.

Her eyes turned sharp. Tightening her grip on Bokue's arm to emphasize her point, Asagi met the princess's gaze.

"Hello, I'm Asagi Aiba, Bokue's girlfriend. And you are?"

"Oh, so you're the girlfriend Bokue-kun mentioned! It's a pleasure. I'm La Folia, First Princess of the Aldegyr Kingdom." La Folia pressed her fingers together and tilted her head with a disarming smile. "I feel like we're going to be great friends."

"Uh... really?" Asagi blinked, caught off guard. She had assumed the girl was being overly familiar to pick a fight, but her attitude was surprisingly friendly. Had she misunderstood?

"Of course~" La Folia's smile grew brighter.

'You like your boyfriend, and I like your boyfriend. Doesn't that make us allies?' the silver-haired girl added silently.

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As the two girls sized each other up, Sayaka approached from the side. The War Dancer clasped her hands in front of her, her legs fidgeting nervously beneath her short skirt. With flushed cheeks, she spoke in a soft, shy voice:

"G-good evening, Bokue."

What?!

Already on edge, Asagi's eyes widened as she stared at the archer. What was with that shy greeting and blushing attitude? Weren't they mortal enemies just a few days ago?

Could it be...

"Ahem! Let me interrupt before this turns into a social hour—I have business to discuss."

Natsuki stepped between the four of them with a light cough, turning first to La Folia and Sayaka.

"I'll cut to the chase. Questions later. First, regarding Kanon Kanase's custody. Aldegyr has been requesting her return, but Itogami Island can't agree to that just yet. Kanon remains under observation, and I will be her temporary guardian. Once the observation period ends, we will reconsider Aldegyr's request, likely with relaxed conditions."

"I see." La Folia's expression showed a hint of disappointment. This was the reason she had come to Japan; failure would make the trip a waste.

Natsuki then turned to Bokue. "There's another matter—regarding Kanon's body. You'll need to take responsibility for it from now on."

"Hmm?" A look of confusion crossed Bokue's face.

Before he could ask what "take responsibility" meant, the silver-haired girl sitting on the operating table stood up. She padded over barefoot, hands clasped, a serene smile on her face.

"According to Miss Natsuki's examination, your draining the angelic power allowed my consciousness to return. However, the spiritual circuits in my body still exceed the ascension threshold, causing spiritual power to accumulate inside me. I need you to clear it out regularly, Big Brother, to prevent the angelic power from controlling me again."

Kanon bowed deeply to him.

"Please take care of me from now on, Big Brother."

Bokue: "..."

Well, now he understood.

Since the silver-haired girl was still wearing the loose hospital gown from the operating room, when she bowed, Bokue got an eyeful of the modest curves beneath her collar. Fortunately, neither Kanon nor Asagi seemed to notice.

After the explanation, Natsuki cleared her throat. "That's all I had to say. If you have any questions, now is the time—"

Buzz buzz~

A phone's vibration echoed through the quiet room. Bokue checked his pocket and saw a familiar name: Yuuma.

"Sorry, I need to take this." He held up his phone apologetically and stepped aside. "Hello, Yuuma? What's up... huh? Um... what? What? WHAT?!"

His voice grew louder and more shocked with each word. "Wait, hold on, what do you mean you're Nagisa using Yuuma's body and phone? Just... stay put, I'm coming right now."

He hung up and returned to Asagi's side. "Um, Asagi, stay here for a bit. Something's happened with Yuuma, and I need to check on it. Call me if anything comes up."

"Eh? Tokoyogi?" Asagi blinked in surprise.

Before she could respond, a suddenly tense Natsuki approached them. "Wait, what did you just say? What's your friend's name?"

"Tokoyogi Yuuma."

With those final words, Bokue vanished in a flash of teleportation.

The gothic lolita stood frozen, her mind racing. "Tokoyogi? It's actually Tokoyogi? This... how is this possible?!"

"[Query]." Astarte approached, her voice monotone. "Director, are there any new instructions?"

"No need..." Natsuki started to shake her head, then stopped. "The only instruction is for all of you to stay here. Don't wander off. This place is safe. I need to leave immediately—I'll explain when I return."

Purple magical energy rippled as chain-like teleportation circles flashed, and Natsuki vanished as well.

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In a hotel suite.

Bokue stared in amazement at the short-haired girl on the sofa. She looked exactly like Tokoyogi Yuuma but spoke with Nagisa's distinctive mannerisms.

"So you really are Nagisa?"

"Yes, Big Brother. You have to believe me, even though it sounds unbelievable..." On the opposite sofa, 'Tokoyogi Yuuma' pressed a small fist to her chest and nodded sweetly.

This was... peculiar.

Tokoyogi Yuuma had always given off a vibrant, tomboyish energy. While she had her feminine moments, she was usually rough around the edges. Nagisa was also cheerful but far more reserved in her daily life—except, of course, when she wasn't. The result was a tomboy who had suddenly discovered her feminine side, paying careful attention to her posture and speech. It wasn't bad, just... unreal.

Whoosh—

A teleportation circle suddenly opened in the living room, and the gothic lolita's petite form dropped gracefully through.

Natsuki had completely lost her usual composure, rushing to Bokue's side with her eyes fixed on the girl.

"So who are you really? Nagisa or Tokoyogi Yuuma?"

"Eh? Miss Natsuki, you're here too... But yes, I am Nagisa." 'Tokoyogi Yuuma' nodded.

"Then prove it. Tell us something only you and this guy would know." Natsuki jerked her chin toward Bokue.

"Well..."

Proving her identity should have been easy. But for some reason, the request made the short-haired girl's cheeks flush pink as she bashfully looked away.

"Do I really have to say it? It's a bit... inappropriate." After all, it seemed that everything only she and her Big Brother knew about was... well, that kind of thing.

Seeing her reaction, Natsuki covered her face with her hand.

That reaction confirms it... Damn it, how is this possible?