Dimensional Kaguya Ōtsutsuki

Thus, Kurumi Tokisaki also moved into the apartment.

In truth, Tohka Yatogami and Origami Tobiichi had already met Kurumi Tokisaki before, and while Mukuro Hoshimiya had interacted with her a few times, their relationship was neither particularly close nor estranged. As for Yoshino, she had always been friendly to everyone, so her attitude toward Kurumi didn't change much.

Regarding Kurumi Tokisaki's arrival, none of them showed much hostility. Of course, it wasn't as though they gave her a particularly warm welcome either. After all, everyone here was connected to Kaguya in one way or another. Naturally, their private relationships weren't as cordial as what they displayed on the surface.

But what was more troubling was the issue of space in the apartment. The small apartment was already over capacity. The once-spacious rooms were now crammed full of people, leaving barely any room to sleep. If one or two more people moved in, Kaguya estimated she might have to start sleeping on the floor.

Incidentally, the Prime Minister had previously called Kaguya, informing her that the new villa had already been completed and was ready for her to move into at any time. However, at the time, Kaguya still had other matters to attend to, making it inconvenient for her to relocate, so she postponed the move. But now, it seemed that moving was unavoidable. Even so, it would have to wait until tomorrow, as it was already nighttime. For tonight, they would just have to make do and squeeze together.

The deadline for the system's tasks was drawing nearer. While Kaguya outwardly appeared unconcerned, deep down, she couldn't entirely suppress her worries. So far, she had completed only three tasks, leaving seven still unfulfilled. On the bright side, Kaguya had already located most of the Spirits, and many of them were beginning to develop positive feelings toward her. Now, it was only a matter of time before things progressed further.

The downside, however, was that a few Spirits remained unaccounted for, leaving Kaguya anxious. After all, time wasn't on her side.

But worrying wouldn't solve anything; she could only take things one step at a time.

Kaguya glanced at the bright moon outside the window before slowly closing her eyes.

At that moment, a figure crept silently through the room, coming to a stop beside Kaguya's bed. They reached out, lifted the blanket, and quietly slipped underneath.

Half-asleep, Kaguya assumed it was Mukuro Hoshimiya again. That clingy little girl had made it a habit of sneaking into Kaguya's bed, always insisting on sleeping next to her. Kaguya couldn't bring herself to get angry about it and had grown used to it.

The result was always the same: every morning, when Kaguya opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Mukuro's mischievous grin.

But this time, something was different. The skin brushing against hers was smooth and delicate, soft yet firm, and the body lying next to her was slender and supple, radiating an enchanting warmth. It was certainly not the youthful frame of Mukuro Hoshimiya.

The hazy fog in Kaguya's mind cleared instantly, and she opened her eyes wide. A stunningly beautiful face appeared before her, a face capable of charming anyone. Kaguya blinked in surprise—it was none other than Kurumi Tokisaki.

"Wha—what are you doing here?" Kaguya asked hoarsely, her voice thick with disbelief as she took in the silky, bare skin against her own.

Although Kurumi frequently called her "darling," showering her with affection and often teasing her with suggestive gestures, Kaguya had never experienced such direct and intimate contact. Kurumi's usual antics were just playful taunts, retreating at the last moment, leaving Kaguya burning with frustration, wanting to catch the mischievous girl and teach her a lesson.

But this time, Kurumi's boldness took Kaguya by surprise. And to make matters worse, Kaguya realized Kurumi wasn't wearing anything—not even the barest of undergarments.

"Why shouldn't it be me?" Kurumi replied, her delicate features tinged with a faint blush, adding to her allure under the moonlight. "Unless, of course, this happens often—do you usually have someone sneaking into your bed?"

"Ahem, no, absolutely not! Don't overthink it!" Kaguya stammered, her throat dry as she struggled to suppress her flustered thoughts.

Kurumi raised an elegant brow and said teasingly, "Oh? Then does that mean you frequently sneak into other girls' beds at night? My, how unexpected."

"That's even less likely!" Kaguya protested, though her tone wavered slightly. She had, in fact, done such things before—dragging Tohka Yatogami, Origami Tobiichi, and even Mukuro Hoshimiya into her antics.

"And if I were to do this?" Kurumi leaned closer, her body pressing gently against Kaguya. Her voice softened as she asked, "Would you like it?"

Kurumi's body was soft yet resilient, exuding a natural grace. Her skin was smooth and firm, with a tantalizing elasticity. Her proportions were exquisite, neither overly slender nor lacking curves, with her chest beautifully full and her hips perfectly rounded.

More than that, her captivating face and enchanting eyes were almost otherworldly. Among all the girls Kaguya knew, Kurumi was undeniably one of the most striking. And her unique charm made her impossible to forget.

Yet Kaguya pushed away the alluring thoughts with sheer willpower and asked quietly, "Why are you doing this? What is your goal?"

This was a question Kaguya needed to ask. Otherwise, unease would continue to gnaw at her. After all, she couldn't comprehend why Kurumi was behaving this way. If it were truly without reason, even someone as naive as Yoshino would struggle to believe it.

Seeing Kaguya's serious expression and clear eyes, Kurumi was momentarily taken aback. Then, she smiled gently and said, "As expected of you, my darling. Even in this situation, you remain composed. Is it because of your strong will—or is it because my charm isn't enough?"

Kaguya ignored her teasing and continued, "There is no love or hatred without reason. Everything in this world has its cause and effect. Your presence here must have its own reasons. I hope you'll share them with me, but if you'd rather not, that's fine too."

"My reasons, hmm?" Kurumi tapped her rosy lips with a slender finger, her eyes distant as though recalling a long-lost memory. Suddenly, she chuckled and said, "You probably won't believe this, but it's not that I came to you—it's that you entered my world. That's how it should be."

"Entered your world?" Kaguya frowned in confusion. "What does that mean?"

"You'll understand in time," Kurumi replied with a playful smile. She suddenly straddled Kaguya, her porcelain face flushed with a rare hint of shyness. "But for now, let's not talk about such dull things. A gentleman shouldn't keep a lady waiting, should they?"

The silver moonlight poured over Kurumi's bare body, illuminating her with a soft, ethereal glow that made her beauty almost unearthly.

At last, Kaguya's self-restraint snapped. In a swift motion, she flipped Kurumi beneath her, pinning the mischievous girl to the bed as her surprised gasp echoed in the moonlit room.

...

Boom!

A deafening explosion echoed through the forest as a massive tree, so thick that it would take several people to encircle it, was split cleanly in half. The enormous trunk crashed heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust and startling a flock of birds into flight.

"Damn it!"

Gritting her teeth, Mana Takamiya slammed her fist against the fallen trunk in frustration. Her voice was laced with fury as she spat, "That despicable wretch actually managed to escape! Next time, I'll make sure to catch her and teach her a lesson she won't forget!"

As expected, Kurumi Tokisaki had escaped.

Although Mana Takamiya had gained the upper hand during their fight, it was clear that Kurumi had never intended to engage her in a serious battle, let alone a life-or-death struggle. While Mana was undoubtedly powerful—especially with her AST-modified Realizer unit enhancing her abilities—it was still impossible for her to capture someone as formidable as Kurumi.

Kurumi's focus was on stalling for time, paving the way for Kaguya's intervention to rescue Natsumi. She had no intention of fighting seriously. If she decided to leave the battlefield, there were countless ways she could do so, not least of which was her endless supply of clones, a tactic that left Mana completely helpless.

If there was anyone in this world capable of capturing Kurumi Tokisaki, it could only be Kaguya.

At that moment, Mana sensed someone approaching. She turned to see a blonde girl walking toward her.

"Artemisia!" Mana called out, waving in greeting.

Artemisia seemed momentarily surprised to see Mana there, blinking in confusion.

"How did it go on your end? Did you manage to catch her?" Mana asked eagerly, quickening her pace as she approached.

"No… I didn't," Artemisia replied awkwardly, averting her gaze as she mumbled her response.

"Ah, so you let her escape, too?" Mana said, clearly disappointed. She paused, as if thinking of something, before continuing, "But she looked so weak! How could she have gotten away?"

Artemisia's discomfort deepened. Her face flushed slightly as she stammered, "Someone appeared halfway through… and they saved her."

"Who was it? Who could possibly be strong enough to help her escape from you?" Mana asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Had anyone else asked, Artemisia would have assumed they were mocking her and would have retaliated without hesitation. But Mana clearly didn't know the full story—she certainly didn't realize that Artemisia had been thoroughly defeated and subjected to unimaginable humiliation.

"It was Kaguya," Artemisia muttered, biting her lip as she forced the words out.

"Kaguya?" Mana echoed in surprise. "You mean the strongest Spirit, Kaguya?"

Artemisia nodded stiffly, her emotions a bitter mix of frustration and resentment. Never before had she suffered such a humiliating defeat, not even at the hands of her sister. It was a disgrace of the highest order.

Unbeknownst to her, however, her sister's experience was far worse. If Artemisia knew what had befallen her sister—including losing her chastity to Kaguya—her sense of injustice might have taken on a different perspective entirely.

"No wonder," Mana mused, resting her chin on her hand thoughtfully. "But is she really that strong? I've seen her a few times, but she seemed so… ordinary, nothing like someone with incredible power."

Artemisia said nothing further. Turning on her heel, she began walking away. "If there's nothing else, I'm heading back."

"Huh?" Mana blinked, startled. "Aren't we going to keep pursuing them?"

"No. I'll report the situation to the AST headquarters," Artemisia replied without looking back.

"Oh, alright then," Mana said, nodding slowly. Her gaze drifted after Artemisia, who was walking with a peculiar, awkward gait. Curiosity got the better of her, and she called out, "Your walking looks a bit strange—did you get hurt?"

Artemisia stumbled at the question, nearly tripping over her own feet. Her face flushed bright red as she stammered, "N-no, nothing like that! I… I just twisted my ankle when I fell earlier." She practically fled, her words tumbling out in her haste to leave.

The truth of the matter was far too embarrassing for her to admit, and she had no intention of ever speaking of it. If she were capable of defeating Kaguya, she might have even considered silencing her to erase the memory of such humiliation.

"Oh, I see," Mana said, nodding in realization. But moments later, she frowned in confusion. "Still, with her skill, how could she make such a rookie mistake?"

Then again, thinking about her clumsy older sister, who could trip over flat ground, Mana decided it wasn't all that surprising after all.

Morning arrived, with a sky as clear as crystal and wispy clouds drifting lazily overhead. The warm sunlight pierced through the lingering mist, filtering through thick curtains and brightening the room with its soft glow. A cool morning breeze rustled the leaves outside, the gentle rustling accompanied by the occasional chirping of birds. The tranquility of the scene added a serene charm to the new day.

Last night, Kaguya and Kurumi Tokisaki had carried on deep into the night, only stopping when the first hints of dawn appeared on the horizon.

Oddly enough, rather than feeling exhausted, Kaguya felt more energized than ever, her vitality seemingly renewed.

Exercise truly is the key to health. The ancients didn't lie.

…Though it was the Greeks who said that.

When Kaguya woke up, however, she found the space beside her empty. If not for the faint lingering scent in the air, she might have thought last night was nothing more than a vivid dream.

She had no idea where Kurumi had gone. But based on what she knew of her, Kaguya was certain that Kurumi wouldn't do anything to harm her. The sincerity in Kurumi's feelings couldn't have been faked.

Just then, the bedroom door creaked open, and Mukuro peeked her head inside. Upon spotting Kaguya, she broke into a grin and ran over to her, arms outstretched as she called out, "Kaguya~!"

Kaguya opened her arms instinctively to catch Mukuro, but the little girl paused, her nose twitching as she sniffed curiously at Kaguya's body.

"Why are you sniffing me?" Kaguya asked, her tone betraying a hint of nervousness.

Mukuro tilted her head, her innocent eyes narrowing as she said, "Kaguya… you smell weird."

Kaguya froze, as if struck by lightning.

Kaguya immediately covered Mukuro Hoshimiya's mouth, her eyes twitching slightly as she said, "You must have smelled wrong! How could there possibly be such a smell?"

Mukuro pushed Kaguya's hand away and said, "But it's true, I really did smell it!"

"You must have been mistaken," Kaguya said, patting her head. "Go wash up first. Breakfast will be ready soon."

Mukuro reluctantly nodded and shuffled toward the bathroom, but not without glancing back a few times, her face full of suspicion.

Kaguya sighed helplessly. Was this girl part bloodhound? How was her nose this sensitive? Kaguya sniffed herself but couldn't detect any strange odors.

Thankfully, it seemed that among everyone in the apartment, only Mukuro was equipped with such an uncanny sense of smell. For now, there shouldn't be any big issues.

After breakfast, Kaguya was washing dishes in the kitchen. Truth be told, she was starting to feel like the apartment's housekeeper. Cleaning, doing laundry, cooking—these tasks seemed to fall solely on her shoulders, while the other girls lazed around, utterly useless.

But Kaguya dared not let them take over. The one time she allowed them to wash the dishes, the result was so catastrophic that by the next day, there weren't even enough plates for breakfast. That day, Kaguya decided the kitchen was off-limits to them. Washing dishes? It was more like breaking them and requiring replacements!

While she worked, a sharp screech of tires and the sound of car doors slamming shut came from outside.

Kaguya paused, dried her hands with a towel, and stepped outside to investigate.

A line of black SUVs had pulled up in front of the apartment, accompanied by several cargo trucks. Standing in two neat rows outside the vehicles were a group of men in black suits, their presence filling the area with a sense of tension.

Kaguya's expression remained calm—these people were no more than ants to her.

However, the other girls, especially Tohka Yatogami, treated the scene like an imminent crisis. They eyed the men warily, their postures screaming readiness for a fight.

At that moment, a man who appeared to be the leader of the group stepped forward. He saluted Kaguya respectfully and asked, "Excuse me, are you Miss Kaguya?"

"I am," Kaguya replied. "What's the matter? Why are you looking for me?"

"It's like this," the leader began. "The Prime Minister has instructed us to assist with your relocation to the villa he prepared for you, which has now been completed. We're here to help you move. Would now be a convenient time?"

Ah, so that's what it was, Kaguya thought.

She had called the Prime Minister the previous evening. She hadn't expected such prompt action; they were already here early the next morning. The speed was impressive.

But the scene was a bit over the top—a long convoy of vehicles and a swarm of people in suits. Anyone watching would think the building was being demolished or raided. The curious looks from her neighbors said it all. They probably assumed some VIP or their relatives were living here.

With professional movers handling everything, the process was far more efficient. Kaguya had initially planned to leave most of the apartment's contents behind, considering much of it was of little use to her. However, the other girls seemed attached to many of the items.

Take Mukuro, for example. She had enthusiastically insisted on moving her "beloved pillow" and "important blanket."

Wait… they're even taking the beds?

A vein throbbed on Kaguya's temple. Her mouth twitched involuntarily.

Within half an hour, the entire apartment had been emptied of its contents. Since many items were cherished by the girls, everything had been packed up and taken to avoid future arguments or regret.

And so, Kaguya and her group boarded the cars and set off for their new home.

Shortly after they left, a girl with twin red ponytails stormed up to the now-empty apartment, fuming.

"That jerk! Get out here right now!" she shouted.

Her two pink twin tails swayed as she stomped forward. A black-and-red ribbon adorned her head, and her delicate features were exquisitely beautiful. Her snowy skin, tinged with a soft pink hue, looked as though it could be wrung of water. Her large, clear eyes sparkled like gemstones, leaving an unforgettable impression.

Though her figure leaned toward the petite and youthful side—closer to that of a loli than a full-fledged maiden—her slender, snow-white arms and shapely legs added an inexplicable allure.

It was none other than Kotori Itsuka.

She was absolutely livid. Her crimson eyes seemed to blaze with fire, and her flushed face betrayed the depth of her anger.

Yesterday, at the lantern festival, she had waited all day—all day!—for Kaguya to show up. Even as the festival ended and everyone else left, Kaguya was nowhere to be seen.

What's worse, Kotori had tried calling her, only to find that Kaguya's phone was off.

Kotori Itsuka, Commander of Ratatoskr, had been stood up.

As she replayed the scene of herself waiting alone, enduring the pitying gazes of festivalgoers who clearly thought she'd been dumped, Kotori's fury burned even brighter.

Unforgivable!

If she found out that Kaguya had simply forgotten their arrangement, Kotori might just explode.

Suppressing her urge to burn the apartment down on the spot, Kotori marched inside.

However, when she saw the completely empty apartment, she froze in place, stunned.

The room was devoid of furniture, appliances, or any sign of life. Everything—everything—was gone. Only an empty space and a few scraps of trash remained.

What the hell happened here?

Kotori's mind blanked, her thoughts a chaotic jumble.

"Excuse me, who are you?"

A voice behind her broke her stupor.

Kotori turned to see a cleaning lady, likely in her forties or fifties, looking at her with mild curiosity.

"Hello, I'm looking for someone," Kotori quickly said, stepping forward. "Do you know where the people who lived here have gone?"

"Oh, you're looking for them?" The cleaning lady blinked in surprise. "What bad timing. They just moved out not long ago."

"They moved?" Kotori's eyes widened in disbelief. She hurriedly asked, "Do you know where they moved to?"

Not only had this person stood her up, but now they'd run away?

Kotori felt like her lungs were about to burst with rage.

"Yes," the cleaning lady said, seemingly oblivious to Kotori's simmering anger. "I believe they moved to Fuhua District. If you want to find them, you might try your luck there."

"Thank you, ma'am."

Before the cleaning lady could respond, Kotori dashed off toward Fuhua District, her twin tails flying behind her like banners of war.

Kaguya, you're dead!

What Kotori failed to notice was the strange smile tugging at the corners of the cleaning lady's lips.

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