Chapter 272: Hayado and Usagi’s First Encounter

Like a revolving lantern, memories surged forth...

Hayado's consciousness had already begun to fade, and everything in his memory seemed to shatter into fragments—familiar scenes flickering through the depths of Usagi's mind. The boy he once was—smiling brightly under the sun, full of youthful passion, swearing to chase the desires of his heart—now felt like a distant echo.

"She's so cute! One day, I'll definitely marry her and make her my treasure at home!"

He had been so excited that he nearly jumped up, his eyes glowing as he stared at a photo of the girl in his hands. Just looking at that picture made him feel like he could touch a future filled with happiness.

"She's pretty carefree, but with how possessive you are, you know she's got a fiery temper."

Hichiya sat nearby, his tone calm but laced with skepticism. He gently shook his head, a mocking smile curling at the corners of his lips.

"If you approach her that lightly, she's only going to hate you more."

"Oh, come on!" Hayado waved his hand dismissively, full of confidence. "If I succeed in bringing her home, don't you dare cry about it later!"

Hichiya only chuckled softly, as if he had already seen how the story would end but couldn't be bothered to explain further.

The memory dissolved into nothingness, time slipping away as Hayado and Hichiya went their separate ways. But Hayado never forgot that promise—no matter how much time passed, he was determined to find that girl.

He carried that photograph—worn and slightly yellowed from being handled so many times—through countless streets and alleyways, asking everyone he met about her. No matter how many dead ends or disappointments he faced, he never gave up.

Piece by piece, he followed the scattered clues, piecing together the fragments of memory. The sleepless nights, the endless searching—it never wore him down. Because he knew that as long as he took another step forward, he would be one step closer to her.

At last, his journey reached its climax in the city of Fislin—or perhaps it was the beginning of a new chapter.

When he saw her again, it felt as though his entire world had been set alight.

The wind lifted her hair, and her eyes were as clear as he remembered. She was the girl from the photograph—the one who had always made his heart race.

"Finally... I found you."

"Usa...gi..."

Usagi stood on the street, her soft pink twin-tails swaying gently in the cold breeze, her bunny-ear hair ties bobbing with each movement. Her small frame was wrapped in an oversized knit sweater, nearly covering her short cotton shorts, leaving only her slender legs exposed beneath the hem. She clutched a feather pendant necklace to her chest, her small brow furrowed with anxiety and confusion.

"Where... am I?" she murmured softly, almost to herself, as if trying to piece together fragments of memory. Her steps were hesitant as she wandered down the street, occasionally stopping to ask for directions—but it was clear that no one had given her an answer she could understand.

Standing nearby, Hayado was trembling with excitement. He hid behind the corner of a wall, his eyes burning with an almost predatory light as he hungrily took in every detail of her figure.

"She's even a million times cuter than the photo! If I don't take her home, I'm not a man!" He clapped his hand over his mouth, trying to suppress the delighted laugh threatening to burst out, afraid of scaring her away.

He watched as Usagi stood still, her small face flushed red with frustration, and her wide eyes glimmering with unshed tears. Yet despite that vulnerability, she stubbornly bit her lip and fought back the urge to cry, her tiny fists clenched at her sides as she struggled to navigate the unfamiliar city.

Hayado's heart gave a violent jolt.

That lonely expression, those tears that threatened to fall but didn't—his chest tightened painfully.

He murmured to himself, "That face... no good... it makes me want to tease her."

His gaze swept over the street, landing on a nearby stall. A mischievous glint flashed through his eyes as an idea formed. His lips curled into a sly smile, and in the blink of an eye—

"Got it!"

He swiped a white rabbit mascot costume from the stall when the shopkeeper turned away and slipped into a nearby alley.

Moments later, a goofy-looking rabbit mascot appeared on the street, hopping toward Usagi in exaggerated steps.

Usagi was too focused on the paper in her hand to notice the strange rabbit tailing her. Hayado, inside the suit, bounced playfully behind her, barely able to contain his excitement.

"Hehehe... now I can follow her around as much as I want!"

Through the eye holes of the mascot suit, his gaze remained locked onto Usagi's every movement.

Today was the day they officially met—Even if she didn't know it yet.