The sea breeze, heavy with salt and moisture, swept across the beach, lifting fine grains of sand that whirled in the air.
The hem of Amagami Chiharu's white miko robe fluttered lightly, like a cloud reluctant to leave.
She stared blankly at the spot where Rei Ao had stood only moments before.
Now, all that remained there were a few scuffed grains of sand and a shallow footprint.
Just three seconds ago, Rei Ao had been standing there.
Then, together with his beautiful female companions, he had waved goodbye to them.
Their holiday was over; it was time to go back.
And then—
As though rubbed out of reality by an eraser, their figures gradually faded from the air,
until they vanished completely.
"Mom‑…"
Amagami Yae gripped her mother's slightly trembling hand in worry.
She could feel the warmth draining rapidly from that hand in the sea breeze.
As the eldest daughter, she had never seen her mother lose composure like this.
Chiharu's pupils were slightly dilated, her lips quivered; it was as if her very soul had been taken away.
All that intense reluctance was centred on Rei Ao.
Amagami Asahi and Yūna exchanged a complicated glance.
As shrine maidens of the Amagami Shrine, they prided themselves on a high tolerance for the supernatural.
Yet Rei Ao had merely snapped his fingers and disappeared with a whole group of people.
Such divine power lay far beyond their comprehension.
What concerned them even more was their mother's abnormal reaction.
The lost, desolate look in Chiharu's eyes was like someone who had just lost the most important thing in life.
Yūna noticed their mother's fingertips unconsciously rubbing the amulet hanging at her neck—a treasure passed down through generations of the shrine,
said to protect its wearer from evil influences.
Their mother only did that when she was extremely uneasy.
It seemed she had fallen very deeply for Rei Ao.
There was nothing the daughters could do about that.
"The villa!"
Yūna suddenly raised her voice, deliberately breaking the mood of parting.
"Didn't Rei Ao say he's left the villa to us—that we can use it as we please?"
She waved her arms exaggeratedly, pointing at the white seafront villa not far away.
"The sun's perfect right now; why don't we go and enjoy the private villa a bit more?"
As she spoke she winked at her sister Asahi.
Asahi caught on at once.
She hurried forward to take their mother's other arm.
"That's right, Mom. It's a rare chance; let's go swimming together."
She blinked mischievously.
"Big‑sis Yae secretly bought a super‑sexy new swimsuit, didn't she?"
"Asahi!"
Yae's face flushed bright red; she glared at her sister in embarrassed anger.
As the shrine's next heir she was known for her poise; buying that rather daring swimsuit had indeed been an impulsive act.
Yet, to Asahi's surprise, Yae did not retort. Instead she cooperatively led their mother toward the villa.
She, too, understood that her sisters wanted to help their mother pull herself together.
And so the three daughters clustered around Chiharu, moving like escort ships guiding a flagship that had lost its course.
Chiharu's steps followed her daughters mechanically, but her gaze kept drifting back to the vast, empty beach.
The sea breeze tousled her jet‑black hair; a few strands stuck to her slightly damp cheeks, yet she seemed unaware.
"He'll come back," Chiharu murmured, her voice almost swallowed by the waves.
It did not sound like a question, but rather like talking to herself.
Walking behind them, Tsuruyama Shirahi and Anekoji Mahiru exchanged looks on hearing this.
"Rei Ao‑kun said that as long as someone messages the group chat, he'll appear anytime,"
Shirahi said calmly, with conviction.
"He's never broken a promise."
He had invited everyone to move in with him.
For now, each had their own affairs: the Amagamis needed to run the shrine, Shirahi had to finish her studies, Mahiru had children at the orphanage to look after…
But there would be plenty of chances in future.
If there was one thing Rei Ao was never short of, it was time.
At those words, Chiharu finally showed a faint smile,
so quick it was almost imperceptible.
She nodded lightly and smoothed the robe ruffled by the wind.
When she looked toward the horizon again, the dazed confusion in her eyes was gone, replaced by a firm anticipation.
"You're right,"
her voice regained its former gentleness, now tinged with something new.
"We should enjoy ourselves, because…"
Her fingertips brushed the amulet on her chest. " —Tomorrow is another day."
…
At the same time
Inside the Shinomiya mansion in central Tokyo, the atmosphere was oppressive enough to suffocate.
Heavy curtains filtered the sunlight into a dim amber; the expensive marble floor reflected a cold gleam.
Shinomiya Kaguya stood straight‑backed in the centre of the hall, her long black hair falling like a waterfall.
Since returning home she wore a simple white blouse and a navy pencil skirt,
no unnecessary adornment, yet she radiated an aura that brooked no infringement.
Hayasaka Ai stood half a pace behind her like a shadow,
golden hair neatly tied back, her expression flawlessly mask‑like.
Before them, Shinomiya Oko regarded his sister with a cold gaze.
He wore a meticulously tailored charcoal‑grey suit; the diamond tie‑pin on his necktie glittered dangerously in the gloom.
"Kaguya Shinomiya, where have you been these past few days?"
Oko's tone dripped with arrogant condescension, every syllable squeezed through his teeth.
"Father is gravely ill, yet you left without permission—is this what you call a daughter's duty to the Shinomiya family?"
A sharp light flashed in Kaguya's crimson eyes, like the glint of steel on a blade.
In the past she would have lowered her head, apologised, and silently endured her brother's scolding.
But not now.
"Brother," her voice was preternaturally calm, as deep and still as bottomless water.
"Where I go is not something I need to report to you."
She chose the word "report"—a term normally used from subordinate to superior.
Oko clearly froze, his brows knitting tighter.
For years, this sister had always presented an obedient face to him.
Today was the first time he had seen this attitude.
His gaze slid past Kaguya and settled on Hayasaka Ai.
"Hayasaka Ai—are you just going to stand there and watch the young lady of the Shinomiya family behave like this?"
His voice carried not only reproach but a subtle threat.
~~~
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