Chapter 20: The Spring Scenery is Perfect; It’s the Season for Love.

The next morning, Arisugawa Yuu ran along the green stone path.

The scenery along the way was beautiful, with the sounds of insects and birds filling the air.

At this hour, the morning light was faint, and the air in the mountain forest was fresh.

Last night’s hazy darkness had obscured many of the views; only today could Arisugawa Yuu see the full picture.

Miyamizu Shrine was built against the mountain, with a small stream babbling past it, then flowing down a steep cliff to eventually merge into a fast-flowing, clear river.

Various wooden buildings were constructed along the riverbank, connected by wooden corridors.
Many of the buildings had wind chimes hanging from their eaves, and when the river wind blew, the sound was crisp and pleasant.

From Arisugawa Yuu’s position, he could see the lush green mountain forest on the opposite bank, shrouded in clouds and mist.

Occasionally, flocks of birds would fly by, leaving a trail of cheerful noise and life.

When the mountain wind brushed against his face, it brought the scent of grass and earth.

Arisugawa Yuu took a deep breath, captivated by the beautiful scenery before him.

After being captivated for a while, Arisugawa Yuu started running again.

The scenery was beautiful, but there was no need to rush to appreciate it.
There was still a long time ahead.
His mind had already pictured a scene of him and Miyamizu Rin holding hands and strolling through the mountain forest.
Perhaps one day, they would even have their own children, and the two of them would live a secluded life in the mountains, raising their children and living a pastoral life.

Miyamizu Rin would definitely become a gentle, outstanding, and strong mother.
Although he didn’t know why he thought so, it was Arisugawa Yuu’s intuition.

Of course, that day would be even further away.

Fortunately, he felt he could wait.

Arisugawa Yuu’s feet hit the green stone slabs of the path with a crisp, powerful sound.
He ran three laps in a row.

On his third time passing the tall, vermilion torii gate, Arisugawa Yuu noticed that a charming girl was sitting on top of the torii’s lintel.

The girl was wearing light blue denim shorts and a cherry-pink puff-sleeve shirt, looking cute and pure.

After a few more glances, Arisugawa Yuu also noticed that the girl had long, smooth, snow-white hair and fluffy, snow-white fox ears and a tail.

Noticing Arisugawa Yuu’s gaze.

The girl swung her slender, snow-white legs, wrapped in white stockings, and greeted Arisugawa Yuu cheerfully, “Good morning, Arisugawa-nii.”

It was a familiar girlish voice.

Although he knew the white-furred fox, Koyuki, would look beautiful in human form, Arisugawa Yuu hadn’t expected her to be this beautiful.

“Koyuki, I never thought you’d be this beautiful in human form.”

Arisugawa Yuu exclaimed with sincere admiration.

“Hmph.” The white-furred fox, Koyuki, grunted proudly and then said, “Arisugawa-nii, I have a proper name, you know. Can you not call me Koyuki? It feels a bit strange.”

(TL Note : Koyuki means Snowflake in japanese)

“Doesn’t Miyamizu-senpai also call you that?”

“Are you a dummy, Arisugawa-nii?”

Koyuki said, puffing out her cheeks, her delicate little face showing a hint of confusion.

“……”

For her cuteness’s sake, Arisugawa Yuu decided not to argue with her for calling him a dummy.

The white-furred fox, Koyuki, swung her snow-white, delicate feet, a victor’s smile on her face.
—He wasn’t sure if it was because she was a spirit, but she wasn’t wearing shoes.

After swinging for a while, she said, “You can call me Yukisato from now on, Arisugawa-nii.”

“Miyamizu Yukisato?”

Arisugawa Yuu asked.

“Yes.”

Miyamizu Yukisato nodded.

“Yukisato, is there something you need me for?”

Arisugawa Yuu asked again.

“Big Sis asked me to find you. She said you disappeared early in the morning.”

Miyamizu Yukisato replied.

Arisugawa Yuu blushed slightly, “Does Miyamizu-senpai wake up this early?”

Miyamizu Yukisato’s snow-white fox ears twitched, and she nodded cutely, “Big Sis always wakes up very early.”

“Alright, does Miyamizu-senpai need me for something?”

Miyamizu Yukisato tilted her head, “Big Sis didn’t say. She just asked me to find you and bring you back.”

‘Was she worried I ran away?’

Arisugawa Yuu didn’t dare to ask.

Last night’s conversation—‘Big Sis, if we were to imprison him, do you think we’d get caught?’, ‘Koyuki, with my abilities, a small thing like that won’t leave any traces.’—was still fresh in his mind.

Miyamizu Yukisato suddenly jumped down from the tall torii gate, but… she landed face first.

“Ouch, ouch, ouch—” Miyamizu Yukisato rubbed her small face, her eyes watering, her crisp cry of pain echoing far.

Arisugawa Yuu looked closely.
The girl’s charming, oval face was still snow-white and flawless.
Besides a little red mark, there were no dirt stains or scratches.

“Arisugawa-nii, it’s all your fault. You made me lose my focus.”

Miyamizu Yukisato pouted her pink lips and complained.

“……”

Arisugawa Yuu didn’t know what to say anymore.

It was the first time he had seen a shikigami so clumsy as to land face first when jumping down.

Speaking of which, with a shikigami this clumsy and cute, was Miyamizu-senpai okay?

This clumsy fox didn’t seem like the type to be reassuring.

‘Miyamizu-senpai, you’ve worked hard.’

Arisugawa Yuu mourned silently for Miyamizu Rin in his heart.

One person and one fox crossed the vermilion torii gate and walked forward along the path.
As they were approaching the purification pavilion, they saw the beautiful figure of Miyamizu Rin.

Today, Miyamizu Rin was wearing a red and white miko outfit, with a white haori over it.
The cuffs were embroidered with elegant white flowers.

Her long, ice-blue hair was tied together with a white ribbon, and a white fox mask hung on one side of her hair.

In the faint morning light, her snow-white, flawless face glowed with a moist luster, and her temperament was even more ethereal, like a fairy who had descended to the mortal world.

At this moment, she was washing up.

One person and one fox stopped and watched from a distance.

Miyamizu Rin’s movements were as graceful as she was.
Just watching from a distance made one feel a sense of beauty.

Only after she finished washing up did Arisugawa Yuu and Miyamizu Yukisato walk over.

“Good morning, Miyamizu-senpai.”

Arisugawa Yuu took the initiative to greet her.

“Big Sis, I found Arisugawa-nii.”

Miyamizu Yukisato’s fluffy, snow-white fox tail swayed, as if seeking praise.

“I knew it, Koyuki is the best.”

Miyamizu Rin gently patted Miyamizu Yukisato’s head.

Miyamizu Yukisato squinted her eyes in enjoyment, letting out a cute whimper.

Beside them, Arisugawa Yuu’s eyes twitched.
This scene, how should he put it… why did it feel a bit… yuri-ish?

Miyamizu Rin released her hand, her clear, beautiful eyes looking at Arisugawa Yuu as she said gently, “Did you rest well last night?”

Hearing her ask this, Arisugawa Yuu instinctively said, “The quilt was very fragrant. It seemed to have a sleep-inducing effect. I slept very well.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt he had misspoken, but it was too late to take them back.

Miyamizu Rin’s snow-white face quickly flushed with a captivating blush.

She turned her face away in embarrassment and said in a low voice, “That’s good.”

“Yeah.”

A subtle atmosphere spread between the two of them.
Beside them, the white-furred fox, Miyamizu Yukisato, wisely kept quiet.

After a moment of silence, Miyamizu Rin took the initiative to speak, “What were you doing out so early in the morning?”

“Running.”

Arisugawa Yuu replied.

“Running?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“To stay fit.”

Miyamizu Rin’s clear, beautiful eyes widened slightly, a little confused.

Arisugawa Yuu explained, “Although Miyamizu-senpai said she would be responsible for my life, if possible, I still want to become stronger.”

Miyamizu Rin nodded, appreciating, “A very good idea.”

Arisugawa Yuu smiled, “I think so too. That way, you won’t have to work so hard in the future.”

Miyamizu Rin widened her ice-blue, beautiful eyes again, “In the future?”

Arisugawa Yuu nodded, “Yes, in the future.”

This sentence wasn’t a promise, nor was there much ambiguity in it.

But Miyamizu Rin still felt her heart beat a little faster.

Since he said, “you won’t have to work so hard in the future,” did that mean that in Arisugawa Yuu’s future plans, she was included?

She probably was.

If not, there would be no need to say so.

Was this a subtle confession?

Miyamizu Rin didn’t know if it was a confession or not.

She only knew that at this moment, her heart was beating a little faster, her breathing had become a bit hurried, but she felt at ease.

Ever since she had lost everything, she had always felt that she was alone, wandering in the world.
For the first time, she had the sense of security of finding a harbor to anchor in again.

On an early morning in early April, the 18-year-old Miyamizu Rin felt that she might have fallen in love.

At this time, it was still the season when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom.

The spring scenery was perfect, just right for falling in love.