章節 189: Such a Beautiful Moonlit Night
When Eriri and Arifureta left the maid café, it was already close to five o'clock. It wasn't particularly early, but it wasn't too late either, so they didn't feel the need to wrap up their date. They continued to stroll around the bustling streets of Akihabara. As they stepped out of an anime merchandise store, Eriri's phone rang.
Seeing the name displayed on the screen, Eriri smiled and answered.
"Miss me already, Utaha-senpai? It's only been an hour," she teased.
To Eriri's surprise, Utaha Kasumigaoka didn't deny it.
"Yes, I have," she replied earnestly, her voice so serious that Eriri wondered if a confession might follow.
But that was unlikely. Kasumigaoka did intend to confess her feelings, but she wasn't about to do it over the phone.
"Um… Eriri, are you free tonight?"
"Yes. Is there something you'd like to talk about, Utaha-senpai?"
"Yes, could you meet me at school around seven? There's something very important I want to tell you."
"Sure. I'll be there."
Eriri hung up and pondered the phone call for a moment. She had a strong suspicion about what Kasumigaoka wanted to say, and a slight smirk played across her lips.
On the other end, after ending the call, Kasumigaoka flopped onto her bed, rolling back and forth. Her heart was racing, and her mind was buzzing. She was finally going to confess her feelings to Eriri—a moment she had anticipated with both excitement and apprehension. She feared being rejected, especially since Eriri already seemed interested in her. But Eriri had Arifureta, Megumi, and Shia, each more beautiful than her, and the thought made Kasumigaoka feel a bit insecure.
...
At seven that evening, Eriri used teleportation to arrive at Yumenosaki Academy's gate under the wistful gaze of Akino Yukinoshita. Standing by the school signpost, illuminated softly under the warm glow of the street lamps, was Kasumigaoka in her school uniform. The slight breeze lifted her long black hair, making her look ethereal.
"Utaha-senpai," Eriri called softly, walking toward her.
Kasumigaoka flinched slightly at the sound of Eriri's voice but then turned around, her face breaking into a happy smile.
"Eriri, you're here."
For the first time, Kasumigaoka addressed her by her first name instead of using "Miss Sawamura."
They weren't far apart, and by the time she had spoken, Eriri had already reached her side.
"Did you wait long?"
"No, I just got here," Kasumigaoka replied, shaking her head. Then, with a sigh, she added, "Eriri, I never expected that you were Kashiwagi Eri-sensei. You really had me fooled. I should've known a creator of your caliber wouldn't promote my novel for no reason."
"Are you upset?"
"No! I'm not upset at all. I was really happy to find out it was you."
In fact, when Kasumigaoka learned that Kashiwagi Eri-sensei, the one who had saved her novel, was also the person she admired and loved, her feelings deepened, giving her the courage she needed to confess.
"Good. For a moment there, I thought you'd called me out here to scold me," Eriri joked, patting her chest in mock relief, which made Kasumigaoka roll her eyes at her.
"So, Utaha-senpai, what is it you wanted to tell me?"
Without answering right away, Kasumigaoka walked toward the school gate. She looked up at the tightly closed door, then glanced back at Eriri with a faint smile.
"Eriri, could you take me up to the rooftop? The same place we first met."
"Of course."
Eriri stepped forward, took Kasumigaoka's hand, and teleported them to the rooftop. A surprised gasp escaped Kasumigaoka's lips.
"Is this… teleportation? That's amazing."
Kasumigaoka's eyes shone with awe. She had seen Eriri display her spatial abilities before, effortlessly manipulating space, and the experience had been astonishing. Now, feeling the effects of teleportation herself, she couldn't help but marvel at its power.
"Yep. Interested in becoming an Awakened? I could help."
"Yes, please." Kasumigaoka nodded eagerly.
Before, she hadn't requested Eriri's help to become like Megumi since they hadn't shared a close bond. But now, with her resolve to confess her feelings, she felt comfortable accepting Eriri's kindness.
The rooftop at night looked different from during the day. Without the brightness of the sun, the faint light of the moon bathed the rooftop in a soft glow, casting everything in shadows and light. It barely illuminated Kasumigaoka's surroundings, leaving her able only to make out Eriri's silhouette.
"It's so dark up here," she muttered.
"Then why'd you ask to come here?" Eriri teased.
Kasumigaoka was briefly lost for words; she had overlooked this in her excitement. All she'd imagined was confessing to Eriri in the same spot they first met, under the moonlight, but she hadn't considered how dim the moonlight actually was. She had been too caught up in the idea of a perfect confession to notice such practical details.
She found herself torn, unsure if she should confess now or wait for another opportunity.
Seeing her hesitation, Eriri offered a soft smile, then leaned in conspiratorially. "Utaha-senpai, would you like to see a sky full of stars?"
Reading Kasumigaoka's thoughts, Eriri was determined to help her out. After all, she was looking forward to this confession; there was no way she'd let a mere change in lighting ruin it.
Kasumigaoka's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Of course! But can you really do that?"
She was aware of how powerful Eriri was, the kind of power that could even change the world itself, but manipulating stars in the night sky seemed too far-fetched.
"Piece of cake." Eriri's tone was lighthearted, as though what she was about to do was as simple as breathing.
Under Kasumigaoka's expectant gaze, Eriri raised her hand, giving a gentle wave. Instantly, the clouds blocking the moonlight scattered, and the rooftop was flooded with brilliant light. The once-dim moon now shone radiantly, casting a silver glow across the entire area. But this was only the first step.
Eriri waved her hand again, compressing the entire Milky Way Galaxy outside Earth and bringing it closer, creating an effect visible only from Earth. In an instant, the rooftop was illuminated by countless stars, each sparkling brightly, creating a stunning celestial tapestry.
Kasumigaoka's gaze locked on the sky, frozen in awe. She had seen pictures of the Milky Way, but nothing compared to this breathtaking view. It was easily the most beautiful sight she had ever seen.
While most of Earth's inhabitants marveled at the celestial display, astronomers were left stunned, doubting their life's work.
After a long moment, Kasumigaoka finally tore her gaze from the sky and looked at Eriri, her expression complex. Eriri's strength far exceeded what she had ever imagined.
But, even in the face of such power, Kasumigaoka wasn't about to back down.
"Utaha-senpai, how's the view?"
Standing a few paces back with her hands behind her, Eriri tilted her head and gave her an enchanting smile. Her long blonde hair shimmered in the soft breeze, adding a touch of gold to the starlit night.
"It's beautiful. Truly beautiful."
Kasumigaoka's voice held a dazed quality, though whether she referred to the stars or Eriri herself, perhaps even she wasn't sure. She took a deep breath and stepped closer to Eriri, standing directly across from her. Being taller by about half a head, she looked down into Eriri's clear blue eyes, her gaze filled with profound affection.
"Eriri… the moon is beautiful tonight."
"Yes, and the breeze is gentle."
As they spoke, their forms melded together under the infinite light of the stars.
...
The next morning, Eriri and Kasumigaoka awoke in the same bed, their bodies bare. The events of last night had changed Kasumigaoka beyond measure. Eriri hadn't returned to her villa but stayed at Kasumigaoka's apartment for the night.
Before leaving the school rooftop, Eriri had restored the Milky Way to its usual state. Its abrupt disappearance puzzled countless people, with some even wondering if they had hallucinated, but footage taken by the masses confirmed it had been real.
Kasumigaoka lived in an apartment separate from her parents. Although Eriri had never visited before, she was able to locate the exact address and bring them both here with ease.
Upon their arrival, the first thing Eriri did was help Kasumigaoka undergo a transformation, awakening her as a powerful Awakened with peak Level 2 abilities and, like Megumi, a constitution capable of absorbing cosmic energy. Kasumigaoka's unique power was lightning, a force of unparalleled destructiveness. Under Eriri's guidance, she quickly adjusted to her newly awakened power.
Kasumigaoka's physical transformation was equally remarkable. Though her facial features had only changed subtly, her allure had amplified tenfold. Her skin was now flawless and smooth, her physique honed to perfection, and every toxin her body had accumulated was purged, ensuring her vitality would remain untainted.
Since Kasumigaoka was already popular, Eriri decided to avoid any noticeable public reactions to her enhanced appearance by subtly altering the memories of everyone who knew her, aside from people like Arifureta and her close friends.
Now, the final hint lay in their waking states—both unclothed, bearing clear signs of the passion they had shared. Eriri had done everything with Kasumigaoka that she had previously shared with Megumi.
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