That day, Shidou, who was on vacation, got up a little later than usual.

After all, his first date was only at 9am in front of the nearest bus station.

The one who had been drawn to be the first was Kaguya, the most energetic (and the most chuuni) of the Yamai sisters.

While getting dressed, Shidou had a smile on his face: after all, during the Mayuri incident, it was also Kaguya who had been awarded the first date.

Once dressed (he chose a simple blue shirt over a white T-shirt and black pants), Shidou went down to the kitchen to have breakfast.

As he served himself a bowl of milk, he realized that his heart was beating a little faster than usual and his stomach was tight.

(Uah... I'm stressed?... Still, this is not a date with my life at stake, like it usually is...)

Perhaps what frightened him was finding out his feelings, whatever they were.

Despite the hardships he had gone through, Shidou was still a high school student after all.

(I may have seduced many girls, but I still don't know what love is, after all...)

He had also read many manga and light novels with elements of romance, but felt nothing similar.

Stuff like "the world is suddenly more colorful" or "intense heat in the chest"... he knew nothing like this.

(Love, huh...)

Shidou finished his bowl of cereal, then chasing these thoughts from his mind, set out on his journey.


Shidou found Kaguya in front of the bus station at nine o'clock precisely.

Kaguya was wearing a black skirt and tights, with a gray jacket adorned with skulls and other symbols, over a white open top blouse revealing her throat.

In other words, it was a typical chuuni outfit.

However, it was a perfect fit for her, and Shidou had to admit that Kaguya looked very cute in this outfit.

No, not only cute: her body, which normally looked frail, radiated an unusual beauty and maturity.

Maybe because she had succeeded in bringing to life an outfit that usually looked good only in 2D?

"Shidou!

"Hey, Kaguya."

Kaguya rushed to meet her, her braided orange hair twirling behind her.

"I hope you haven't been waiting too long?" Shidou asked, checking his watch to make sure he wasn't late.

"No, no... Well, a little, but it's my fault. I was afraid to be late, so I left early."

"Ah... sorry."

"No, no, you don't have to apologize!"

Kaguya waved her hands in panic when she saw Shidou bowing his head as an apology.

"I'm telling you, it's fine... and then, I'm really happy... that we can go on a date together."

Kaguya blushed slightly after muttering this.

Usually, Kaguya was always energetic and spontaneous, but only revealed her deredere side when she was alone with Shidou.

It was a strange but super cute contrast.

Shidou gave her an encouraging smile, realizing that he wasn't the only one who was nervous.

"I was too. By the way... you look great in that outfit..."

"!"

Kaguya received a critical blow to the heart, and blushed violently. She was happy that Shidou complimented her, especially considering how much time she had spent making up her mind about her outfit.

She coughed in order to dissipate the strange atmosphere that had just set in and quickly changed the subject.

"Ah... thank you very much... so... For today, I've prepared a little program, if you don't mind?"

"Of course, I'll leave it up to you!"

"Thank you. Well, we have to take the bus, since it's in downtown Tenguu..."

Luckily for them, they did not have to wait long for the bus to arrive.

It was a fairly crowded line, however, as it was a vacation day, early in the morning, the bus was almost empty.

They sat together, side by side, and chatted about small things, while Kaguya kept an eye on the bus stops.

"When I think about it, it's been a long time since we've been alone like this..."

Shidou frowned, searching his memories as he heard Kaguya's comment.

"It's true... I think our last date like that was... during the incident with Mayuri."

Mayuri was another Spirit born from the reiryoku of the Spirits sealed by Shidou. Alas, he had not been able to save her, as she was destined to disappear because of the very nature of her existence.

This remained a painful memory for Shidou: even if, in the end, Mayuri still existed through them, he would have liked to find a way to make her stay with them...

Kaguya, noticing Shidou's painful look and guessing his thoughts, took her hand in his.

"By the way, Shidou...I already told you, but..."

Kaguya looked him straight in the eye.

"Thank you... for everything."

"...eh?..."

"I have the feeling, that I... well... that we all... we don't thank you enough. Thank you, for what you've done, and keep on doing for us."

"…"

Kaguya was a very spontaneous girl, so putting into words her emotions was sometimes difficult.

Especially since usually Yuzuru was there to help her, even though she seemed to be making fun of her.

This time, however, Kaguya had to do it alone. Yuzuru was not there with her.

"How can I say... sometimes I feel like we're just taking advantage of you."

"That's not true..."

Shidou wanted to interrupt her but Kaguya nodded.

"I know that. But, deep down, if I can live with Yuzuru... with all the others, it's thanks to you, Shidou. I'm not very smart, but I know that taking in our powers puts you in danger."

Even though Shidou assured him that he was doing it of his own free will, deep down, Kaguya felt guilty.

She, and all the others, were endangering the one who had saved them. Their mere existence acted as a timebomb on Shidou.

He never complained, never blamed them, probably because he held no grudge against them.

But his natural kindness, ironically, amplified their guilt.

"So, I wanted to tell you again. Thank you, Shidou. For everything."

"I..."

Shidou found himself speechless.

They didn't often have the opportunity to talk alone like this, so Kaguya's words carried even more weight for him.

Slowly, the warmth of Kaguya's hand diffused into his own and then into his entire body.

It was as if a warm blanket gently enveloped him, a surreal feeling.

(...so warm...)

Shidou was amazed, moved by the human warmth that Kaguya exuded.

Several seconds passed.

Finally, Shidou slowly shook his head.

"No... thank you, Kaguya. I don't know what I would do without you... without all of you."

"Hehe..."

Kaguya and Shidou spent the rest of the trip in a warm silence, their hands still entwined.


Kaguya (reluctantly) let go of Shidou's hand when they arrived at their destination.

They got off the bus and walked for ten minutes: the streets began to liven up, with many shops opening at this hour.

This time, unlike on their last date, Kaguya had memorized the route plan perfectly.

She wanted this date to be a success... after all, she had worked out a precise strategy.

"Err... Kaguya... it's..."

When they stopped in front of a particular store, Shidou had a mixed expression.

"Yes, this is it!"

Kaguya, on the other hand, had stars in the eyes.

The store in front of them contrasted heavily with the others: the size of a family restaurant, its sign was completely black.

Gothic writing, illuminated by lamps, glittered on the sign:

THE ULTIMATE SACRED SHOOTING DARK FLAMING STAR ARMORY

The showcases displayed various items: black leather coats with leather straps on the sleeves, spiked bracelets, chains, leather holsters, shoulder protections...

It looked like a mix between a cosplay store and one of accessories for metal fans.

But anyone reading the store's name could guess that the real target of this store was people struck with chuunibyou.

The kind of people who found the sacred texts stylish even when they didn't understand them, who learned the names of the fallen angels and the 72 demons from the book of Solomon.

The kind of people who thought a dragon was sealed in their right arm, who kept secret diaries, looked for incantations in English, or thought they were the reincarnation of this or that individual.

Who wore flashy accessories such as cross-shaped earrings or eye patches.

People who used theatrical gestures, who came up with unnecessarily eloquent lines.

In short ... people like Kaguya, Kurumi, or formerly, Shidou.

"So? Isn't it great? I've been looking for a store like this for a long time!"

"Err..."

Kaguya did not know this, but a conflict was raging inside Shidou.

(... I thought I'd put that behind me, but... I think I want to come in and see it. I'm sure there's some great stuff... ah, no, wait, if I think that, I've already lost...)

Yes, deep down, Shidou was always a chuuni, even if he tried to quell it.

Kaguya noticed his hesitation.

"Ah... sorry... you don't like it?..."

She looked down, disappointed and embarrassed.

"I mean... I've wanted to go there for a long time, but not alone... Yuzuru would only have gone with me to please me. So I thought, if I went with you, Shidou, who also likes this kind of thing... we could both have fun..."

"!"

Shidou received an imaginary blow to the stomach.

On the one hand, because Kaguya was right. Despite his efforts, he still liked this kind of thing.

On the other hand, at that moment, Kaguya was so cute that he could never have refused.

Shidou pulled himself together and shook his head.

"No, no, I was just surprised... but I'm very curious! Shall we go?"

Kaguya's face lit up immediately.

"It's true?!"

Her reaction was even cuter than the previous one, to the point that Shidou felt his heart tighten.

"Yes, it's true."

"Awesome! Thank you, Shidou! Come on!"

Kaguya took him by the arm and dragged him inside the store, beaming with joy.

"Welcome!"

As soon as they entered, they were greeted by an employee wearing an outfit reminiscent of a butler.

The store looked like a jewelry store, despite the fact that it was named ARMORY.

Small accessories were displayed in glass cases, while the larger ones were displayed in large showcases or on mannequins of human size.

The most impressive thing was the diversity of the products.

There was a collection of coats / jackets embroidered with various symbols: pentacles, crosses, signs of the zodiac, runes, but also pieces of painted wooden armor such as breastplate, gauntlets, spurs, helmets ...

There were also cloaks (essential for any evil genius), all in dark shades, gloves (conventional and fingerless), wrist bands, spiked shoulder pads, stylized leather eye patches, customizable face masks...

A wide range of jewelry and accessories were available: rings, earrings, necklaces, amulets, customizable dog tags... not to mention replicas of weapons from famous media: swords, spears, sceptres, grimoires, shields, etc.

There was also a slightly different section, containing so-called "modern" accessories: credit card cases, wallets, smartphone cases, agendas, diaries...

It was obvious that the items on display were of high quality, not like the garbage sold at conventions: labels detailed the origin and materials of each product.

In front of this treasure cave, Kaguya and Shidou lost all common sense.

In a state of pure ecstasy, they began to feast their eyes on each item, or try them on when they had the chance.

Every item in this store was, to them, the embodiment of the word "cool".

It was like dropping two children into a toy store.

Kaguya and Shidou made discoveries that were each more magnificent than the other.

Glasses with lenses that lit up in white, reproducing the famous shiny glasses in anime.

Jackets with sleeves hiding bags of fake blood, so that they could simulate a fatal injury at any time. Essential to any main character who was always wounded.

Fake cigarettes with zero nicotine that could still realistically produce smoke.

Headphones with active noise reduction similar to an anime character's.

Guides containing a cool lines to say for different situations.

Artificially aged pocket watches and compasses.

Belts allowing to suspend grimoires at...

Shidou tried to resist his inner chuuni, yet failed.

Kaguya and him raided the store, so much so that they had to ask Ratatoskr to pick up their purchases later with a transport truck.

The store made the equivalent of a month's sales thanks to them.

Luckily, Kotori allowed Shidou to claim back the expenses incurred by his dates, otherwise he would have had to eat quarter cup ramen for the rest of the month.


Once their frantic shopping was over, Kaguya and Shidou left the store, a little ashamed but beaming with joy.

Kaguya, in particular, was carrying some of her acquisitions: a ring adorned with a skull, a chain with a cross on it, a bracelet...

She stopped for a moment, admiring her new ornaments with a blissful smile.

(Next time I see Kurumi again... I mean, Master, even she will be stunned).

Besides, Shidou had bought them for her.

She felt a little guilty about letting him pay for them, but being showered with gifts was also fun and pleasant.

It made her feel special.

Sharing the same passion, with the person she loved... swelled her heart with joy.

"Nee, Shidou... Does this look good on me?"

She'd asked him that ten times, but Shidou didn't care. The answer was always the same, and he meant it.

"You look beautiful in it."

"Gyuh?!"

The blow took her by surprise for the tenth time.

It took her a few seconds to regain her composure.

"Cough... Thank you, Shidou. Really."

"No, I should be the one thanking you. It was... very nice."

Shidou gave her an embarrassed smile. He had kept the same outfit and wasn't wearing any of his purchases.

The ex-chuuni were the most complicated, they always had trouble accepting themselves.

Obviously, he was still embarrassed by his past and that kind of thing.

Even though, if it was with Kaguya, Shidou thought that he could have walked around in a similar outfit...

"Well... I'm getting hungry, what about you?"

Kaguya skillfully changed the subject, and took the opportunity to refocus.

She had had a great time, but she couldn't forget why she was there.

She needed to carry out her plan.

"Now that you mention it... It's true. What time is it... Wow! Already?!"

They hadn't noticed the time fly during their shopping session.

"Hehe... let's go, then!"

Kaguya spontaneously clung to Shidou's arm, guiding his steps.

While they walked stuck like this (to the great embarrassment of Shidou), passers-by stared at them.

Or rather, they stared at Kaguya: her beauty and hair color were unusual in themselves, but her attire made her even more singular.

Many girls asked her if they could take a picture of her, which she accepted by posing.

They also asked if she was a stylist or a model; Kaguya, although flattered, could only deny it.

Shidou was also mistaken for her boyfriend, which embarrassed both of them (although Kaguya was pleased).

After a few such incidents, they arrived at a themed café, open for a limited time.

The café was decorated in the colors of a successful anime, and was promoting it for the release of a film.

In addition to its setting, it featured dishes from the anime's universe on the menu: in short, it was a must for all fans.

It was so successful that it was necessary to book several days in advance: Kaguya had asked Ratatoskr to use their connections (especially those of Dimension Breaker Nakatsugawa) to get tickets.

Shidou had only followed the first season of the anime in question, but was still enthusiastic to Kaguya's great relief.

She wasn't particularly a fan of anime in general, but the characters and the world of the anime had attracted her.

She had even created a small notebook to note the coolest lines.

Kaguya wanted to try some cocktails that looked like really neat drinks, but the waitress told her that they contained alcohol.

So they had to resort to iced teas, like responsible high school students (but Kaguya behaved as if her oolong tea was a whiskey on the rocks).

Even in this café, they were noticed, being about the only couple present.

They ignored the looks of the other customers in order to enjoy their meal.

Unlike what one might have thought, it wasn't just low-end food that was arranged and full of coloring.

This was real cooking, and enjoying a dish seen only in an anime was a unique sensory experience: the virtual became real, the imagination connected to the senses.

"Mmh... Nee, Shidou. Kotori told me that you have written secret diaries in the past? And Nia told me that you tried to draw a manga?"

"Bwah?!"

Hearing Kaguya suddenly evoking these painful memories, Shidou almost choked on his mouthful of pasta.

"Cough, cough!"

"Shidou?! Are you okay?!"

He calmed down, then swallowed a large glass of water to soothe his throat.

"Yes, yes..." he said, with tears in his eyes. "Well... let's say that, I'm a little ashamed. I don't know what I was thinking about at that time..."

"Will you show me?"

"I'm... I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"Umu... in that case, in exchange, I'll show you mine! It's not my main project, but from time to time, I like to look for story ideas."

Clearly, Kaguya would not give up. However, Shidou didn't know that Kaguya had this kind of hobby.

"I didn't know... have you ever, published anything?"

"Err, no... not officially, I mean. Sometimes I post little things online, but... nothing big. So? Interested? Will you seal this deal with me?"

"That's not the point... the issue is that what I wrote sucks. Disillusioned teenage delusions mixing references and universes... no one would want to read that. Even my manga script sucked..."

Shidou's tone was bitter.

It was a bit like when someone read a book, loved it, and then thought, "Come on, I'll write my own!"

They would start, then realize the magnitude of the task and give up after twenty pages when they realized that it made no sense.

"You know... I've felt that way sometimes too..."

Kaguya's words puzzled Shidou.

"What?"

"Sometimes I have ideas that I think are great. Ideas for techniques, incantations for my special moves...ideas for stories. I write them down, and then the next day I wonder how I could find them so cool ... haha..."

Kaguya had a small laugh.

"But... I can't stop myself from creating. Even if I fail, even if no one approves. Even so, I know that lots of stories have been created that way. Sometimes, they touch people's hearts and sometimes, they change peoples' lives."

Shidou was struck by Kaguya's eloquence.

Then... he realized that he had heard it somewhere before.

He searched a little, and then...

"Wait... isn't that a Re:Creators quote?"

"Gaaah! And I was hoping to go unnoticed!"

Kaguya clutched her head in her hands and blushed. She had wanted to impress Shidou, but had underestimated him.

However, Shidou laughed.

"Too bad... but I think this quote is true. You're right, too. I'll try again... one day."

"Speaking of which, Shidou..."

This time it was Kaguya who looked a little embarrassed.

Shidou then noticed that since the beginning of their date, Kaguya was more reserved than usual.

Usually, she was always in "chuuni mode" and more energetic: however, when she was on a date with him, she behaved more shyly.

"Shidou, hearing you talk about your shameful past... do you think I'm weird?"

Shidou raised his eyebrows.

"What do you mean?"

"Well... if I understand you correctly... the way I dress, my tastes... match what you used to do. And so, if you're still ashamed of it, I was wondering if... you were also ashamed of me."

"Ah..."

"I mean, from what I've seen, a lot of people in middle school have these tastes. And then, as they grow up, they find it embarrassing...whereas I like it. I think it's all... really cool. I still do. Am I... abnormal?"

Kaguya seemed uncertain.

Shidou realized that his clumsiness may have hurt her indirectly.

By admitting that he was ashamed of his past, it was, in a way, like saying that he thought it was all weird... and therefore, he had the same opinion of Kaguya.

"I wonder if this is what it's like to grow up... to become an adult. Giving up that magic, those things..."

Kaguya lowered her eyes, with an air of sorrow and doubt.

It was too much for Shidou.

He suddenly bowed to Kaguya.

"Eh?"

"Sorry, Kaguya. I apologize."

"Shidou?"

"I'm sorry if... I hurt you, or if what I said led to a misunderstanding. I assure you that I don't find you weird. In fact, quite the opposite. I admire you..."

His gesture had attracted the attention of the other customers and the staff of the restaurant, but he didn't care.

He slowly raised his head, while Kaguya looked at him, without saying a word, taken aback.

Shidou took a few seconds to put his thoughts and emotions into words.

"It's true that today, I'm uncomfortable when I think about that. But... if I put it all aside, it's because I was forced to do it."

"What do you mean?"

Shidou had a bitter smile.

"Everybody was telling me, it's weird and embarrassing, stop it. Absolutely everyone around me. So... I think, I gave up. I went along with the majority instead of listening to myself. And I think... deep down inside, that part of me that appreciates these things, this magic, still exists."

He scratched his cheek with embarrassment.

"And when I'm with you, Kaguya... you allow me to revive that part of me. This part of me, this child who hasn't given up this world of fantasy. That's why I'm having so much fun, why I'm so comfortable with you, I think ... and I thank you for it."

"Shidou..."

Shidou's gaze became more confident.

"And... if possible, I wish you wouldn't make the same mistake I did. If all this... is cool to you, if you enjoy it, then no one has the right to tell you otherwise."

Silence filled the restaurant.

"You can't impose your taste on people, but the opposite is also true: if you like something, no one has the right to say it's weird or bad. Even if the majority sets the standard, they don't have the right to change your taste."

Kaguya observed Shidou.

"Shidou... how do you, every time... say what I need to hear?..."

"If you like it, then go on: if you ever get tired of it, you can change. Humans are like that: sometimes they change, sometimes they don't. If you like it, then keep going: if one day you get tired of it, you can change. We are all different. You are you, Kaguya. I like you the way you are."

"?!"

"...ah."

Shidou realized what he had just said.

But did he mean like, friendship? Or like, love? Had he spoken without thinking, or had he just let his heart speak? He didn't know...

As Kaguya turned red as a tomato and Shidou tried to put his thoughts in order...

Clap, clap.

At the next table, a man stood up and clapped slowly.

Clap, clap, clap, clap.

Other people imitated him, and then suddenly the rest of the restaurant was standing and cheering.

A thunderous applause filled the room: even the staff of the restaurant was taking part in it.

"It was beautiful!"

"You're right, kid!"

"Congratulations, miss!"

"Nobody has the right to dictate your taste!"

Some applauded because of Shidou's words that resonated with their otaku or ex-chuuni hearts, others applauded because of his accidental declaration to Kaguya.

Both were embarrassed; when the applause subsided and they wanted to pay the tab, the waiter refused to let them pay anything and offered them the meal.


Once out of the restaurant -and after signing a few autographs-, Kaguya was a bit confused.

She couldn't figure out what the last words Shidou had said meant.

(I like you the way you are. But what kind of "like"!)

Kaguya glanced at Shidou, who was stretching.

(... I can't really ask him: hey, Shidou, what did you mean by I like you the way you are?...)

Kaguya emitted a growl. It wasn't supposed to happen like that!

She was supposed to be the one to confess, not him!

(... Wait. Maybe that's it... I just have to follow the rest of my plan. If he... if he loves me too... then he'll answer me when I confess my feelings to him)!

Kaguya stood up, a new flame burning within her.

(That's it! I don't have to worry! I just have to follow the plan!)

"Err... Kaguya... are you okay?"

Shidou watched Kaguya with worried eyes. Kaguya became aware of her behavior and had a tense smile.

"Yes! Yes! No problem!"

"Ah... I see..."

His tone did not especially suggest this, as Kaguya was as stiff as a pole. Nevertheless, he decided not to insist and to change the subject.

"In any case, I'm full... It was a great idea!"

" Hehehe! And it's not over yet..."

" Oh?"

"Yes. There's still one more event on the schedule... that you should enjoy!"

With those words, Kaguya took two things out of her pocket.

"It's...!"

"Kakaka! Exactly!"

The first object Kaguya held was a deck of trading cards.

The second was a deck holder, which could be worn on the wrist. It was purely cosmetic and allowed you to draw your cards like the characters in the manga that inspired the card game.

"I, Yamai Kaguya, am one of the semi-finalists in the great Chuuni-Ou! Tournament."

"Oooh!"

"Fumu, judging by your reaction, you know this prestigious tournament, don't you, Shidou?"

"Of course I do!"

The Chuuni-Ou Tournament was established many years ago.

It was a trading card -named Yuh-Gih-Ou TCG- tournament, where anyone could summon monsters, use magic or trap cards to reduce their opponent's life points to zero.

However, this tournament had some important differences.

Firstly, each participant had to come in disguise, preferably in an outfit that reflected their soul as a duelist.

This was not strictly speaking cosplay, but the theme of the outfit had to correspond to an idea, an identity, or the nature of the deck.

Coming in a shirt/jean or a simple cloak meant automatic elimination and permanent banishment from the community.

Since the Chuuni community was very influential and large, offering multiple benefits (especially for card exchanges), no one was breaking the rule (and no one wanted to).

Secondly, during the duels, each duellist had to announce each of their actions out loud, by coming up with cool lines sticking to the manga universe.

For example, in a classic tournament, when it was a player's turn, he didn't say anything and drew a card.

In the Chuuni-Ou tournament, when it was their turn, the player had to announce "It's my turn!" and then "Draw!" each time. They were free to customize it as they wished.

It was the same when they performed an action: the cooler and more connected they were to the universe, the more popular they were.

They also had to say a different line when summoning a monster.

For example, you couldn't just put the card down and gesture it to your opponent.

They had to do it with their touch, a bit like the incantations in light novels where magic appeared.

All this was done to stick as much as possible to the manga universe, but also to give the spectators the impression of witnessing a real duel of cards.

Indeed, in the classic tournaments, the actions were fast and silent, the players communicating by gestures. They hardly spoke at all.

While it was undoubtedly faster, there was no "show".

Someone who didn't know anything about it could only see two players moving and pulling cards without saying a word: and even from the audience's point of view, it was quite boring.

The audience was generally silent, and most of the spectators had a hard time keeping up.

You could maybe admire the speed of execution and the moves made, but in terms of performance, it sucked.

That's why the Chuuni-Ou tournament was so popular: it had a lively atmosphere and atmosphere.

It also had the advantage of making the game understandable for everyone, beginners, amateurs and professionals alike, since every action was "explained".

Just like in the anime that had been so successful.

Aside from appearances (it could look extremely cringe to outsiders), the Chuuni-Ou tournament actually required a combination of insight, imagination and impressive eloquence.

It was necessary to carry out your game strategy to win the game, but also to be gifted enough in improvisation to keep coming up with lines all the time.

Forgetting to deliver a line did not lead to direct elimination, but to a life point penalty.

Shidou was therefore not surprised that Kaguya was able to progress to the semi-finals.

She was intelligent, had extraordinary instincts and a rare skill, not to mention her overflowing imagination and boldness.

Unlike the playoffs, which were held in various halls, the upper rounds took place in a concert hall that was as good as the Budoukan.

A hall that was not far from the restaurant where they had just had lunch: Shidou understood that Kaguya had planned everything well.

Kaguya's plan was simple.

After sharing these intimate moments with him, she was going to impress him by winning the tournament: then, during the post-match interview, she would confess to him.

It was a scene worthy of an anime, and a perfect plan (in her eyes): Shidou would normally burst into tears and join her on stage, kissing her in front of the audience in a frenzy...

Just thinking about it made her hands sweaty.

However, her only fear was that Shidou would feel neglected.

From his point of view, he could think that Kaguya was abandoning their date to favor her tournament ...

"And so, Shidou... I'm sorry to impose this on you, while we're on a date, but... I'm going to need your support... if you don't mind..."

"Of course, you can count on me! I would love to see you play!"

" You sure?"

" Of course! Besides, even though we're on a date, the important thing for me is that you have fun. If you're happy, then that's fine by me..."

Shidou dismissed Kaguya's concerns with a big smile.

"Thank you... oh, and don't worry, you'll have a VIP seat, right in front of the stage! It's one of the privileges of the qualifiers to be able to invite their relatives! You'll see, it's going to be great!"

Kaguya breathed a small sigh of relief, then they set off for the concert hall where the tournament was to take place.

The curtain opened on the last act of their date.


The arena, because it was an arena, was crowded.

If one had to describe it, it might have been reminiscent of the Roman Colosseum in its design: rows of circular seats surrounding the main stage.

Spectators of all ages had their eyes fixed on the stage, where the duellists of the Chuuni-Ou tournament were competing.

The stage itself was special. The duellists did not face each other on a small table: instead, a large space separated them.

Each of them was at a control station, a bit like a DJ console, on which they put their cards: these cards were connected to a projection system.

Above them, four giant screens allowed the spectators to follow the actions.

And between the two platforms, in the space between the duellists... the game came to life.

More precisely, the monsters invoked by the duellists, the spells or traps used appeared in 3D in the middle of the arena.

This technological feat was made possible by the participation of a pioneering company in this field, Asgard Electronics, which had invested heavily in the card game.

They had succeeded in modeling the world of the game using 3D projectors.

Each playing card contained a miniature microchip containing compressed information: the station on which the duellists placed their cards read this information and projected it.

Of course, the amount of information to be read was huge, hence the fact that for the moment, these reproductions were only possible with these stations.

There was not yet a portable terminal or a duel disk.

In this case, the immersion was absolutely perfect: one really believed to see real duellists confronting each other and the roars of the monsters made the ground tremble.

Shidou, on his side, was in the front row, on the VIP bench, along with the other friends/families of the participants and gave voice to encourage Kaguya, completely immersed in the atmosphere.

The latter had passed her semi-final without difficulty, but the final seemed tense.

Her opponent, a young man with a purple and golden haircut, dressed in a blue high school suit, had a fearsome deck.

Yet, little by little, the wind was turning.

While Kaguya multiplied the attacks and the chains of effects with a triumphant voice, his opponent was gradually losing his confidence.

His voice became more hesitant, his lines less inspired.

As she was the only girl in the tournament (and a beautiful one at that), Kaguya had the support of the crowd.

Her purely chuuni character, her beauty undoubtedly made her a goddess in the eyes of the public.

Shidou, was feeling at ease, but regretted one thing: that he was not on stage, playing with her.

And then...

"Hahahahaha! This is the end! Damned Dark Spear that commands the wind, answer the call of my Cursed Eye! Sturm Lanze!"

Kaguya's opponent had no monster left to protect him.

Kaguya took a pose, hiding one of her eyes with her hand, ordering a direct attack to her monster.

As if to answer her call, her red-eyed raven warrior projected his spear directly at her opponent, reducing his life points to zero.

"And it's done! It's done! Yamai Kaguya is the new champion of the Chuuni-Ouuuuuu tournament!"

The commentator shouted to to the point that his vocal cords probably teared, while Kaguya, overjoyed was jumping and waving at the crowd, and the spectators giving her a standing ovation, shaking the arena with their cheers.

She left the station, and went to shake the sweaty hand of her opponent, who bowed graciously before leaving the stage.

Kaguya found herself alone on the stage and kept waving at the cheering crowd, including Shidou, who, standing with the others, was alsho shouting.

It was her finest hour: being cheered to do something she loved swelled her heart with joy.

To be in the middle of a scene, to be worshipped by thousands of people, was a euphoria that was hard to describe.

Kaguya felt at that moment that she was the queen of the world.

She was of course overjoyed to have won, but as the applause continued, her thoughts turned to something else.

The moment when she would have to confess was approaching.

Normally, at any moment, they would approach her to hand her the trophy and hand her the microphone for a post-match commentary.

It was a moment that she had visualized many times over the past few days. She had imagined and re-imagined the scene over and over again.

And now it was at hand.

It was all going to unfold now.

However, no matter how long she waited, no staff member motioned to Kaguya or anything.

Kaguya, confused, did not know whether to continue waiting, or whether she should get off the stage.

She instinctively turned to Shidou in the VIP row.

(...Shidou?)

Shidou was no longer there.

"But... where is he?... did he go to the bathroom, maybe?..."

Kaguya looked around, half hoping that Shidou was running towards her to hug her... but no.

Despite the fact that thousands of people were cheering for her, Kaguya felt very lonely.

(Did he leave thinking that it was over?...)

As Kaguya began to worry, the applause suddenly subsided and died down.

Kaguya understood why: the commentator was once again at her side, in the spotlight.

He seemed a little disoriented but enthusiastic.

"Ahem. We apologize for the wait, dear audience, and dear champion. Normally we would have proceeded with the award ceremony, but..."

The commentator had a bright smile on his face.

"...but we have just learned that the Underground Dark Martial Fighting Lord, who by chance attended the final, has just challenged the new champion, Yamai Kaguya!"

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH?!"

A thunder of exclamations burst through the crowd.

(The... Underground Dark Martial Fighting Lord...)

Kaguya's jaw dropped when he heard the announcement.

The Underground Dark Martial Fighting Lord.

The myth.

The legend.

Among the players, it was an exceptional duelist... a true living legend.

One often heard about such and such a duellist, such a rising star, but ultimately, these stars quickly faded away.

The story of this one was different.

Rumor had it that he won the Chuuni-Ou Tournament at the age of only 6 with cheap cards, unlike his opponents with ultra rare trading cards.

Then, he won successively 6 other editions, in addition to multiple other national and even international tournaments.

Each time, he used a totally different deck: unlike players who usually only had one deck, which they improved over time.

Players usually only changed the composition of their deck completely when new extensions were added or when the meta changed.

Nobody knew his real name: he was known by his black coat and his eyepatch.

Never had the Chuuni-Ou tournament seen a duellist so talented, so eloquent, so cool: he looked like an anime character.

His title of Underground Dark Martial Fighting Lord was the one he had awarded himself : since several years, he had stopped competing in tournaments, but appeared sometimes in incongruous ways.

More precisely, he sometimes appeared after the final of certain tournaments, and challenged the winner.

It was a kind of rare and totally random event.

Of course, nothing forced the winners to accept a challenge from someone who wasn't even participating in the tournament.

However, it was a privilege to face the Underground Dark Martial Fighting Lord, and everyone wanted to beat him for the glory it would bring.

So far, none of them had succeeded.

And this legend now challenged Kaguya.

(To refuse this opportunity... this challenge... would not be worthy of a duelist.)

Kaguya had already made her decision.

She took a long breath, while the world around her waited silently for her answer.

And then...

"I, YAMAI KAGUYA, TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE OF THE UNDERGROUND DARK MARTIAL FIGHTING LORD!"

This time, no cheers were heard.

Instead, the spotlight turned to the other side of the stage, where Kaguya's previous opponent had made his entrance.

Then a number of strange phenomena occurred.

A curtain of glittering powder, like very thin snow, appeared under the spotlights.

It began to wave, like a diamond whirlwind.

Then a shadow appeared and walked through the veil of snow.

Immediately, the snow melted and a cloud of steam rose from the entrance.

Kaguya, the spectators, the commentator, and the staff of the control room were speechless.

The latter in particular, had no idea what was going on: no light effect, no device in the world could have allowed this.

Then, a light slowly illuminated the shadow: a moment later, the shadow took human form and snapped its fingers.

This simple gesture was accompanied by a gust of strong wind, which shook the arena like a shock wave, forcing everyone to cover their eyes.

When Kaguya opened her eyes again, she saw him.

He was slowly walking towards her.

The sounds of his combat boots resounded heavily, as if they were magically amplified (and they were).

He was wearing a long black coat, waving behind him.

His deck holder had passed over his shoulder, like a holster, on his chest.

His sleeves were rolled up, revealing his fingerless gloves.

From his ears hung earrings in the shape of inverted crosses.

He wore an eyepatch that hid his right eye.

His left eye was blood red, probably due to a contact lens.

And his dark blue hair made him look as dark as he was cool.

Anyone who saw him knew, by his aura, the way he moved, and his outfit that embodied darkness itself, that he could only be the Underground Dark Martial Fighting Lord.

His literally supernatural entrance (which had left the technical team and the public stunned) had only strengthened his image.

But, even more astonishing in the eyes of Kaguya...

"Sh-Sh-Shidou?! Is that you, Shidou?!"

She couldn't believe her eyes.

The one who was standing in front of her.

The one with such a cool outfit.

The one who had probably just used the powers of the Spirits to make his theatrical entrance.

The one she was going to face, the Underground Dark Martial Fighting Lord...

... was none other than Itsuka Shidou.

He ignored Kaguya's question.

"O thou, duellist who has proved thy worth in these jousts. I, the Underground Dark Martial Fighting Lord, shall be thy final opponent."

"!"

He flashed a wicked grin.

"Do not be mistaken. This will not be a duel... but an execution."

"Uarrgkk!"

Kaguya let out a kind of groan, bending in half.

"So... so cool... so cool, Shidou!"

"Shidou? I don't know any Shidou. I don't have a name other than my title. I am darkness itself. The destructive black fire, the lone fighter."

"Gyaaah! SO COOL!"

"Shidou" ignored her, then turned around and walked slowly towards his duel station, leaving Kaguya, trembling, on stage.

She could not believe it.

(It was Shidou... all along... but... but...)

She found it difficult to assimilate this information, the fact that this mythical duellist was Shidou, but above all to accept that the boy who seemed embarrassed about his past a few hours earlier had transformed himself like this.

It was... just... too cool.

She didn't have another word for it.

(Plus, I think he used the powers of the Angels earlier... That gust of wind was Raphael! Aaaaaah, so cool !)

Shidou was, at that moment, the coolest person in the world.

He was the embodiment of everything Kaguya wanted to be, everything she admired.

(Even Master Kurumi couldn't hold a candle to him!)

From the way he dressed to the way he talked, he was absolutely perfect.

Finally, Kaguya straightened up and pulled herself together.

Despite all this...she had a duty to fulfill.

She had to defeat him. She had to defeat the one she loved... no, she had to defeat the living legend, the Underground Dark Martial Fighting Lord.

That was her duty as a duellist.

Kaguya calmly headed to her own duel station.

Step by step, her breathing calmed down and her excitement gave way to a fiery resolution.

(By the power of the soul of the cards and the violent gale wind within me... I will defeat Shidou!

As the duellists settled in, the Chuuni-Ou Tournament stream quickly reached millions of simultaneous visitors in just ten minutes.

In Japan, but also abroad, the news of the legendary duel spread like wildfire through social networks.

In the arena, Shidou, the Underground Dark Martial Fighting Lord unlocked his deck holder and Kaguya did the same.

They put their decks into the card machine of their stations, which shuffled them automatically.

The two opponents locked eyes and gauged each other.

Then...

"DUEL!"

With these words, as if it was a magic formula, the giant screens of the arena lit up and displayed their life points as well as their respective fields.

Each player drew 5 cards, and the duel began.


"Kakaka! Fear, mortal, for this is my turn! Draw!"

The fight had been raging for 15 minutes.

It didn't seem much, but from the point of view of the duellists and the millions of spectators, time was compressed to the extreme.

Each turn seemed to last for hours.

"Warrior of the wind, hear my call! Sweep this foolish soul out with your infernal hurricane! Attack, Black Wing of Aeolus!"

Kaguya ordered her monster to attack Shidou's monster, weaker.

But Shidou did not fail to react.

"Pathetic. Trap card, activated. Wall of infinity, barrier of the universe, I summon thee: Unbreakable Fortress!"

Black Wing of Aeolus, a large bird carrying a halberd, one of Kaguya's signature monsters, was stopped dead in its tracks by a castle rising straight out of the ground.

"What the..."

"Unbreakable Fortress cancels any attack, regardless of magic, trap cards, or monster effect activated in response to its activation."

Shidou smiles.

"This is by no means over. Trap card, activated. I call upon the steel bonds of the forbidden arena: subdue the unconscious who seeks the king's throne. Gladiator Chains!"

Another trap card revealed itself in the virtual arena, and from it came heavy chains that ensnared Kaguya's monster.

"What?!"

"Gladiator Chains divide a monster's attack points in half. A bird deprived of its wings can only crawl on the ground like a worm..."

"Kuuuh! This is not over!"

Shidou deserved his title.

His defense was impervious, and his attacks coordinated, not to mention that his lines were also perfect.

However, Kaguya managed to keep up with him somehow.

The quality of their respective decks, their composition and balance were of course important.

But there was something else.

Kaguya knew, understood Shidou: in this way, she managed, from time to time, to anticipate his actions.

When two exceptional fighters confronted each other, they understood each other and a kind of harmony was established between them.

There were testimonies of opponents who had managed to acquire personal information about each other only by fighting.

Fighting was, after all, a form of communication: and in their world, Shidou and Kaguya did communicate.

"The lightening of judgment turned into a sacred spear of fire. Ruthless, impartial, it embraces all souls and purifies them with its divine flame: Attack, Fallen Burning Lancer!"

"Kuhuhu, I knew you would do this, Lord! Trap card activated! Colder than the hell of the Cocyte, it freezes life, death, time, space! Protect me, Northern Arctic Wind!"

"Impressive... but I'm not done yet!"

"I hope so!"

Each of their actions, each of their lines, was greeted by a concert of applause.

That's what the audience wanted to see: that was the Yuh-Gih-Ou!

Yet, as they exchanged assaults, Kaguya felt, through the bond she shared with Shidou... something.

A doubt.

An uncertainty.

It was something that only she alone, given her position, could feel.

But she didn't understand where it came from. She had something else to do.

Despite her resistance, little by little, Shidou was gradually gaining the upper hand.

She had to fight. Her only chance was one last, big attack...

(Come on... come on, me!)


"Gentle winds, gather before me and transform into blades of air! Heavenly Mistral, attack!"

The ultimate monster of Kaguya, which was literally a tornado, rushed towards Shidou, whose terrain had no monster, only a face-down card.

Kaguya bit her tongue.

However...

Shidou gave her a sad smile.

Before the tornado mowed him down, he and his last life points.

"What?!"

Shidou's life points went down, until they reached zero. The silence that followed was deafening. Nobody seemed to realize, or to believe, that the Underground Dark Martial Fighting Lord had just lost. Kaguya, however, did not know what to do with his life points, and he was unable to find them.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Nobody seemed to realize, or to believe, that the Underground Dark Martial Fighting Lord had just lost.

Kaguya, on the other hand, stared, bewildered, at Shidou.

She regained consciousness only when she saw him collapsing.

"Sh-Shidou!"

Kaguya left her station and rushed towards Shidou, who was lying on his back with his eye closed.

"Shidou! Shidou!"

Kaguya was at his side in an instant. She took him in her arms, trying to lift him up.

Shidou opened his eye, the one that was not hidden by his eye patch.

"...Yamai, Kaguya. You have won..."

"... Why? Why?"

Kaguya ignored the fact that the audience was watching them: she didn't know it, but thanks to a strange power, their voices resounded throughout the arena.

Even the stream was silent, no commentary flashed across the screen.

"Why didn't you stop this attack? I'm sure your face-down card would have turned it around!"

It was had kept a face-down card that Kaguya had recognized as a barrier that would return the damage of an attack.

She had scanned it earlier thanks to the effect of a monster.

If she had chosen to attack, it was because she had no other choice: she was completely out of options.

Kaguya had expected to lose, and instead, Shidou had suffered the attack without doing anything.

"Because..."

Shidou coughed, as if he was seriously injured.

Of course, he wasn't: no card game in the world could hurt its duellists ...

"Because... I couldn't bring myself to put my feelings aside to defeat you."

"What..."

Shidou smiled gently.

"I realized, that I loved you, Kaguya. And I didn't have the strength to put that love aside."

"Shidou... I..."

Kaguya felt tears coming to her eyes.

Joy, anger and sorrow were fighting within her.

The joy of loving and being loved.

The anger of understanding that it wasn't a true victory.

The sorrow that the legend of Shidou, the Underground Dark Martial Fighting Lord ended because of her, who hadn't really won.

"I... I want a rematch! It's... it's not fair!"

Shidou shook his head.

"...no. You won... you managed, not to let your emotions get the best of you..." Shidou coughed, as if he was badly course, he wasn't: no card game in the world could hurt its duellists ...

"Because... I couldn't bring myself to put my feelings aside to defeat you."

"What..."

Shidou smiled gently.

"I realized, that I loved you, Kaguya. And I didn't have the strength to put that love aside."

"Shidou... I..."

Kaguya felt tears coming to her eyes.

Joy, anger and sorrow were fighting within her.

The joy of loving and being loved.

The anger of understanding that she had been allowed to win.

The sorrow that the legend of Shidou, the Underground Dark Martial Fighting Lord ended because of her, who hadn't really won.

"I... I want another match! It's... it's not fair!"

Shidou shook her head.

"...no. You won... you knew, not to let your emotions drive you, unlike me. You're the real winner. My legend is coming to an end... and yours is just beginning."

Shidou took Kaguya's hand in his own.

"I give you... my legacy. May the soul of the cards be with you forever..."

Shidou closed his eyes, and his hand fell back, inert.

"Shi...dou..."

Kaguya bent down and, in a burst of tenderness, kissed him on the forehead.

Shidou's body began to shine brighter and brighter, like the sun, blinding.

Then... he simply disappeared, leaving behind only a few glimmers that danced and then evaporated.

"SHIDOUU!"

Kaguya's cry echoed in the arena, tears now flowing freely from her eyes.

She stood there for what seemed like an eternity.

Then she heard footsteps.

The commentator approached her, also in tears.

"The... The Underground Dark Martial Fighting Lord has been defeated..."

He swallowed with difficulty.

"The winner of the Chuuni-Ou Tournament, the one who defeated the Underground Dark Martial Fighting Lord and ended his legend... is... YAMAI KAGUYA!"

The commentator's shout seemed to revive the audience, who stood up as one man, giving a thunderous ovation.

Kaguya stood there, and noticed that the audience was also crying.

They were crying the end of an era, the end of a legend. They were also crying because of the tragic scene in front of them, because of the impossible love between the two duellists.

When the tournament trophy was presented to Kaguya, a new legend was born.

The duellist who took over the Underground Dark Martial Fighting Lord... while waiting for it to come back to her one day.


When the tournament really came to an end and they headed for the exit, the spectators seemed to come out of a trance.

Most wondered if it was a dream. They had seen so many extraordinary things.

The immediate discussions were of course about the final duel between Kaguya and Shidou, but many thought about the supernatural effects that had accompanied the entrance of the Underground Dark Martial Fighting Lord, and also his disappearance: he had, after all, vanished...

Finally, unable to find a rational explanation, the spectators assumed it was due to special effects and tricks, a bit like in magic shows.

They warmly congratulated the stage technicians and the staff of the control room for their performance, even though the same people didn't understand what had happened.

The ultimate performance of Kaguya and the Underground Dark Martial Fighting Lord (the one where the latter "died" while his beloved gave him a kiss) also made the buzz and the scene, which had been recorded, became legendary.

It was a scene straight out of an anime, and yet it seemed so real, so moving.

For all these reasons, this year's Chuuni Ou tournament was the most successful of all time.

Moreover, after that, Kaguya took Shidou's succession.

While she continued to participate in official tournaments, she sometimes showed up unexpectedly to challenge finalists from other tournaments she didn't participate in (but that's another story).

For the time being, Shidou, who was alive and well, and Kaguya were walking quietly through the streets of Tenguu City on their way home.

They had decided not to take the bus and to enjoy a relaxing walk, after the emotional events of the day.

Shidou had left the clothes he was wearing during the tournament: he had apparently used Michael to pick them up at home.

Kaguya was still dressed with her chuuni and duellist attire: she was holding the tournament trophy with one hand and Shidou's hand with the other.

They were chatting with enthusiasm about what had happened.

In fact, Kaguya was so excited that she had forgotten about Shidou's confession after his defeat...

"Shidou, how did you make your entrance on stage? You used the Angels, didn't you?!"

"Ah, that... well yeah, I used Metatron for the light effects, Zadkiel for the ice veil, and then Camael to melt it. Then I used Raphael for the gust of wind. Oh, and also Gabriel to make my voice and steps resonate."

"Ahhh... that was, like, way too cool! But... Kotori would go mad if she heard that."

"Yes, she would. But then... if only once in a while, it can't hurt...let it be our little secret, okay?"

"Yes! And... What about your disappearance at the end?"

"Oh... I used Metatron as a diversion and then Michael to open a door and teleport me out almost instantly. I don't think you're going to notice the difference, even on the video..."

"'...you went so far, just for this..."

Shidou had a tired smile. After using so many different powers and fighting a duel of this magnitude, he was exhausted.

"Yes, but it was worth it, wasn't it?"

Kaguya smiled back at him.

" Yes... you're right. Still... I would never have imagined that it was you, the Underground Dark Martial Fighting Lord!"

"Err... this name is a little embarrassing... I chose it when I was young..."

"To be embarrassed now, when you were perfectly comfortable in the arena..."

"It was different!"

"By the way, Shidou..."

Kaguya became sulky.

"Why did you lose on purpose? Tell me the truth...I don't want a lie for the show this time!"

Shidou felt like he was being cornered.

"So you understood..."

"Yes!"

"Um... well, I've been wanting to stop the duels for a while now."

"Why? You're so strong..."

"Yes, but I didn't like it that much anymore. You can be good at something without liking it."

"I see... but what a waste..."

Shidou laughed at Kaguya's comment.

"And so... I wanted to end it all, but in a spectacular meaning to, I created a legend. I thought that to stop all of a sudden would have been when I found out that you were participating... it gave me a perfect way out."

"But you didn't know I was gonna go to the finals!"

"I trusted you."

Shidou's tone was serious, as was his face. Kaguya blushed.

Then a detail crossed her mind.

"Wait... if you thought about it when I told you I was participating... does that mean you improvised all this, in just a few hours?!"

"It's embarrassing, but yes... sorry for using you like that, Kaguya..."

"Are you kidding me?! That's great! It's so cool! Shidou! You're so cool!"

"Ah?..."

Kaguya's reaction wasn't at all what Shidou expected.

She literally had stars glittering in her eyes as she looked at him.

"And your outfit was so... dark! Hahaha! And then... the way you walk... talk... umu, I still have a long road ahead of me... and you crafted a plan worthy of an eminence in shadows in no time!"

"Err...thank you..."

Shidou was clearly though he knew that Kaguya liked this kind of thing, he was not used to being complimented on it.

(I think... that's not a bad thing. Maybe it's not too late. Maybe I can still be like that...)

When these thoughts crossed his mind, Shidou suddenly had a kind of trigger.

He looked at Kaguya... and felt as if he was watching her differently.

As if it was... a confirmation of his feelings.

Earlier, in the arena, when he was in perfect harmony with Kaguya, he had understood something.

(I can be like that, with Kaguya. Only with her...)

It wasn't the only thing that united them, but it was a unique bond.

Through this bond, he had understood something else.

"Say, Kaguya."

"Hmmm?"

"...what I said, after I lost the duel. That... Well... It may have been improvisation, but I meant it."

He stopped, then suddenly took her in his arms.

"I love you."

"!"

Kaguya did not expect such a surprise attack.

Shocked, she dropped the tournament trophy, which fell to the ground.

"I realized it today... but... I know, that this is true. When I think about us... about you... what I'm feeling... it can, only be love."

There were no lies in Shidou's words.

That warmth in his chest, every time he saw her, every time he talked to her... it was something other than friendship or affection.

This desire he had to spend more time with her.

It was surely the answer to his questions. To his feelings.

He only regretted, it took him so long to find and understand it.

"I want to be with you. This is not a decision made on a whim. This is not to keep your Spirit powers stable. I want to be with you, because... because I believe, that I love you."

Speaking those words aloud made them even more real, even more genuine for him.

Shidou, was in love with Kaguya.

Perhaps he had been since they first met.

It was a form of love different from a burning passion.

It was... a reciprocal and almost natural affection.

Feeling naturally comfortable with someone, and realizing that you wanted to continue to maintain this bond... and taking the next step.

"So, are you... fine with me?..."

Shidou felt a little guilty. Deep down, he knew how Kaguya felt about him.

But, he had to ask the question.

In a way, it made things... official.

"...Shidou... it's unfair..."

"Huh?"

Kaguya gently pushed him away, so they came face to face.

He noticed that she was sulking.

"In my plan... I was the one confessing, not you..."

"Ah... sorry..."

"No... it doesn't bother me... I'm actually, super happy. So much that I can't find the right words... haha..."

Kaguya had a small laugh, trying to hide her embarrassment.

"But... I too, Shidou... love you. I love your kindness, your fantasy, your courage... I love you."

She hesitated, then...

"And... and you, what do you like about me?"

"…"

It was an embarrassing question. However, Shidou could not back down. Kaguya had been braver than he had been so far.

"I... I like the fact, that you are always smiling. That you're so spontaneous, so brave, too. That you assume yourself entirely... and also... I find you, beautiful and cute..."

"Gwuahrk!"

The overdose of compliments made Kaguya bend in half.

"Err... are you okay?"

"...yes, yes..."

Kaguya stood up, one hand on her stomach, then smiled at Shidou.

"Thank you... Shidou... But, uh..."

She turned as red as a tomato.

" How to say... could we... seal a contract? To make it... official... and besides, Yuzuru won't let go of me if I tell her that we didn't..."

"Huh?"

Shidou tilted his head to the side, not understanding what Kaguya was mumbling.

"Aaah! I mean... could we... you know... ki... ki... ki... ki... ki... kiss?..."

"Ah..."

Kaguya lowered her head immediately, too embarrassed to look at him.

However...

Shidou, with infinitely delicate gestures, as if he was afraid to break her, raised her head with his hands and kissed her gently.

Kaguya, taken by surprise, opened up to him by instinct, and held him close to her, their bodies and tongues entwined.

For a few seconds, they were immersed in their world, barely conscious.

There was only love and affection in their kiss.

When Shidou withdrew, he looked embarrassed.

"Was it... was it okay?..."

Kaguya nodded shyly.

"That's the first kiss you've ever given me..." she whispered.

"Ah... yes..."

"But not the last, I hope..."

"!"

Shidou did not know how to answer, and could only nod timidly.

He had indeed the feeling that he had sealed a contract with Kaguya.

But perhaps, this contract had always existed between them, and finally took shape on this day...

And so, Shidou's first date came to an end.


A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter, don't hesitate to leave a review!

As said in the prologue, the updates will be irregular, it'll depend on my ideas. Take care!