Chapter 21

[You followed Yoimiya to the backyard of her fireworks shop.]

[Curious, you wondered what kind of fireworks would make Yoimiya insist so strongly that you stay to watch.]

[She made you sit down on a bench. "Sit here; this is the best spot to see them!"]

[Then, using her Vision, she ignited the pre-prepared fireworks in the center of the yard.]

[With a "pop," one colorful bloom after another lit up the sky—some streaked like shooting stars, others cascaded like waterfalls, and some burst like dazzling chrysanthemums.]

["People often say that fireworks are fleeting, a momentary beauty. But if they're beautiful enough, they can bloom forever in a person's heart," Yoimiya said, gazing at you with her sparkling, gem-like eyes illuminated by the fireworks.]

[In that moment, you felt that her eyes were more captivating than the splendor above.]

[As the firelight faded, a few seconds later, the remaining fireworks launched all at once.]

[They painted a white crane against the night sky.]

[Yoimiya's eyes held a warmth you couldn't ignore. You stared at her in stunned silence.]

[Faced with her confession, you must choose…]

[1. Accept her.]

[2. Refuse her.]

"Yoimiya's confession came out of nowhere! There wasn't any warning! I'm so confused right now!"

[Life simulation only displays the main course of events; the details must be discovered by the host.]

Yoimiya was undeniably adorable. The tattoos on her body were both alluring and bold. 

The bandages wrapped around her made you want to peel them away layer by layer. 

Kael was seriously tempted to accept her confession!

It was the first time in his life a girl had confessed to him with fireworks. 

He was genuinely touched. 

However, he already had Kamisato Ayaka. If he accepted Yoimiya's confession… 

Wouldn't that make him a scumbag?

Moreover, his relationship with Kamisato Ayaka was well-known throughout Inazuma. 

Yoimiya must have known about it too. 

If he accepted so readily, even Yoimiya would see him as a scumbag. 

Her opinion of him would plummet! 

And if her opinion dropped, he wouldn't be able to deliver the emotional punches later! 

"Fine, I choose 2!"

Kael reluctantly turned her down.

[You recognized the look in Yoimiya's eyes.] 

[You had seen that same feeling countless times in Kamisato Ayaka's gaze.]

[Right, Ayaka!] 

[Thinking of Ayaka snapped you out of it.]

[Yoimiya noticed your shift in mood. She blinked, and when she looked at you again, her cheerful demeanor had returned.]

[Your gaze was complex. "Yoimiya… you…"]

["Fireworks may only bloom for a moment, but even fleeting beauty can leave an indelible mark in one's heart, right?" she said with a smile. "As long as you think of this moment whenever you look up at fireworks, that's eternal to me."]

[You couldn't return her feelings.] 

[But she didn't need you to. Like the fireworks, she only wanted to leave a touch of color in your life.]

That was the right choice! 

It seemed Yoimiya just wanted to express her feelings. 

If he had accepted, it would have broken his character and been completely out of place!

[Your duties as a member of the Yashiro Commission were increasingly at odds with your secret actions, and the growing divide weighed heavily on you.] 

[Sometimes it felt as though you were playing two entirely different roles.] 

[But this precarious balance was soon disrupted.]

[One night, the Kamisato Estate's doors were knocked upon, and an unexpected visitor appeared.]

[Kaedehara Kazuha.] 

[You had thought this boy, your age, had long since wandered away, but it turned out he had not yet left Inazuma.]

[He appeared in great haste. "I have an urgent request. Please, Kael-sama, lend me your aid."]