PHASE 71 - TAKE ME HOME, TO THE WARMTH OF YOUR HANDS

“My name is Shirayuki Hikari, the keeper of the Brightmore Shrine.”

The mysterious shrine maiden finally introduced herself in the traditional dining room. Nothing really extraordinary here, just your regular eating place.

Tiara and I are busy eating due to exhaustion, but we temporarily halted upon the revelation of the mysterious woman’s name.

“H-Hikari?” Tiara muttered.

“Yes.” The mysterious shrine maiden smiled. “I am the progenitor of the Hikari house and the lone surviving shrine maiden of this town. ”

Tiara bowed down and stared at her meal. I don’t know what’s on her mind right now, but I think I should continue the conversation. I think this Shirayuki Hikari can give us a lot of answers.

“M-My friend here is also from the Hikari clan.” I awkwardly said as I scratched my head. “She’s Tiara Hikari, a shrine maiden of the Kozukata Shrine.”

“Yes. I know her well.” The innocent smile of Shirayuki makes my bones tingle. “She inherited the beautiful eyes of Yukiko.”

Yukiko is the name of Tiara’s deceased mother, and also the past Brightmore Witch. As I thought, she knows something!

I looked at Tiara, and she did the same. She seems to be shy at the moment, so I will assume the responsibility to question this mysterious woman.

“Are you related to Yukiko Hikari?” I asked.

“We may be on the same clan, but no, we’re not related. I only know her because she’s famous for her beauty… and her powers as the Witch of Time.”

“Witch of Time?” I tilted my head.

“That’s a long story.” Shirayuki chuckled. “I believe this is not the time for storytelling. It’s already past midnight, and you guys need to rest.”

Well, what a cliffhanger. But she’s right, we’re so exhausted from the mall tour and playing hide-and-seek from those cultists. Tiara looks tired too. We have to postpone that revelation story until the sun rises up.

<>

This shrine is so creepy at night.

Tiara and I had our sleeping mats in the very same room. Actually, both of us suggested sleeping together in this wide space because we’re scared. There are no people other than that mysterious woman, and sleeping away from each other would be dangerous. To prevent any ‘perversion’, her mat is about five meters away from me.

As I was about to doze off, there was a soft pinch on my back. I ignored it because I thought it was just an imagination. Then I was pinched once again. I don’t want to pay attention to it because I’m scared of ghosts, but then a soft voice spoke.

“Rikkun… I need to go to the toilet…”

“Y-You don’t have to tell me, it’s just down the corridor.”

“I-I’m scared…” Tiara cried. “P-Please go with me… please…”

What am I, a nanny?

I made a deep sigh before escorting her. It’s quite bothersome, but I don’t really have a choice. Besides, I would ask her to accompany me too if I were to take a leak in the middle of the night.

Why? Because the corridor is completely dark. All lamps have been turned off. If it wasn’t for the moonlight, we will be stuck in making blind turns.

When we reached the bathroom, she immediately went in and locked the door, leaving me outside. Then she went full tsundere as she said some unreasonable words. “D-Don’t t-try to peek! I’ll break your nose if you do!”

“Yeah, yeah. I won’t.” I said lazily and then yawned.

“B-But please don’t leave me! I-I’ll die if you leave me alone in this dark room!” Tiara cried.

“Yeah, yeah,” I said.

…

There was a ten-second silence.

Worried, Tiara broke the serenity of the night.

“R-Rikkun, are you still there?”

“Yeah.”

“A-Are you sure!?”

“Yes, I’m still here!” I yelled. Seriously, this girl is overreacting!

“P-Please sing a song so that I know you’re still nearby…” Tiara said.

I think it is a good idea to remove the creepiness of this place. So to give noise on this silent night, I started singing Take Me Home, Country Roads. But the longer I speak the lyrics, it makes me feel more homesick. Seriously, I wanted to go home!

“Ahahaha~” Tiara made a teasing laugh. “Y-You sing like you’re delivering a declamatory poem, Rikkun!”

Okay, that hurt my feelings a lot. Getting roasted by a goody-shoes person hits the hardest.

“If you’re just here to make fun of me, then I’ll go back to the room alone,” I said angrily.

As I made my first step away from the bathroom, the door opened. Tiara is panicking as she put up her skirt and saying something like “I-I’m so sorry! I’m already finished! W-Wait for me, Rikkun!”

<>

After my bathroom bodyguard job, I immediately pounced on my mat. I really wanted to sleep now.

But then I heard some noise, something like somebody is dragging a large thing to my position.

I turned around and noticed that it was Tiara, moving her sleeping mat closer to mine. Seriously, can she stop doing weird things in the middle of the darkness? I’m so scared that I’m about to piss my pants!

“W-Would y-you mind me sleeping next to you?” Tiara is blushing as she scratched her cheek.

“Do what you want.” I said as I yawned.

She silently laid herself on her mat. I turned away from her as I tried to search for a comfortable position to sleep, but I couldn’t. I think I won’t be able to sleep for this night.

Suddenly, I felt a warm and soft sensation on my hand. It was Tiara, caressing my knuckles with both of her palms. I turned to her and saw the most beautiful person I ever saw in my life.

Her black hair turns to dark purple as moonlight passes through it. The light also revealed her snow-white skin and pink rosy cheeks. Her eyes sparkled like stars in the ocean of darkness. She is an angel.

“My mother told me that you can sleep safe and sound if you hold the hand of the person you trust,” Tiara said. “I trust you with all my heart and soul, Rikkun. And you are the only person who trusts me.”

My heart fluttered after I heard those charming words. I feel a lot more comfortable now.

“Y-You’re so cute and lovely, Tiara…” I muttered. Those words came out of my mouth without me realizing it.

Tiara just made a blushing bright smile.

And then I fell on a deep slumber. Holding her warm hand gives me a feeling of love that I was looking for in all my life. If only I could spend an eternity like this…

I really wish that she will be forever with me.

But the moment I woke up, she was no longer here by my side.