Chapter 29 The Moment the Stars Fall
“What a heavy rain…”
In the Star Palace family’s home.
Nagi’s father looked out at the white curtain of rain outside the window.
“They chose to go to the aquarium; that’s really great~,” Nagi’s mother chimed in.
“Yes, back when I was dating you, we also went to the aquarium in Qinglan City…” The father showed a nostalgic expression at the mention.
“Then next time we have a chance, shall we go again?”
“Two grownups—ah, I misspoke, you’re still young, ouch…”
“By the way, what do you think of Kanade-kun?”
“Where did this little brat come from, thinking he can take Nagi from me? At least wait until I turn 20!”
“But I think Nagi has been completely enchanted by him lately?”
Nagi’s mother showed a bitter smile as she spoke: “Recently, when we have dinner, as long as the school is mentioned, she just keeps talking about Kanade, and she seems completely oblivious…”
“Ah, Nagi has grown up~” Nagi’s father sighed deeply.
“Actually, I just hope that the poor child can live healthily and happily; that’s enough.”
…..
…..
Kanade was overly concerned about what Yukino said before leaving.
In the bathroom.
Holding onto the self-deceiving thought of “I’ve bought it anyway, not using it would be a waste.”
He took out a small spray from his pocket and sprayed it a few times following the instructions.
As he walked out of the bathroom.
He saw a couple, soaked and drenched, walking towards him.
“How unlucky, it suddenly started to rain…”
“Let’s dry off first…”
The two chatted as they brushed past Kanade.
When he returned to the aquatic animal viewing area, he spotted Nagi from a distance, staring longingly at the aquarium.
As soon as she noticed him, she ran over.
It made Kanade feel like she was an adorable little dog afraid of loneliness.
Rather than a greeting, the first action they both took was to silently hold hands.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Nagi…”
“Mm, the time without Kanade-kun really felt long.”
Nagi’s affectionate words made Kanade’s heart race.
“Speaking of which, I just saw a place for taking purikura over there; do you want to take some together?”
“P-Purikura?!” This overly trendy thing caught Kanade off guard.
“Um, does Kanade-kun want to?” Nagi leaned her face closer and used a mischievous tone.
She knew he could never refuse her request.
“Uh, then, let’s go check it out…”
Kanade dared not look directly at Nagi’s excessively cute face and shyly turned his head.
Unexpectedly.
He smelled a faint hint of lemon.
…..
…..
In the stormy Kawa-no City.
In this field.
The dark shadow didn’t gain an advantage in battle.
But Garuda wasn’t in a hurry to finish it off.
Garuda maintained an appearance just strong enough to keep it at bay, slightly stronger but not overwhelmingly so.
The fierce winds tore at the shadow again and again.
But the shadow always seemed to recover swiftly.
It appeared to be immune to physical attacks.
Garuda was waiting.
Waiting for it to feel the desire to retreat.
As long as it was in this storm, no matter where it went.
It would be within Garuda’s sight.
So, once it noticed it wasn’t its match and that it might be in danger, it would surely return to its master.
At that point, Garuda would figure out who its master truly was.
If it was an existence difficult to deal with on its own.
Then it would wait until nightfall to go with Nagi.
This game of cat and mouse was still ongoing in the storm.
Garuda didn’t notice.
Above the thick layer of clouds.
Faint starlight twinkled—
【Time until the stars fall】
【10 minutes remaining】
……
……
Taking purikura is a common activity among couples.
So, as a dating hotspot, the aquarium naturally set up several purikura machines inside.
To showcase the aquarium’s unique features.
The stickers and frames incorporated many aquatic elements.
It was dazzling for Kanade.
However, Nagi seemed very familiar with it, as if she had researched it thoroughly.
“Kanade-kun, do you have any poses or stickers you want to use?”
“L-Let Nagi decide…”
Kanade at that moment squeezed into the purikura machine with Nagi, which had a small rectangular sofa inside for guests to sit and pose in various ways.
I must say, it truly deserves to be a couple’s machine.
In this cramped space, they were so close that their shoulders touched.
Kanade could clearly feel Nagi’s warmth next to him, along with the sweet fragrance wafting from her.
“Then let’s choose the recommended set.” Nagi selected the most popular preset.
She then sat back down next to Kanade.
They exchanged a glance and smiled shyly at each other.
“I’m really looking forward to our purikura…”
“H-How are we supposed to do this?” Kanade asked a bit nervously, as he had never encountered anything like this before.
“There should be voice prompts; just follow along and do the corresponding expressions and actions,” Nagi replied.
When taking purikura, there are usually voice or text instructions guiding the participants to strike various poses and expressions.
As the light indicating “start” lit up.
Kanade nervously straightened his back, causing Nagi to stifle a laugh.
The first voice command from the machine was 【Smile】.
Unaccustomed to photographing, Kanade managed a stiff smile.
Meanwhile, Nagi leaned her face against his cheek and displayed a radiant smile.
“Click.”
“L-Little Nagi!?” The smooth, delicate touch on his cheek made Kanade’s voice rise a pitch.
“Next one is coming~”
【Make a cute pose】
“Ah?” In his flustered state, Kanade couldn’t think of what a cute pose would be.
“Kanade-kun, come~”
As Nagi formed half a heart with her hands.
“T-This…” Though Kanade was blushing profusely, he extended his hands and formed a complete heart shape with Nagi.
“Click.”
【Surprised expression】
“Click.”
【Playful expression】
“Click.”
Under Nagi’s guidance, they struck pose after pose.
Kanade gradually became a bit more comfortable.
Until the REAL “main course” emerged—
【Kissing pose】
This was one of the most common poses for couples taking purikura.
“Eh?!”
But this caused Kanade’s brain to short-circuit momentarily.
They weren’t truly lovers yet, so naturally, they couldn’t do that kind of pose.
Just as he turned his head, intending to suggest skipping it,
He saw Nagi’s face, flushed with an inviting blush, slowly lean toward him.
It seemed she had no intention of stopping.
The distance between them steadily grew closer.
Kanade reflexively wanted to move back but couldn’t.
The machine was just too cramped, offering him no space to retreat.
“Kanade-kun…”
Nagi reached toward Kanade’s face and gently caressed his cheek, pulling him slowly toward her.
“Kanade-kun, don’t you want to…”
Nagi’s eyes glimmered with moisture, her plump lips slightly parted, emitting a soft, sweet voice.
Kanade’s heart raced rapidly in that instant.
The sound of his heartbeat resonated loudly in the confined space.
It was hard to tell where the sound was coming from—
Or if it was from both.
The machine had already issued its next voice prompt.
But the sound did not reach either of their ears.
“Little Nagi, I…”
Kanade slowly leaned closer to this adorable girl, the one he had always liked.
Their breaths intertwined.
As Kanade and Nagi’s faces drew close to each other, they unconsciously closed their eyes.
In a pitch-black moment.
Time seemed to stretch infinitely.
It was as if they could only feel endless loneliness.
Until their lips gently brushed against each other.
In that fleeting instant, it felt as though the world had come to a standstill.
Only the two of them existed.
And—
It was a taste of lemon.
【Time until the stars fall】
【3 minutes remaining】
Not knowing how long had passed.
Kanade, feeling he couldn’t breathe, awkwardly released his lips.
The lingering softness on his lips left him reluctant to part with it.
Just as his survival instinct kicked in, he gasped for air.
He noticed—
“Little Nagi… Are you crying?”
“Eh?”
At the mention, Nagi froze.
She felt a teardrop slide down her cheek.
She raised her hand to wipe away the tear but found her fingers trembling slightly.
Why?
“Th-That’s strange… I…” She tried to say something but found herself choking up.
Tears fell drop by drop.
Kanade was stunned by this scene.
He gazed at Nagi, unable to suppress his inner feelings any longer.
Finally, he gritted his teeth, as if resolving something:
“Actually, I have something to tell you.”
Nagi raised her tear-filled eyes to look at him.
“Little Nagi, actually I…”
Kanade spoke slowly, his voice deep and firm.
“I like you. I’ve liked you for a long time.”
Thud, thud.
“Every time I’m with you, I feel very happy.”
Me too…
“Today… here, I want to tell you that I really like you, not in a friend way, but rather… I want to be your boyfriend.”
Is that so…
“So, I don’t want to continue pretending to be lovers—”
“—Can you go out with me and be true lovers?”
So it turns out…
“Kanade-kun, I—”
——
Stars hung high above.
…..
…..
“I got you.”
Garuda spread its wings, soaring above Kawa-no City.
Below, the retreating shadow was leaping between rooftops.
Under the threat of death, it could no longer think.
It simply rushed straight towards its master’s position.
Its escape route’s destination was—
“Just as expected…” Garuda said, observing the direction in which it fled, pondering deeply.
At the same time, it quickly made a judgment.
It could not allow it to live here.
It must prevent it from carrying information back.
The moment Garuda charged toward the shadow—
Stars hung high above.
Suddenly, Garuda’s body felt as though it had been caught.
It abruptly paused mid-air.
Simultaneously, its crimson eyes flashed with a purple-black light.
“Master!?” Garuda strained to turn its head, looking towards the direction of Qinglan City.
“Why is the curse coming at this moment—”
In the next moment.
“Connection” severed.
Garuda instantly vanished from the air.
The rain stopped.
Above the sky.
Purple-black stars hung high, emitting a deep and mysterious glow.
——
Nagi suddenly covered her eyes with her hands.
Purple-black star-like pupils dotted the center of her eyes.
Ominous purple-black light flickered erratically.
Why?
Why now?
“L-Little Nagi, what’s wrong?”
Kanade reached out to her in shock and concern.
But Nagi sidestepped him.
No, I can’t let them near me…
“Kanade-kun, I… I’m sorry, I have something—”
Nagi felt she could no longer contain the magical power surging within her.
She burst out of the machine.
I can’t stay here any longer.
Outside.
Nagi charged forward, her legs flying.
“Little Nagi!” Kanade’s voice echoed from far behind her.
The back door.
She remembered the direction of the back door—
Her vision flickered with countless purple-black star lights, obscuring everything before her.
Nagi stumbled toward the back door from memory.
She felt her ability to think fading, her black star-like pupils flashing with purple-black light.
“Um, little sister, that way is—”
The staff’s voice reached her.
Confirming she was headed the right way.
I must hurry—
Get outside—
Otherwise—
Finally.
Nagi felt her shoulder crash through the heavy iron door.
Rain.
It was lightly drizzling outside.
The cold raindrops fell on her delicate body, as if countless whispers echoed in her ears.
Not enough, still not far enough—
【Time until the stars fall】
【10 seconds remaining】
In this dim curtain of rain.
She could see nothing clearly, unable to think or judge, instinctively moving forward, just to go a bit farther.
【9, 8…】
Until a sharp car horn suddenly awakened her awareness.
She whipped around to the source of the sound.
In her pupils, dotted with purple-black stars, reflected a blinding light rushing toward her.
【2, 1…】
In the next moment.
The tires screeched against the slippery road, the sound echoing in the silent city.
Blood stained the street.
【0】
The purple-black star above the sky flickered a few times.
Finally, it transformed into a shooting star streaking across the sky.
…..
…..
Inside the aquarium.
Sitting dazedly in the purikura machine, Kanade hung his head heavily.
Nagi’s recent reaction.
Without a doubt, it was a rejection.
“Is that so… So it was just me being one-sided…”
Kanade muttered vacantly, exhaling a cloud of murky air.
“Hey, did you hear? It seems a girl just ran out and got hit—”
“That’s right, it seems it was a girl in a white dress.”
Discussions among the bustling crowd reached Kanade’s ears.
The meaning behind those words made him snap his gaze upward.
A chill surged from his heart, swiftly spreading throughout his body.
A girl in a white dress? Could it be—
Before his mind could contemplate further, his body dashed out.
Where to?
Kanade didn’t know, but heading towards the commotion was certainly correct.
That was the aquarium’s backdoor.
There, at this moment, a crowd of onlookers had gathered, and staff members were blocking the door with arms wide open, preventing anyone from exiting.
“Is there a doctor among the guests?” Some staff called out frantically.
Others were using their phones to call for help.
Kanade barged into the crowd, roughly pushing past people blocking his way before bypassing the staff’s obstruction and breaking through the back door.
Outside, the light was dim, and it was still drizzling.
A golden light fleetingly vanished around the corner.
“Um, guest, please stay inside—”
A staff member followed Kanade out.
But Kanade couldn’t hear what he was saying at that moment.
When the staff placed a hand on Kanade’s shoulder, he violently shrugged it off.
At the same time, the staff member was intimidated by the ferocity in the boy’s eyes, involuntarily taking a step back.
Kanade emerged around the corner.
His vision captured a pool of bright red blood, and a car with flashing lights stopped just in front of it.
“No, no way—”
Kanade stumbled towards the bloody puddle.
Lying in the blood was a girl with black hair, her disheveled locks obscuring her face.
It was difficult to see her features.
But that white dress, stained with blood, was one he had seen countless times today.
Kanade fell weakly to his knees in the blood pool, his light yellow eyes trembling violently, his mind refusing to comprehend the scene before him.
His heartbeat grew muddled, dark flames igniting within his heart.
“Make way, let the doctor take a look.”
A guest who looked like a doctor approached the pool under the staff’s guidance.
——It’s all my fault; if I hadn’t confessed to Little Nagi…
——If I hadn’t invited Little Nagi out today…
Kanade’s eyes sparkled with a golden light ready to explode—
“Mm? That’s strange?” The doctor observed the injured girl briefly and expressed confusion.
His words pulled Kanade back to reality.
The golden light in his eyes dimmed.
Then, Kanade watched as the doctor muttered “I’m sorry.”
Immediately, he forcefully ripped apart the girl’s white dress.
Revealing the body underneath, stained with blood.
As the rain washed away the blood.
The skin revealed was flawlessly white, with no injuries on her body.
“Wh-What is this?” Both the doctor and the staff were astonished.
The girl in front of them was unharmed, breathing steadily.
As if she had suddenly fallen asleep on the road.
But the blood pool and the nearby disheartened driver indicated there had just been an accident.
“Don’t move, let the ambulance handle this.” The doctor touched the droplets on his forehead, unable to discern whether they were rain or sweat.
“If there’s internal bleeding, it will be troublesome… Strange, really strange.”
The sound of the ambulance’s siren drew closer.
Throughout it all, Kanade continued to stare intently at Nagi, fearing that all this was just a figment of his imagination.
Afraid that if he blinked, the familiar girl before him would turn into a cold corpse.
“Um, guest, you know this injured person, right? Can you come over here with us?”
A nurse who stepped down from the ambulance asked Kanade, who was kneeling on the ground.
Meanwhile, other medical personnel began initial checks on the girl lying on the ground.
The previous doctor approached to inform them of the situation.
Hearing this, everyone seemed quite surprised, and the initial findings coincided with the doctor’s statement.
This left them even more bewildered.
However, to take precautions, the medical staff carefully placed the girl lying in the blood pool onto a stretcher and loaded her into the ambulance.
Kanade, whose legs had gone weak from kneeling, was helped to stand by the nurse.
When he raised his head again, the sky above was dark.
He couldn’t find the stars that should be adorning it.
