After the birthday party ended, Asakura actively took on the task of sending Ayase home.
——Though given Ayase's current situation, if she were to encounter a thug while walking home alone, the latter's situation would likely be the dangerous one, like having their skull cracked open with a single hand or something...
"Thank you so much for today, Asakura-nii." The girl walked along the path with her hands behind her back, her steps light, occasionally hopping once or twice. It was completely different from her usual calm and composed appearance; it was clear she was in a very good mood.
"It's nothing, I'm also very happy to get a free meal for nothing." Asakura played with the Golden Snitch, speaking cheerfully.
Honestly, though he didn't hold high expectations at the beginning, the cuisine of this luxury hotel actually didn't use pre-packaged soft cans, but was properly made fresh, and the taste was unexpectedly quite good.
After all, as one of the birthplaces of pre-prepared meals, pre-packaged dishes are quite common in hotels around Japan, which is probably why the recent premium OMAKASE dining, which focuses purely on freshly made dishes, is so highly praised by wealthy individuals.
"I was originally worried that Kirino and I would never be able to change back to our original relationship. It's all thanks to Asakura-nii that we could reconcile so easily."
The girl turned around, walking backward while looking at Asakura with a beautiful, radiant smile: "Even though I was nursing a grudge at the very beginning and completely refused to give up my principles, looking back now, my hostility toward anime and games was actually somewhat childish and ridiculous. That kind of adherence to a mental purity fetish didn't seem to have any meaning at all. If I were to lose a rare, compatible best friend over this kind of matter, I'm afraid when I grow up and look back on this experience, I would feel a deep sense of regret."
"Being able to understand this point proves that your mindset is as mature as an adult's, Ayase. And being able to say it calmly already surpasses a significant portion of adults."
Asakura adjusted to the girl's pace, speaking affirmatively.
"Compared to psychological maturity, I would prefer... Yikes?!"
Because she was walking backward and failed to see the dip on the sidewalk, the girl distorted her ankle, and her entire figure swayed unsteadily, looking on the verge of falling over.
Asakura moved quickly, stepping forward to catch her in one swift motion.
Ayase gently crashed directly into his chest, bringing an unexpected softness and warmth. His hands smoothly clasped around her arms and the side of her waist; that contact felt as though he could sense the slight trembling after her panic even through the thin fabric.
Ayase let out a soft "Ah," turning her head to look at him with a panic that hadn't yet faded. Those eyes were moist and bright. A sweet, clear fragrance lingered on the girl, carried away softly by the wind only to twist around him again the moment she drew close, touching so lightly it felt like a tickle in one's heart.
Asakura could clearly feel her body heat surging upward against his skin. Her rapid breaths after being startled brushed against his collarbone area.
It was so close that it caused his throat to contract instinctively, making him feel a bit of an itch.
However, the ambiguous atmosphere brought by the girl's delicate, frail beauty completely vanished into thin air the moment Asakura saw the paving stone beneath her feet, which she had instinctively stepped on and shattered into powder just to stabilize herself.
Even as she instinctively gripped his wrist in her panic, Asakura felt as if he could hear a tooth-grinding sound of muscle and bone being crushed at this moment—of course, it was just an illusion, because the [Scale] spell on his body had already been triggered, protecting his wrist.
But looking at it from another perspective, it also indirectly proved that the girl's grip strength was already powerful enough to trigger [Scale]...
"Sorry, Asakura-nii."
The girl quickly recovered from her panic, leaving Asakura's embrace with a bit of bashfulness.
Asakura also let out a sigh of relief alongside a touch of disappointment.
"Um, where were we just now... Oh right, was there a particular reason why Asakura-nii called Kirino's older brother out of the private room earlier?"
Probably to cover up her embarrassment, Ayase asked Asakura.
Asakura thought about it, and still revealed the Kosaka siblings' original Plan B entirely to her.
"Eh~ I didn't expect they were actually prepared to use a method where Kirino's older brother plays the bad guy just to make Kirino and me reconcile."
Ayase wasn't angry; on the contrary, she looked somewhat happy.
Then she asked again: "Asakura-nii realized their plan at that time, which is why you stopped it, right? But it feels like it wasn't really necessary, was it?"
"It was necessary."
Asakura shook his head: "Because you clearly already said you wanted to properly understand Kosaka Kirino. If the other party also intends to become an equal best friend with you, they should show the same sincerity. Even if it's awkward, difficult, or even exposes a less respectable side, that is still a part of the other party's own personality and character. It shouldn't be covered up by having her older brother use a self-detonating method just because she feels ashamed."
"Is that so, so that's how Asakura-nii thinks."
The smile on the girl's face became even sweeter: "That's great."
"What's great?" Asakura was bewildered.
"It's really great that Asakura-nii is this kind of person." The girl looked at him with a beaming smile: "Right now, compared to Kirino, the person I want to understand more is already you, Asakura-nii."
"Though I'm not entirely clear on what you want to understand... But compared to taking the train home, I thought of something more exciting. Want to do it together?" Asakura glanced not far away, asking the young girl.
The girl instinctively looked in the direction he was gazing, and discovered that there was a street bulletin board over there. The most prominent advertisement on it was a flyer depicting a pink castle with the words: 'Close the door, the story is just beginning. Let us leave the bustle of the city outside, and leave our heartbeats to each other.'
It was an advertisement for a love hotel.
The young girl's face flushed red instantly.
However, she still gathered up her courage and nodded toward Asakura.
And so, Asakura led the girl into the side alley by the street.
The next moment, the old-fashioned vintage car streaked across the night sky, speeding away in one direction.
Just as the young girl's heart was thumping uncontrollably against her chest, waiting with a mix of nervousness and sweetness to see where the other party was going to take her, Asakura's voice came from the driver's seat: "It looks like the timing is just right."
"What?" The girl failed to comprehend his words for a moment, but the very next instant, she understood.
Boom—
Accompanied by a massive roar that made the girl nearly jump up in fright, something exploded.
It was a firework.
The moment the firework bloomed in the night sky, a kaleidoscope of light reflected across the car window, illuminating the girl's profile.
Her heart felt as if it shook gently along with that massive sound.
"This is..."
"It's a fireworks festival that lasts for three days. Didn't you see that promotional flyer on the bulletin board just now?" Asakura said with a beaming smile.
"I—I saw it... Yes, I saw it." The girl spoke with a bit of a guilty conscience, since her vision had been completely captured by the love hotel advertisement at that time.
So 'something more exciting' was simply coming to watch fireworks? She felt an inexplicable touch of disappointment.
But the next moment, her gaze was drawn to the fireworks blooming right before her eyes.
Whether looking at them from below or from the side, they really are round.
The tide of light unleashed by each blooming firework seemed to gently push her feelings forward a little bit.
The girl couldn't help but quietly turn her head, looking at Asakura. The other party was currently appreciating the scenery outside the window with keen interest.
The fireworks exploded outside, accompanied by the faint, distant sounds of many people below shouting 'tamaya~' together. The light spilled in through the car window, flashing brightly across his profile. The firelight cast a warm glow over his face, making him look as if he were softly sculpted by the night—serene, yet making it impossible for one to look away.
"Don't be afraid." Seemingly misunderstanding the girl's timid, small-animal-like gaze, Asakura smiled gently and said: "The fireworks can't hit us. This is a premium front-row seat."
As if to validate his words, another golden firework exploded right before their eyes.
The vintage car drove through the cascading points of light formed by those golden sparks, looking as beautiful as a dream.
No, perhaps even in her dreams, she had never imagined such a romantic sight.
The young girl was captivated by his smile, and her heart fluttered uncontrollably, making her feel as though she could hardly catch her breath.
Ah, so that's how it is. She gently clasped her hands over her chest.
At this moment, Ayase had never felt herself to be as clear-headed as she was right now.
She thought to herself in her heart.
As expected, I have fallen in love with Asakura-nii.
I love him, love him, love him.
I love him to absolute pieces.