Date a Live:This is not the date I wanted! Chapter 321 321: Sleeping in the Universe

Here, it was the sky, yet it was further away than the other side of the sky.

Here, it was also the world, yet it was vaster and more boundless than the end of the world.

The darkness with no end in sight was warr than sunlight, gently embracing all things in the world like a child in its arms.

Snuggled inside a small fragnt of stars, a girl curled up in this darkness, sleeping peacefully.

Just like trees growing in a forest;

River water flowing in rivers;

Oxygen existing in the air.

Just like these natural common senses, the girl "existed" here and "lived" here so naturally.

Irreversible, irresistible, uninterferable. In this pitch-black nothingness, the girl drifted aimlessly everywhere, letting the ti in her hands flow continuously just like this.

Objectively, the girl was already a part that made up this space, but subjectively, there were no beings of her kind here.

Even if there were, they had already left her by now.

But despite saying this, the girl had absolutely no dissatisfaction.

Not a bit of unease, not the slightest impatience, and she couldn't feel the so-called loneliness either.

Not only that.

Anger, sadness, joy, affection—all emotions were kept out by a solid iron lock.

This was fine.

Trading these chips as an exchange, the girl gained eternal, unchanging stability and peace.

This was what she expected. Even though now, she no longer even possessed the emotion of expectation.

—However.

One day, an uninvited guest broke into her world. Forcing her to open her eyes.

It was a bunch of chanical dolls with long limbs.

In the way.

She would not interfere with anything. But when she was interfered with by sothing, the remaining small fragnt of her heart would urge her to eliminate it.

"—Eyesores, just remove them."

Just like that, the girl held a giant key in her hands.

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January 4th, the day after the first shrine visit of the New Year (Hatsumoude).

It wasn't until today that Ryougi Yutsuki finally understood that in Japanese customs, the amount of coins thrown into the offering box had its own unique aning.

Because the pronunciation of "five yen" (go-en) is similar to "fate/connection" (go-en), putting in five yen ans "having fate"; fifteen yen ans "plenty of fate"; twenty-five yen ans "double fate"; forty-five yen ans "fate from beginning to end"; eighty-five yen ans "fate in the end"; and ninety-five yen is considered "infinite fate."

And ten yen is an avoided number, because it sounds like "far away from fate" (tou-en).

Of course, after coming to the shrine, Yutsuki also saw many adults who thought "the more you give, the greater the fate," throwing in five hundred, one thousand, or even a ten thousand yen Yukichi bill.

Naturally, she didn't think this practice was wrong. Rather, whether gods existed or not didn't matter to her at all.

Because many tis, the wishes you make to the gods, the ones that can be realized, are often realized not by the gods, but by yourself. And for the ones that can't be realized, even the gods can't help you.

However, Ryougi Yutsuki admitted that the act of praying was necessary.

Probably not many people who co here truly believe that God exists. They just want to go through the motions, seek so comfort, or find spiritual support to vent their emotions regarding everything that happened to them in the past.

Passing exams, a successful career, smooth romance, a happy family, good health...

Only when people make wishes here do they understand what they truly need, and then they step forward in that direction.

Such thoughts might get scolded by the gods, right? With such trivial thoughts popping into her mind, Yutsuki threw a five-yen coin into the offering box, rang the bell, closed her eyes, bowed, and prayed.

(Please make sure Shido awakens and becos the true Shiori!!!)

Shido, for so reason, suddenly felt a wave of chills.

(Well... if God-sama can't do it, then please use the portion ant to grant my wish to grant my family's wishes instead.)

After silently adding that sentence in her heart, Yutsuki opened her eyes. Beside her, Kaguya, Yuzuru, Tohka, Shido, and Origami were all still maintaining their praying postures, making wishes to the gods.

Not long after, everyone opened their eyes one after another.

"Sorry for the wait, Yutsuki."

"It's fine." Shrugging indifferently, Yutsuki asked, "What wishes did you all make?"

"Umu. I hope to eat a lot of delicious food this year too!"

Tohka answered very excitedly.

"Also, I hope to always be with Shido and everyone."

What a very Tohka-like answer.

Looking at Tohka's cheerful smile that was bright like sunshine, Yutsuki felt herself unconsciously smiling as well.

Just then, Kaguya, wearing an orange and black kimono, covered half her face with her hand and said seriously.

"Kuku. I wondered what you were going to say. The minor god ruling this land, I have already witnessed her level. Compared to my majesty, she must only be shivering in fear right now."

"Tattling. Liar, Kaguya clearly just whispered 'I hope to climb the stairs of adulthood this year'."

"What!?"

Hearing Yuzuru's words, Yutsuki couldn't help but look at Kaguya with amazed eyes. Last year, this girl would blush like a tomato just from holding hands or kissing; how did she build up this kind of ntal resolve this year?

"A girl changes fast as she grows up, huh..."

Yutsuki sighed with mixed feelings.

"That's not true! Don't misunderstand, my comrade."

Seeing Yutsuki actually believe Yuzuru's words, Kaguya hurriedly explained.

"I clearly only said I want to go on a date with Shido..."

Before she could finish, Kaguya's shoulders jerked abruptly, realizing she had fallen into a trap.

"Shido, you've been called out."

Poking Shido's waist with her elbow, Yutsuki teased with a wicked smile.

"Haha..."

Scratching his cheek in embarrassnt and looking away, Shido answered with a bitter smile.

"No, well, um... I'll think about it carefully."

"...!"

Her cheeks instantly turning completely red, seemingly not daring to look straight at Shido's face, Kaguya lowered her head and wordlessly punched Yuzuru's shoulder to protest.

"And what about you, Yuzuru?"

"Reply. Secret."

Regarding Shido's question, Yuzuru glossed over it with an ambiguous smile.

As for Origami, wearing a white kimono with paper crane patterns, she was still standing in front of the shrine with her hands clasped, praying and muttering words.

Out of curiosity, Kaguya walked over to Origami and leaned her ear in.

"...?!"

Within seconds, thick smoke billowed from Kaguya's head like a starting steam train, and she wordlessly and rapidly took a few steps back.

"Shido, if you're going to fulfill Origami's wish, I suggest you make full preparations, otherwise one mont of carelessness, and you will lose sothing very important."

"Thanks for the warning..."

At Yutsuki's overly serious advice, a drop of cold sweat appeared on Shido's forehead.

"Yutsuki, what wish did you make?"

"? I hope Shido can quickly awaken and beco the true Shiori."

Yutsuki answered truthfully.

"..."

Shido felt a bit of regret in his heart. Why didn't he ask the gods not to fulfill Yutsuki's wish just now while he was at it?

"Shido, what wish did you make... well, I can roughly guess even without asking."

"Oh?" Hearing Yutsuki's words, Shido couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, and said with a sowhat provocative tone, "I didn't say it out loud, so no matter what you say, Yutsuki, you can't possibly guess my wish out of thin air."

Yutsuki spread her hands and said in a calm tone:

"It must be the kind of wish like 'I hope this current happiness can last forever'."

"..."

"Looks like I guessed right."

Seeing Shido's depressed expression, Yutsuki chuckled, put her hands into her coat pockets, and turned to walk down from the shrine.

(Am I really that easy to read?)

Touching his cheek, Shido thought depressedly.

Original author's PS: I can say responsibly that this part is basically modeled after the original work.