Date a Live:This is not the date I wanted! Chapter 531 531: If Route: Intertwined Birds Flying Apart (P

After leaving Nia's ho, on the way back, Kaguya and Yuzuru both wore subtle expressions, unable to fully accept what had happened.

Nia had brushed them off. The two were not actually stupid, so naturally they understood that Nia had said all those things in order to avoid making a judgnt.

However, understanding was one thing. Nia's reasoning was real. They could not refute it, and that was precisely what made them feel the most frustrated.

"Welco ho... Kaguya, Yuzuru."

When they returned to the apartnt, Yumi stood at the doorway as if she had expected their return, greeting them with a kind smile.

"I have returned."

"Nod. Yuzuru has returned, Obaa-chan."

After nodding in greeting, the Yamai sisters entered the house and leaned against the sofa with ntally exhausted faces.

"What happened? You both look so listless. Did you not go to Nia's place today to hear the result of the contest?"

After giving each of them a cup of barley tea, Yumi sat properly in front of them and asked.

"Sigh~ Do not even ntion it, Obaa-chan. I received a long lecture from the Dream Painter. Never mind the result, she even evaluated our works as worthless."

"Disheartened. Yuzuru believes she drew very seriously."

After drinking a mouthful of barley tea, the two let out long sighs. During this week, they had spent plenty of ti staying up late drawing. Now, however, they had gained no result from it, making it feel like all their effort had gone to waste. Naturally, their mood was sowhat low.

"What happened... Did Nia bully you?"

Yumi furrowed her brows slightly and asked worriedly.

"If you have any grievances... I will go talk to Nia."

Kaguya and Yuzuru instead guiltily looked away. They waved their hands and smiled bitterly.

"Uh... there is no need, Obaa-chan. Although no victor was decided, I am not truly dissatisfied with how the Dream Painter handled it."

"Explanation. Do not worry, Obaa-chan. Although the contest ended in a draw, Nia did not act maliciously, and Yuzuru does not feel dissatisfied."

"I see..."

Yumi breathed a small sigh of relief, then continued asking,

"Then... have you considered the matter of your future paths? You will be third years soon, yes? It is better to decide quickly..."

Faced with Yumi's question, Kaguya and Yuzuru looked at each other and spoke awkwardly.

"Answer. Regarding that matter... Yuzuru and Kaguya have not yet reached a conclusion."

"Kuku——Obaa-chan, there is no need to worry. Once the next match decides victory or defeat, I shall be able to give an answer."

"K-Kaguya!"

"...Crap."

After Yuzuru poked her waist to remind her, Kaguya finally realized she had let sothing slip.

"The victory you speak of... you are not planning to force the loser to change her wish, are you?"

Yumi asked calmly. For so reason, even though Obaa-chan still had that kind and gentle smile, the Yamai sisters felt an indescribable pressure from her tone.

"R-regarding this matter..."

"E-explanation."

"Yuzuru, Kaguya."

Softly calling their nas, Yumi smiled and said,

"Next... why don't you have a contest with ?"

"Mm?"

Hearing these unexpected words, the two, who had been preparing to sit in seiza, froze.

"As for the contest content... Obaa-chan is already old, so big eating contests or races would be too much for my body. How about... we use the video gas you usually play to decide victory? As long as either one of you beats , it will be your victory."

"Confusion. Obaa-chan, what do you an?"

Looking at the confused Yamai sisters, Yumi continued,

"If I win, you cannot use any kind of contest to decide your future paths."

Hearing this, Kaguya and Yuzuru raised their brows and imdiately understood Yumi's plan. She intended to use the thod most familiar to them to stop them.

"Oh~ Obaa-chan, are you serious? You are challenging us Yamai?"

Yumi slowly nodded.

"Mm... I am very serious. After all, I am your guardian. Naturally, I cannot just ignore what you are doing. You must both be tired of the usual lectures."

"Question. What if Yuzuru's side wins?"

"Let think... If you win, I will not interfere with how you decide your wishes. Also, your allowance next month... I will double it."

Hearing such tempting conditions, the two could not help feeling moved.

"Understood. Then Yuzuru has no objection."

"Kuku——as expected of my caretaker. This intent suits my heart well. A word once spoken cannot be taken back. Prepare yourself, Obaa-chan! I shall not go easy on you just because you are my elder!"

...

[——KO! You Dead~]

"..."

Looking at the English letters displayed on the LCD screen, Kaguya opened her mouth blankly. The ga controller slipped from her hand and fell to the floor.

"That makes nine consecutive wins against both of you..."

Yumi gently placed the ga controller on the table. She first glanced at Kaguya, then turned to Yuzuru and asked,

"Do you want to continue... Yuzuru?"

"Surrender. Yuzuru admits defeat completely."

Yuzuru shook her head and gently hugged Kaguya. Only then did Kaguya return to her senses, tears of grievance rising in her eyes.

"Uuwaaaa... I am sorry, Yuzuru... I lost."

"Denial T^T. Kaguya worked very hard. It is because Yuzuru was useless that Yuzuru lost."

"Honestly..."

Looking at the two sobbing girls, Yumi sighed with a bitter smile. After waiting for them to calm down, she finally spoke.

"Yuzuru, Kaguya. Do you understand why... I had to stop you from using contests to decide your wishes?"

"Because... I was wrong."

"What was wrong?"

Faced with Yumi's question, Kaguya hesitated for a mont before answering.

"Because my other half and I... tried to possess the other's future for our own selfish desires."

"...No."

Yumi shook her head.

"Answer. Yuzuru and Kaguya were too arrogant. Our consideration of our future paths was too careless and insufficient. Competition in society is extrely fierce, and deciding this with a contest will make us suffer in the future... sothing like that?"

Yuzuru guessed.

"...That is not it either."

Yumi shook her head again.

Looking at the confused Yamai sisters, the wrinkles between Yumi's brows relaxed slightly, and her voice gradually softened with her expression.

"The reason I wanted to stop you... is not because you do not value the future enough, nor because you do not respect each other enough. On the contrary, I hope you can value yourselves and cherish yourselves."

As if a string deep inside their hearts had been plucked, the two showed surprised light in their eyes.

"Kaguya, if Yuzuru gave up her own wish for your dream... and went to the sa university as you, would you be happy?"

"I..."

"Yuzuru, if Kaguya gave up her dream for your sake... would you accept it?"

"That..."

Faced with Yumi's hypothetical questions, the two seed to have sothing stuck in their throats, unable to answer.

"Sacrificing yourself for another person is a very noble thing. But... soone who cannot cherish herself cannot bring happiness to others."

With a sowhat hoarse voice, Yumi spoke slowly.

"Maybe you do not care if you are hurt, but the people who care about you will worry and feel sad for you. In the end... no one will be happy. So, even for the sake of soone else's happiness, you cannot ignore your own feelings."

Her gentle yet helpless voice entered their ears. Feeling the kindness and concern in her words, the two finally awakened as if from a dream, and sha welled up in their hearts.

"Obaa-chan. I..."

"...Apology. Yuzuru... understands her mistake."

"It is all right."

Gently taking the two into her arms, Yumi's gaze lowered slightly, and she said with a bitter smile,

"The thing you are worried about will not happen. Because no matter where you go, this place is your ho."

...

That night, after returning to their room, Kaguya and Yuzuru sat back toback on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, chewing over Obaa-chan's lesson.

"Hey, my other half."

Kaguya suddenly spoke.

"Response. What is it, Kaguya?"

"Obaa-chan really is amazing. We have never seen her try video gas before, yet I did not expect her to be that ridiculously strong."

"Agreent. To be honest, Yuzuru almost lost confidence. This is probably what people an by there is always soone better, and a sky beyond the sky."

"Well, she is the one who adopted us Yamai. She cannot be an ordinary person. This is only natural."

"Approval. Obaa-chan really is amazing."

Yuzuru smiled and nodded. From behind her, she could feel Kaguya's warmth and weight. The feeling of being supported by soone made her feel incredibly at ease.

Their casual conversation continued like this, but neither of them turned around. As if by silent agreent, they kept their backs facing each other.

Perhaps this distance was just right. If they looked at each other's faces, so things they wanted to say would beco harder to say.

"Yuzuru. Why... do you want to beco a nurse?"

Suddenly, Kaguya asked this question. Noticing that Kaguya had not called her "my other half" like usual, Yuzuru was a little surprised. Then she smiled softly, hugged her knees, and spoke as if rembering the past.

"Answer. Kaguya, do you rember? When Yuzuru and Kaguya were first hospitalized, we often snuck out."

"Of course... We caused quite a lot of trouble back then to investigate enemy territory. We gave those white-clothed apostles no small amount of headache."

"Affirmation. The nurse onee-san never got tired of us. Instead, they were always worried and took care of us. At that ti, I thought it would be nice if I could beco a nurse in the future."

"I see. Yuzuru will definitely beco a good nurse."

Hearing Yuzuru's answer, Kaguya nodded in understanding.

"Question. Why does Kaguya want to study scripts?"

"I..."

Kaguya hesitated for a mont, then spoke honestly.

"I do not actually have any special reason. I simply like writing down the settings and stories I imagine in my head. Then, gradually, I beca unsatisfied with self-settings alone. I wanted to convey the world, thoughts, and emotions in my heart to other people in a more concrete, real way. And then receive other people's approval and praise. It is nothing impressive."

"Denial. That is not true. Doing sothing because you like it is the most important reason of all."

"I-is that so..."

Receiving Yuzuru's definite answer made Kaguya feel embarrassed instead, and she scratched her head.

"Hey... Yuzuru. If I said I wanted you to beco a nurse, so I would give up the field I wanted to study, what would you think?"

"Imdiate answer. Yuzuru would be furious and never forgive Kaguya for the rest of her life."

"I thought so. If Yuzuru gave up her dream of becoming a nurse for my sake, I would absolutely never forgive Yuzuru either."

At this point, the two could not help rembering how they had hidden their true feelings at first, then pretended to hold a contest in order to make the other give up her wish. They could not help laughing.

"As expected, if Obaa-chan had not stepped in, I do not know how long you and I would have dragged this out."

"Agreent. Being adopted by Obaa-chan was truly wonderful blessing for Yuzuru and Kaguya."

——Soone who cannot cherish herself cannot bring happiness to others.

——No matter where you go, this place is your ho.

Repeating those words in her heart, Yuzuru reached her hand toward Kaguya. Kaguya, as if sensing Yuzuru's thoughts, also reached out and held her hand.

Their fingers interlocked tightly, then slowly relaxed.

"...My other half. This separation will not be farewell."

"Nod. Yuzuru understands."

"This is a trial. A trial to remove the weakness in our hearts and obtain greater strength, so that we may protect the people precious to us."

"Understood. Yuzuru will work hard and beco soone who can make Kaguya, Obaa-chan, and everyone happy."

"Exactly!"

Taking a deep breath, Kaguya declared in a bright voice:

"Wings that part are not severed. One day, they shall intertwine again, gather into a stronger pair of wings, and fly across the blue sky!!"

...

"Goal. It seems this ti, Yuzuru is the victor."

"Unununu... For a re other half to be so arrogant."

Beside the bus stop, looking at Yuzuru proudly puffing out her chest, Kaguya pursed her lips and let out an unwilling groan.

"Next ti, victory will definitely be mine. Just you wait."

"Answer. According to the result, Kaguya will pay for this bus fare."

"I know that, of course. A wager must be honored."

After finishing a quick contest, Yuzuru and Kaguya sat on the bench at the stop, waiting for the bus to arrive.

"Question. Kaguya, how is the script writing at your company recently?"

"Mm... Difficult to explain in a word. Teamwork is more troubleso than I imagined. Rather than thinking up a good script, getting the other contractors in the team to work together to complete the project takes more effort. I finally understand why Nia resisted ani adaptations so much back then."

"Feeling. Kaguya has worked hard."

"What about you, my other half? How are things at the hospital?"

"Helpless. Recently, it is the high season for seasonal colds, so it will probably be very busy. Also, there may be complaints from so patients to handle. I may return late tonight."

"I am the sa. I may also need to work overti for a eting tonight."

"Feeling. No matter what work it is, each has its own difficulties."

"The road is long and heavy."

After that, Yuzuru and Kaguya seriously listened to their teachers' advice and went on to different schools according to their own wishes.

Using that as an opportunity, they t many people and saw many things. When their gaze shifted away from only each other, they finally realized how narrow their world had been by looking at the wider world.

At first, life without the other did make both of them uneasy and lost. But looking back now, Kaguya and Yuzuru felt grateful. If they had not chosen to separate back then, what they would have left for each other would surely have been regret.

Instead, now, although they could not see each other every mont like before, in their hearts, the other was still an irreplaceably important existence.

Perhaps this was the bond they felt when they woke up after losing their mories.

"Ah, my bus has arrived."

"Coincidence. Mine as well."

Looking at the buses gradually entering the stop, the two stood up and looked at each other, then smiled.

"Do your best, my other half! Let us et again where fate gathers!"

"Nod. See you at ho, Kaguya."