Back in the car, Yukinoshita watched the scenery outside retreat rapidly as they moved further and further away from the city.
Sipping her milk tea in small gulps while holding Ren's unfinished lemon water in her other hand, she no longer had the heart to appreciate the view.
"Katsuragi-kun, why did you agree to let them into the car to take photos?"
This question had been bothering Yukinoshita for a while, and she wanted a clear answer. If it were for money, this sports car alone proved that Ren didn't lack any; in fact, he hadn't even accepted the girl's money in the end. But if it wasn't for money, why would Ren let total strangers into his car?
There were plenty of people who wanted to take photos with the car tonight, but only that young couple had successfully gained his permission.
Driving the car, Ren looked at the increasingly remote path ahead and spoke.
"Yukinoshita, did you hear how much Momoka said she had?"
"7,426 yen."
Yukinoshita had that much memory at least, answering without a second thought.
"Yeah, 7,426 yen. It could have been 7,000 yen, or it could have been 10,000 yen. Why was it exactly 7,426 yen?"
"Because that was the girl's everything. Using her entire net worth to buy a dream for the boy she loves."
"Isn't that more precious than anything else?"
Ren didn't lack money, but he enjoyed observing the love of others, as well as his own. No one can refuse a girl whose eyes are full of only you, and similarly, no one can refuse the request of a girl willing to give her all for her boyfriend.
Precisely for that reason, Ren didn't just fulfill their dream for free; he offered them his sincere blessings.
"Yukinoshita, do you think this kind of person is worth saving?"
"They are worth it."
Ren asked the same question as before, but this time Yukinoshita gave a different answer.
A married couple and a young couple. By any logic, the former should have been more reliable, yet the reality was the exact opposite.
With the married couple, the man ignored his family to gamble in the casino until he was destitute. Blinded by loss, he placed his wife on the gambling table as a chip, trying to bet his way to a lifeline.
With the young couple, the girl saw the envy in the boy's eyes. She deliberately sent away her boyfriend, who lacked the courage to ask, and brought her entire savings alone to ask Ren if he could fulfill his dream.
For the former, Ren remained indifferent and even stopped Yukinoshita from trying to rescue the woman. For the latter, Ren proactively made concessions, refused to take their money, and even tied red strings—representing marriage and fate—around their wrists.
"Not everyone is worth saving, and not everyone is worth being treated well."
"If you teach someone the skills and give them the tools, but that person is evil, wouldn't you become an accomplice in them hurting ordinary people?"
"You might not see it in school, but what about after everyone graduates? Will you regret it then—that day you helped them sharpen their claws?"
Feeling a bit thirsty after speaking, Ren extended his right hand toward Yukinoshita and waved it at her.
"Katsuragi-kun, you're overthinking it."
"We agreed that I wouldn't have to do anything against my will. It's impossible for me to put my head in your hand."
Looking at Ren's gesture, Yukinoshita spoke with irritation. she knew about the viral "boyfriend shows his palm, girlfriend puts her chin on it" meme. That kind of thing? Impossible!
"Yukinoshita, you're thinking too much. I'm asking you to give me the water."
"I wouldn't use my own command for something like that."
Ren spoke without even turning his head. If he really wanted to play like that, even setting aside the currently shy Mahiru, if he went back to Advanced Nurturing High School, which of his girlfriends wouldn't let him play that way? Why bother with Yukinoshita?
The standard city skyscrapers had completely vanished, replaced by a vast expanse of fields. There were no people, yet it was full of life. Various insects performed their own concert here, and Ren, who had led Yukinoshita out of the car, became two strange intruders.
They brought a different flavor to this field. The performance didn't stop because of the intruders; just as a musician doesn't care about extra audience members. They simply played, while Ren and Yukinoshita listened in silence.
Ignoring whether his clothes would get dirty, Ren leaned back and lay down, gazing at the starry night sky. Yukinoshita had taken in too much tonight; she needed a suitable place to process it all. And this field was the best place.
No city noise, no oppressive atmosphere from home—only freedom. The freedom belonging to the wind. All of this would wash over Yukinoshita's soul and make her relax involuntarily.
"Katsuragi-kun, why did you bring me here?"
Ren always had a purpose in whatever he did. Yukinoshita didn't believe he brought her here just to feel the breeze.
"Shh. To listen to the music."
With his eyes half-closed, Ren spoke lazily with his hands behind his head.
Following Ren's silence, Yukinoshita pressed down on the back of her skirt to avoid exposure and slowly squatted down about two body lengths away from him.
Yukinoshita, who had always been chasing after her sister, listened to this unique concert, and her tightly wound spirit finally began to ease.
Night insects weren't all singers; there were also listeners and those who provided "atmosphere lighting" for the performance. Fireflies, impossible to find in the city, emitted a faint glow as they hovered around Ren, making the scene look like a dream.
These fireflies seemed to have a special preference for Ren, surrounding him in groups, while only a few stray ones occasionally flew around Yukinoshita. But before long, they would head back toward him.
Reaching out a hand from behind his head, Ren opened his palm to the fireflies circling him. This action startled them, and they scattered instantly. But soon, after realizing Ren wasn't moving, they gathered around him again.
One particularly bold firefly landed slowly in Ren's palm, its built-in light flashing rhythmically. Seeing their companion wasn't in danger, other fireflies followed suit and landed on his body.
Watching this, Yukinoshita felt a hint of envy.
A faint light flew past her eyes. This firefly didn't land near Ren like its companions; instead, it began to circle her. Yukinoshita imitated Ren and opened her palm to it.
Unfortunately, the firefly didn't land; instead, it flew far away.
Yukinoshita couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.
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