A few minutes ago...
"Seriously, why do I have to wait here for that scumbag?"
Sitting on the railing of the observation deck, Yutsuki grumbled in dissatisfaction while taking in the beautiful view of Tengu City bathed in the setting sun.
What a beautiful scenery...
It was late afternoon. The fiery red sun had already half-sunk below the horizon, casting a golden-red glow over the city. The interplay of light and shadow sketched out a breathtaking view that words could hardly describe.
If this were following the pacing of a light novel, this would be one of those secret, hard to find scenic spots that always seem to pop up.
It was the kind of place that only locals familiar with the city might stumble upon by pure luck. Yet, Yutsuki had coincidentally discovered it yesterday while dragging Itsuka Shido away from the scene of her cri.
"It's a sha..."
Reluctantly pulling her gaze away with a soft sigh, Yutsuki herself didn't quite understand what she felt was such a sha.
"Ryougi Yutsuki. Sorry to keep you waiting."
A voice she had heard just yesterday rang in her ears. Frowning in displeasure, Yutsuki reluctantly turned around and stood up, looking at the slightly out of breath boy in front of her.
"You're too slow, Scumbag Shido."
...
Hearing Yutsuki address him with a nickna brimming with absolute disgust, Shido could only offer a bitter smile.
"I'm sorry..."
"There's no need to apologize. I didn't co here to hear that."
Yutsuki bluntly cut off Shido's apology. After all, she was the one who had set the eting ti as vaguely as "late afternoon," and Shido had actually arrived quite early. The only reason Yutsuki started berating him the mont he arrived was simply because of the intense disgust she felt toward him.
Feeling ashad of the petty thoughts brewing in her head, Yutsuki took a deep breath. Calming herself down, she looked at Shido and said:
"First of all, I need to thank you, Itsuka Shido."
"Eh?"
Shido was taken aback by Yutsuki's words. Because he couldn't use his wireless communicator in front of her, he and Kotori had discussed nurous worst-case scenarios before he ca here. But neither of them had ever expected that the very first thing Yutsuki would do was thank him.
Ignoring Shido's surprise, Yutsuki continued:
"I know what happened with Kaguya and Yuzuru. You successfully broke the chain known as 'Destiny' that bound them, allowing them to live peaceful lives. Seeing them live so happily and carefree now makes incredibly happy as their friend. Naturally, I owe you my gratitude for that. Truly... thank you very much."
A relieved, heartfelt smile blossod on Yutsuki's face. Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, the girl's peerless beauty looked almost dreamlike, leaving one utterly entranced.
However, Shido suddenly realized that hidden beneath that joyful smile was an imperceptible trace of profound loneliness.
"Just that isn't enough," Shido pinched his own thigh hard, forcing himself to snap out of it. He looked at Yutsuki with absolute seriousness. "Because if things stay like this, Yutsuki will only beco even lonelier."
An unprecedented look of agitation flashed across Yutsuki's face. As if trying to cover it up, she stamred, "W-W-What nonsense are you spouting?! Who's lonely?!"
"If I'm not mistaken, after eting with Kaguya and Yuzuru this ti, you have absolutely no intention of ever seeing them again, do you?" Shido said, looking unwaveringly into Yutsuki's eyes. "Because they are no longer people of the sa world as you... so you don't want to destroy their peaceful daily lives, right?!"
It had been exactly the sa during their very first encounter. Just to protect Itsuka Shido—whom she believed to be an ordinary civilian—Yutsuki had deliberately jamd all nearby surveillance feeds and intentionally knocked him out to hide him from the AST. Her entire goal was to prevent Shido from getting too deeply involved in the dark side of this world and destroying his normal life.
Yutsuki and Tohka were very similar. They both desperately yearned for soone to acknowledge them, to interact with them. But the difference was that Yutsuki possessed a thorough understanding of her own cursed existence and a deep, considerate thoughtfulness for others. And it was precisely this difference that caused Yutsuki to actively and passively avoid making connections.
Both the Yamais and Yutsuki had originally been Spirits shunned by humanity. Because they shared the exact sa miserable circumstances, Yutsuki had opened her heart and forged a friendship with them.
But now that the Yamais had escaped that terrible world? That gentle consideration for her friends would undoubtedly drive Yutsuki to completely cut off all contact with them.
If that happened—Ryougi Yutsuki would once again be entirely alone.
"Please, go on a date with !" Shido bowed his head deeply, shouting with every ounce of sincerity in his heart. "I will save you too! Whether I have to pull, drag, or carry you! I will absolutely bring you into the exact sa world as Kaguya and Yuzuru, and let you live the exact sa everyday life!"
This was Itsuka Shido's solemn declaration to Ryougi Yutsuki, and at the sa ti, it was a vow to himself.
Yutsuki stared at Shido in silence for a long ti. Finally, she muttered in annoyance, "This is exactly why I hate harem protagonists. You're nothing but a scumbag, yet you're so damn good at talking at tis like this."
"Y-Yutsuki?"
Shido tentatively raised his head. But at that exact mont, acting like an unreasonable child throwing a tantrum, Yutsuki covered her ears and scread. Violent, surging lightning began to explode outward from her body in all directions.
"Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up! Who gave you permission to call by my first na?!"
"Shido... hurry... get away... Yutsuki's... emotions... are becoming..."
Kotori's voice suddenly crackled through the earpiece. However, due to the chaotic electromagnetic interference in the area, Shido could only make out a few broken, static-filled words.
A massive electrical shock washed over Shido's entire body. An intense sensation of paralysis and searing heat rcilessly assaulted his nervous system, pushing him to the very brink of losing consciousness.
I can't fall here. Shido gritted his teeth. He knew that if he took even a single step back or passed out right now, all hope would be lost.
The storm ca as quickly as it left. A few seconds later, the violent lightning gradually subsided. Yutsuki looked at Itsuka Shido—who was still standing there, faintly smoking, his hair blown up into a comical afro—with a highly complex expression.
Such a loss of control was incredibly rare for Yutsuki, who always adhered to the principle of 'only a calm mind can solve problems'. But the mont she looked at this damn harem protagonist, an uncontrollable surge of rejection and disgust welled up inside her.
Itsuka Shido was completely right. If the Yamai weren't in any danger, Yutsuki genuinely intended to avoid Tengu City from now on and cut off contact with them. And it was also true that deep down, she desperately yearned to integrate into the human world and live an ordinary life.
This was an opportunity that the Yamai had created for Itsuka Shido, but at the sa ti, it was an opportunity given to Ryougi Yutsuki.
After a long pause, Yutsuki let out a defeated sigh. As if accepting her fate, she said, "I understand. Seeing as you actually have so backbone, and taking into account the fact that you helped Kaguya and Yuzuru, I'll humor you tomorrow."
"Really?! Thank you so much!"
"Don't thank . You have absolutely no reason to be thanking !"
Seeing Shido visibly sigh in relief and collapse onto the ground, another wave of profound annoyance surged in Yutsuki's chest.
This guy gets off easy. At the very least, he gets to go on a date with a cute girl. anwhile, I have to give my very first date ever to a scumbag harem protagonist!
Why is the universe so unfair?!
The more she thought about it, the more pissed off Yutsuki beca. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration hit her.
"Itsuka Shido. For our date tomorrow, I will permit you to communicate with your Fraxinus crew. You can monitor my affection levels, my emotional state, and whatever else you want. If you want to use that airborne battleship's AI to feed you dialogue options like a dating sim, I'll accept that too. But in exchange... I have one condition."
"W-What is it?" Hearing Yutsuki make such massive concessions, Shido didn't feel happy in the slightest. Instead, a deep, creeping sense of dread began to surface in his heart.
"Don't worry, it's definitely sothing Shido-boy can accomplish." A wicked, malicious smile spread across Yutsuki's face as she looked at Shido. "Tomorrow at ten o'clock in the morning, Tengu City Plaza. Itsuka Shido... you had better show up in won's clothing and go on a date with !"
Seeing the utterly horrified, soul crushed look on Shido's face, Yutsuki felt an unprecedented sense of absolute satisfaction.
Original author's Note (PS): After a final filler chapter, the Yutsuki Date arc has finally concluded! Next, we will be entering the Yutsuki Change arc!
User Comments
0 comments from readers