After the two of them had eaten the barbecue, Takuhisa and Asuka Saito settled the account at the cash register at the door and left the ordinary yakiniku restaurant.

To say, it was Asuka who settled the account, and although Takuhisa had already taken out his wallet, it still couldn't match her speed.

"No matter what you say today, I should pay for it, please don't fight with me about this. ”

The semantics are full of stubbornness.

Well, since that's the case, Takuhisa won't fight with her anymore.

The cold breeze blows so that the birds can't help but wrap their pale red coats tightly around their bodies, like sparrows enduring the cold winter.

Even though it's just autumn.

"Do you want me to take you to the station next?"

Takuhisa walked with her on the way back, and it was enough to walk back from the yakiniku restaurant the same way back, about fifteen minutes of walking.

"No, what about that...... There's a shrine near here, so if you don't mind...... Why don't you go and see it together?"

Asuka turned her head, her lips balm-smeared open, and she proposed to Takuhisa, not wanting to return, her small eyes full of anticipation.

"Shrine...... It's okay, but is it okay?"

Did he mean that the time of the flying bird was okay?

For example, access control.

In addition, there are restrictions on minors in Tokyo, for example, if you are seen by a police officer after 9 o'clock, you will be warned. Well, although it doesn't matter much.

It's almost eight o'clock now, and it's almost nine o'clock when the train is over.

"That's fine. ”

Smiling and shaking his head, Asuka didn't care.

"As long as it's not out for the night. ”

She lowered her head slightly, her cheeks were a little crimson, and after she finished speaking, she realized that her words seemed to be wrong.

"yes, that's good. ”

Takuhisa is relieved.

Of course, Takuhisa didn't understand, so it saved the embarrassment.

If they were going to a nearby shrine, it would be in the wrong direction, and the shrine was in the opposite direction to the station, so they turned around and continued to walk slowly in the cold wind, moving and digesting it by the way.

At the station, Kameido Station is probably full of people who have gotten off work, so it's better to go to the surrounding shrines first, and it's better to be a little late, because it doesn't feel good to be crowded.

With their hands in their jeans pockets, Takuhisa and Asuka didn't say anything, just went against the wind, enjoying the cool pleasure of the slightly sharp gust of wind blowing on their faces. In the bright pale yellow light of the shops on the street, the road straightens and then turns at the second intersection.

The more eye-catching thing is the fruit shop called Sakamoto in front of his home, and there is still a display board at the door of the watermelon special, but now the store is also closed, so he has no chance to buy watermelon.

"A little further one or two hundred meters from here, and it's pretty much the same. ”

Talking to Takuhisa familiarly and naturally, it seems that she has been here more than once.

Looking ahead, Takuhisa could indeed see two stone pillars about 4 meters high erected on the steps in the distance, and the Kasagi, Kan, and forehead beams on the pillars were clearly visible under the illumination of the street lamps at night.

At night, the shrine is silent and pitch black, except for the light of the street lamps outside the shrine.

"Katori...... Shrine. ”

He pondered the name of the shrine.

As he walked up the stairs, two boys of his age walked up from the residential street next to the shrine, lined up with him and Asuka, and then passed by.

After turning around, Takuhisa heard them talking, not in Japanese, but in Chinese.

They seemed to be talking about him and the birds.

"I also went to the shrine together at night, and I was really speechless now. ”

"You must be jealous, tell you not to eat idols, find a girlfriend and you can do the same. ”

"Wow, jealous zio, does my girlfriend look good with my flowery wife?"

"Oh, the idol house is disgusting. ”

"It's like you're not disgusting. ”

They speak very quickly, probably because in Japan, they feel that no one can understand, and their voices are a little loud and unscrupulous.

Turning his eyes sideways, Takuhisa glanced back, and there were two people who were both wearing long-sleeved shirts and jeans, and the boy who was called the idol house was shorter than him, wearing glasses, and had a thin body. Looking at him, I always feel that this person is a little weird.

"What's wrong?"

Asuka asked him strangely, and Takuhisa's footsteps stopped.

"Nothing. ”

Smiling apologetically at Asuka, Takuhisa didn't pay any more attention to the two men.

"Yes. ”

They continued to walk side by side.

But the voices of the two boys could still reach his ears gradually.

"Anyway...... That woman, I look a little familiar, I feel like I've seen it at the handshake party......"

As soon as his ears moved, this sentence was remembered by Takuhisa.

This made Takuhisa can't help but look at the bird next to him.

Tonight it was covered by dim dark clouds, the moonlight was gone, and there was no trace of it, and there was no trace of the starry sky that could bring light, except for half of the face, illuminated by the merciful street lamp.

Compact nose bridge.

Black bangs that cover the eyes, and the shampoo aroma on top.

I want to pinch the soft face.

Takuhisa turned his gaze to the vague shrine ahead, where they had just stepped up the steps.

"That'......"

Just a casual question.

"Huh?"

"Aren't you afraid that someone will follow us behind?"

"Will anyone follow us?"

Asuka didn't understand what Takuhisa meant.

"It's a journalist...... Idols, aren't you most afraid of reporters who follow people?" Takuhisa explained to her, even though his sister had taught him all this knowledge.

Beware of journalists, especially those running out of black vans, and keep an eye on their shots if you're going to be in a relationship with your idol.

"Oh~ that. Asuka smiled dumbly, and her hair shook with her head, "I don't have to worry about that." ”

Confidence, rather than conviction.

There will definitely be no reporter following her.

"In Nogizaka, there will be people who are often followed by reporters, I'm afraid there are only reliable seniors like Mai and Nanamin, and people my age are probably following Eri...... The possibility of みなみ is higher. ”

Speaking of this, Asuka lowered his head and laughed.

The emotions contained in the smile are very complicated, and what Takuhisa can hear is the self-deprecation of being unwilling but having to succumb. Being able to be followed by reporters is also a manifestation of fame.

Obviously, Asuka Saito, as an under girl, she has not yet reached the point where reporters go to track and take candid photos.

"Well, that's a good thing, too. ”

Optimistically throwing away the negative emotions, Asuka bared her white teeth and continued to smile happily.

"If I was followed by a reporter, I really wouldn't dare to ask you out today...... Then I can't express my gratitude, Takuhisa, you helped me so much, not only the handshake meeting, but also the words you said to me before. ”

She had something to say.

The cool breeze had stopped in the lonely night, and the subtle sounds that would have hindered their conversation had been swept away, so quiet that they could hear their breathing.

It's not common.

On the stone-paved pavement, without hindrance, Takuhisa and her arrived in front of the temple of Katori Shrine. It's just a small shrine in itself, and it can be covered at a glance, and it's about the same in five minutes.

"If you can say that, don't talk about it. Takuhisa opened his eyes and looked at the brown guardrail on the left, and rarely, there was more pink on his face that was difficult to detect, "It's just impulsive, it's all like this." ”

The darkness that sank to the bottom of the sea made Asuka unable to detect Takuhisa's shyness, but she could detect it just by her tone.

The black and white eyes swirled in motion.

"Why do you say that, I think you're saying it very well. ”

She deliberately puzzled her questions, trying to get Takuhisa to answer her questions head-on.

"Before, I didn't notice it, I didn't notice it, I just felt sorry for myself, let's be honest, if I hadn't met Takuhisa you, by next year, I might have to choose to quit Nogizaka, and I couldn't see hope, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't afford a cute smile. ”

"I don't think my words have such a great deal of magic. ”

Takuhisa finally replied to him, his eyes sweeping over Asuka's cheeks.

"No, for me, at that time, your words made me discover who I really am. With a retracted smile, Asuka said with great seriousness, "For so many years, I have been disguising, but I have sunk in the hypocritical trap I have built for myself, and at that time, it was the big hand that rescued me, so that I could hold him tightly. ”

"It's just that you have too much self-awareness. ”

Takuhisa retorted unexpectedly, even though his face was calm and unwavering.

"No, if you want me to say it, I'm afraid it's fate, it's fate, let you say this to me at that time. Looking directly at his pupils as deep as a lake, Asuka said firmly.

Takuhisa and her looked at her for a long time, both of them were silent, she refused to back down, and Asuka thought that she was not wrong.

In the back, Takuhisa took the initiative to admit defeat.

"It's very convincing to say this in front of the shrine. Fate......"

Is it because of the guidance of fate that he met Erika Ikuta?

It was also the bad taste of fate that made him leave Tokyo, go to Oita, and meet another destined sister.

What a disgusting fate.

What the hell is this?

He took out a 500 yen coin from his pocket, put it in the charity box, put his hands together, and silently said something to the gods, maybe only the gods could know all this.

Asuka did the same thing, but she silently closed her eyes and prayed, not knowing what she was talking to the gods.

"Indeed, fate is everywhere, and it made me suspect for a moment that we were just puppets on stage. Tuojiu paused, leaning closer, and the distance between him and the bird was very close, "But ah, the real master is still ourselves." ”

He quickly backed away again.

"Osamu Dazai said: [People can neither be influenced by others, nor can they influence others], what I say to you, it's better not to take it too seriously, I and you have experienced different lives, maybe I was talking nonsense at the time, and I didn't even have reference value. ”

"But is that really the case?"

Asuka's smile was completely retracted, and even Takuhisa could feel the anger, the anger directed at him.

"It's true that we are walking in different parallel lines, you are a musical talent who studied in Germany, and I am just an ordinary low-level idol. But at that moment, our lives have already crossed, and they are no longer parallels, and I can also see that Takuhisa, you and I have the same side. ”

It can be said that it is an impassioned outpouring, and Asuka speaks his heart without hesitation.

"The same we, because of fate, will collide there, and it also leads to the present, I am here to talk to you. Isn't that enough? Everything that has happened. ”

"To live is already a great cause to endure humiliation and be dying, we who are living in the world, why should we care so much, whether it is fate, or your so-called nonsense, everything that has happened is not false, that is enough. ”

At one point, only the echo of the bird remained.

Takuhisa took all her words, about the low of emotion, and Asuka's face showed a hint of tiredness.

"Pure trust is the source of sin. Takuhisa said slowly.

"But I'm going to stagger forward and regroup. Asuka replied quickly.

They responded to each other with words that didn't match, and the words were all from Osamu Dazai.

Indeed, as the two boys said, they were strange enough that in the middle of the night, they would go to the shrine and quarrel across dimensions for their beliefs.

But they're not a couple.

Perhaps realizing that something was wrong, the two looked away from each other and laughed at each other.

The atmosphere has become normal.

"It seems to be true. Asuka complimented him, "Takuhisa, you love to read. ”

"I'm not going to lie, and although I prefer music, I am fascinated by the world I sink into while quietly reading. With a nostalgic tone, Takuhisa and Asuka walked to the front of the temple on the left and sat down on the benches there.

"At first, I didn't like to read, and I felt that it would be a headache to look at the dense words. Asuka sat next to her, her chin in her hands, telling Takuhisa her story, "But...... Nanamin, who is my most longed-for senior, likes to read quietly in her room alone, and I was thinking, what's so good about books, isn't it good to play with me?"

Sweetly, it's like the first meeting of a first love, and Takuhisa won't interrupt her, not to mention that the senior named Nana Min also gave him a strong interest.

"Well, I went to read the book Nanami was reading, but I didn't expect it......" Asuka stopped whispering, but smiled embarrassedly.

"Because of the people I longed for, I came into contact with books, and then I couldn't control it. It seems that I am like this......" Takuhisa thought about himself and said to himself, "It is precisely because I came into contact with her for the first time that I have completely stepped into this new world of music. ”

"Can she?, can you tell me her name?" Asuka curious.

I cared very much about her in Takuhisa's mouth, and stared straight at her.

"Just a childhood friend in Germany. ”

With a wave of his hand, Takuhisa quickly skipped the topic.

"That's right. ”

Asuka nodded, thoughtfully, and did not continue on the topic.

In Japanese, the gap between him and her is very large.

In the quiet shrine, the wind was blowing mischievously again, and they didn't know what they were talking about, but they could understand that they were chatting happily.

It would be even better if the night sky wasn't dark.

"There's a thin thread tied to the tree. ”

As he looked at the chic scenery around him, Takuhisa spoke.

"Because I'm lazy, it's the rope that is used to tie it during the festival. Asuka explained to him, "At that time, there was a red platform in the middle of the shrine, on which people were beating drums, and beautiful lanterns could be seen through the tied trees. ”

It vividly depicts the lively scene of the festival.

At that time, the girl walked in the crowd, the orange lantern illuminated the shrine at night, and the performers on the stage cheered vigorously, and the magnificent and harmonious drums rose, and the girl accompanied them to applaud the performers.

Takuhisa suddenly appeared in this scene.

"I'm so envious that you can see this scene. ”

"Haven't you come to see it?"

Asuka was amazed in his words.

"Unfortunately, I didn't come back until the fall, so I couldn't get involved in this kind of event. Takuhisa also said helplessly, "Summer, it's over." ”

"No......"

But the bird shook his head.

"Summer hasn't passed yet. ”

She was sure.

Slowly, with a shaking right hand, it rested on Takuhisa's thigh.

"Why?"

This was probably Takuhisa's last doubt tonight, and likewise, he wanted to know what the girl's actions meant.

"Can you feel it? ”

“…… Yes. ”

"Isn't the end of the season like the temperature I control in my hands?"

"Huh?"

"I can keep the heat in the palm of my hand, and the seasons will always stay with us, too, as we think. It's only when you feel like summer is over. So summer isn't over yet. ”

"Yes...... The festival and all that stuff are gone. ”

"There will be. ”

Asuka stubbornly interrupted Takuhisa.

It was a lightless night, but her pupils shone with the beauty of starlight.

The skin is like a white moon, bright and moving.

Was that his delusion?

Still is......

On the night of regret, Takuhisa replenished all of Asuka's body.

The embodiment of the night?

The moonlight is so beautiful.

Compliments from the heart.

"I suppose you'll be able to see the festival again, so let's go together, okay?"

"Good ......"

For some reason at all, Takuhisa agreed without any hesitation and sluggishness.

The sudden, unexpected beauty shook his heart, which was even more unbelievable than hypnotic magic, like a girl who could say "I'm curious".

Takuhisa probably has the same mentality as Oriki Buntaro now.

Finished......

Takuhisa wailed in his heart.

I seem to ......

Slowly, visibly, his hand covered Asuka's slender hand.

"If there is, let's go with us then. ”