After some "per(hu)sua(you)sion" from Aoko and Touko, their cheap old dad finally stopped dwelling on why his fully grown daughter had suddenly shrunk.
Instead, he drove the "four sisters" back to the Kuonji Mansion while chatting with them about Touko's childhood and reminiscing.
As for an explanation? What explanation? Rejuvenation?
When it came to magecraft, mystery was all that mattered. There was no need to explain things so clearly!
In short, Dad got to reminisce about the past, Aoko and Touko successfully cleared the hurdle, Kohaku and Hisui received pocket money from him, and everyone had a bright future.
After returning to the Kuonji Mansion, Aoko made a delicious dinner for everyone. Then, rather than doing much research or studying as usual, she went to bed early.
Early the next morning, after meditating, Aoko carefully prepared her spell roster according to the situations they might encounter. After breakfast, she set off with Touko.
"...Once you reach the Clock Tower, be careful," Alice said as she stood before Aoko and Touko with Kohaku and Hisui. "The Clock Tower's magi are completely different from you. You must not treat them as human beings."
"Hmph, don't worry," Touko said sarcastically from the side. "Even if those people from the Clock Tower assassinate me, there's no way anything will happen to this girl!"
"Ah, Touko-chan, that really hurts my feelings," Aoko said, putting on an exaggeratedly sorrowful expression. "No matter what happens, I would never let Touko-chan get hurt!"
"...Don't do that. It's making me a little sick." Touko turned her head away, unwilling to watch Aoko's performance any longer.
"All right," Aoko said to Alice and the two little ones. "We won't be gone for long. We'll bring you gifts when we come back!"
Aoko was not worried in the slightest about