“Shion-san, would you like to come out and play with me?”
Shion set down the dishcloth in her hand. As she read the message Rie had sent, a ripple of surprise, even delight, went through her.
It had been quite some time since Rie had reached out to her. Shion had started to worry she might have done something to upset Rie, causing her to withdraw.
Yet, despite the recent lull in their conversations, the few times they had chatted, Rie’s tone and demeanor had been just as before, if not even more enthusiastic. This led Shion to believe Rie must have been preoccupied with something of great importance.
‘It seems she’s finally finished with her tasks?’
Still, she couldn’t help but worry about her younger sister at home.
“Ayane, I…”
“You’re going out to play, aren’t you?”
The moment Shion turned to speak to Ayane, her sister replied.
Just as Shion was about to ask how she knew, she immediately realized, “Ayane, you haven’t deleted that monitoring app you installed on my phone, have you!”
Ayane, her tear stains now completely wiped away, playfully stuck out her tongue at Shion.
“Go out and have fun, Big Sis. There’s plenty of food in the fridge,” Ayane said, pointing to the refrigerator. “Your little sister won’t starve to death while you’re out.”
Shion stood up to check the fridge. Indeed, she had stocked up quite a bit recently, and Ayane could easily heat something up. But the problem was… Ayane was such an airhead she couldn’t even properly use a microwave…
Shion walked over to Ayane, took out her small wallet, and after setting aside a few bills, solemnly handed the entire wallet to Ayane. “Here, take this money,” she instructed. “If you get hungry, go buy something from the convenience store. Try to be frugal.”
Ayane looked utterly speechless. “Big Sis, aren’t you just going out to have fun? Don’t make it sound like you’re entrusting me to someone before you go on a perilous journey…”
“It’s just that I can’t help but worry about my silly little sister,” Shion said, though for some reason, a nagging feeling told her this outing might take a while…
Ayane, sitting on the sofa, said no more, simply extending her arms. Shion, of course, understood what her sister wanted and stepped forward to give her a big hug.
“Silly Ayane, you’re already in high school, yet you still love to be pampered so much.”
“Hmph, well, Big Sis spoils me anyway.”
As if seeking reassurance, Ayane held her tightly.
When she finally let go, Ayane gently pushed Shion. “Alright, Big Sis, go on now.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
****
Upon arriving at their designated meeting spot, Shion glanced around, but saw no one else.
In the distance, azure waves lapped against a breakwater made of pebbles, while a cool sea breeze, carrying the scent of early autumn clouds, swept across the coastal road. Beneath the clear blue sky, few vehicles traversed the highway, for the town was no longer the bustling transportation hub it had been centuries ago. That the road retained even a whisper of life was a blessing not to be taken for granted.
This place marked the very edge of the town; following this coastal road further would lead her into the world beyond.
Shion wasn’t sure what might happen if she ventured out. After all, she had lived in this small town for so long that she had never experienced the world outside, neither in reality nor within a game.
“Igarashi-senpai, I’ve arrived,” Shion messaged Rie.
She waited for a long time, but the message remained unread.
‘Perhaps Igarashi-senpai is still busy…’ Shion mused, walking to a nearby bench by the sea and sitting down. She tilted her head back, gazing at the boundless blue sky.
Suddenly, Shion felt her vision plunge into darkness, as if someone had covered her eyes with their hands.
“Guess who?” a playful voice chirped from behind Shion.
“Hmm, I’m guessing it’s probably not Igarashi-senpai.”
“Bingo! Congratulations, Shion-san, for eliminating the correct answer right away.” Rie released her hands, bending slightly to look at Shion. Shion, sitting on the bench, tilted her head up slightly, meeting Rie’s crimson eyes. Rie’s fiery red hair brushed past Shion’s nose, carrying a fresh scent of sandalwood.
“Good morning, Igarashi-senpai. You called me out to play quite early today,” Shion said, stretching lazily as she turned to face Rie. Only then did she notice Rie’s rather casual attire: a white shirt paired with a gray pleated skirt. For a young lady of her status, it was surprisingly simple.
What’s more, not only was Rie dressed plainly, but she was also carrying a sizable suitcase and a seemingly heavy backpack.
“Because today, I want to take Shion-san somewhere a bit farther away to play,” Rie said, winking as she pulled two train tickets from her pocket. “That’s why I had to prepare a bit more luggage.”
Shion took the tickets and offered to help with the suitcase Rie was carrying. The moment Rie handed it over, Shion nearly buckled under the weight of the incredibly heavy case.
‘It’s *that* heavy!’
Seeing Shion struggle so much, Rie quickly took the suitcase back. Rie mentally chided herself, regretting her thoughtlessness. She had seen with her own eyes how badly Shion had been injured yesterday; even if the White Girl had almost completely healed her, fatigue was still inevitable.
Yet, seeing Shion’s adorable, puffed-cheek expression before her, Rie felt that she must have recovered quite well. ‘She probably doesn’t even know she was healed by powerful abilities last night, does she?’
“Shion-san, I’ll carry it. You just need to follow me,” Rie said, effortlessly lifting the suitcase. “This isn’t heavy for me at all.”
“Honestly! My strength isn’t *that* little!” Shion retorted, stomping her foot.
The two girls walked along the coastal road, the cool sea breeze caressing their faces. The town’s buildings gradually receded behind them with each step. Occasionally, one or two cars slowly drove past, moving a little faster than the boats that would sometimes cruise by.
Come to think of it, Rie usually had her phone constantly in hand, but today, although she held it, the screen remained dark.
As if sensing Shion’s unspoken question, Rie shook her phone. “My phone’s off. If you sent me a message just now, Shion-san, I probably didn’t see it.”
“Huh? Igarashi-san, *you* with your phone addiction, actually turned off your phone?”
However, at Shion’s teasing, Rie showed a slightly troubled expression. “Well… I just didn’t want to be bothered by other family matters. It’s rare for me to get out and have some fun.”
Shion nodded, understanding yet not fully. She accepted Rie’s explanation, though it likely implied that Rie’s outing this time was not with her family’s approval.
“So, Igarashi-senpai, where are we going this time?”
“Shion-san will know once she looks at the tickets,” Rie said with a smile.
“We’re going to Tokyo.”