One more day with Rie, then?
If she could stay in Tokyo just to play, Hoshimori Shion would, of course, be delighted. However, there were still some things that weighed heavily on her mind. For instance, her sister back home, and the potential emergence of malevolent spirits.
In truth, the malevolent spirits had been unusually quiet these past few days. Perhaps it was because she was currently in Tokyo, unable to sense the stirrings of evil spirits in her hometown, and the system hadn’t issued any alerts or warnings. Of course, Shion was unaware that Rie’s previous accidental misstep with the seal had inadvertently stabilized it significantly. Even without a guardian present, the town’s tranquility was secured for the foreseeable future.
Thus, the only lingering concern for Shion remained her sister.
“Senior, I…” Shion hesitated, “I need to ask my sister.”
Rie nodded, not pressing Shion to stay. “Alright, Shion-san, check in with Ayane-san to see how she’s doing at home. If you need to look after her, I’ll buy your ticket.”
“Senior… aren’t you going back?” Shion asked, looking up after sending a message to Ayane.
At the mention of it, a flicker of loneliness crossed Rie’s face. But she quickly lifted her head, rallying her spirits to force a smile. “The holiday isn’t over yet! I intend to play until the very last day.”
Just as Shion was about to speak, her phone vibrated softly. It was a message from Ayane.
[Big Sis, just enjoy yourself. I’m out to eat.] Attached was a casual photo she’d taken of her meal: curry rice and barley tea. Shion recognized it instantly as the food from the small diner near the shrine.
[It’s fine if you come back late, Big Sis. Your bed is mine now~]
Shion let out a giggle upon seeing Ayane’s message. “Don’t mess up my bed, you hear?”
[No way! You’ll be the one tidying it up when you get back anyway.]
As twilight gradually enveloped the town, the diner glowed with a soft, yellow light. After replying to the message, Ayane set down her phone, picked up her spoon, and scooped a mouthful of curry into her mouth.
The curry, in truth, tasted quite good, yet to Ayane, it was like chewing on wax.
“Stupid… stupid Big Sis…” Ayane’s hand gently tapped the table.
****
“So, what’s the verdict?” Rie leaned in, her gaze fixed on Shion with eager anticipation.
Shion nodded. “No problem. My sister should be fine for meals.”
Rie clapped her hands in excitement. “That’s wonderful! We get to play together for another day, Shion-san!”
Before the words even left her lips, she took Shion’s hand once more. “Now, let’s go see Tokyo’s nightscape together.”
Tokyo, enveloped by night, was even more bustling than by day. The dazzling neon lights painted the sky with a brilliant, flowing luminescence, outshining even the moonlight. Pulsating electronic music from the commercial district echoed through the city’s skyscrapers. Amidst this vibrant splendor, the ceaseless Tokyo railway lines crisscrossed the metropolis like veins, connecting its vast expanse, only ceasing their reach at the edge of Tokyo Bay.
As the two girls stood at the entrance of Palette Town amusement park, waiting for their tickets, the kind ticket booth attendant reminded them: “It’s almost night, you know. Many rides have stopped operating for safety reasons. Are you sure you still want to buy tickets?”
“Is the Ferris wheel still open?” Rie inquired.
The attendant glanced at the two girls, immediately understanding. “Ah, so you want to experience the Giant Ferris Wheel. Very well.”
She handed two tickets to Shion and Rie, a sly smile gracing her lips. “Have fun, young ladies~ Also, our Ferris wheel cabins are completely transparent, you know.”
‘Completely transparent?…’ Shion’s mind momentarily froze. She had never ridden a Ferris wheel outside of a game before; this was an entirely new and novel experience for her.
Rie, of course, understood the attendant’s implication. Blushing, she coughed a few times, then pulled Shion into the amusement park, saying, “The Palette Town Giant Ferris Wheel is a very famous landmark. You absolutely have to experience it when you come to Tokyo!”
Naturally, she wouldn’t tell Shion that this place was also a popular spot for dates.
The queue for the Ferris wheel was surprisingly short, which somewhat exceeded Rie’s expectations. She had anticipated waiting possibly an hour, given the amusement park’s popularity.
As soon as Shion saw its height, coupled with the almost entirely transparent glass cabins, she excitedly bounced. “We’re riding this one? It feels like… the view might be amazing!”
“Yes, that’s right! Soon, we might be able to see…”
Before Rie could finish her sentence, the attendant in front of them gestured for the two girls to enter. “Ladies, it’s your turn.”
Shion, brimming with excitement, stepped into the Ferris wheel cabin with Rie and sat down directly across from her.
Seated inside the cabin, the fully transparent enclosure offered the girls an expansive view of the surrounding nightscape.
“Wow, it’s moving!” Shion felt herself slowly ascending with the Ferris wheel, stars seemingly sparkling in her eyes.
Rie held Shion’s hand tightly, never letting go. Watching the excited girl before her, a trace of contentment seeped into Rie’s smile. “Soon, from up here in the Ferris wheel, we’ll be able to see half of Tokyo’s night view.”
“Huh? Why only half?”
“Perhaps it’s because the Palette Town Giant Ferris Wheel isn’t quite tall enough.” Rie chuckled softly, gently ruffling Shion’s hair, then rested her forehead against Shion’s. “But, it’s beautiful here.”
As the Ferris wheel ascended further, the sky above them was faintly illuminated by the glow of neon lights; the distance to the heavens did not diminish. Yet, everything on the ground below gradually shrank, receding into the distance. Beneath the girls’ feet, the wide streets transformed into narrow paths within the night, and the ceaseless stream of vehicle lights appeared as fireflies flitting along those paths.
Shion leaned her hands against the transparent cabin, gazing at the city’s nightscape. The steel forest of skyscrapers was illuminated by neon lights that stretched to the horizon, seemingly without end.
It was a spectacle of shimmering brilliance, as if designed to forever immerse onlookers in its splendor.
Yet, thinking of the city’s inhabitants as mere specks of fireflies in her current view, finding one’s place within this steel forest could still evoke a sense of loneliness, couldn’t it?
Rie, too, was gazing at the nightscape outside the window, her hand still clasped firmly in Shion’s. If asked whether this place she had so eagerly anticipated was beautiful, she would likely nod earnestly. Despite its many imperfections, it still filled her with longing.
Rie was like a greedy kitten, eager to absorb all of Tokyo’s splendor during this short holiday. It was as if… there would be no next time.