I walked along the stone-paved path, hand-in-hand with Shiro-san, the sunset casting a warm glow over us. The Sanctuary was naturally quiet, possessing an atmosphere that made it hard to believe a festival was currently in full swing.
The rhythmic, pleasant click of my geta echoed against the stones, and combined with the dying light of the sun, a sense of nostalgia seemed to permeate the air.
"I haven't had many chances to leisurely look at the Sanctuary flowers, but they're all quite distinct, aren't they?"
"I create them on a whim, so I think they are quite diverse, even by my standards. The newest one is... that flower over there."
"The shape reminds me of a marigold, but—it’s hard to tell in the sunset—the color seems silvery."
Usually, I just gazed at them and thought they were vaguely pretty. However, after spending the day at the White God Festival and realizing just how precious these flowers were, they looked a bit different to me now.
More than that, I felt truly fortunate to be able to stroll through the Sanctuary flower garden—a place even a Supreme God would likely find difficult to view so calmly.
As I pondered this, I stole a glance at Shiro-san’s profile. Bathed in the setting sun, her face seemed to possess a mystical beauty that felt even more pronounced than usual.
I realized that what made me happier than anything else was being able to see this side of Shiro-san, a side no one else was permitted to see, from such a close distance.
Of course, Shiro-san's beauty was overwhelming, but it was more than just her looks. Because I had the chance to be near her, I could tell—even if she might look almost unchanged to anyone else—that Shiro-san was constantly evolving.
It wasn't the unapproachable, otherworldly beauty of the past. Within that breathtaking visage, I felt a soft warmth... One thing I could say for certain was that the Shiro-san of today was far more charming than the Shiro-san of old.
And since she was changing day by day, it was a joy to make new discoveries like I had today, seeing a side of her I never knew existed.
"You know, you can say those things out loud. I would be happy to hear them, and my grip on your hand might get a little firmer."
"That’s a very tempting offer."
Well, she could read my heart, so my thoughts were completely transparent to her anyway... but I didn't find it particularly unpleasant or stressful. I felt embarrassed at times, sure, but I was comfortable with it because of my deep trust in her.
"You look even more beautiful than usual today, Shiro-san. You're so charming that even when I intend to look at the flowers, I find myself captivated by you instead."
"I'm very happy that you're being so honest today, Kaito-san."
"Well, it’s embarrassing... B-But I want to make sure I properly compliment my lover when we’re on a date like this."
Just as she had declared she would, Shiro-san gave a very happy smile and squeezed my hand just a little bit tighter.
Again, the embarrassment was real, but facing Shiro-san meant my inner thoughts were already laid bare. Hiding them felt like a waste of effort, which made it easier to just be honest.
We continued our stroll, enjoying our time alone together for a while longer, until the light vanished as if someone had flipped a switch.
I looked up to see a starry sky stretching out above us, signaling that the God Realm had transitioned into night. Thanks to the flowers in the garden beginning to emit a faint glow, I had no trouble seeing where I was walking.
But the fact that night had fallen meant...
"Now that it's dark, I guess the fireworks will be starting soon?"
"Yes, very soon."
"In that case, we should find a place to watch them... Where would be good?"
"Just ahead, I have created a grassy hill with a clear view of the fireworks. Let us watch them there."
"I see. That sounds like a great spot."
I should have expected as much. This was Shiro-san, after all. Just about anything was possible for her. Creating something like a grassy hill was probably trivial.
Still, fireworks on a grassy hill... Considering how she’d leaned into classic romantic tropes during our previous dates...
"Are we going to sit side-by-side?"
"Generally speaking, yes."
"Generally?"
"If we simply sit side-by-side, my shoulder will remain empty. That would be a grave situation."
Whenever Shiro-san used that phrasing, it meant there was something she wanted me to do. Sitting together to watch fireworks, and she mentioned her shoulder...
She wanted me to put my arm around her while we watched, didn't she?
I glanced at Shiro-san and saw a faint, playful expression on her face.
"Since it is you, Kaito-san, I am sure you have already thought of a countermeasure. There is no problem at all."
"I suppose so."
It would be the height of tactlessness to ask, "Should I put my arm around you?" so I decided to just do it when the time came. Judging by her reaction, that was undoubtedly the correct answer.
Even so, she seemed so happy. Even without any inflection in her voice, I could tell she was in high spirits. This adorable side of her was another part of Shiro-san's charm that most people would never notice.
Serious-senpai (1 Episode Until Recovery): "It's getting worse... It's getting worse, I tell you! Put me back in my hospital room!"
???: "Don't worry. I'm here, so I can treat you if anything happens."
Serious-senpai (1 Episode Until Recovery): "You might be able to perform medical procedures, but you're just going to rub sugar into my wounds! You're not curing me, you're just adding to the injuries that don't show up on my body!"
???: "What a terrible thing to say. On what grounds do you base that...?"
Serious-senpai (1 Episode Until Recovery): "This current situation is the grounds, damn it!"