Yuu 606-610

Title: But, I Refuse!

One person breathed calmly, while another breathed with difficulty and rapidly.

In the spacious girl’s room, the air felt as if it were being tightly gripped by dark palms, making even breathing extremely difficult.

Although the AC wasn’t turned on, the temperature inside the room was so low that it made her entire body feel cold, like walking bare-chested through an ice warehouse in winter. The coldness penetrated to the bone.

Unlike Sora who acted as if nothing had happened, if it weren’t for being wrapped in a blanket, Utaha probably wouldn’t be able to stop her teeth from chattering right now.

Not only because of the cold, but also because after being attacked by that white light, in just the blink of an eye, she found herself lying on an unfamiliar bed, surrounded by darkness.

Let alone an ordinary woman, anyone would unconsciously feel afraid.

Afraid she had fallen into a demon’s den, with dozens of burly men dressed in black standing beside the bed, eyeing her and ready to attack.

“W-Who are you? And where is this?”

Ignoring Sora’s question, Utaha asked with a slightly trembling voice.

Although her heart was panicking, her pride and dignity made her maintain basic composure. Her palms under the blanket secretly groped around, searching for anything that could protect her.

“Going straight to the classic questions... never mind, I was too hasty.”

Scratching her cheek slightly, Sora sighed, extended her hand, and snapped her fingers.

*SNAP!*

The lights turned on. Utaha reflexively raised her hand to shield against the light. She squinted with slight discomfort, but didn’t dare close her eyes completely. She could only endure the pain in her eyes and quickly adapted to the transition from dark to light.

After she could almost see the surrounding scenery, the anxiety receded like the tide along with the darkness.

She took a deep breath. Before the other party continued with aggressive questions, she quickly looked around at where she currently was and recalled what had happened not long ago.

To test whether the virtual dive device could become a gateway to the dream realm, she had worn that eye-mask-like machine like the others, and successfully converted her consciousness into a data stream, preparing to enter the virtual world.

However, the subsequent development was completely different from what she had expected.

Not only did she not enter the maintenance space those people mentioned, even the account login prompt didn’t appear. She just floated in the endless white channel like an electronic ghost for a while, was swallowed by inexplicable white light, and her consciousness disappeared momentarily.

Then, she woke up and found herself lying on an unfamiliar bed. The sci-fi themed virtual channel was gone, replaced by...

A girl’s room?

Utaha was shocked. Before she could react, her gaze swept over the person standing beside the bed, who had just thrown out a strange question in a cold tone.

Silver hair reaching down to her calves, pale skin, slender body, an appearance as plain and cute as a fairy, yet radiating a cold and mature aura.

Most importantly, although she looked much older, she recognized this face, and had even seen it not long ago...

“Kasugano Sora?! How are you...”

Utaha exclaimed in surprise. Sora only sneered coldly without expression.

“How am I here? Don’t ask that question. Anyway, I won’t answer you.”

Sora pulled a chair from in front of the desk, sat beside the bed, then crossed her long, straight legs. Her gaze, which was very impolite, observed this beautiful long-haired girl wearing black stockings and casual clothes.

With fingers supporting her chin, Sora furrowed her brow while pondering, and muttered: “In the real world timeline, you shouldn’t have a good relationship with him yet, and it’s even impossible for a light orb to be on you... So, why did you appear in this trial?”

Although she didn’t understand what she was saying, while remembering it, Utaha sneered and retorted: “Answering other people’s questions is basic courtesy before asking your own questions, isn’t it?”

Looking at the familiar room decoration and layout, she should still be at the Tenkuji house, only she didn’t know why she woke up in Sora’s room; moreover, why had this fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl now looked so mature, as if she had changed her ID and become an adult overnight.

Even so, facing a familiar place and person, Utaha regained much of her courage. She could straighten her back and demand she answer her questions in a firm tone.

“Can you explain what you just said? And tell me what the situation is now.”

Quickly entering negotiation mode, seeing the opponent’s surprised expression, Utaha pondered for a moment and lowered her attitude, adding: “This is information exchange. You and I must have things we want to know, right? Although I don’t understand why you suddenly have prejudice against me, the situation is urgent now. For your brother’s sake, we should make the information we have transparent so problems can be solved better and faster.”

Not liking to communicate with social language didn’t mean she didn’t know how to speak—because it was urgent, Utaha wasn’t foolish enough to maintain a cold attitude and argue with the other party at a time like this.

That previous sentence was only because she was annoyed with Sora’s attitude and gaze. As long as Sora’s heart wasn’t too small, they could still negotiate.

“Information exchange, huh...”

Fortunately, this persuasion seemed to work. Sora lowered her head while pinching her chin and sank back into thought.

“Indeed, there are many things I want to ask you... For example, I’ve already blocked others outside the gate, from what crack did you sneak in?”

“For example, you’re clearly not Yuu’s girlfriend, why can you interfere with the system’s power and be in this trial...”

“For example, your purpose for entering the trial... This I think I can guess, same as Yukino and the others, you want to wake up the sleeping Yuu, right?”

Sora sighed helplessly.

“Damn, there are so many things I want to ask, I don’t know where to start.”

“In that case...”

“But, I refuse.”

Even before Sora finished speaking, Utaha, whose face had just shown hope, was stopped by the next sentence, and her face stiffened.

“You, why...”

Sora withdrew her expression, folded her arms across her chest, and stared at her indifferently: “The thing I like most is saying no to people who think they’re clever... Kasumigaoka Utaha, what kind of confidence makes you think your information is important enough that I’d be willing to share my secrets?”

The corner of Utaha’s mouth twitched slightly. She took a deep breath and stared back at her without yielding.

“Isn’t it? Let me remind you, I came to save your brother! Although I don’t know why you look like you’ve grown ten years overnight, please understand that right now only I can help him!”

Toward the end, her tone became much sharper: “Or, are you planning to just stand still and watch your brother in danger in that trial?”

“Pfft!”

Sora suddenly laughed. She covered her mouth slightly as if unable to hold back laughter and shook her head.

“You still don’t understand... Or rather, you haven’t found any clues at all from the information I deliberately mentioned.”

“What do you mean?” Utaha furrowed her brow.

Sora kindly explained to her: “I mean, Yuu won’t face any danger in this trial, and I won’t let him get hurt in the slightest. How about it, are you reassured now?”

“On what basis are you so confident...”

As soon as that question came out, Utaha suddenly remembered the words she had muttered to herself not long ago.

[I’ve already blocked others outside the gate, from what crack did you sneak in—Why can she prevent others from entering the dream realm?]

[You’re clearly not Yuu’s girlfriend, why can you interfere with the system’s power and be in this trial—What is this system? Why does she seem to know everything?]

[This I think I can guess, same as Yukino and the others, you want to wake up the sleeping Yuu, right—Because she used a guessing tone, could she not be Sora from the real world?]

All doubts flooded her mind and simultaneously pointed to the only answer that seemed strange but had the highest possibility.

After all, Sherlock Holmes once said... the rest is abbreviated.

“So-ra, don’t tell me you—“

Utaha’s fingers trembled unconsciously. She slowly widened her eyes, staring in disbelief at the silver-haired woman before her who was dressed like some kind of scientific researcher, casually enjoying her shocked expression.

No one ran to stop her, so that cry successfully echoed in the room.

“—You’re the mastermind behind the scenes who made everything turn out like this!?”

As those words fell, Sora raised the corner of her mouth, showing a very strange smile.

Perhaps only at this moment could she laugh genuinely at someone besides her brother.

“Hello, no.”

And mischievously said:

“There’s someone else who’s the real culprit. I’m just a manager. Too bad you guessed the wrong direction~”

Sora clapped her hands, smiling broadly. It was more like mockery than admiration.

“...I guessed wrong?”

Utaha was shocked for a moment, but she accepted reality faster than she expected. She also didn’t feel struck by the truth.

“Meaning, your brother’s sleep wasn’t caused by you, and you’re even protecting him in this trial?”

“Broadly speaking, that’s right. But I won’t say unnecessary things, because with your IQ, you probably wouldn’t understand.”

After lightly belittling the number one honor student senior in that class, Sora waved her hand: “Alright, if you don’t quickly explain your origins and purpose, I’ll start dealing with you. Don’t think I’m just bluffing. As long as you’re in this room, I can even kill a god for you to see.”

“So exaggerated? Who’s really the novel protagonist here...” Utaha complained wordlessly. She still struggled, “If I were you, would you really not want to exchange information?”

Sora said flatly: “I don’t want to. After all, there’s no use for me to know. In the end, nothing will remain... Right now, I just need to do my own business.”

“Tch, really stubborn...” Utaha couldn’t help but click her tongue.

Now there were two choices before her.

The first choice was leniency for confession, handing over the information she had—her only ace card—to the other party. That way, she should be safe for the time being and might be able to obtain more interesting information.

The second choice was severity for resistance, continuing to face this woman with mysterious powers, and looking for an opportunity to escape and ask Yuu for help.

...Well, what should she do?

-

Title: There’s a Girl Imprisoning a Girl Here!

“Strange...”

As he prepared to go downstairs to make dinner, Yuu looked at the wall with slight concern.

Next door was Sora’s room. The soundproofing in their house wasn’t very good, especially these two adjacent bedrooms. Basically, if there was any loud movement, sounds would be heard in the next room. Because of this, the two siblings paid great attention to their actions. Whether playing music or watching videos, they would wear earphones. If they had to make phone calls, they would go to the balcony, avoiding disturbing the other party or hearing embarrassing strange sounds.

Especially Yuu, whose physical condition was increasingly approaching that of a monster. Even if he stood in the middle of the room, as long as he focused his hearing, he could even hear Sora’s breathing sounds as she sat in front of her desk, let alone cursing while gaming or snoring while sleeping.

So, to avoid his little sister having no privacy at all, Yuu would usually try to ignore the movements from behind the wall, pretending his hearing wasn’t that good. He had also reminded Sora to be more careful in doing anything, or move to sleep in their parents’ room downstairs, which would also be fine.

However, Sora firmly refused, reasoning that there was nothing Yuu couldn’t hear anyway, as if she was very indifferent about it. Since she said so, Yuu naturally didn’t comment much and gradually got used to the sound of keyboard typing or game controller slamming occasionally heard from the next room. He would feel strange if that room was completely quiet.

And now, was the time when he felt strange.

Since Sora went upstairs and returned to her room, it had been about ten minutes. There was no movement at all from the next room, quiet without any signs of life.

If it weren’t for not wanting to be a perverted stalker eavesdropping on his sister, Yuu would have already pressed his ear against the wall by now, using one hundred percent of his hearing to ensure Sora was safe.

“I’m probably overthinking it... What could happen in this trial space?”

He touched the wall with his hand, but ultimately didn’t do that unnecessary thing. He went downstairs to cook as if nothing had happened.

Dinner was finished. When he went upstairs to call his sister to eat, Sora also immediately opened the door, kept flipping her long silver hair, and sat at the dining table.

“Let’s eat.”

In the middle of the meal, Yuu asked as if casually: “I feel like you’ve been very quiet today, are you tired from playing games?”

Sora’s hand holding chopsticks paused for a moment, then while scooping rice and side dishes, she answered indifferently: “Yeah, I was just lying in bed playing on my phone. After getting tired, I plan to go straight to sleep... By the way, I didn’t expect Yuu to actually eavesdrop on movements in my room.”

“No, I just happened to feel it was strange.” Yuu’s tone was also quite casual. “I already told you my hearing is very good, and the walls are thin. Even if I don’t want to listen, I can’t help but care~”

“Oh really? Then it’s fine.” Biting her chopsticks, Sora answered carelessly, “Don’t worry, I pay attention to volume control. It’s natural you can’t hear anything. Even if you could hear it, I’d feel disturbed. I don’t want to bother you or anything... Anyway, this is all for your sake. Praise me a little.”

Yuu comforted her without sincerity: “Yeah, yeah, yeah, Sora is an obedient child~”

Sora puffed her cheeks, dissatisfied with his attitude of not taking it seriously at all: “Not a child, I’m already twenty-four years old, I’m an adult!”

“I’m not even twenty yet, your age leap is too fast...”

After dinner, Sora washed the dishes and went back upstairs to her room.

She wasn’t afraid Yuu would suddenly open her bedroom door and discover that black-haired intruder inside.

Whether going to the toilet or eating, Sora would always lock the door every time she left the room. The lock on the door was a special lock. Even if her all-capable brother was skilled at lock-picking, he would have to use brute force to break through the last defense and enter her room.

But before that, she had many ways to stop him. She wasn’t afraid of any accidents at all!

“It’s just Yuu, no need to be afraid!”

After muttering with full confidence, Sora opened the bedroom door and saw under the neon light, Utaha in that absolutely soundproof room trying to escape, even shouting loudly at the wall:

“Is anyone there? There’s a girl imprisoning a girl here! Come quickly and save me, answer immediately if you hear me—“

“Give it up. Even if you shout until your throat breaks, no one will come to save you.”

Sora wasn’t angry, she just leaned against the wall, sneering while enjoying her circus monkey-like performance. She also didn’t forget to close the door.

“This room is independent from space-time coordinates. As soon as I think about it, this room will sever its connection with this trial world and return to float in the river of time where there is nothing.”

While speaking, she walked to the window, opened it, and threw a crumpled piece of paper outside.

Clearly outside the window was scenery that had just become evening. Looking down, she could even see elderly people going out for evening walks. However, when that crumpled paper left the window, it immediately disappeared.

Not long after, as if teleporting, the crumpled paper returned to Sora’s hand.

“So, without my permission, first, you can’t escape through the window. Second, your voice won’t reach Yuu. Even if they want to save you, they’ll never be able to find the entrance.”

She looked at Utaha’s increasingly gloomy expression and laughed with a bit of mischief: “You’re already checkmated, Kasumigaoka-senpai.”

“...Alright, I admit, trying to escape from this absurd place alone, I was too naive.”

Dismissing her anxious heart, Utaha dropped her shoulders, sighed very disappointedly, and said unenthusiastically:

“Then what’s your purpose in confining me here? Are you planning to starve me to death? Or slowly torture me to death?”

She bit her lower lip, showing a pitiful expression, but because it was too exaggerated, the deficiency was immediately visible.

“I’m not that strange. It’s because you’re stubborn and refuse to provide information.”

Rolling her eyes, Sora was too lazy to look at her and closed the window: “Originally I planned to use another method to get rid of you, but after thinking about it, maybe you, who suddenly entered, could be an unexpected trump card, so I’ll leave you here temporarily and let you go after the problem is solved.”

“The way you talk...” It sounded like she was about to start some kind of war.

Utaha vaguely realized something, but didn’t have time to ask.

“Don’t worry, as long as you’re in this room, time is almost stopped. Eating, drinking, and relieving yourself are no longer necessary. It’s just that it might be a bit boring.”

While saying so, Sora kicked the cabinet in the corner of the wall and pointed with her chin at the TV beside it: “I’ll be using the computer, so I can’t lend it to you. Only I can connect to the internet... As compensation, there are thousands of types of games and dozens of game consoles here. All are items that made me bored. Enough for you to play for several decades. It shouldn’t bore you to death, right?”

Utaha was speechless, her face full of black lines: “You’d better give me pen and manuscript paper so I can focus on writing.”

And even if the games were very fun, playing games for several years in this ghost place would definitely drive her crazy!

Sora came to her senses: “Oh, right, I forgot you’re a novelist.”

Then she took a stack of manuscript papers and a pen from the cabinet and placed them on the table in front of her with a plop.

“Here, the items you wanted.”

Utaha was truly at a loss for words.

“...I’m asking, are you really planning to trap me here for several years?”

“Don’t worry, I can manipulate time and will appropriately speed up the time process... If Yuu’s situation is optimistic, you might be freed soon.”

Speaking in a completely unconvincing tone, Sora pulled up a chair again and sat down. Her gray eyes stared straight at her, looking somewhat displeased: “Besides, do you think I really like being with you? If it weren’t for you still being useful, and there being no other place to accommodate you, I would have long ago kicked you out of my room.”

Sitting on the bed, Utaha placed her hands supporting her heavy body weight, crossed her arms, and sneered: “I don’t want to either. Who knew I’d suddenly come here. If you tell me some information, maybe I have a way to solve it.”

“Sorry, that’s a forbidden item.”

In a situation where she wasn’t clear about the other party’s background, Sora didn’t plan to tell her more. As for threatening the other party with her life to exchange for information, she really wasn’t good at doing that. After trying a little, she immediately gave up.

After all, in her memory, although her relationship with Utaha wasn’t friendly, at least it was much lighter than her relationship with her brother’s girlfriends. She didn’t have an irresolvable feud with her, so naturally there was no need to be cruel.

In the end, this senpai’s experience was really pitiful. So pitiful that even when Sora recalled it, she felt sorry for her...

“Forget it, consider it my boredom.”

Shaking her head, Sora sighed softly. Her eyes rarely showed warmth: “Wait a moment. Let me think about what’s appropriate to say.”

Although the situation finally showed a tendency to move forward, Utaha couldn’t honestly be happy at this moment. She just looked at the silver-haired woman in front of her who was thinking with a strange expression.

“This feeling of being pitied, what’s going on...”

Somehow it made her uncomfortable.

By the way, Sora was adult-sized when she left the room, but returned with the appearance of an underage child. She only changed back to an adult after closing the door...

Did she not want Yuu to know she could grow and shrink?

Changing size at will like this, she wondered if it would hurt her bones...

“What are you thinking about?”

“Some unimportant things.” Utaha blinked and shifted her gaze back to her, “What about you? Have you thought about what you can tell me?”

“Yeah, almost done.” Sora touched her long hair, the corner of her mouth slightly smiling but not smiling. Her feelings were indescribable. “Although it’s a trivial matter of no importance, if it must be said, perhaps it’s the starting point of everything?”

“Oh? I’m listening.”

Utaha straightened her body, sitting on the bed facing the silver-haired woman wrapped in a white lab coat. Her expression gradually became serious.

She apparently hadn’t brought her notebook to this dream realm, couldn’t contact those in the real world, and couldn’t leave the room where she could be killed—helpless, she could only obediently listen to others talk like this.

But because this involved Yuu’s privacy, and possibly also the origins between the God and notebook, Utaha was very curious, both personally and professionally. Of course, she couldn’t possibly miss this opportunity to easily obtain information.

As a novelist, appropriate gossip was also beneficial for triggering inspiration, wasn’t it?

“So then, where should we start~”

Sora slightly raised her gaze. She seemed to be searching for a small yellowed photo from her very large memory library, and unconsciously used a nostalgic tone:

“Oh right, at that time Yuu was still using the Life Achievement System. It was crude and simple, and there was no confidentiality agreement. He could say it whenever he wanted... Now it seems the upgraded Boyfriend System is most suitable for him.”

“Mhm, Life Achievement System and Boyfriend System...” Utaha nodded with a serious expression, then asked with a confused face.

“What are those?”

“You don’t know?!”

Shocked, Sora immediately reacted. Her expression became gloomy. She pressed her lips together, digesting this information: “I see, you really entered through some other cheating method. Otherwise, it’s impossible you wouldn’t know about the system’s existence... In that case, you probably also don’t know about light orbs and their power, right?”

“What are you talking about? Is that a novel setting?”

Being bombarded with unfamiliar terms one after another, and feeling as if she had been tricked into giving more information by the other party indirectly, Utaha couldn’t help but irritably curl the long hair on her chest. Her heels also unconsciously trembled.

Sora hesitated, but decided to explain to her what almost everyone who had ever been close to her in the past knew.

“After switching to the Boyfriend System, Yukino and the others should use the term God to refer to it, right? Because there’s a confidentiality agreement.”

“God...”

Chewing on that word repeatedly, Utaha slowly widened her eyes and couldn’t help but draw a cold breath. She voiced her hard-to-accept guess with difficulty: “Wait, you mean, the entity that gives missions to people, takes away Yukinoshita and the others’ memories, and toys with the world repeatedly, isn’t a god controlling everything, but—A game system?!”

“It’s not a game, and it’s not a joke.”

Gracefully flipping her long hair, Sora corrected with a straight face: “Its origin is unknown, how it works is also unknown. Anyway, one day during summer vacation, Yuu got this Life Achievement System—as long as he completes achievements, he can get various rewards. Money, special abilities, even physical condition. Everything is there, except failure penalties. So, from that moment on, his life was no longer ordinary!”

The corner of Utaha’s eye twitched: “This is like a third-rate novel introduction...”

That wasn’t finished. Sora raised one finger and added: “By the way, Yuu was originally an ordinary corporate slave from a big country across the ocean. He reincarnated in Japan due to an accident, that’s why he has adult thinking at a young age and could raise me alone... The authenticity of this story is still questionable, but that’s what he told me.”

“A life like that is already very unusual, you know?!”

Gasping, Utaha pulled back her gaze. She didn’t know what else to complain about.

The information given was too massive. She unconsciously held her head. That complicated information was jumbled in her mind, making her dizzy and tight in the chest. She didn’t know what expression to make right now.

Just in an instant, she met the eyes in front of her that seemed to sparkle.

At this moment, the cold aura she usually used to face enemies unconsciously melted, transforming into the warmth and cheerfulness she had seen in the living room.

Utaha was slightly shocked. The chaotic thoughts and confused feelings felt like a wild cat whose fur had been smoothed, no longer too troublesome.

Perhaps, even she herself hadn’t realized it, right?

{Sora, when talking about her brother, really smiled very happily.}

It’s just that she didn’t know why.

Although it looked like a genuinely bright smile from the heart, it also gave a feeling of regret, as if Sora would cry the next moment.

-

Title: A Date with Iroha

The time showed five o’clock in the afternoon the next day.

After finishing making dinner for his sister, Yuu left the house wearing casual clothes and carrying a shoulder bag.

The crows chirping at dusk were no longer the only source of disturbance to the street’s tranquility. People scattered out from main roads and small alleys, walking leisurely while chatting.

Whether families, couples, or children swinging handheld sparklers, their eyes often showed anticipation for the coming night.

The lively atmosphere had already formed. Many women wore elegant and graceful yukata. Although not as formal and luxurious as kimono, these clothes made women look different from usual, appearing beautiful with a festival atmosphere.

As for men, there were indeed those wearing refreshing jinbei—however, because this was a metropolitan city, aside from foreign tourists wanting to experience different culture, local men mostly still wore casual clothes to attend the temple fair (festival).

Just like Yuu. Although his kouhai had asked him via LINE to wear jinbei, he still went out in a polo shirt and long pants, and his feet weren’t wearing geta (wooden clogs), but rather comfortable athletic shoes for moving around.

“Still as crowded as usual...”

Leaving home, walking along the riverbank embankment, and passing through the crowd of people moving like fish, Yuu sighed.

During the O-Bon Festival, fireworks festivals and temple fairs were routine events. He had also attended them several times in the past—the feeling was slightly better than his sister’s. He just didn’t particularly enjoy this chaotic atmosphere, but not to the point of feeling nauseous from the crowds.

The only conclusion after walking around was: selling food by setting up a stall might be more enjoyable than being a visitor.

Anyway, things like this should usually be enjoyed with family, friends, or lovers.

However, from past to present, Yuu had always been alone. He had no memories of watching fireworks with anyone, nor any youth having fun at festivals with anyone.

When he reincarnated, both his parents had died, and his sister was experiencing withdrawal. During the following years, he worked hard to earn money. When he had money, he began having difficulty finding people who could be considered friends. He also wasn’t interested in dating people he didn’t like, so he continued alone, becoming a cruel Achievement Machine.

So, this was the first time he was going to a temple fair festival with someone, and he also planned to find a nice place to enjoy the fireworks display.

“Will this be more enjoyable?” He asked himself.

Of course, the answer to this question could only be given after everything ended.

To be honest, Yuu invited Iroha out alone to attend the fireworks festival in order to confirm his feelings.

According to his guess, perhaps after he successfully got a girlfriend, the system would open the next clue for the final trial, breaking through the deadlock situation that had lasted more than a month.

However, even so, Yuu hated the feeling of being manipulated by the system. He also didn’t want dating to become a tool, not a goal—that would be the same as toying with a girl’s feelings.

Anyway, at any time, he always considered himself a man with four good qualities: pure, faithful, full of love, and not easily falling in love. All his relationships aimed for marriage, and he would never be flirtatious.

His goal was to date with mutual love, while completing missions; not to date any girl just to complete missions.

Now, Iroha was that girl.

If today’s interaction was the same as usual, he would tell her his true feelings. If Iroha still couldn’t accept, or was too sad, Yuu would reveal everything about the system, missions, and his plans, hoping to get understanding from her.

After all, there was no confidentiality agreement signed. Saying it wouldn’t be punished.

And if today’s interaction made him fall in love, he would take the initiative to confess, and from now on would cherish her—even if he left the trial and the girl forgot everything that happened in the dream, as long as he didn’t forget, Yuu would be willing to repeat that confession many times.

...Thank goodness he didn’t have a girlfriend in the real world, only his sister who needed to be handled. Otherwise, it would be troublesome.

And Iroha was one of the few friends that Sora had. As long as Yuu spoke nicely and promised he would never leave her even if he had a girlfriend, it should be okay for her to approve of their dating.

Chaotic thoughts spun in his mind. Yuu suddenly remembered that beautiful girl as pure as an angel.

Honestly, he had hesitated whether to invite Kanade along to the temple fair...

However, considering that inviting a girl alone would show greater sincerity, and spending time together would help him understand his feelings toward that girl better. As a result, Yuu didn’t even tell her, and secretly invited Iroha out.

Would Kanade show an unclear sad expression if she knew about this?

Would she feel alienated and lonely, as if she were being ostracized by the two of them?

Yuu’s heart felt reluctant, but he soon shook his head, dismissing such wavering thoughts.

This was a problem he would have to face sooner or later.

If he failed, it didn’t matter. But if he really confirmed that he had fallen in love with Iroha, the two of them would definitely have more opportunities to be alone like this, and wouldn’t be able to act together with Kanade again like in the past.

There had to be a boundary drawn between lovers and friends—a perfect triangular relationship didn’t exist. He had to make a choice.

Unless...

No, no, no. In this world, where was there a normal high school student dating two girlfriends at once? Moreover, one of the targets was that pure and innocent angel girl. A scumbag man like that would sooner or later go to hell, right?

That bold thought appeared only momentarily, but immediately Yuu suppressed it back into his mind.

He slapped his cheeks hard, encouraging himself, clearing away those chaotic thoughts, and fully concentrating his attention on the upcoming date.

This was the most basic respect for his date partner.

Arriving at the riverbank embankment meeting place, standing beside the clear river reflecting the setting sun’s light, Yuu turned his wrist and looked at the clock hands on his watch.

“Five twenty-five... Exactly five minutes early.”

As for Iroha, Yuu estimated the girl would arrive at least ten minutes late—being late was every sweet girl’s right, and Iroha definitely wouldn’t pass it up just like that.

Sure enough, after he stood there playing with his phone for fifteen minutes.

“Senpai, sorry~ It took too much time to do makeup and change clothes, and I accidentally missed the train~”

The light brown-haired girl waved her hand high and jogged toward him.

All along the way, many men’s eyes were attracted to her, as if returning to their youth, seeing their first love waving at them.

In her neatly styled hair, there was a delicate hibiscus flower. Her shoulder-length hair was gracefully braided in small braids. The light makeup on her face didn’t eliminate her usual fashionable gyaru style. Her overall appearance was truly flawless.

Of course, the girl wore a light blue yukata with intricate patterns. Her waist tied tightly was very slender, as if it could be blown away by strong wind. Although the top of the waist sash didn’t show much curve, her shining white arms protruding from the sleeves, her soft fingertips occasionally pinching the sleeves, and her small feet wearing geta, all radiated youth and spirit that only a girl possessed, showing a cute charm she wanted to highlight with every movement.

It wasn’t excessive showing off, or flirtatious flattery—but rather a woman dressing up for the one she loved, small tactics to try to captivate him in every way.

“Tadaa~ How is it, is this appearance of mine cute enough?”

Standing right in front of him with a plop sound, Iroha looked up obediently, her big eyes blinking.

She immediately skipped the part about being late and getting scolded. She smiled, spreading her arms, as if about to directly hug him.

However, after a few seconds, she spun around with a light mischievous smile. Her fingers pinched the sleeves, and her geta carefully rotated on the floor. The hem of her yukata fluttered like butterfly wings. A fresh and rich aroma of shampoo wafted over.

It seemed she had deliberately bathed first, then put on this yukata.

“Senpai, you’ve finished looking, right? How’s the score?”

She spun once and faced him again.

Iroha’s pretty face flushed. Even under the approaching evening sky, her eyes still shone like stars, reflecting the girl’s courage.

Yuu seriously observed her from top to bottom as she wished, then pinched his chin and pondered.

“Strange.”

“What’s strange?” Iroha tilted her head slightly. An invisible nervousness appeared in her eyes.

Yuu furrowed his brow, stared into her eyes, and pretended to seriously ask: “Since when have I known such a cute girl? May I ask for your phone number?”

“...Pfft! HAHAHAHA!”

Initially shocked because she didn’t hear clearly, then Iroha couldn’t hold back her burst of laughter. She laughed hysterically: “Se-Senpai, that kind of pickup line is too outdated! Even street punks wouldn’t say it anymore, you know~”

-

Title: Is Holding Hands on a Date a Problem?

“Not as outdated as that, just as old as the Heisei era.”

(Even though I was just trying to tease her into laughing, why do I have to receive insults like this?)

Yuu rolled his eyes covertly. His hand pressed down on Iroha’s swaying little head, and he said irritably: “Alright, enough laughing. If you laugh anymore, your hair arrangement and makeup will get messy, and that rare beauty aura of yours will disappear.”

“It won’t! I’ve been carefully preparing it since morning... Oh no!”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Iroha immediately covered her mouth with both hands. Her face that had been cheerful from laughing quickly turned red. Her brown eyes secretly glanced toward him at a speed of five centimeters per second.

“Damn, what did I just say~”

She pouted, stamped her feet as if embarrassed and annoyed, and said coquettishly: “Senpai, quickly forget it! I wasn’t looking forward to this date at all!”

Yuu couldn’t help but look at the girl’s feet—being stomped hard with those geta, it must hurt a lot, right?

While shaking his head, he chuckled: “Your acting also belongs to the Showa era.”

“Huh? Try saying that once more?”

The girl’s face changed rapidly, and her voice was as cold as Siberian frozen wind.

“I said, it’s time for us to leave.”

Yuu chose to act wisely to protect himself, and following the direction of the crowd, walked toward the festival location, which was the nearest shrine.

While glaring at his back, Iroha snorted coldly. Her geta seemed to want to compact the riverbank embankment, stepping on the ground forcefully.

When she walked closer, Yuu finally spoke slowly:

“This is the first time I’ve gone to a temple fair festival with a girl. If I do anything inappropriate, please understand.”

“Ah, vice versa.” Because Yuu used formal language, Iroha also reflexively answered respectfully, “This is also the first time I’ve gone with a man. Before, it was always with friends—Wait! This is Senpai’s first time?! Even though you’re so popular!?”

The sharp turn speed in her tone could perhaps only be matched by the legendary driver of Mount Akina.

“Don’t shout loudly, do you want me to die socially?”

Yuu smiled at her. A vein twitched on his forehead. He endured many curious and amused stares, and spoke in a very friendly tone.

“Da-Dangerous.” Iroha’s face went pale. Feeling her life might be threatened, she hurriedly patched it up with a loud voice: “I-I mean, so this is your first time going with a girl, Senpai?”

If she hadn’t said this, it might have been fine. Once she said it, several people beside them couldn’t hold back their laughter.

“Pfft, so it’s a first date... So funny.”

“Even though he looks like a Riajuu, turns out he’s an innocent little virgin...”

“Don’t tell me he hasn’t even touched a girl’s hand, haha...”

Iroha naturally heard all those whispers, but she didn’t dare step forward and tell them to be quiet. After looking around somewhat helplessly, she stared at Yuu with teary eyes full of regret and complaints, and said weakly:

“Um, I really didn’t mean it. I was just surprised... Ehe?”

“Ehe your head!”

(How dare you tilt your head and act cute at a time like this? Do you think I’ll forgive you just because you stick your tongue out a little?)

With a smile that looked like facial cramps, Yuu extended his finger and poked her forehead hard.

“Why? Were you so excited about dating me that you forgot to bring your brain when leaving the house?”

“I-It’s not like that!” Iroha shrieked when poked, but because she felt guilty, she didn’t dare dodge. She could only choose to squat while holding her head, muttering full of complaints: “I still brought my brain! This is all because of Senpai...”

“So, this is all my fault?”

Yuu raised his eyebrow, signaling with friendly eyes for Iroha to provide a reasonable explanation, otherwise he would poke a third eye on her forehead today.

Iroha didn’t dare look at him. She held her forehead and closed her eyes, muttering full of complaints: “You suddenly told me to be careful so seriously. I have no experience, how should I be careful... So I panicked...”

“That was just disinfecting first (a polite expression). Actually it can be categorized as polite words. Why did you panic...”

Yuu slapped his forehead helplessly. Seeing her pitiful appearance, his embarrassment and anger had long disappeared.

Most importantly, because there were now many people around, it wasn’t appropriate to continue teasing her.

He sighed, casually rubbed her smooth forehead that had turned red from his poking, then deliberately tidied her messy bangs, letting the cute return to cute, and the graceful return to graceful.

“Forget it, let’s go.”

“Eh? Is it okay?”

As if surviving a disaster, Iroha raised her big lively and cunning eyes. She recovered very quickly, as if all the complaints earlier were just acting.

Yuu said helplessly: “Otherwise, what else? Spank your bottom here?”

Iroha immediately covered her bottom, her face flushed, and she pouted. Her moist and soft eyes invited fantasies: “Pervert, so Senpai likes games like this? If we’re alone it’s fine, but impossible in public!”

(Wait, so if we’re alone it’s okay?)

Yuu silently complained, then sighed long: “Relax, I don’t intend to make an issue of it with you anymore. If we don’t hurry to the temple fair, I’ll leave you alone.”

“Ah, that way of speaking has no common sense! Senpai is a big insensitive block of wood!”

Iroha immediately chased after him. Her guilty expression disappeared, and she returned to being chatty as before.

However, the girl’s voice was truly melodious. Even if she talked a lot, it wasn’t annoying. Sometimes bright, sometimes whining coquettishly, just like her changeable personality, probably would never be boring.

“Oh right, Senpai, let me treat you to yakisoba as an apology, okay?”

“No need. If you really want to apologize...” Yuu glanced briefly at the crowd, and suddenly said to her, “Hand, extend it.”

“Eh? Don’t tell me you’re going to hit my palm...” Iroha couldn’t help but shrink her shoulders. She observed his expression somewhat fearfully, slowly extending her palm between anxiety and fear, and ready to pull it back anytime.

Yuu didn’t care about her overly fearful behavior. He directly grasped the girl’s soft and cold hand, then waved it toward a certain direction, his eyebrow raised high as if deliberately challenging.

Slightly shocked by this development, Iroha was pulled by him toward the shrine, and asked confusedly: “Se-Senpai, this is...”

“Earlier someone laughed at me, that I probably haven’t even held a girl’s hand.” Yuu said with a cold face and low tone, “I have to let that bastard know that not only have I held a girl’s hand, but the girl I’m holding hands with is a hundred times more beautiful than his date!”

“Ah, ahahaha... Senpai is actually very vindictive...”

Because she never expected there would be such a reason, Iroha couldn’t help but twitch, and complained while laughing dryly.

As for the sweet words about being a hundred times more beautiful, that meant nothing compared to the current situation.

“By the way, Senpai, your hand...”

Yuu said without turning around: “Who said this was a date?”

“It seems, me?”

“Then, is holding hands on a date a problem?”

“Uh, i-it’s not...”

Yuu turned around, seeing her somewhat dazed appearance, as if still in a dream, he couldn’t help but curve the corner of his mouth, and said happily:

“Hurry up and walk. The festival has just begun.”

“Ah...”

Iroha opened her eyes wide in confusion. Her pupils were like the surface of a lake, reflecting his smile completely.

As if the twilight light penetrated the waves, warmth that was bright but not blinding went straight to the bottom of the water.

Lanterns shaded the streets, the atmosphere was very lively. Several couples walked side by side.

After becoming aware, she tightly grasped the warmth in her hand, as if never wanting to let go.

She squinted like a crescent moon. Her cheeks flushed as if reflecting firelight, and she laughed.

“Okay, Senpai!”

-

Title: It Seems I Can No Longer Hide My Identity as an Isshiki Supporter

The sky gradually darkened.

Lanterns hung like fruit on trees, illuminating the pathway from the riverbank embankment toward the Shinto shrine above. The warm orange-yellow light coiled upward, resembling a fire dragon lying on the mountainside, its glowing body climbing from the foot to the peak.

Although called a mountain, its height was less than a hundred meters, and the slope wasn’t too steep. As long as they followed the winding road upward and didn’t climb the stairs, they wouldn’t feel tired from the ascent.

The stalls lined up on both sides of the road like building blocks made people unconsciously keep climbing, and once they realized it, they had already arrived at the shrine on the mountaintop.

Not long after night arrived, tourists passing back and forth filled the air that should have been quiet and peaceful, like nocturnal insects.

Yuu avoided a group of mischievous little children running around swinging balloon hammers, and pulled the small hand in his grip slightly toward himself, allowing Iroha to avoid an adult man who was chatting and not paying attention to the road ahead.

“It’s to anticipate situations like this that I’m holding hands with you.” Yuu said with a calm expression. “So, don’t misunderstand.”

“Senpai, the tsundere trait is outdated, especially if you’re not a golden-haired girl or a losing girl.” With her usual cold response, Iroha complained in a flat tone, then thrust the candy apple in her hand toward Yuu’s mouth. “This apple isn’t sweet at all. Senpai, you try eating it.”

Avoiding the small bite mark that seemed deliberately facing him, Yuu bit the candy apple. He chewed the sugar coating and fruit flesh, licked his slightly sweet lips with his tongue, then gave a fair assessment:

“It’s pretty good, isn’t it? The sourness of this apple blends well with the sweetness of the sugar coating, and it also hasn’t been stored too long so it hasn’t lost moisture.”

But that was only to the extent of being edible.

Snacks like this basically didn’t require much skill, and there wasn’t much that could be improved or changed. As long as the ingredients used weren’t too different, the taste was almost the same. No need to nitpick.

Anyway, this food definitely wasn’t as delicious as his cooking.

“Is that so~” Iroha rolled her small soft and glistening lips, observing the candy apple that had been bitten twice with slight difficulty accepting. Suddenly, she bit right where Yuu had just bitten.

Her mouth was very small, couldn’t accommodate things too large. She also always paid attention to elegance and cuteness when a beautiful girl ate.

So, when eating candy apples, she would bite it slowly with her tightly spaced white teeth like a hamster, then cover her mouth with her small hand and chew carefully—it looked very troublesome, but in her opinion, girls were indeed troublesome creatures.

Especially a beautiful and sweet kouhai who was dating her Senpai at a fireworks festival, she was a fighter jet among troublesome creatures! She must not show any lack of grace under any circumstances!

After swallowing a piece of candy apple as gracefully as a princess, she closed her lips. Her small purple tongue licked the sugar crumbs at the corner of her mouth at an almost invisible speed. Then she furrowed her brow, looking very confused.

“Hmm... How should I put it...”

Yuu felt somewhat strange: “It’s just a candy apple, does it need to be thought about too much?”

Iroha didn’t raise her head: “Huh? The taste of the candy apple isn’t important.”

“?”

(Then why did you ask earlier?)

Yuu glanced at her. His gaze fixed on her beautiful side profile, glowing from the lantern light. In his mind, he had already simulated a dough-kneading scene.

Not realizing the danger in his gaze, Iroha sighed somewhat helplessly. She rotated the candy apple’s bamboo stick: “I’m just thinking, using a candy apple to create the feeling of an indirect kiss isn’t romantic at all. My heart isn’t pounding.”

“Try thinking about this.” Yuu said amiably, “My saliva contains a powerful virus that can cause instant mutation on the spot. Eating my leftovers will turn you into a Licker that kills with its tongue—How about it, is your heart starting to pound?”

“...I’m going to step on you with my geta.”

The lively beautiful girl half-squinted her eyes, coldly staring at his face as thick as a city wall.

The sound of geta tapping on the floor became clearer and heavier at this moment, as if containing strong killing intent.

Yuu averted his gaze and said in an innocent tone: “Anyway, only Japan considers unhygienic behavior like this as romantic. Even setting aside customs, in sports clubs, it often happens that boys and girls directly drink from each other’s water bottles, and they’re not embarrassed at all.”

“How can that be compared... Forget it, there’s no use talking to you, you primitive person who doesn’t understand romance!”

Her small mouth pouted as if sulking. Iroha handed him the remaining candy apple and huffed twice: “Finish it for me! I want to eat something else, I’m afraid of getting too full.”

“Senpai isn’t a trash can for your leftovers.”

Yuu rolled his eyes, but he wasn’t too bothered. He finished the remaining candy apple in a few bites and put the bamboo stick into a plastic bag.

Anyway, he was already used to finishing his sister’s leftovers, and he didn’t like wasting food—the remains of two small bites from the beautiful girl were still within his acceptance range. More than that, and it would truly be unhygienic.

As a note, there were no trash cans on the road to this shrine, so garbage had to be carried by oneself, or thrown away below.

“In this world, there’s no ordinary Senpai who holds hands with his kouhai while strolling at a festival...”

Iroha muttered softly, sounding like she was complaining, but the base of her ear behind her light brown hair somehow turned red. The feeling of embarrassment she had just gotten used to emerged again.

To divert attention, she looked up and saw left and right. Suddenly, she pointed at a stall beside them, her eyes slightly sparkling, and the corner of her mouth seemed to grin mischievously.

Yuu thought Iroha would say a classic line like “Well, are the people over there all virgins?” but instead she only said:

“Senpai, treat me to one chocolate banana!”

“Why should I?”

Although asking that, Yuu honestly walked to the stall and requested one chocolate banana from the vendor.

Honestly, he was already prepared to treat her tonight. He even planned to pay for the earlier candy apple, but Iroha stopped him with the reason ‘I can pay this small amount of money myself’. She had already paid before Yuu could take out his wallet.

Men always have a bit of pride. In some social events or friend gatherings, there are often scenes where everyone scrambles to pay. If you don’t let him pay, he’ll actually get annoyed.

Yuu also wasn’t the type of person who was stingy enough to split the bill with his date. So, when Iroha asked him to treat her, he actually felt relieved. His pride was finally fulfilled.

After paying quickly, Yuu handed her the chocolate banana.

“Why should you? Hmph-hmph, of course it’s because~”

Iroha suddenly showed a sly smile. She looked left and right, then took the initiative to pull Yuu’s hand to a shaded spot beside the stall, letting his large body block the view of the crowd outside. Then she took the chocolate banana, her moist eyes slightly looking up, and blinked twice as if teasing.

“Ding, dong, ding, dong, guys’ favorite fanservice scene, starring Iroha-chan!”

“...” Yuu fell silent for a moment.

She waved the banana proudly: “How about it? Is this surprising? I know, Senpai must be expecting this scene to appear when inviting a girl to the festival... Wait a moment...”

Would doing that motion in public be somewhat inappropriate?

Suddenly realizing this, Iroha’s movements stopped. She met Yuu’s somewhat strange gaze.

The delighted expression from teasing was still displayed on her face. As if only now remembering to be embarrassed, her cheeks flushed deeper, and her expression became slightly awkward.

But since she had already done it, not continuing seemed like it would be more embarrassing. Iroha could only clear her throat, pretending to be calm. Her flushed face tensed, but her voice volume unconsciously became lower.

“I-I should say first, this is special fanservice only for Senpai, okay? If you don’t block it well, and others see it, I won’t forgive you...”

“Relax, I’ve blocked it well.”

Yuu suddenly spoke. His low and magnetic voice was full of confidence.

He directly used the state of no one eavesdropping behind the wall to cut off the possibility of being peeped at.

The girl had already released his hand, standing in front of him without defense, as if he could reach out and embrace her at any time, hug her graceful and slender figure wrapped in yukata, carefully feel the girl’s softness and fragrance.

Although it looked strange to be holding a chocolate banana but not eating it...

However, cuteness was justice. As long as she was cute, it didn’t matter.

“Well, what’s this so-called fanservice? And what’s its relationship with the chocolate banana?”

Looking down at her who wasn’t moving, Yuu blinked his big pure and innocent eyes. His gaze was full of curiosity like a small child, with simple thoughts anticipating the next move.

His acting was very natural, full of emotion.

“Deliberately asking, Senpai’s wicked sense of humor is really too much.”

While wrinkling her small nose, Iroha stared at him angrily, like a performer forced to do an embarrassing act.

She was already beginning to regret—the idea of teasing Senpai with this fanservice scene and making him fall in love had really failed from the moment she felt embarrassed.

But the chocolate banana had already been bought, and she had also said she would show the fanservice scene. Now she couldn’t possibly just put that banana directly into Senpai’s mouth as if nothing had happened, right?

Not keeping her promise wasn’t a big problem. Most importantly, she didn’t want Senpai to look at her with that gaze like looking at an ignorant little sister, and she also didn’t want to be looked down upon...

(Just do it! I’m a very brave girl!)

After taking a deep breath, Iroha gathered her courage. She recalled again the movements she saw in a small video yesterday, and brought the banana close to her slightly parted lips.

Her fingers pressed the hair beside her ear so it wouldn’t come loose, revealing half of her flushed and smooth cheek, and making the girl’s movements uncovered.

She slowly lowered her head. Her small glistening lips exhaled warm breath, preparing to wrap around the tip of that chocolate banana, to show that annoying Senpai in front of her that she also had a mature woman’s side, and she had to make him fall in love with her, no matter how embarrassing it was—

Yuu suddenly spoke again: “Did you know? According to an internet survey, one of women’s movements that easily make men fall in love includes what you’re doing now.”

“Eh?”

He took the opportunity when Iroha was shocked and looked up, directly snatched the chocolate banana, bit it in half, then chewed while saying unclearly: “The gentleness when lowering the head, like a water lotus shy from the gentle breeze... The movement of lowering the head while tucking hair, even without other props, is already beautiful enough to make people see it and have their thoughts wander everywhere.”

Seeing she still seemed not to have reacted, Yuu laughed soundlessly. He pinched her soft and hot cheek with his finger, stared into her eyes, and said: “You fool, if you feel embarrassed, don’t force yourself to tease me with a chocolate banana. What’s the point of imitating comic scenes?”

Iroha blinked her eyes. Her fingers were still tucking hair behind her ear. She stared at him with an empty gaze for a long time, then suddenly threw out this sentence:

“...So, just by doing this, Senpai will fall in love?”

“Maybe.” Yuu withdrew his hand and put the remaining half of the banana in his mouth.

(Strange. Although the actions are similar, women need hundreds of words to describe it, while men only need a sentence of less than fifteen words.)

(Is this gender inequality? I’m angry and feel cold.)

“Really?”

The embarrassment and determination slowly disappeared. Iroha’s eyes began to sparkle, and she pursued happily.

Yuu answered perfunctorily: “Really, why would I lie to you?”

“In that case, Senpai, you fell in love, right? You can’t help but like me, right?” While maintaining the hair-tucking gesture, Iroha brought her face closer, laughed mischievously, and looked very enthusiastic.

“I didn’t expect Senpai to be so easy to conquer~”

“Alright, alright, I’ve already enjoyed the fanservice scene. Let’s continue walking.”

Yuu pushed her face away irritably, deactivated the state of no one eavesdropping behind the wall, and turned toward the brightly lit street.

Iroha quickly followed him. Like discovering a new continent, her steps were cheerful and bouncing, and her geta clacked loudly on the stone road.

“Senpai, Senpai, are you embarrassed?”

Yuu rolled his eyes: “You’re the one who’s embarrassed. Do you want me to imitate your expression earlier? Or want to try again by buying another chocolate banana?”

Iroha quickly consoled him: “Alright, alright, Senpai don’t be angry. How could a thick-skinned person like you be embarrassed? I was just joking.”

“Which one?”

“Don’t worry about such small details... Look, I’m tucking my hair again, you know?” Iroha started playing with her hair, her head swaying left and right like a crazy person. “After tucking the left, switch to the right. After the right, switch to the left. See, this angle is good, right? Hmph-hmph~ As long as Senpai wants to see it, I’ll tuck it for you anytime~”

“Although it’s good, I don’t particularly like this movement. Too much is annoying.”

Too lazy to look at Iroha, Yuu sighed as if exhausted.

(I shouldn’t have bothered comforting this girl. Wouldn’t it be better to let her endure the embarrassment and do that banana-eating act herself?)

(I could see a fanservice scene from a beautiful girl, and wouldn’t need to be bothered like this.)

(Sure enough, my kindness is the root of all evil.)

While thinking so, his arm was suddenly wrapped by softness.

“But, I really like Senpai’s slightly awkward kindness.”

Gently hugging his wrist, Iroha released the hair she had tucked, covering her flushed white cheek. She said in a relaxed tone and small voice:

“Really, no matter how much, I’ll never get tired of it.”

“...Well, as long as you’re happy.”

Yuu answered like sighing, but the corner of his mouth unconsciously curved upward.

He looked up at the night sky. The road and stalls extended upward following the contour of the hill. The light from both sides made the gloomy forest warm. The end of the mountain and that fire was the limitless night sky. A few small stars were sparsely hung in the sky, appearing so close yet also so far as to be unreachable.

At that moment, the girl casually placed her hand back in his grip, with the reason that there were too many people, and she didn’t want to get separated.

Yuu said nothing more. He grasped again that small hand wet with sweat and cold, and felt his heartbeat and the frequency of the twinkling stars seemed slightly synchronized.

But that was probably just an illusion created by the festival’s liveliness.

“Right, just like a dream.”

The echoing sound of taiko drums came from the shrine on the mountain above.

And he, holding her hand, continued to climb under this warm night.