Vili's eyelashes trembled, meeting his gaze directly. Her crimson lips parted slightly, uttering only cold words.
"Since it's a personal request, don't I have the right to refuse?"
"……I see."
Masashi Yukimura pursed his thin lips and remained silent for a moment before finally answering.
“There’s something else.”
Seeing that Willy seemed to want to get up and leave, he spoke again.
"This was something I discussed with Juhuang."
The unexpected name caught the boy's attention, and he stopped what he was doing and looked over.
"Regarding our bet, the 'Night Parade of One Hundred Demons' at graduation—"
"We hope to entrust this task to you."
"Is this a substitute?"
Willy's eyebrows lifted slightly.
"Generally speaking, it's impossible."
Even as he spoke of such an unbelievable thing, Masashi Yukimura's expression remained calm, and his tone did not change in the slightest.
"But I don't care, you are a miracle."
"All the strange creatures we have ever seen have an extraordinary fondness for you."
As he said this, he lowered his eyes, his expression unreadable.
"And the demons that have already been contracted by the Evening Mist Master are no exception."
"If you are willing, they hope to sign a temporary covenant with you that night and serve you as their master."
"This is not a sign that we are handing over the honor."
Seeing that Willy seemed to want to say something, Masashi Yukimura interrupted him.
"In fact, if we look at it separately, neither I nor Tachibana could have achieved the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons before the night of graduation."
"Although Kii Kanade didn't say it, I think he felt the same way."
There are no winners in this bet.
"I remember you said before that you wouldn't become a Yumi-shi anymore. So, you probably won't be making contracts with spirits anymore in the future, right?"
"In that case, why not complete this achievement on the last day?"
"After all, no one has ever said that doing this is wrong."
"..."
Viliss pondered for a while, but couldn't think of a reason to refuse.
"Okay, I agree."
After saying this, he stood up and took a step forward to close the distance between himself and Yukimura Masashi.
The latter was still kneeling on one knee. Vili lowered his head slightly, reached out and pulled his wrist, rolled up his sleeve, and glanced at him.
"The wound has almost healed, that's good."
Masashi Yukimura let him do as he pleased, but he understood the subtext of the boy's words:
It's good that no new injuries were inflicted.
His lips, always pursed, curved slightly upward. He lingered on the warmth of the person's hand, but missed it just before grasping it, leaving only a soft, ticklish touch that vanished in an instant.
Vili patted his head, his voice drifting in the air, yet it seemed to have a small hook, firmly gripping Yukimura Masashi's ear.
Don't do anything foolish.
-
"I have a plan."
The setting sun, like blood, cast its last rays into the empty classroom, turning the desks and chairs a golden hue. The shadows cast by the rays flickered and blurred.
"About what?"
The orange-haired boy's school uniform was slightly disheveled, with the collar slightly open and the second button missing.
His once sharp eyes had lost their sparkle, and there were still some dark circles under his eyes, probably because he hadn't slept well for a long time. His voice was hoarse.
“He was left behind.”
Masashi Yukimura didn't mention the person's name, but everyone present knew exactly who it was.
Are you sure he really will leave?
It was Kii Kanade who spoke, no longer maintaining that fake smile; his expression was gloomy.
“He was living abroad before, and recently he inherited his grandmother’s estate. He has no intention of becoming a master chef, so it’s only natural that he leaves Japan after graduation.”
Laying everything bare, enduring the tearing pain in his heart, Masashi Yukimura's voice remained calm.
"Where he goes is his prerogative," Ju Huang said. "And what are you planning to do?"
His tone was almost provocative, yet he couldn't hide his anxiety.
Can you accept his departure?
Kii Kanade continued his sentence.
"...It's just going abroad."
"Is it okay if I never come back?"
"How could he—"
Ju Huang stopped mid-sentence, clearly aware of the situation.
Given his youthful personality, he truly could abandon everything and never look back.
"..."
“None of the three of us can stay abroad permanently,” Masashi Yukimura stated, “so we can only…”
“Keep him here.”
"After all that talk, what's your plan?"
"On the night of our graduation ceremony, the three of us entrusted the demon to him as a temporary contract."
“He is intelligent, but lacks common sense about the Yumishi. I will tell him that if the demons sign a temporary contract with him, we will no longer be able to use their power.”
That way, he will be less wary of them.
"After that, I will coax him into making a 'contract' with me that he can't leave."
“Just to be on the safe side, Kii.” He looked over. “I hope that on that night, you can turn the entire Hyakki Yagyō (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons) area into your ‘territory’.”
"……I see."
The air was quiet for a moment, then Ju Huang's voice rang out.
"And what about me? What should I do?"
Most of the supernatural abilities he possesses are combat-oriented, and they seem unable to be of any use in this situation.
“I need your help when I’m ‘in a contract’ with him.”
“He has seen me use the power of ‘contract’ before, so he might be wary, but he has no suspicion of you.”
"...Kii could do something like this, right?"
Masashi Yukimura shook his head.
"No, only you."
"Of the three of us, the one he trusts the most is you."
Like a flame, burning brightly, the orange phoenix is both fiery and radiant...
Such a person would commit fanatical crimes for his own selfish desires.
"..."
Ju Huang remained silent, but this silence implicitly acknowledged everything.
Since it's beyond repair... then let's not give up.
After spending some more time, they discussed and confirmed the details of the plan, including mobilizing family forces for physical interception, as well as other backup plans.
It wasn't until the moon was bright and the stars were few that the three of them finally finished everything.
Masashi Yukimura was the first to leave because he also had to handle student council affairs.
After he left, Kii Kanade and Tachibana Ou checked the plan one last time before tidying up the table and chairs and preparing to part ways.
Before leaving, Kii Kanade stood at the door, her gaze fixed on Vili's seat, a haiku inexplicably flashing through her mind, which she unconsciously recited.
"...I linger, and autumn has passed."
After Ju Huang turned off the light and went out, she only heard his last sentence, which she didn't understand:
"Isn't autumn not here yet?"
Kii Kanade didn't look at him, but turned and left on her own, leaving behind a sigh.
"...No, autumn is over."
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