Following the guidance of the "Lucky Ticket," Shido and Tohka found themselves, near the end of their date, on this undeveloped plateau situated on the city's edge.
The clamor was left far behind, accompanied only by the sound of the wind and the gradually mellowing sunset.
"Woah...!"
"It's so beautiful..." she murmured, her voice filled with an almost reverent awe. "The feeling is completely different from what I saw earlier."
Shido walked to her side and followed her gaze. Indeed, the city viewed from this spot had shed its daytime clamor, revealing a tranquil and warm beauty woven from the twilight and the streetlights.
"Yeah, the view from here is truly beautiful," he replied softly. "This is... the world we live in."
Stepping onto the plateau's smooth concrete surface, Tohka let out a soft gasp. The view opened up immediately, unobstructed by tall buildings.
The magnificent sunset painted the entire sky into a warm and glorious canvas, where orange-red, golden powder, and faint purple haze intertwined, creating a breathtaking sight.
Below, the city's silhouette gradually sharpened in the twilight, and scattered lights began to flicker on, like stars fallen to earth.
She quickly ran to the edge of the plateau, holding the temporary railing with both hands. She took a deep breath, letting the evening breeze brush her face, stirring her night-dark hair and the hem of her school uniform skirt.
"It's so beautiful..." She turned around, the sky's glow reflected in her eyes, which shone with pure surprise. "The feeling is completely different from what I saw on the streets earlier. It's so quiet and comfortable here."
Shido followed and stood beside her. Seeing Tohka's undisguised joy, the nerves that had been taut all afternoon finally relaxed, and a gentle smile unconsciously curved his lips.
"Yes, the view from here is indeed beautiful," he agreed softly, his gaze following hers into the distance.
"This is... the world we live in. While it can sometimes be noisy and troublesome, it also has many beautiful corners like this."
Tohka listened quietly, her gaze slowly moving from the distant city lights to Shido's profile. The golden light of the sunset plated him with a soft outline. His blue eyes, now devoid of their earlier tension and panic, held only a quiet tenderness.
"Shido." She called out suddenly, her voice soft but exceptionally clear.
"Hm?" Shido turned his head, meeting her focused gaze.
"I was very happy today." Tohka's expression was serious, as if she were stating a crucial discovery.
"I ate a lot of delicious things, saw many things I had never seen, learned about 'dating'... and also, being together with you."
Her frankness made Shido's heart skip a beat, and his cheeks felt slightly hot.
He lowered his head, slightly embarrassed, his fingers unconsciously scratching at the rust on the railing. "R-really? I'm glad you enjoyed it... Actually, I was... quite happy too."
As the words left his mouth, Shido was slightly surprised himself.
Recalling the afternoon—from being chased by Koushi and Hiroto, to frantically explaining the menu at the dessert shop, and then taking the endlessly curious Tohka through the shopping district—though it was chaotic and full of unexpected "surprises," seeing Tohka's eyes, originally filled with vigilance and confusion, gradually light up with novelty, joy, and satisfaction, filled his heart with an indescribable sense of accomplishment... and a touch of warmth.
This was completely different from the "Spirit Capture" he had previously envisioned, which required strict preparation. There was no calculation or strategy, only the most authentic interaction and response.
"When I'm with you," Tohka continued, tilting her head slightly, as if carefully savoring the feeling.
"It feels like... I'm not so afraid anymore. And I don't feel... like I'm all alone."
Her voice carried a trace of subtle vulnerability, like someone who had walked in the darkness for too long and finally touched a ray of light.
This unrestrained trust gently brushed against Shido's heart, stirring a powerful protective urge within him.
"Tohka..." Shido took a deep breath, gathered his courage, raised his head, and looked at her with determination.
"You're not alone. From now on... as long as you want me to, I can accompany you. I'll take you to eat more delicious food and see more beautiful sights."
These were not lines spoken to complete a mission, but his most honest thoughts at that moment.
He didn't want to see her display that sad and angry expression under the AST's attack, nor did he want to see her vanish alone due to a lack of Understanding.
Tohka stared blankly at him, her amethyst-like eyes slightly widened, clearly reflecting Shido's sincere face.
She could sense that Shido's words, unlike the complicated and hard-to-understand "dessert descriptions" from earlier, flowed directly from his heart, warm and reliable.
A strange, warm feeling quietly spread through her heart, as if she were immersed in the lingering warmth of the sunset. She didn't quite understand what this emotion was, but she liked it very much.
She didn't speak, but her lips slowly curved upward, forming a smile brighter and more captivating than the evening glow.
In that smile, there was satisfaction, trust, and a hint of nascent affection that she herself had not yet realized.
The two stood side by side in the sunset, allowing the golden light to envelop them.
The distant city clamor seemed to be isolated, leaving the world with only the sound of the wind and the distance quietly shrinking between them.
The air was filled with a tranquil and beautiful atmosphere, as if even time was willing to stand still at this moment.
Shido looked at Tohka's profile, softened by the sunset, and the pure joy in her eyes, feeling that a soft spot in his heart had been gently touched.
He suddenly felt that if he could always protect a smile like this, it seemed... that would be a wonderful thing to do.
However, this warm and tranquil moment did not last long.
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