I Sealed Sukuna’s Finger#356+357: You Two Finally Got Together? Natsuki's Youth Center Senses Danger

Meeting a childhood friend again after years apart was undoubtedly fortunate—especially when that friend still held the same pure, untainted affection from childhood.

Honestly, Bokue Keikain had never expected to run into Tokoyogi Yuuma in a place like this.

Of course, Asagi Aiba was equally blindsided.

The three of them had known each other since childhood, though compared to the pure "childhood playmates" relationship between Bokue and Yuuma, the dynamic between Asagi and Yuuma was more like "rivals."

As mentioned before, Asagi's mother had been sickly during her childhood, requiring constant care at home. This meant Asagi couldn't go out and play freely like normal kids—she could only stay home, with gaming as her sole entertainment.

Yuuma's personality, on the other hand, leaned more toward Shidou Irina's type—always enthusiastic about dragging Bokue out to play.

Because of this, if young Asagi wanted to invite Bokue over for weekend or holiday gaming sessions, she had to beat Yuuma and Irina to the punch.

Even being slightly slow meant missing her chance.

Though more than ten years had passed, those feelings of victorious joy and defeated regret still lingered in the girl's heart.

Now, faced with her childhood rival again, Asagi's first reaction wasn't nostalgia or relief—just a massive golden exclamation mark above her head.

Oh hell, not this bitch again. After all these years, she's still trying to steal Bokue? Well too bad—you've already lost!

"Tokoyogi... why are you suddenly here?"

As the fiery sunset gradually sank below the horizon, Asagi grabbed her boyfriend's arm possessively, glaring at the short-haired girl with full wariness.

This was her marking her territory!

"Hmm~"

But compared to Asagi's high alert status, Yuuma remained completely relaxed, one hand in her pocket while the other tapped thoughtfully at her lip.

"I'd say it's just coincidence. I've been visiting Itogami Island recently—just landed this afternoon, actually. Thought I'd check out downtown, and while walking around, I spotted two very familiar-looking people ahead."

Familiar my ass...

Asagi mentally ranted.

They'd been called from behind—how could she see their faces from that angle?

"But anyway—"

Yuuma shifted gears, refocusing on the pair before her, her gaze lingering meaningfully on the young man's captured arm.

"I never expected your relationship to develop this far. Is this childhood sweethearts finally getting together?"

"...Eh?"

Asagi froze slightly.

She hadn't expected that response. Back in the day, they were either fighting over Bokue or on their way to fight over Bokue—neither willing to back down.

Yet now Yuuma was asking if they'd gotten together...

Did she see their relationship and decide to give up? Or had she genuinely let go after all these years?

It might sound dramatic, but it gave Asagi the feeling of Naruto and Sasuke's first meeting at Orochimaru's base in Shippuden—except Sasuke immediately said "I was wrong, you're stronger Naruto, I'll come back to the village quietly."

But Asagi wasn't as hardheaded as Naruto. After that compliment, all her earlier hostility melted away, and she became unexpectedly bashful.

"Well... 'finally getting together' is a bit... I mean... it's not that dramatic."

Though they had confirmed their relationship.

After all, they'd done everything they should—and shouldn't—have done.

"Oh right, right."

As if struck by inspiration, Yuuma clapped her hands together with a smile.

"You're going to dinner, right? What a coincidence—I'm looking for somewhere to eat too. But I'm really not familiar with Itogami Island, so I don't know which restaurants downtown are good. Since you're here, maybe you could recommend something? We could all have dinner together—my treat~"

Dinner... together?

Hearing this, Asagi hesitated momentarily.

Honestly, she'd rather have dinner alone with Bokue. Even if they'd known each other since childhood, even knowing about their relationship, Yuuma was still technically an outsider.

With outsiders present, she couldn't really let loose.

Things like mouth-to-mouth feeding would definitely be off the table.

But thinking about it differently—since Yuuma wasn't competing for Bokue anymore like when they were kids, they could actually be considered friends now.

As the saying goes, how delightful to have friends visit from afar. Meeting again after years, with old conflicts resolved, having dinner together seemed like a good choice.

With that thought, Asagi's mood brightened considerably. She even felt like the lady of the house entertaining guests, a small smile appearing on her face.

"Sure, let's go together then."

"Great! I'm really curious what kind of demon specialty foods Itogami Island has."

With Asagi's permission, Yuuma happily nodded, then right in front of her, circled around to Bokue's other side. Hands in pockets, leaning forward slightly, she tilted her head with feigned curiosity.

"But speaking of which, weren't you both from Kyoto? Why did you move to Itogami Island?"

"Eh? Oh... my father's a city councilman on Itogami Island now, so Mom and I moved here with him."

Asagi explained casually, then glanced at the young man beside her.

"As for Bokue, it's family business. He's been on Itogami Island monitoring the Fourth Progenitor... well, more like babysitting really."

"I see, so it's related to the Fourth Progenitor."

Yuuma nodded with apparent understanding and amazement.

Though this perfectly matched the intelligence she'd received.

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With Yuuma joining them, Asagi's planned romantic candlelit dinner was definitely off the table.

Besides, if they were having a reunion dinner, it needed to be lively.

Scene shift—the three had arrived at a popular Korean BBQ restaurant on Itogami Island's downtown commercial street.

Since it was summer vacation and peak dinner hour, the restaurant was completely packed. Not a single empty seat in the main hall.

Bokue's group had to settle for a slightly pricier private booth.

Though calling it "private" was generous—it was still in the main hall, just along the windowed perimeter. Sound-dampening screens separated the booths, with curtains that could be drawn for privacy.

At least it created a relatively intimate space.

Soon their orders arrived one by one, and the not-so-spacious booth filled with the smoky aroma of sizzling meat.

But grilled meat was like hot tofu—patience was key. Everyone knew the first bite would be heavenly, but rushing to devour undercooked meat could lead to explosive consequences for anyone with a weak stomach.

So despite the tantalizing smell already permeating their booth, Yuuma continued methodically flipping each piece.

Using this time, she resumed their earlier conversation.

"Well, news about the Fourth Progenitor is spreading like wildfire internationally, but apparently no one's gotten a proper photo or video yet. So everything I know is just hearsay."

Just hearsay, huh...

Bokue wasn't surprised. While the Fourth Progenitor situation had made worldwide headlines, only a handful of people knew Nagisa's true identity.

Actually, there'd been a chance for it to go public—like when the Warlord's Domain sent envoys to Itogami Island about the Old Satan Faction remnants.

If Dimitrie Vatler had actually done his job properly, the headlines might've read "First Progenitor's Subordinate and Fourth Progenitor Unite to Eliminate Old Satan Faction, Successfully Establish Diplomatic Relations."

But someone had to be a smartass and improvise. Then there was no "then."

He'd nearly caused the entire Warlord's Domain to collapse.

"Since you're in regular contact with the Fourth Progenitor, Bokue, can you share anything?"

Yuuma shifted gears, her expression turning gossipy.

"I'm really curious—what kind of person is the Fourth Progenitor?"

"What kind of person..."

While Bokue was still considering how to describe her, Asagi beside him had already picked up a nearly-done piece of meat and placed it on his plate with a huff.

"Nothing special really. I've met her several times—she seems like a totally normal middle school girl."

Well, she was pretty normal. Though quite pretty, her development was rather tragic—not much chest, not much rear, but very clingy. Always calling Bokue "Big Brother" this and "Big Brother" that.

God, if she's so clingy, just get her own boyfriend. It's not like Japan has taboos against dating young—middle schoolers having relationships isn't unusual...

As she thought about it, Asagi started internally ranting again.

"Just a middle school girl?"

Yuuma covered her mouth in apparent surprise.

"I expected someone more... mysterious and seductive. Though this might actually be more dangerous..."

"Dangerous? Why?"

Asagi didn't follow her logic.

Yuuma counted on her fingers. "Think about it—if she's still in middle school, she can't be that old. And now Bokue's constantly around her. That sheltered little Progenitor might already be head over heels for him."

"That's... probably unlikely?"

Asagi's mouth twitched.

Setting aside whether Nagisa was actually head over heels for Bokue, saying this in front of her... was this meant to rile her up?

Implying she might get NTR'd by a middle schooler?

But it seemed unlikely. They'd already met several times, and Nagisa was always nice to her, constantly calling her "Sister Asagi."

Thinking about it, maybe she called Bokue "Big Brother" out of pure habit.

Right, that had to be it.

With that thought, the blonde girl turned to the young man beside her, seeking confirmation.

"Right, Bokue?"

"...Yeah."

Bokue hesitated but nodded.

To be fair, he wasn't sure if he'd charmed Nagisa into being head over heels, but he definitely rammed her into being head over heels regularly.

As long as he rammed her head over heels before charming her head over heels, technically it didn't count.

"Haha, you never know~"

Yuuma waggled her finger meaningfully.

"Anyway, be careful, Bokue. Don't let your inner beast win. If you lose control and do something 'extreme' to that poor girl, you'll get arrested~"

Bokue: "..."

Apparently feeling that wasn't threatening enough, Yuuma continued.

"Plus I heard Itogami Island has a hidden prison. Supposedly lots of powerful criminals are locked up there. Have you heard about it?"

"Not at all."

Bokue shook his head.

He'd surveyed Itogami Island from above and hadn't spotted any prison-like areas.

"I've heard a little—apparently these prisons exist worldwide."

Yuuma smiled slightly.

"Legend says they're otherworlds constructed in witches' dreams—cursed prisons where even gods would be eternally imprisoned. As long as the administrator sleeps within that 'prison barrier,' no one can harm them. They won't age, won't be injured, won't die."

"So if someone like Bokue loses control and commits a serious crime, he might get locked up there. Though... maybe the witch managing Itogami Island's prison barrier would be too smitten with our handsome Bokue to arrest him?"

"How would she even arrest anyone if she's supposedly asleep in the prison barrier..."

Bokue was speechless.

The logic made zero sense.

"Well, don't worry about the details. That's just how the rumors go."

Yuuma laughed cheerfully.

"So be careful, Bokue. It'd be terrible if some witch lady snatched you away."

Meanwhile, in the top floor office of Itogami Island's Special Security Force building—

A certain gothic girl hunched over her desk, frantically writing reports, suddenly felt her stomach twist. With an "ugh," she unconsciously put down her pen and rubbed her abdomen.

Astarte, in her maid outfit, appeared beside her at lightning speed, holding a tray with a cup of hot water. She spoke expressionlessly.

"[Query] : Is the Director's period starting? Please use this hot water if needed."

"...Don't be ridiculous. I don't have those."