No, it's nothing," Hara Kenji said. "Let's find some tools to fix the music box first.
*
Originally, Kisaragi Chiyo and Hara Kenji had already prepared to head out, but they hadn't expected Nekomata to somehow dig up a box of repair tools and spare parts for them. As an aside, even brand-new gift boxes and ribbons had been prepared as well.
"How thoughtful and considerate," Kisaragi Chiyo remarked. There was almost no room for him to act in this matter; repairing and assembling things was completely beyond his capabilities.
So he could only watch from the side as Hara Kenji opened the music box with a skill that was still somewhat unpracticed.
He unscrewed it from the bottom with a screwdriver, carefully taking the components apart one by one. After identifying the damaged part, he replaced it and then reassembled the disassembled parts in order.
Mizuno Yuri watched from the side with a very serious expression. Her hands were clenched into fists, as if she were cheering for Hara Kenji, her face bearing a solemnity akin to someone watching a teacher grade their exam paper.
Kisaragi Chiyo was infected by the other's emotions and couldn't help but lower her breathing slightly, afraid of disturbing Hara Kenji's movements.
The tiny components became docile and orderly in Hara Kenji's hands, quickly returning to their proper places. As the final screw was tightened, Mizuno Yuri let out a small cheer, a smile blooming on her face like a flower facing the spring breeze, bright and vibrant.
“That's wonderful!” Seeing the music box spin and play its smooth, soothing melody, Mizuno Yuri finally felt a weight lifted from her heart.
Now her sister will definitely be able to receive her gift on time.
"Tachibana E will definitely be very happy." Mizuno Yuri took the music box from Hara Kenji's hands. It was a carousel with a peaked roof, as the music began to play, the white horses arranged in a circle rotated up and down, one after another, in a lighthearted manner. The joyful music was just like the music they, as sisters, used to hear when they played in the amusement park during their childhood.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Hara," Mizuno Yuri said, bowing excitedly to Hara Kenji.
Of course, she did not overlook Kisaragi Chiyo standing by her side.
She was not a child who was oblivious to the emotions of others; Mizuno Yuri saw clearly from the very beginning that if Kisaragi Chiyo had not agreed to her request first, the other gentleman, Mr. Hara, had actually intended to refuse.
So, it was truly wonderful; both Kisaragi Chiyo and Mr. Hara were such wonderful people, even if their auras had made her feel afraid at first.
But as expected, she was truly lucky to have met such wonderful people.
Mizuno Yuri was so moved that she wanted to burst into tears, but she could no longer cry; her tears had all dried up long ago, back when she was knocked flying and fell to the ground, realizing that she was about to die.
"Thank you so, so much.. thank you very much." Mizuno Yuri bowed deeply.
It wasn't entirely our doing." Kisaragi Chiyo stopped Mizuno Yuri from continuing her gesture of thanks. "First of all, we have Xiaohei to thank.
Kisaragi Chiyo paused for a moment as he spoke; he hadn't expected that the name Mizuno Yuri had casually given Nekomata would actually be accepted by the other party.
If it hadn't provided the tools and gift wrapping, I'm afraid we would have had to exert a lot more effort," Kisaragi Chiyo stated calmly, stating the facts. "This music box was also found by it for you, wasn't it?
Yes.. yes." Mizuno Yuri's voice began to choke up. "Thank you, Xiaohei.. thank you for helping me find the music box, thank you for everything you've done for me.
The Nekomata named Xiaohei could not speak; he merely gave a soft meow, his two long tails gently sweeping past Mizuno Yuri's feet as if to comfort her, saying it was nothing.
Then, after you've finished, would you like to wrap the gift yourself?" Kisaragi Chiyo waited until Mizuno Yuri had composed herself before asking, "After all, it is a gift for your sister; wouldn't it be more meaningful if you wrapped it yourself?
"Yes, you're right." Mizuno Yuri rubbed the corners of her eyes, a brilliant smile spreading across her face.
Watching Mizuno Yuri carefully wrap the music box, Kisaragi Chiyo and Hara Kenji stepped aside for the time being, not wanting to disturb her.
In this illusory space, the sunlight remained gentle and warm, the wind blew in waves from the distance, carrying the scent of green grass, dry and comfortable.
Hara Kenji sat lazily cross-legged on the grass, not caring that Kisaragi Chiyo was boredly braiding his long hair.
“You”
Kisaragi..
Both spoke at the same time, both froze at the same time.
“You go first.” Kisaragi Chiyo undid her braided hair, her smooth black hair flowed like water through his fingers, finally settling on the grass.
".." Hara Kenji fell silent for a moment, staring into Kisaragi Chiyo's misty gray eyes, trying to discern something within them.
But clearly, he had failed. Most of the time, Kisaragi Chiyo was like this, the emotions in her eyes as calm as if most things were of no consequence to her.
“At that time.. just now,” Hara Kenji organized his words, “You asked me, what kind of expression was on my face when you asked me that?”
Kisaragi Chiyo: ".."
Ah, that." Kisaragi Chiyo slowly averted her gaze, looking toward the cats playing and rolling around in a heap in the distance, then said in a very firm tone, "I forgot.
"Eh? You're lying, right?" Hara Kenji's eyes widened, finding Kisaragi Chiyo's words hard to believe.
Mm-hmm, I'm not lying.
Really?
Really.
“I don't believe you.” Hara Kenji puffed out his cheeks childishly and stopped pressing for answers, because he knew that whatever Kisaragi Chiyo did not want to answer, he would never be able to get an answer from her.
"As you wish." Kisaragi Chiyo turned her back to Hara Kenji and continued trying to use cat food to entice the cats in the distance that were currently having their backs turned to her.
However, what I said before," Kisaragi Chiyo said in a tone as calm as if she were saying, 'Let's have sukiyaki tonight,' "regarding your wish, it still holds true.
That expression, looking as if she were about to burst into tears, was truly difficult to deal with.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Thanks to all the little angels for adding this to your collection, mwah!
Chapter 36
“At the next intersection, turn left, go straight for 800 meters and then turn right. After going straight past the third traffic light, turn right again and go straight for 400 meters..”
Hara Kenji remained silent. Watching Kisaragi Chiyo hold the map and loop back to the same intersection for the fifth time, he finally couldn't help but speak up, "Kisaragi, how about I just do it instead?"
Don't say a word." Kisaragi Chiyo refused Hara Kenji's help without even lifting her head. "I have my own rhythm.
After saying that, Kisaragi Chiyo closed the map. When she confidently led Hara Kenji back to this intersection for the eighth time, he finally had to admit that he was completely insensitive to such a sloppy map.
Hara Kenji: ".."
Was he just being insensitive? To take the wrong path even on such a simple route—he was practically a complete directionally challenged mess, wasn't he?
So, back then, on that night when they first met, the reason he had intentionally floated ahead was simply because he had no sense of direction? He had actually thought Kisaragi Chiyo was being on guard against him, unwilling to fully expose his back to a strange evil spirit.
"What are you thinking about?" Kisaragi Chiyo keenly sensed the subtle change in the spirit's emotions beside her. He suddenly turned his head, his eyes narrowing as he shot a piercing gaze at Hara Kenji.
Hara Kenji looked back very calmly and flashed a smile.
I was just thinking.." Hara Kenji brought up another topic with a natural expression, shifting Kisaragi Chiyo's attention. "In a little while, how should we hand the item over to Mizuno Yuri's sister?
“We can't exactly just knock on the door and say, 'Hello, Miss Mizuno, we've come to deliver a birthday gift on behalf of your sister's soul.'”
“If you say that, you might be mistaken for a bad person coming to mock her, then you'll get a harsh scolding." As Hara Kenji spoke, his gaze fell upon the gift bag held in Kisaragi Chiyo's other hand, which contained the birthday gift personally wrapped by Mizuno Yuri.
"If that's the case, there's nothing we can do. We'll just have to run away quickly after giving the gift," Kisaragi Chiyo said, unconcerned by Hara Kenji's worries. In her view, as long as the gift reached Mizuno Yuri's younger sister, her wish would be fulfilled.
As for the other person's attitude and thoughts, they weren't particularly important.
"Sometimes, Kisaragi, your personality really makes people feel like you're a cold yet gentle person," Hara Kenji chuckled softly. As they passed the traffic light, he reached out and took Kisaragi Chiyo's wrist, his movements natural and intimate.
It was currently the time when office workers were finishing their shifts. Hara Kenji led Kisaragi Chiyo along, much like someone following a massive school of fish along a current, yet remaining an outlier that felt completely out of place within the crowd.
Perhaps the people around them hadn't even noticed, but unconsciously, they were subconsciously veering around the space surrounding them. On this busy street filled with people coming and going, a circular empty space had formed around Kisaragi Chiyo and Hara Kenji, a circle that no one noticed.
"Is that so? I don't think so." Kisaragi Chiyo showed no obvious rejection to Hara Kenji's approach, or rather, he simply didn't care about it.
With palms as cold as they were far below human body temperature, pale and bloodless, like a shadow cast under the sun, she had appeared before his eyes through a chance encounter. Even if, due to some accident, she had once again gained a form that could be seen and was walking this world again, it could not change the fact that the other was already deceased.
Oh?
A smile played on Hara Kenji's lips. He was not discouraged in the slightest by Kisaragi Chiyo's somewhat cold attitude; after spending just a few short days together, he was even able to discern the hidden meaning within her answers.
So he asked, feigning ignorance, "So, Kisaragi, do you think it's the former or the latter?"
Kisaragi Chiyo responded to his question with silence. Was she simply uninterested, or did she just not want to play such a childish game of question and answer with Hara Kenji?
"But I don't think so." Hara Kenji deliberately leaned down and lowered his voice, whispering softly in Kisaragi Chiyo's ear.
Although his volume was lowered, because he was so incredibly close, Kisaragi Chiyo actually felt that Hara Kenji's voice was somewhat too loud.
The low, deep voice, laced with laughter, traveled from his ear through the ear canal, vibrating against the eardrum and into the brain, causing an inexplicable sensation of itchiness and irritation to suddenly bloom within his chest.
Even though he reluctantly turned his head away, the words were still clearly delivered to his ears.
I don't think your perception is correct. Consider it my personal interpretation, but to me, Kisaragi Chiyo is just like that—whether it's her cold and self-centered side, or her soft and gentle side, I..
Before the last few words could even be spoken, Kisaragi Chiyo felt a sense of discomfort and broke free from Hara Kenji's grasp first, quickening her pace by several steps.
Hara Kenji did not feel any regret about this. He looked at Kisaragi Chiyo ahead of him with a good mood, savoring the continuous warmth of body temperature that had flowed from the contact of their skin when he held her wrist.
He lowered his eyes and gazed at his own palm, looking pensive.
That warmth, that longing, like a sweet rain that nourished the increasingly clamorous hunger in his heart.
Hara Kenji subconsciously licked his lips, his sharp canines grinding against each other. The rich, familiar fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose, growing fainter as the person walked away, but because it had long since been etched into his very soul's longing, Hara Kenji could still find Kisaragi Chiyo in the crowded throng at the first possible moment, guided by nothing more than a single trace of her scent.
Oh my, thinking about it like that, he really is the best little puppy!
Hara Kenji hummed happily, quickly catching up to Kisaragi Chiyo ahead of him.
*
The difference between reality and their expectations was that they hadn't even seen Mizuno Yuri's sister herself, the door hadn't even been opened; even after Kisaragi Chiyo tried pressing the doorbell several times, the person inside remained unresponsive.
Chiyo-chan, it seems like we've been mistaken for some weirdos." Hara Kenji poked his head out from behind Kisaragi Chiyo and shook his head slightly at the still-closed door. "A total failure, a total failure.
"Then what do you think about me just leaving the gift here?" Kisaragi Chiyo asked, holding the gift, inquiring uncertainly of Hara Kenji's opinion.
That child probably doesn't want to open the door because she's home alone, right? If that's the case, we won't be able to see her at all.
You can't do that, Chiyo-chan." Hara Kenji drew out his words in a sticky tone. "It would be quite troublesome if you were discarded as some unknown dangerous object, this is Miss Mizuno's wish, after all.
"It's a heavy wish indeed." Hara Kenji's eyes curved into an expression of someone watching a good show.
"You must keep your promises, okay?" Her dark purple eyes were half-lidded as she looked at him, her words carrying a meaningful smile.
Tsk.
After staring at the smiling expression on Hara Kenji's face for a few seconds, Kisaragi Chiyo let out a dissatisfied sound: "You clearly acted like you didn't care much at first."
That's because it's about Chiyo-chan now," Hara Kenji replied in a lighthearted tone. "If it concerns Chiyo-chan, I'm incredibly interested.
Kisaragi Chiyo was completely unmoved by Hara Kenji's answer.
He gave a cold laugh. "You're nothing but a liar."
"Mm-hmm, thank you for the compliment," Hara Kenji replied modestly.