Read Novel Full Vol 19 Chapter 4 Part 4
Vol 19 Chapter 4 Part 4
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ED: LonelyMatter
Part 4
We all bought the ema and started writing our wishes.
Then, Lexia-san finished writing her wish.
“I’m finished!”
“That was quick. What did you write?”
“Well, of course, to become Yuuya-sama’s bride!”
“Huh!?”
I couldn’t help but burst out laughing at those unexpected words.
“L-Lexia-san!?”
“Lexia, give it up. That wish will never come true in your lifetime.”
“Why not? Besides, Luna—”
“Waaah! Stop it!”
Lexia tried to say something, but Luna immediately covered her mouth, so I couldn’t hear.
Luna, what were you going to write?
Then, Kaori, who had been watching the two of them, steeled herself.
“Th-that’s amazing. I-I can’t let myself be outdone!”
“Kaori!? U-ugh… I want to write my wish, too, but it’s too embarrassing!”
“Hmmm… It’s quite mysterious how writing it down makes the wish come true. But, then again, exposing your wish for others to see also carries its own embarrassment. Could this be the price of the wish!?”
Seeing Kaori’s determination, Kaede seemed conflicted, and Merl pondered things in a strange direction. Everyone displayed their own unique reaction.
My wish hadn’t changed since the shrine visit, so I wrote it on my ema and hung it up.
“Sorry, I need to use the restroom.”
Just as everyone finished writing their ema, I felt the urge to go. I slipped away from the group and headed for the restroom.
With the place so crowded, I worried the restrooms would be packed. Surprisingly, though, they weren’t too busy.
After using the restroom, I started walking back toward the others, and a familiar face suddenly caught my eye.
There…
“Huh? Kagurazaka-san and… Yuzuki-kun?”
“Huh?”
There they were. Kagurazaka-san was dressed as a shrine maiden, and Yuzuki-kun was wearing his everyday clothes. [T/N: It’s from Yuuya’s point of view.]
They were walking side by side, chatting and laughing. Did they perhaps actually know each other?
Yuzuki-kun did seem to have mysterious powers, so it wouldn’t be impossible for him to be connected to Kagurazaka-san, who also had such powers.
As I pondered this, the two of them seemed to notice me, too. Their eyes widened simultaneously.
“Yuuya! What are you doing here?”
“Ah, well, we decided to visit the first shrine of the year together, so I came with some friends.”
“I see. But more importantly, are you two acquainted?”
Kagurazaka-san noticed the awkward reaction from Yuzuki-kun and me.
“Well, yes. Yuzuki-kun transferred to my high school the other day.”
“Y-yeah.”
“…I see. That explains it.”
For some reason, Kagurazaka-san seemed to understand something on her own.
Then…
“Oh! That reminds me. My father told me to prepare for the Kagura performance today. Yuuya, I’m really sorry, but could you wait here with Yuzuki for a little while?”
“Huh? Eh?”
“Well, then. I’ll leave it to you.”
Kagurazaka-san said this and left without waiting for me to respond.
Wait, I can’t just wait here!
Besides, Yuzuki-kun hates me. What am I supposed to do?
I braced myself, expecting him to say something else or challenge me to a fight. But Yuzuki-kun just lowered his head.
H-huh…?
“Is… is something wrong? Are you okay?”
The atmosphere felt off, so I blurted out the question. After a moment, Yuzuki-kun raised his head, and his expression was now filled with resolve.
“Yuuya-kun.”
“Y-yes.”
His expression was so serious that I instinctively stood straighter. Then, suddenly, Yuzuki-kun bowed his head.
“──I’m sorry.”
“Huh?”
I was confused by the sudden apology, but Yuzuki-kun continued.
“…Up until now, I’ve caused you tremendous trouble because of my circumstances. I’ve made all sorts of unreasonable demands and hurt you. I’m truly sorry.”
“Ah, um…”
Yuzuki-kun bowed deeply.
I never expected an apology, so I didn’t know how to respond. But I could tell he was sincere.
So…
“It’s okay.”
“Huh? Y-you forgive me?”
“Yeah. Because you apologized.”
His constant confrontations had worn me down mentally at times, but they hadn’t really caused me much trouble otherwise.
Seeing him again after so long made me realize that the Yuzuki-kun I saw now was completely different from the one at the academy. He seemed to have shed some kind of burden and was radiating a bright, clear aura.
At the academy, Yuzuki-kun always seemed tense, like he was being chased by something.
“I don’t know what circumstances you’re dealing with, but you must’ve had a reason for challenging me like that, right? So, you apologized. I forgive you.”
“You…”
Hearing my words, Yuzuki-kun’s eyes glistened. After a moment of hesitation, he opened his mouth.
“Yuuya-kun, listen. Actually, I am—!”
It happened in that instant.
Yuzuki-kun froze, as if he had noticed something. His expression turned terrifyingly intense.
“Yuuya-kun! Hurry! Take your friends and get away from this shrine!”
“Huh?”
“Do you understand? You must go!”
Yuzuki-kun declared this unilaterally, then vanished at incredible speed.
I could only stare after him, utterly dumbfounded.
“Wh-what in the world…”
Yuzuki-kun had been about to say something to me when he suddenly reacted that way.
Above all, that look was definitely not normal.
“…It feels way too off to just ignore…”
Muttering that under my breath, I hurried after Yuzuki-kun.
＊＊＊
Meanwhile, Oki, who had been monitoring Yuuya’s house via satellite under the guise of safety management, spent New Year’s alone in her room.
“Haaah… Well, it’s New Year’s, so everyone goes out together for the first shrine visit, right…”
Already knowing that Yuuya had gone to the shrine with Lexia and the others, Oki sighed enviously.
“Gah! If I were younger, I could have gone with Yuuya-kun to the shrine and shown off my furisode kimono!”
Overcome with frustration, Oki voiced a wild fantasy.
“Hah!? But wait! Even now, I could hold my own, couldn’t I? With my mature charm, which young girls lack, I could captivate Yuuya-kun…”
While Oki was savoring the osechi cuisine she’d ordered online and voicing slightly dangerous hypotheses, her work phone suddenly rang.
“Ugh, what now? I was in the middle of something…”
She grumbled but couldn’t ignore a work call. Oki answered.
“Hello?”
“Th-this is bad! A mutation has appeared!”
The moment she picked up, the panicked bureau member blurted it out.
But Oki just looked exasperated at the bureau member.
“Listen… mutations appearing is nothing new. Why are you so flustered?”
“W-well, it appeared right next to a certain shrine.”
“What did you say?”
That was too much to ignore. Oki’s voice turned serious.
“A shrine… Could it be one that gets a lot of visitors for New Year’s prayers?”
“Yes. It’s a popular shrine, bustling with visitors every New Year’s. The silver lining is that this shrine has ties to the Kagurazaka family.”
“The Kagurazaka family? One of the prominent families behind the scenes, right? So, is that Kagurazaka Shrine?”
Having become deeply involved with the mutations and learned much about the families of the hidden world, Oki spoke as if recalling something.
“Yes! Given the time of year, the head of the Kagurazaka family will likely be at the shrine. I believe this will minimize damage and impact on the general public. However, the mutation that appeared this time is among the highest level three. It possesses a strength that could reach level 4…”
“You’re kidding, right? How could something like that suddenly…! Was there no warning?”
“Absolutely none!”
Oki clicked her tongue at the words of the bureau agent and immediately sprang into action.
“Send me the coordinates where the mutation appeared. I’m heading there now!”
“R-right, understood!”
The agent ended the call as soon as they finished speaking.
Simultaneously, the coordinates were sent.
“Seriously… Couldn’t you at least let us relax during New Year’s?”
Muttering curses under her breath, Oki rushed to the scene.
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