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"…Hurry up and get dressed so we can go back to the seawall."
After another "mana recharge," Mahiru's pretty face was completely flushed red. Keeping her head lowered in embarrassment, she hurried forward.
But after walking several steps without hearing anything behind her, she turned around in confusion.
Only to discover Blake still standing there motionless.
"Mr. Blake, why aren't you moving?"
Mahiru suddenly felt uneasy.
Had he developed "magic resistance"? Had cheek kisses stopped working, meaning they'd need a real kiss now?
Blake kept his eyes closed and answered seriously:
"Because Lady Mahiru still hasn't given me permission to open my eyes. I don't dare walk around blind."
"..."
She was furious.
So he'd just been teasing her this whole time. Absolutely infuriating!
Mahiru puffed out her cheeks.
"Open your eyes already and hurry up."
"Yes, ma'am."
"..."
A little while later, the two returned to the seawall together.
"Phew…"
Mahiru adjusted the hem of her soaking wet clothes while forcing herself to sound calm and composed.
"Mr. Blake, you're not allowed to tell anyone what happened in the frozen world."
Blake raised his right hand.
"What happens if I tell someone?"
Mahiru glared at him.
"Then I'll make you lose your memory physically."
Blake asked again:
"What if I accidentally talk in my sleep during a dream? That won't count as a crime, right?"
Mahiru gritted her teeth.
"…Still guilty!"
"Miss Mahiru is abusing judicial authority…"
"Just don't tell anyone!"
"..."
Even though she didn't regret it, they still weren't dating.
If anyone found out about all those kisses today, she'd die from embarrassment.
So absolutely nobody could know.
"Mr. Blake, I'm ending the time stop."
Mahiru spoke softly before quietly releasing the frozen world.
The paused world came alive again.
The sound of waves crashing against the seawall, distant ship horns, birds calling overhead. Noise flooded back into existence all at once.
"Too much noise might be annoying, but absolute silence is even scarier…"
Blake muttered while cleaning out his ears and looking toward the beach.
The rescued woman was sitting on the sand with a blank expression, looking around in confusion, probably thinking she was hallucinating before death.
Then she heard her daughter crying out "Mom!"
Only then did she finally snap back to reality, pulling her daughter tightly into her arms as she burst into uncontrollable sobs.
The people on the beach quickly gathered around to ask what had happened.
Still crying, the woman described the unbelievable experience she'd gone through. The story spread farther and farther until it eventually transformed into an urban legend about an angel descending from heaven.
"Miss Mahiru."
Blake pulled his gaze away and looked toward the angel beside him. The slight smile on her lips made it obvious she was happy they'd saved someone.
"What sense did you lose this time?"
Mahiru pressed her lips together softly before answering:
"I think… it was my sense of touch."
Hearing that, Blake slowly extended his right hand.
"Miss Mahiru, you don't want to catch another cold and fever, right?"
"..."
The angel turned her face away and shot him a gentle glare from the corner of her eye.
But in the end, she still shyly raised her delicate hand and let him hold it gently.
Before they realized it, evening had already arrived.
Standing side by side atop the seawall, Blake and Mahiru Shiina held hands as they gazed out toward the endless sea.
Looking out into the distance, the sun had already turned into a massive orange-red fireball, slowly sinking beneath the horizon.
"The sunset is so pretty… Feels like I've been busy every single day lately. I can't even remember the last time I seriously stopped to watch one."
Mahiru Shiina murmured softly.
"Sunsets are always like this," Blake replied calmly, holding a different opinion. "Whether they look beautiful or not mostly depends on your mood. When you're happy, the sunset feels beautiful. When you're just indifferent, it looks ordinary. And when someone feels lonely or empty…"
He paused briefly.
"Then all they can think is, 'The sunset is infinitely beautiful, but it's already near dusk.'"
"…"
Mahiru pressed her lips together and quietly glanced at his profile.
(Mr. Blake really makes sense.)
(So that means… the reason the sunset feels so beautiful right now…)
(Is because I'm happy?)
The golden light dyed the boy's face warm and bright, while the heat from his palm still lingered against hers.
This time, the Angel chose to face her feelings honestly instead of hiding behind embarrassment.
(That's right…)
(The sunset itself hasn't changed.)
(It's because Mr. Blake is here watching it with me… that today's sunset feels this beautiful.)
The magic purification finished quickly.
Blake let go of her soft hand and bent down to pack up the fishing gear.
"We should head home. If we bike back now, we'll make it before dark."
"Okay…" Mahiru's cheeks flushed pink as she secretly tucked her right hand behind her back. "I'll help."
The two quickly packed everything up and left the seawall together, returning to the little shop nearby.
Blake returned the rented fishing gear first, then bought a huge cooler packed with ice to keep the horse mackerel fresh.
The two of them had caught over a dozen fish that afternoon. There was no way they were throwing them back now, obviously they were taking them home to eat.
Before they left, the shop owner mentioned there was a free lottery event for customers who spent over a certain amount and asked if they wanted to participate.
"I'm in."
Blake had no reason to refuse. Turning down a free lottery was something only an idiot would do.
The "lottery" wasn't a hidden box or anything like that, but a handmade spinning wheel covered in handwritten prizes like snacks and drinks.
"Miss Mahiru, you go first."
"Okay."
Mahiru stepped forward and spun the wheel.
Sadly, her luck wasn't great. She only won a bottle of soda.
"My turn."
Blake casually gave the wheel a spin.
Surprisingly, he hit the jackpot: a fluffy panda plush nearly half his height.
"It's a panda!"
Mahiru's eyes instantly lit up at the black-and-white plush.
"Here." Blake handed it over. "I'm not really into stuffed cushions."
"I-I can't take it…" Mahiru shook her head despite obviously wanting it. "You should give it to sis Sagiri instead."
"Her room's already overflowing with plushies," Blake said casually. "Besides, I'm thirsty. Give me the drink, and you can take the panda."
In the end, Mahiru couldn't resist the adorable panda plush.
She carefully accepted it with both hands, blushing as she whispered:
"Thank you, Mr. Blake."
"…"
The two left the shop, strapped everything onto the bike, and rode off toward the sunset.
The trip home passed in comfortable silence.
By the time dusk covered the city and the streetlights flickered on one after another, they finally arrived home.
"Good work today," Blake said as he stopped the bike and looked at Mahiru. "Go take a bath and get some rest. I'll put the fish in the fridge for now, and we can eat them tomorrow night."
"Okay." Mahiru nodded softly. "See you tomorrow, Mr. Blake."
"See you tomorrow."
The moment she got home, Mahiru took a shower, changed into clean pajamas, then sat down on the sofa and happily hugged the panda plush against her chest.
The once cold and empty living room suddenly felt much warmer.
"....."