A few hours later, the train finally arrives in Tokyo. Yukinoshita Haruno gets into a black sedan. With a bright, cheerful smile, she waves at Hiratsuka Ryosuke and calls out, "I'll be waiting for you in Chiba, Ryosuke!" The car's engine roars, and it disappears from their sight in an instant.
Hiratsuka Shizuka stands in place and stretches, shouting in her usual energetic voice, "Let's go! We're home!" A moment later, the three of them are back at their apartment building. Hiratsuka Shizuka opens the door and goes inside. Ryosuke, however, doesn't go home just yet. He first heads to the front of the Nibutani family's apartment, since his cat has been staying there.
Ding-dong~
The doorbell rings, but there's no reply from inside, only a faint meow. Realizing no one is home, Hiratsuka Ryosuke glances at the girl next to him and says calmly, "Open the door."
Nibutani Shinka stands quietly in front of her door and lets out a small laugh. "Heh, has someone reinforced the seal on the magic circle? It seems I can only rest at the Guardian Knight's base."
Ryosuke holds up two fingers in front of her face, a cold threat. "Speak like a normal person."
Damn Guardian Knight, is that the only move you have? She shrinks back, then glances away awkwardly. "Um... I forgot my key." She adds weakly, "Mom must have gone out to buy things, so I can't go home."
"Ryosuke, think about it. If you leave me locked out, I'll be homeless until Mom gets back. Can you really bear to see me, so weak, pitiful, and helpless, shivering in the cold wind?"
Cold wind? Shivering? Ryosuke looks up at the bright sun and then at Shinka's short-sleeved shirt. He observes her for a moment, then nods. "I understand."
Shinka's face breaks into a wide smile, thinking her little trick worked. She shakes her head back and forth, her ponytail swinging through the air.
Click.
The familiar sound of a door unlocking makes Nibutani Shinka's smile freeze. A little white cat rushes out of the apartment and jumps into its owner's arms. Ryosuke holds Vanilla and gently pets her head. The cat looks up with half-closed eyes, looking very well-behaved.
Nibutani Shinka's eyes widen in shock. "You... Why do you have a key to my house?!" This ruins my plan of resting in Ryosuke's room!
"Mrs. Nibutani gave it to me," Hiratsuka Ryosuke replies nonchalantly. He then walks into the Nibutani apartment as if it were his own, heading in to get all of Vanilla's things. Mrs. Nibutani gave him the key because she learned that Ryosuke was willing to jump from his balcony to her daughter's. While the boy's gesture moved her, she was also worried, as it was a very dangerous thing to do.
Bang!
The sound of the door closing echoes in the empty apartment. Nibutani Shinka slumps onto the sofa, looking dazed. She takes her own key out of her pocket and sighs. Her little plan to stay in Ryosuke's room had failed.
But perhaps fate hasn't abandoned Shinka. A brilliant idea suddenly flashes through her mind. Why does Ryosuke have a key to my house, but I don't have a key to his? Is that fair? A great new plan begins to form in the mind of Lady Mori.
Time flies, and it is now August. Hiratsuka Ryosuke and his sister return to their hometown of Chiba for the Obon Festival. Obon is a very important traditional Japanese festival where the spirits of ancestors are said to return home. To prevent the spirits from getting lost, people light fires at their doorways and lanterns inside, clean the Buddhist altars, and offer vegetables and fruits. When the festival is over, they see their ancestors' spirits off. Therefore, people living in the city return to their hometowns to spend the festival with their families.
With the change in the Meiji calendar, the dates of the Obon Festival differ by region. As time has passed, the festival has evolved and taken on more of a celebratory meaning. Companies and organizations are on holiday, and some places hold grand celebrations with parades and dances that last until late at night, a scene of pomp and excitement rivaling that of the New Year.
It is now evening. Lively fireflies shine their light in the darkness, and the pure moonlight, like a silver ribbon, pours down on the earth. The cool night breeze blows away the lingering heat from the day, bringing a touch of coolness to the August night.
For this traditional festival, Hiratsuka Ryosuke has changed into a black kimono with the Hiratsuka family crest. He is sitting on the porch, playing with Vanilla with a cat toy.
"Vanilla, look here~"
"Meow~" The little white cat's agile eyes follow the cat toy, and its two pure white paws reach out and swat at the air.
Ryosuke's face holds a gentle smile. He really likes this smart, cute, and obedient little cat. He chose to bring her back to Chiba with him this time.
"Ryosuke, are you ready? The Obon dance is about to start," Hiratsuka Shizuka says, wearing a light purple yukata.
"Coming, Shizuka-san!" Hiratsuka Ryosuke replies loudly. He beckons Vanilla, and the cat quickly scurries into his arms. The cat only shows its two dark, bright eyes, which dart around, occasionally glancing at its owner.
Hiratsuka Ryosuke holds his cat and follows his sister through the bustling street. Suddenly, his phone vibrates with a new email. He opens the email, and a photo appears on the screen. It's a picture of Nibutani Shinka standing under a red maple tree in front of Kyoto's Kiyomizu-dera. Her face is as radiant as a peach blossom, and she's holding an apple candy. In the background, a crowd of people is watching a local Obon dance. Below the photo are three words.
"Do I look good?"
Ryosuke sees through Shinka's little trick. His childhood friend, while sometimes lively and cheerful, can also be a bit shy and hesitant. A young maiden's heart is a poem, and in this moment, Shinka is asking about more than just the scenery. He understands her poem.
He quickly replies: "The Obon dance in Kyoto looks good, but Shinka looks even better tonight."
Another new email arrives. "Hmph, if you're so brave, say that to my face next time, you idiot Ryosuke."
Hiratsuka Ryosuke smiles. No matter how calm the email sounds, he knows Shinka's reaction right now. She must be stomping her feet or hitting something nearby, saying some chuunibyou nonsense to hide her shyness.
Meanwhile, in Kyoto, Thump! Thump! Thump! Nibutani Shinka is hugging a red maple tree and repeatedly bumping her head against it. A moment later, she stops, and a faint red mark appears on her forehead. She then covers her forehead and stomps her feet, her face flushed crimson. She pretends to be angry and mutters in a low voice, "That wicked Guardian Knight is so sly. Is he trying to confuse Lady Mori with a tactic like this?"
She recalls Ryosuke's message and bites her lower lip, her golden eyes like autumn water. Finally, she looks up at the moon in the sky, and her face breaks into a beautiful smile, like a hundred flowers blooming at once. Ryosuke... he must be looking at the same moon as me, right?
In Chiba, Hiratsuka Ryosuke and his sister stand on the side of the street. He looks up at the bright moon in the sky, quietly waiting for the Obon dance to begin. For some reason, Vanilla, who is usually so well-behaved, suddenly jumps out of Ryosuke's arms.
"Vanilla!" Ryosuke shouts. The little cat doesn't stop and quickly runs into the crowd. Seeing Vanilla run farther and farther away, Ryosuke quickly turns to Hiratsuka Shizuka and says, "Sister! I'm going to go find Vanilla."
With that, he starts weaving through the crowd, quickly running in the direction the cat went.