Chapter 65 - Tonight Only (Bonus Chapter for Landmines) A little greed is okay...
Suddenly, the night sky was illuminated by countless fireworks, and brilliant light shone behind the two people, illuminating their silhouettes.
The second wave of fireworks displays has begun.
Asuka, quick as a flash, pressed the shutter: "This one... is absolutely priceless."
In the end, apart from Kirihara who got a group photo as he wished, the others missed the opportunity because the "bidding" did not result in a clear winner.
As for Yukimura's "masterpiece"—
This is purely a personal creation by Asuka as a number one CP fan.
After the second wave of fireworks ended, the crowd began to move towards the festival street.
Along the way, Yanagi Renji described the festival stalls: "The takoyaki stall will see its first batch of freshly baked takoyaki at 8:18, and the goldfish scooping stall will be busiest right now..."
The festival lights drew ever closer, and the festival grounds were already bustling with activity, adorned with colorful lanterns that created a dreamlike atmosphere.
"Everyone, please be careful not to get separated from others."
Before Sanada could finish speaking, Kirihara Akaya and Marui Bunta had already rushed towards the nearest goldfish stand, and Jackal quickly followed after them.
Yukimura walked half a step ahead of Risa, glancing at her every now and then, as if to make sure she was still in his sight.
"There are many people, don't get lost." His voice was gentle, as if he were instructing a child.
“…I’m not a child.” Risa muttered softly, subconsciously moving closer to him.
Yukimura chuckled softly, then suddenly reached out and gently took her hand, which was hanging by her side.
Risa's breath hitched.
The boy's palm was large and warm, with long, slender fingers, and he enveloped her entire hand with a force that wouldn't make her feel uncomfortable.
"Just in case." He looked straight ahead, a slight smile playing on his lips, his tone so natural that it seemed as if the action was devoid of any ulterior motive.
Risa couldn't calm down. The skin he touched felt like it was being burned, the heat spreading from his fingertips and along his veins all the way to her ears.
The pounding of my heart was so loud in my ears that it almost drowned out the surrounding noise.
—Does this person even know what they're doing?
She secretly raised her eyes, trying to find some clue in his expression, but he simply calmly took her hand and walked forward, showing no sign of anything amiss.
Her gaze fell back on their clasped hands. Her thick eyelashes trembled slightly, and her fingertips unconsciously curled up a little, only to be held even tighter by him.
-
Yukimura stopped in front of the mask stall.
"Matsuno-kun, would you like to choose one?"
Risa looked at the mask stall, her fingertips lingering between fox and cat masks, and finally picked up a red and white fox mask.
Yukimura thought she liked it and was about to say it looked good when he saw her suddenly turn around and hold the mask up to him.
Through the fox's eyes, his vision suddenly narrowed. The whole world seemed to consist only of her curved eyebrows and eyes.
“Like you,” she said.
Holding the mask in both hands, he stood on tiptoe and leaned closer.
"Is it for me?"
"Um."
He obediently lowered his head and let her tie the knot for him.
The faint scent of gardenias vanished in an instant.
He straightened up and took off the cat mask next to him.
"This looks like you."
He leaned down and naturally put it on for her.
After paying, the two continued walking.
only--
"Um..." Risa hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping herself.
"Hmm?" Yukimura turned his head.
"The mask...is blocking my vision a bit..."
Before the words were even finished, the two of them simultaneously raised their hands and pushed the masks aside.
The moment their eyes met, a faint smile appeared on Yukimura's lips: "It seems we're thinking the same thing."
Risa smiled too, as if all her previous heavy worries had been suddenly blown away by the night breeze.
She stood in the crowd, gazing at him. The pounding of her heart was so loud it felt like it was going to shatter her eardrums. Thump, thump, the scorching summer night seemed to be burning her flesh.
I want to touch him.
I want to get closer.
Even if it's just tonight, that would be fine.
A sense of morality still clamors deep within the soul, while the body breaks free from the shackles of reason.
Let's indulge ourselves just this once.
She said this to herself.
If this relationship is a sin, then she should bear the consequences alone.
......
At the shooting game stall, a dazzling array of dolls were on display.
"Is there anything you like?"
Yukimura held the wooden clapper in his hand, his gaze sweeping over the prize rack.
Just as Risa was about to point at the rabbit in the corner, she saw him suddenly raise his gun and aim—
"Bang!"
A crisp gunshot rang out, hitting the bullseye.
"Give."
He handed over the doll.
Risa tilted her head back, her dark eyes shining: "How did you know...?"
Before he could finish speaking, a third wave of fireworks suddenly burst forth, illuminating his smiling eyes.
He leaned slightly forward: "Perhaps... it's a meeting of minds?"
Risa was taken aback, her heart fluttering slightly.
A half-meter-tall rabbit plush toy can get a bit hot to hug on a summer night.
But... Risa really likes it and can't bear to let go.
I passed by a self-service claw machine, with cheerful music playing.
Risa stared at the various small dolls in the glass cabinet, completely captivated and unable to move.
Want to give it a try?
"Um!"
Risa was eager to try.
After scanning the QR code to pay, Risa manipulated the joystick, and the claw wobbled above the target before landing.
They've caught them.
Just as it was about to reach the exit, the doll mercilessly fell back down.
"Ugh..." she pouted, "It's always like this."
But the next second, Risa rallied and boldly recharged for a ten-pull.
However--
They didn't catch a single one.
"Damn it!" The girl puffed out her cheeks and angrily scanned the code to continue topping up her account.
Yukimura stood by, watching her go from high spirits to dejected, and suddenly remembered Kirihara's previous complaint: "Risa-nee is terrible at claw machines, but she loves playing them. Last time she spent 10,000 yen at the arcade and didn't win a single one..."
I thought it was just a joke by the seaweed seller, but it turns out it was true.
"puff......"
Just as Risa was about to confirm the payment, she suddenly heard a soft laugh behind her. She turned around and caught Yukimura's undisguised smile.
"Sorry~" He covered his lips, but there was no apology in his eyes. "I just didn't expect Matsuno-kun to be so obsessed with claw machines."
"You're definitely making fun of me, aren't you?" Risa narrowed her eyes.
“How could that be?” Yukimura waved his hand, his voice gentle as if coaxing a child. “This indomitable spirit is truly admirable.”
"......"
Risa decided to ignore him and turned back to continue struggling with the machine.
I'm determined to catch her today, and show this seemingly carefree girl what she's capable of.
"Keep your wrist steady." A warm body suddenly pressed against her from behind, and slender fingers covered her hand, guiding her to operate the joystick.
“Like this,” his breath brushed against her ear, “find your balance, and then—”
The paw swooped down, firmly grasping a snow-white kitten plush toy, which landed precisely at the exit.
"It's a success!"
Risa turned around in surprise, then froze on the spot.
He bowed his head, and she looked up at him.
Their noses touched, and their breaths mingled in close proximity.
Long, slender eyelashes drooped, casting shadows beneath her eyelids, and neon lights were reflected in her violet-blue eyes.
Yukimura's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, his voice a few decibels hoarseer than usual: "Want to catch another one?"
"No...no need."
Risa hurriedly lowered her head, grabbed a rabbit doll and stood between the two of them, burying her burning cheeks in it.
My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of my chest.
This wasn't teaching her how to play claw machines; it was clearly capturing her heart.
......
After visiting most of the festival, and wearing unfamiliar wooden clogs, Risa's ankles were already starting to ache.
Are you tired?
"Hmm... a little..."
Her voice carried a hint of coquetry that she herself was unaware of.
Yukimura's gaze lingered on her reddened toes for a moment before pointing to the shrine not far away: "Let's go rest over there."
Under the vermilion eaves, Li Sha sat on the stone steps, quietly rubbing her aching toes.
Yukimura knelt on one knee in front of her, the hem of his ginkgo-colored haori spreading out on the stone steps.
Is there anything you particularly want to eat? I'll go buy it for you.
Risa looked up at him, the night enveloping his profile. Tonight, Yukimura was unbelievably gentle, making her want to be willful.
If it's just for tonight, it's okay to be a little greedy, right?
Consider it magic before midnight during a summer festival.
"I want candied apples." She blinked, deliberately choosing the same stall she'd given up on before because of the long line. "It's the one with the longest line at the entrance. I also want takoyaki, mochi, fried bananas, and yakisoba..."
With each word she spoke, she stole a glance at Yukimura's expression, hoping to see a hint of embarrassment. But he simply listened quietly, then gave a knowing smile.
"good."
That single word made Risa's heart skip a beat.
"Wait for me here."
Watching his receding figure, Risa raised her hand behind her head and pulled out the jade hairpin that held her hair up.
Her dark hair cascaded down like a waterfall, covering her burning ears and cheeks.
She buried her face in the bunny doll she had just won. The fluffy fur brushed against her burning cheeks, and her body felt as if she were drunk, floating and drifting into the clouds.
It has only been four months since I regained my memories of my past life, but it felt as long as my entire youth.
A sea of flowers, a training camp, a festival, and the restless heartbeat in my chest right now—none of these should belong to a "fake girl" with the soul of a 25-year-old.
If I don't remember my past life...
If she really is just an ordinary 17-year-old girl...
Does that mean we can enjoy the present moment and accept this excitement with equanimity?
You don't have to be stung by guilt every time you fall in love, and you don't have to constantly remind yourself that "he is a high school student whose values are not yet fully mature," "he is a chosen one destined to conquer the world," or "he is just a fleeting dream that will end after graduation."
The calls of vendors from the distant stalls seemed to come and go, and Risa lowered her eyes.
But......
But what if those memories were gone...?
They may never cross paths again.
She knew better than anyone that the "age difference" was just a self-deceiving excuse. What truly stood between them was a chasm deeper than age, something called "ideals and the future."
He pursued the glory of reaching the pinnacle, while she longed for a simple, ordinary life. Like two parallel lines, they could never intersect.
(Even though I know I shouldn't have such expectations...)
(But why... does my heart still stubbornly want to be closer to him?)
(What should I do about this greedy me?)
If he knew that beneath the skin of a young girl lay the soul of a 25-year-old woman, would his gentle, watery eyes be clouded with disgust?
Risa was startled when her phone kept vibrating in her bag.
She took out her phone, and emails and text messages popped up on the screen.
[Travel Notice] Your flight is about to depart! Flight number: NH 215, departure time: 05:23
【Important】Please check in within 6 hours: ANA Airlines flight NH 215
Risa's fingers trembled.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
A gentle voice suddenly rang out from above.
She hurriedly locked the screen.
When she looked up, the sight before her made her breath catch in her throat.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Thank you to [Hangnai, Deserve.._, Miss Yuko, Agua, Imagination, Shouldn't, and A Rabbit That Has Escaped Its Reins?] for this week's lightning donations. They are listed in the order of the comments section. If any have been missed, I, Chunjiang, would like to apologize in advance.
Before a book becomes a paid VIP chapter, you look at the number of favorites; after it becomes a paid VIP chapter, you look at the earnings to apply for a better ranking. So every reader who has accompanied this book through its serialization is an angel, or to exaggerate a bit, a second parent to the ranking system [laughing and crying with facepalm].
I'm already incredibly happy that everyone enjoys this story, and the generous donations are an even bigger surprise. I have no way to repay you except to keep writing. This chapter is a bonus chapter dedicated to all my adorable little angels who have spent money on this story. [Heart emoji]
P.S.: This isn't meant to encourage anyone to spend money on in-game purchases (just kidding). Those who support me financially, support me personally, and those who quietly read the story are all little angels [hugs].
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