The three walked in the small woods, with Kashi leading the way, holding a small wooden stick.
She swung the stick in her hand while singing a song she had recently learned.
"Chicken, chicken, chicken feathers, chicken feathers, black chicken feathers, chicken feathers, chicken feathers... (Cat, cat, cat tail, cat tail, roadside cat's tail grass)"
Her clear voice and cute lyrics made Yukinoshita Yukino Can't help it hum along softly.
Bright sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled light and shadow.
The beautiful and harmonious natural environment, combined with the slowly advancing trio, formed a warm and lovely picture.
Tanaka Masao couldn't help but exclaim.
"It's so peaceful, I wish this moment could last forever."
Hearing Tanaka Masao's words, Yukinoshita Yukino uncharacteristically did not retort.
She also really liked the current atmosphere.
[If I get married later, have a family and children, a weekend stroll together would probably feel just like this.]
Yukinoshita Yukino couldn't help but think to herself.
Recalling her own parents and sister, their outings were always for various gatherings and events.
In such settings, there was only endless socializing and fake smiles.
Words like 'relaxation' and 'warmth' seemed to have never appeared in her family.
Tanaka Masao suddenly slapped his head and blurted out.
"Oh, I forgot something."
Yukinoshita Yukino looked at Tanaka Masao, who had a frustrated expression, and asked.
"What's wrong?"
"We should have prepared food and found a place here for a picnic."
"Hm, you're right, the environment here is very suitable for a picnic."
Yukinoshita Yukino nodded.
"However, we don't have a car. If we carry picnic supplies by hand, it would be very tiring and greatly deplete our physical strength and patience."
"That's true."
Tanaka Masao imagined a few people struggling to get to the location, and then having no mood to enjoy the scenery or the food.
"It's fine as it is now. When summer vacation comes, I'll find an opportunity to get a driver's license. Once I have my license, how about I invite Xuezhixia Classmate out for a picnic?"
Tanaka Masao had just turned eighteen a while ago.
He would have time to get his driver's license during the summer vacation.
Here, he could get a driver's license in as little as two weeks, and with his many years of experience as an old driver in his previous life, it would definitely be no problem.
"Then we'll have to wait until Tanaka-kin successfully obtains his driver's license."
Speaking of driver's licenses, Tanaka Masao asked.
"Does Xuezhixia Classmate have a driver's license?"
Yukinoshita Yukino shook her head.
"Not yet."
Yukinoshita Yukino's birthday is January 3rd, so she had only recently turned eighteen. Due to school, she hadn't had time to get one.
Hearing that Yukinoshita Yukino also didn't have a driver's license, Tanaka Masao suggested.
"How about we go together during the summer vacation? We can look out for each other, and we can also compete to see who gets their driver's license first."
Yukinoshita Yukino sized up Tanaka Masao, as if seeing through his thoughts.
"I don't need looking after, but I accept your challenge."
Seeing Yukinoshita Yukino agree, Tanaka Masao struck while the iron was hot.
"Since it's a competition, there must be rewards and punishments. How about whoever loses has to grant the other a wish?"
As soon as Tanaka Masao finished speaking, he was met with a look that made him ex—
Ahem, he was met with Yukinoshita Yukino's face full of disdain, as if she was looking at trash.
"Tanaka-kin, you're not plotting to do this and that to me, are you?"
"I... I didn't..."
Tanaka Masao's eyes darted away as he vehemently denied it.
He was the pure, unblemished, innocent, and adorable Tanaka Masao, how could he think of bad things?
And what exactly were these 'this and that' things Yukinoshita Yukino was talking about? If she didn't explain clearly, he wouldn't understand, oh.
Looking at Tanaka Masao, who dared not meet her sharp gaze, Yukinoshita Yukino snorted coldly.
She crossed her arms, proudly raising her head.
"However, I've agreed, Tanaka-kin, so prepare for defeat."
Not to mention whether Tanaka Masao would dare to make strange requests, even if he did, he wouldn't have the chance.
Because when it came to learning things, Yukinoshita Yukino had immense self-confidence.
As a genius, she could quickly grasp anything she learned, and she had never considered the possibility of losing.
[She agreed?]
Tanaka Masao looked at Yukinoshita Yukino, who walked past him like a proud phoenix, and couldn't help but think to himself.
[It seems Xuezhixia Classmate is ready for the defeat settlement.]
Like Yukinoshita Yukino, Tanaka Masao also never thought he would lose.
In terms of genius and learning ability, he indeed couldn't compare to Yukinoshita Yukino.
But there's a saying, 'a slow bird starts early.'
He had already flown to the finish line and rested for a while, while Yukinoshita Yukino hadn't even left the starting point.
How could Yukinoshita Yukino win? Even at the speed of light, it wouldn't work.
Unless she could exceed the speed of light.
[I'm looking forward to summer vacation now, I hope it comes soon.]
...
The three walked a bit further and finally reached their destination.
Kashi looked at a bird's nest on a branch and made a shushing gesture to the two behind her.
Tanaka Masao and Yukinoshita Yukino subconsciously lightened their footsteps and looked up.
Kashi looked at the bird's nest, quite excited, and whispered.
"It looks like the bird isn't here, so we can safely take the things."
"But how will you get up that high?"
Yukinoshita Yukino asked.
"Of course, I'll climb up."
Kashi said with great confidence.
"That's not very high; I can get up with just a little effort."
"But isn't that too dangerous? Without protection..."
Just as Yukinoshita Yukino and Kashi were discussing how to get up, Tanaka Masao asked somewhat puzzled.
"Why do we have to go up? Can't we just knock the bird's nest down?"
As soon as his words fell, he was met with two incredulous and disdainful stares.
The scene became quiet. Tanaka Masao, feeling their gazes, felt a bit uncomfortable and asked, steeling himself.
"W-what's wrong?"
"Tanaka-kin, I don't know why such cold words can come out of your mouth. Do bacteria have no temperature?"
"Exactly, exactly, you're a scoundrel who destroys other people's homes."
Not only Yukinoshita Yukino, but even Kashi began to scold Tanaka Masao.
Although Kashi was a demon, after the Magical Girl destroyed the Demon Realm and she lost her home, she understood the importance of a home.
So this time, she didn't intend to destroy the bird's nest; she just wanted to grab the magic stone and leave quickly. If possible, teaching that crow a lesson wouldn't be bad either.
"Masao, you are truly too evil. Wouldn't the crow be pitiful if it returned to find its home gone?"
Being reprimanded by Kashi, Tanaka Masao suddenly felt a very strong sense of incongruity.
[A demon calling him cruel, that's completely upside down.]