The days passed uneventfully, and White’s Day came upon everyone. Hikaru had prepared simple mass-produced gifts to return the favour that he had received on Valentine’s Day. He would have loved to announce his status as attached, but he still worried about Nozomi’s age. He sighed inwardly. He was torn between wanting time to stop and wanting time to speed up. Meanwhile, Nozomi watched Hikaru pack his bag for school. He had already warned her beforehand and she could empathise with how he felt about what should be done. So, why did she still feel this angsty and stuffy inside? ‘Is this my feeling or because of how affiliated with the dark I am? ...Ah, it’s likely both. How annoying.’ When Hikaru caught her staring, he suggested, “You can follow me around in my shadow, if you’d like.” Nozomi’s eyes widened. “What for?” Hikaru smiled with a knowing look. “Actually, I have something for y
Soon, it was the end of school and the start of spring break.Nozomi’s mother was still considered a new hire, so she could only have a break close to the end of their vacation. “Don’t worry about mother and enjoy yourself, okay, Mi-chan?”“Mm.” Nozomi nodded. Her mother gave her some pocket money to spend again. It was Nozomi’s second date with Hikaru. This time, everyone knew about their plans. Hina did not sulk either, but she made them promise to have a group outing to the amusement park some day after their date. They held hands and headed straight for Tenki shrine together. In front of the shrine, there was a small but lively festival. A lot of plum products were displayed and put on sale. The trees surrounding the area had small pink buds emerging, signaling the approach of the cherry blossom season. It was quite a lovely sight. ‘It’d be nice
When the couple was done, it was still too early for dinner. “How’re you feeling?” Hikaru asked upon passing through the Torri gate again.“Hm? I’m fine?”“I’m referring to the discomfort you had by entering sacred grounds.” Hikaru said with a wry smile and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Sorry it ended up a lot longer than I had intended it to be.”“Oh, that. It’s really fine. I didn’t even think of the discomfort until you reminded me of it.”“Oh, okay, then. Hm, should we go for tea or a quiet stroll?” “...Even though you’re raring to go somewhere to train now?” Nozomi asked with a knowing look.Hikaru lightly pursed his lips. “Was it that obvious?” Nozomi shook her head. “We’re just similar enough.” “So, y
While Hikaru washed up, Nozomi reflected on her summoning earlier. She was sorely lacking in control. At least she had figured out that the words did not matter. It was her intention, confidence, and willpower. She had to borrow some of her experience from the world where she was a wolf. Being an alpha wolf had helped her a lot. ‘Lucky me. Hah. To think I’d have a day when I’d call myself lucky.’Her thoughts quickly drifted to what happened after that. ‘But... What exactly made Hikaru lose control that way?’She recalled his expression when she found him staring at her. ‘Does he have some kink for bad girls or something...?’ Come to think of it, he had no trouble accepting her questionable activities, such as stalking him. The corners of her mouth curved up as she thought of ways she could play and tease him once she could. Then, she would have answer to
“Yosuke will meet us at the entrance of the park.” Hikaru told Hina while they were leaving their house. “Yosuke? That guy’s coming?” Makoto, who had been waiting at the front of their house, asked.“You didn’t tell him?” Hikaru raised an eyebrow. “I may have forgotten to... Sorry, Ma-kun!” Hina put her hands together in front of her face. Makoto looked helplessly at Hina and sighed. “Never mind, let’s go.”Hina occupied Nozomi for the entire trip and continued to hog her after they reached their destination. “Amusement parks are a must, especially when you’re still young!” Hina emphasized when Nozomi looked less than thrilled.“I didn't know you enjoy partying with beings from the other side too.” Nozomi mumbled. The number of monsters lurking around was not much lower than the numb
At the exit, Yosuke and Hina alighted the ride with their backs hunched and expressions gloomy. They were worn out from keeping their guard up for the entire time. They did not know if or when they needed to intervene. With the CCTV cameras in the attraction, they could not simply change just for their peace of mind.“Was it THAT scary?” Makoto looked genuinely worried for them. He glanced at Nozomi and Hikaru, who looked better than when they boarded the ride.“I’m not the only one who finds this haunted house sub-par, am I?” Nozomi shook her head, while Hikaru replied with laughter in his voice, “The haunted house was quite shit.”“...How about you all wait here? I’ll get something sweet for Hina. Do you both want anything too?”“One chocolate and one lemon lime would do.” Hikaru ordered on Nozomi’s behalf.&ldqu
Everything wrapped up nicely and everyone returned to their respective homes. That night, Yosuke and Hina learned of the details of Nozomi's and Hikaru's trip to Tenki shrine and their plans.“We want in.”Both of their eyes were burning with determination and hope, each holding a different intention. One for his family's honour and pride. Another for an easier life with no night patrols. Yosuke and Hina visited Tenki shrine on their own. Upon meeting the head priest, they cited Hikaru and Nozomi as their referrals and sought guidance. Tenki's head priest was more than happy to accept Hina as his disciple, for she had the same attribute as him and he had no successor. Although rejected, Yosuke was satisfied with the answers and tips he had received, which he shared with his family.Just like that, the four began their secret training in different places, and the day of their family vacation quickly arrived.
The meal was lively and ended with cake. Although Nozomi did not participate much in the merry making, she did not feel left out. The others had made sure of that. While the children returned to their rooms, Keisuke held Aiko back, asking if she would like to head out for a couple of drinks with him.When he was met with a dumbfounded expression, Keisuke explained, “We shouldn’t be drinking with the children, at least not yet.” He laughed lightly. “I have something to tell you anyway. Why not over some drinks?”“Oh. Um, okay. Where should we go, though?”“Just the bar near here. So, what you’re wearing now is fine.”At the same time, another conversation took place. “Something on your mind?”Nozomi shook her head. “It’s nothing.”“Your mother looked a lot better today, didn’t sh
RenRan began napping. A lot. Souls did not need sleep, but they could choose to do so. FanHai was one of those who seemed to never catch a wink of sleep. While RenRan slept, he stayed by her side, always keeping himself busy with something. This carried on for a good time before she began to catch him with his guard lowered after waking up. ‘A while more.’ RenRan did not believe that a man like him could keep himself entertained this long and resist a cat nap with her. At this point, BaoBao cried out in frustration. There were a few times she could have slipped away because he had already fallen asleep with her! He even dared to cuddle with her. That spot was only reserved for two people! Him and the familiar soul! “Is it really too much to assist by waking her up?” He challenged the elder one. “Is it so hard for her to stay awake in a world that doesn’t need sleep?” He challenged BaoBao back. “...That’s easy for you to say.” Then, BaoBao puffed his cheeks and returned to gl
RenRan’s eyes opened wide. No matter how hard she pushed against him or how much she pounded his chest, shoulders, or head, he persisted on. She tried to bite him, but he avoided using his tongue and skillfully moved his mouth in tandem with her attempts. With his hand cupping the back of her head, she could not break the kiss either. She was at his complete mercy. ‘I should have dropped the act earlier. This isn’t worth it!’ Fear slowly gripped her heart as she wondered how far he would take it. Then, he stopped, just as suddenly as he started. “Enough?” He grinned and meaningfully applied greater pressure on her lower back. His move made RenRan conscious of the rock hard member against her abdomen. Immediately recognising what it was, she fiercely pushed against his chest and demanded, “Okay, let me go! I’ll properly spend some time with you first!” He smiled with satisfaction. “Like I thought.” Then, he let her go. “You wouldn’t have to waste so much time and energy if you jus
RenRan’s heart jumped but she poised herself promptly, ready to grapple with whoever had manhandled her. “Why’d you run away from me? Didn't we have deal?” The somewhat familiar deep voice cleared up the situation. “I’m not running from you.” RenRan explained as she attempted to pull her arm out of his strong grip. “You know you can’t lie with this within us.” He pointed at his chest and kept on his tight smile. “You got to try harder than that to convince me.” RenRan frowned. “And I was precisely following that to find you, as agreed.” His smile gradually disappeared as his gaze dropped to study her entire body. “…You’re weaker than the last time I saw you.” RenRan had nothing to say in response. Instead, she attempted to twist her arm free again. “Even so, I’ve never heard of a compass malfunctioning because of this before.” Annoyed with his accusations, RenRan tuned in
RenRan headed for a condensed group of swirling sparkles that was just a little larger than her. ‘So, my mission is to achieve my dream no matter the cost. What’s my dream? To find YingTao? No, I’ll definitely find him. It’s just a matter of time. Then, I’ll find out that YingTao doesn’t want me anymore. And I’ll want him back...’ RenRan thought of everything that had happened in RenRan’s life. ‘I can only hope that her dream’s that simple...’ She began to think of all her misdemeanors, then ways to right her wrongs. [I should stop you right there. If it wasn’t clear enough before, as long as you’re in the story scenes, you’re supposed to do and say all the things the original character did.] ‘What? You didn’t say that earlier.’ [I mentioned earlier that it's risky to provoke this world’s consciousness into doing anything. So, we can only observe this world. What do you think this mea
Luna was right. She had inhabited Luo RenRan’s body. RenRan’s family belonged to the working class, but her gripe was not their standard of living, it was her parents’ favourtism for her brothers. She was the only girl, and she was the oldest. Anything her brothers did, she was responsible for. Any wrong they committed, they were let off with a more lenient punishment, while she was supposed to forgive and forget. Their expectations for her and the restrictions they imposed on her could not be compared to the standards they held her brothers against. The only solace she had was that her siblings never directly crossed her line, even when she was old enough to start working. If only it stayed that way forever. “RenRan... Forgive your brother, okay? You know he only took it because he needed it and only you can help him. If you have someone you need to blame, blame your father.” A gentle motherly voice coaxed her. “If your father helped, none of us would be
“Wh- What am I doing here?” BaoBao looked around in shock. He recognised this place. The last time he was here, it was to defend Luna. “Why am I back here?”The elder one sighed. “Why did you do it?”“D- Do what?”Gasps were heard around him.“It lies.”“It truly deceives.”“Surely, that’s bad.”“This can’t go on.”“It’s always this one system.”“Clearly there’s something wrong with it.”All the administration looked at the elder one, waiting for the go ahead. The elder one looked at BaoBao so intensely as if BaoBao was a specimen under his microscope. BaoBao gulped. He felt exposed. What was with this elder one? Whatever the case, Luna had already been sent to the next world. He could not dilly dall
“Don’t ignore me! I know you’re awake!” Someone pushed Luna’s shoulder hard. Her eyes flew open, and a purple and black galaxy unfolded before her. Her bottom left whatever she had been sitting on, but she did not fall. There was a resistance that made her body glide instead. Luna blinked a few times, stunned. "I dare you to say it again.” The same voice challenged her. Luna turned towards the source. There it was again. The sensation when she moved was familiar. However, she had no time to make sense of it. The deep voice belonged to a burly woman, instead of a man like Luna had assumed, not that it made anything better. Her guest looked as friendly as a starving lioness. Luna straightened her neat celestial-like robes while she quickly collected her thoughts. It shimmered and shone brighter than the glow emanating from her body. The fabric was so silky to touch that it was like water. Although it was transluc
“LUNA!” BaoBao jumped onto her. Luna grunted from the impact. It reminded her of how much he had grown from the first time she met him. ‘How is he so weightless but so heavy at the same time?’ “Hi BaoBao,” she laughed lightly, “Is this your new way of sending me to the next world?” “Huh?! No, no! It’s far too soon to be sending you to the next world, isn’t it?!” Luna laughed even more. “I was just teasing.” BaoBao blinked innocently. “Oh.” Luna looked at him endearingly. “You’re still so much like a kid.” She rubbed the top of his head lovingly. “Don’t systems live for eternity, if nothing goes wrong?” “Mmhm, what about it?” “It still felt that long to you?” “YES!” BaoBao confirmed without a second thought. Luna laughed. “Let’s spend some time together before heading to the next world.” BaoBao’s heart warmed and h
Nozomi closed her eyes and thought hard about his request. It did not feel right or good to take his years, but she had no right to dictate how he should live his life.‘Since he’s really fine with it...’Nozomi pushed her hands forward to cup his cheeks. “Okay...”Hikaru’s eyes brightened up. He promptly retrieved his book and readied himself. Nozomi watched Hikaru activate his magic with interest. The way his book’s ribbon splits and transforms into a robe and staff never got old. “Thank you, for going along with my wishes.” His heartfelt gratitude was reflected in his eyes as well. Nozomi smiled in understanding and squeezed his hands that were once again holding onto hers. Hikaru closed his eyes and focused on her presence, then said the incantation that he had memorised by then.Green glowing vine marks appeared