"Welcome back, Onii-chan!"

Haruyuki was greeted by the all-too-familiar angelic sister voice of Niko aka Kouzuki Yuniko just as he returned home from school.

In the past, she used to surprise him with sudden visits to the Arita residence, but now it had become a regular thing for him. In a sense, this place was like a second home to her, and by next year, she would transfer to Umesato Junior High, which meant he would be seeing her more frequently even if they weren't Burst Linkers. Thus, the only thing he could respond now was:

"…I'm home."

"Hmm… why no reaction this time?", Niko asked, immediately sensing a look of dismay on Haruyuki's face.

"Because… I have a lot on my mind now."

"Like finally defeating her… the Black King who had reached Level 10?"

"Well, that's part of it… but there's also something else."

"Yeah? Like what?"

At that point, Haruyuki quivered. He wondered whether or not he should tell Niko about the agreement he made three weeks ago. After a brief moment of hesitation, he opened his mouth and said:

"Umm… Niko, the thing is…"

Thus, Haruyuki told her about Enju's surprise visit three weeks ago during Kuroyukihime's birthday and the arrangement they made afterwards.

"Hmmm… I see… so you finally got a visit to her family huh?"

"Yes, indeed… Whaah!"

Niko suddenly put her hands on his hips and moved her face close to his.

"Listen Haruyuki, it's not for me to say, but… please be careful around them. I'm just saying this for your sake."

"H-Huh…"

"When I faced her… the White King in summer, I could tell she didn't feel like a Burst Linker… a human at all."

"Sorry, Kuroyuki.", she silently apologized to her friend/sister-figure in her mind before continuing:

"I just have a feeling her parents might also be total nutjobs, who all feel detached from the real world… no, the virtual world as well."

"I-I see… well, I've already sensed it for myself… how terrifying she is."

"Yes, I'm sure you have after that stint you pulled."

"After what stint exactly?"

"Eep!", Haruyuki squirmed after hearing a voice that was all too familiar to him. "S-S-S…"

He soon held that thought as he realized that he forgot to lock the door after returning, thereby letting Kuroyukihime to come up as well. But that soon led to another thought, as Haruyuki hadn't seen her accompanying him from school until then.

As if reading into his thoughts, Kuroyukihime responded:

"Ohh, now that I'm no longer part of the student council, I get to leave home early. But to be honest… I'd rather be here with you, so I just went back and unloaded my stuff as soon as classes were over."

"Is… that so…"

Still rushing through his emotions at that moment, ranging from surprise to elation, Haruyuki managed to calm himself down, though Kuroyukihime still maintained a strong glare in her eyes… because of the other person in the room.

"Hmm… I see…"

However unlike before, she quickly changed to a warm smile (though Haruyuki didn't know whether it was really warm or not).

After a quick refreshment, both of them made preparations and mentally steeled themselves for what was to come, both admittedly feeling a little nervous. After all, Kuroyukihime would finally visit her family whom she had broken all contact with for three years. And Haruyuki, having already come face to face with the older sister Enju, could only shudder for his life at how fearsome her parents must be.

"…No need to get so tensed up now. This is something we both have to face, after all, if we want to move together."

"R-Right…"

Just then, a buzzer sound rang, most likely that of a notification being set on Kuroyukihime's Neurolinker that signaled an incoming taxi she had prepared ahead of time.

"Alright then, it's time. Shall we go?"

"Yes…"