By the time they stepped out of the restaurant, the sky had already turned faintly blue.
In the distance, the tall buildings seemed wrapped in a thin veil of dusk, as if the light itself was slowly retreating from the city.
Late April in Tokyo had the most pleasant kind of weather—warm enough in the day to enjoy the sun in just a T-shirt, yet cool enough at night that a light jacket would do.
It was already past six, and the crows that had scattered in search of food during the day were now converging toward the city center.
Their harsh cries echoed between the skyscrapers and across the wide streets, so much so that newcomers to the city couldn't help but wonder:
'Is this city owned by crows? Should we bring them a gift before dropping by?'
After parting ways with the three seniors from the agency, Kyousuke and Shouko didn't head straight home.
Instead, they let themselves drift along the lively streets, with no particular destination—just wandering slowly, side by side, through the lingering warmth of the city's bustle.
Their driver had long since been dismissed.
As long as it wasn't rush hour, Kyousuke much preferred taking the subway anyway.
The restaurant they'd just left was popular enough to win over even the pickiest women, so of course the food had been great.
When Kyousuke stepped out, he even noticed the line outside had stretched nearly eight meters down the block.
Salarymen in suits fresh off work stood side by side with fashionably dressed young women whose backgrounds were anyone's guess.
Shibuya wasn't just home to entertainment and fashion companies—tech firms also clustered here by the dozen.
Which meant that a heavily made-up woman passing by could just as easily be an industry professional as someone out hunting for a rich "catch."
After all, that balding man who just walked past might well be making tens of millions a year.
And that random woman brushing shoulders with you? She could very well be a rising actress.
Even in such a stylish, youthful district, the pair walking together drew more attention than anyone else.
A single glance cast their way was like staring into a black hole—once you looked, it was impossible to look away.
Kyousuke still wore his school uniform, a suit-style outfit, though he had taken off the jacket after their meal.
Just black slacks and a plain white shirt—so ordinary it couldn't be more ordinary.
Yet the men waiting in line couldn't stop wondering stupidly, 'If I wore something that simple, would I look that good too?'
Shouko, on the other hand, had changed out of her uniform long ago.
After all, she was a proper signed voice actress now; showing up at the agency in a high school uniform wasn't just impolite, it risked irritating others.
'What, are you showing off? Wearing your uniform just to rub it in my face that I still haven't debuted at my age?'
Instead, she wore a soft pink chiffon T-shirt paired with a dark indigo denim skirt that fell just above her knees.
With each step, the light fabric swayed gently, tracing the delicate curves of her calves.
Simply walking beside her felt like an art in motion.
The streets were overflowing—salarymen fresh off work mixed with students done with their club activities.
The twilight, not yet fully dark, seemed to hand everyone a mask.
People who would politely apologize if they brushed shoulders in daylight now barreled forward like wild boars, as if eager to smash out the stress of the day with raw collisions.
The chaos somehow made the atmosphere more festive.
Smaller figures quickly sidestepped the oncoming rush, while the more confident ones slammed shoulders, turned to size each other up—comparing suits, companions, and presence.
Yet before they could decide whether to assert their manliness or just let it go, someone else would ram into them and scatter their thoughts all over again.
As the garbage on the ground grew thicker and the sky wedged between the high-rises shifted from pale blue to smoky gray.
The city's light seemed to vanish as quickly as money from a thinning wallet.
Amidst the pressing crowd, Shouko's small hand inched closer to the left.
First, her fingers brushed against the fabric of Kyousuke's trousers.
She could feel his warmth through the thin material, and instead of shying away, she grew bolder.
'With so many people around… what if I get pushed away from Kyousuke-kun? I need to hold on tight!'
Muttering silently to herself, Shouko lowered her wide eyes, then launched another attempt.
'Slap.'
Before she could reach her target, a large hand caught hers firmly. Her body tensed for an instant, then melted like she'd just slipped into a hot spring.
"Hold on tight," came a calm voice in her ear. "Don't get lost."
The street was crowded with noise and chaos, every inch of sight and sound filled to the brim.
Yet his warm, clear voice stood out as something utterly unique, and in that instant, Shouko's world became calm and pure.
She lifted her gaze and saw Kyousuke's face—saw those dark, starless eyes looking only at her.
"Mhm~ I'll hold on tight. I won't get lost," she replied, cheeks dimpling as her smile spread across her whole face.
Their hands stayed entwined from then on.
Streetlights flickered on.
Shouko puffed out her cheeks and playfully began to dub sound effects.
Each time she chanted, another streetlight lit up, as if she really were the one turning them on.
Watching her so serious about it made Kyousuke's lips curl upward.
Pointing at a nearby neon sign, he added, "Whoosh~." And wouldn't you know it—the sign lit up too.
That only fired Shouko up more.
The two of them wandered the streets, not even bothering with shops, deliberately hunting for darkened signs.
They'd stand beneath them like fools, wait for the right moment, and then unleash a sound effect in hopes of sparking them to life.
Nine times out of ten, it didn't work, of course.
At first, they stuck to simple noises—"dong," "pop," "beep," "pew."
But as their laughter grew, Shouko shed her usual restraint and drew upon her stockpile of chuuni lines:
"Darker than darkness, deeper than night, the world has thirsted for light for a thousand years—awaken, Milk Tea of Kripa!"
Or:
"Fall, waver, succumb! Lost barbecue restaurant swallowed by shadow—if you don't shine your sign now, all your customers will flee to the yakitori place across the street!"
Kyousuke turned his head to find her cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling as she chanted with dramatic rhythm, even making sure to rhyme her lines.
The sight was so cute he couldn't help but laugh.
And when, after an elaborate incantation, the sign still failed to light, Shouko would sigh, lower her head, and mumble, "Guess my mana isn't strong enough… I should've drunk more water earlier."
"Hahahahaha~~"
Kyousuke couldn't hold back his laughter, which only made Shouko glance up at him, embarrassed but glowing all the same.
Kyousuke quickly spoke up when he saw Shouko's bright eyes glisten as if misted with tears.
"It's not because your magic power isn't enough."
His cooperation instantly lifted her spirits.
After all, chuuni stuff was only fun when done with someone equally chuuni.
"Then what is it? My spell proficiency too low?" Shouko asked with a smile.
"Nope. That was object magic. What you need here is people magic." Kyousuke explained.
"People magic?" Shouko blinked. Even as a voice actress, she clearly wasn't too familiar with such terms.
"Exactly. This signboard isn't like a streetlight—it's a little more complicated."
Kyousuke grinned.
His sharp eyes had already noticed that the yakiniku place called Red Demon Beef didn't have an automatic sign.
Unlike the other shops around it, whose lights had all flicked on together, this one relied on a staff member to switch it manually.
Which meant…
"Watch carefully. This is how the spell's supposed to be cast."
After saying that to Shouko, he strode across the street toward the barbecue restaurant.
"Ah…"
Realization struck, and Shouko's eyes widened. Her free hand lifted to cover her mouth in shock.
'Kyousuke-kun is going to…'
At the restaurant entrance, a staffer had just come out to set up a signboard.
Out of reflex, he greeted Kyousuke with a cheery "Welcome!"
But before he could start introducing the menu, the impossibly handsome boy standing before him raised his voice and solemnly intoned nonsense words.
"Sink, waver, fall! Barbecue restaurant lost in darkness—if you don't light your signboard, all your customers will be stolen by the yakitori place across the street!"
A strikingly handsome face. A voice deep and commanding.
The poor staffer instantly felt as though a hitman had him pinned underfoot, a gun barrel pressed to his skull while the assassin recited his final rites.
"Uh…?" He stood frozen, mouth agape.
"Come on, turn on the sign, man. Careful or the boss will dock your pay." Kyousuke's stern face broke into a cheerful grin.
"Oh, oh!"
Snapped out of his daze, the staffer bolted back inside.
Whether he was genuinely worried about his pay or just desperate to get away from the handsome lunatic, no one could say.
Kyousuke, tall and striking to begin with, had raised his voice so Shouko across the street could hear his "spell."
In a crowded place like Shibuya, it immediately drew attention.
After all, this city had no shortage of eccentrics, so bystanders happily gathered to watch.
Across the street, Shouko had initially doubted her guess.
But when Kyousuke approached the staffer, then solemnly recited his incantation in that familiar voice, her eyes went wide and her mouth dropped open—thankfully still covered by her hand, or she might've inhaled a lungful of cold air.
By the time Kyousuke returned under the weight of countless staring eyes, Shouko's cheeks were already crimson.
She wasn't someone who liked being the center of attention, let alone in such an embarrassing situation.
Just muttering spells under her breath earlier had already been the peak of her shame tolerance.
Now, with the onlookers' gazes shifting from him to her, she felt like her whole body was crawling with ants.
Even her toes curled up inside her shoes from sheer embarrassment.
And yet, even if she wanted nothing more than to melt into the nearest lamppost, when she saw Kyousuke jogging toward her, she couldn't move.
Her eyes only grew brighter, and her hand slipped from her mouth—stretching forward to welcome her hero.
Dozens of eyes followed as the lovely girl's pale, delicate hand was caught firmly in his.
The absurdly handsome boy turned and slipped behind her, gently wrapping his arms around her shoulders.
Together, their heads tilted upward toward the still-dark sign.
A black, unlit board. Exaggerated lettering.
"Now, my hero—chant the spell. Show the world your power."
Kyousuke whispered the words into Shouko's crystal-clear ear.
The moist warmth of his breath made her body shiver, but what truly set her heart trembling was the meaning behind his words.
Within her sight, she could see everything—the salaryman clutching a beer can, the uniformed students, the chic city women, even a sleek black-and-white Dalmatian.
Every single gaze was fixed on her.
A spark of fear rose quietly in her chest.
Those countless eyes turned to glue, sealing her lips shut, freezing her legs in place.
Her pupils tightened. She swallowed hard.
At the training institute, she'd been able to stand before classmates and play the seductive catgirl or the cool, dignified valkyrie.
In the practice room, she could confidently show Kyousuke the fruit of her hard work…
But now, faced with so many strangers' curious, bewildered, even mocking stares, it felt just like those old days—helpless, alone, and cornered.
Her left hand unconsciously tightened around the strap of her bag, which still held Kyousuke's jacket.
The rough texture made her realize she was clenching the wrong thing.
What she wanted to hold was the other hand—the one Kyousuke was firmly clasping in his own.
That strong, steady hand.
The one that made her feel safe no matter where she was. The one she never wanted to let go of.
The familiar warmth calmed her heart, if only a little.
"What's wrong, my hero? Are you scared?"
His voice came with a lilt of amusement.
But unlike the laughter of the crowd, his carried nothing but indulgence and affection.
Almost without thinking, she gave the tiniest nod.
"There are exactly forty-seven people watching us, plus one Dalmatian and one thirteen-pound cat named Tachibana.
Among them, one woman has been in VIKI magazine, one man is a minor actor, another is the CEO of a gaming company, and two are students from our neighboring school."
Kyousuke's voice kept whispering in her ear.
By rights, his words should have made her even more nervous. And yet, oddly enough, her heart steadied.
"Just forty-seven people. A mere forty-seven." Kyousuke chuckled softly.
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