I have an infinite number of shikigami-Chapter 24 - 22. I give you half of my heart

The other end of the flea market.

Fujiwara Reya carried a guitar in search of open space, with Yukino Ritsuko walking beside him.

"What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I'm here to sell that Honda Cub."

"I guessed it, how much are you planning to sell it for?"

"Uh, I'm not really sure about the price..."

"Ugh, silly woman, what should I say to you, not even knowing the price..."

"Silly woman?"

Yukino Ritsuko stared in disbelief, her mouth agape.

It seemed like she wanted to say something in rebuttal but didn't know where to start, so she just maintained a dazed expression.

The expression did look a bit silly, but for a woman as mature and beautiful as her, her silliness wasn't unappealing. On the contrary, it was a charming contrast that didn't match her allure, quite adorable.

"Haha, sorry," Fujiwara Reya laughed awkwardly, "I accidentally said what was on my mind, please don't mind it."

Yukino Ritsuko stopped walking, glaring at him unhappily, "I'm not called silly woman, my last name is Yukino, and my name is Ritsuko, please remember this name!"

"Yukino," Fujiwara Reya murmured once, smiling, "It's a very nice surname with a good meaning, matching beautifully with your Snow Woman-like beauty."

"Eh, Snow Woman? No, that's not it..."

Yukino Ritsuko was startled, her heart pounding wildly, worried the boy would discern something unusual about her. She instinctively stepped back a few paces.

"What's wrong?" Fujiwara Reya looked at her perplexedly.

"No, it's nothing..."

Yukino Ritsuko shook her head, then bashfully lowered her head.

She prayed nothing unusual would occur, hoped the surrounding noise grew louder, wished no one would discover her true identity.

"So strange," Fujiwara Reya shrugged, "Let's talk about the price of the Honda Cub."

"You want to buy it?"

"Mm, it's a water-damaged bike, the price is very low, you have to be mentally prepared."

Thinking of his bargaining scene earlier, Yukino Ritsuko suddenly felt like laughing, "I'll just give it to you, consider it a thank you for saving me."

"That won't do."

"It's okay, I was just worrying about how to repay you."

"No, no," Fujiwara Reya quickly shook his head, "I'm not one to take advantage of others. You should name a price."

What a joke!

If I give it away, what about the daily tasks?

"You don't like taking advantage of others?" Yukino Ritsuko couldn't hold back, covering her mouth with one hand and pointing at the guitar in his other hand with the other.

"..."

In both his lifetimes, Fujiwara Reya had never been so embarrassed.

"Ugh, haha, this was an accident..." He nervously tapped his shoes against the ground, forming a little dance, yet maintained polite composure, smiling, "Miss Yukino, please name a price, or I won't feel at ease."

"Really, no need."

Looking into his eyes, Yukino Ritsuko flashed a gentle smile.

Her soft and beautiful smile lingered briefly at her lips, reminiscent of dew yet to evaporate on wisteria petals on a summer morning.

"To me, it's priceless," she said.

Fujiwara Reya shook his head, "I don't believe in priceless things."

"You'd better start believing."

"What is it?"

"For instance, your saving me is of immeasurable significance, it's priceless."

"How deep?"

"Deep enough to be frightening."

"Are there fish?"

"Wherever there is water, there are fish."

"Are fish also priceless?"

"As long as you're willing, fish can be priceless too."

A bald middle-aged man passing by gave them a look like they were lunatics.

"Alright, I'll let you convince me once for now." Fujiwara Reya nodded.

Amidst the few feet of evening light and falling cherry blossoms, he showed the same gentle smile, saying slowly, "I regard the Honda Cub as your heart, in return, I'll give you half of mine, is that okay?"

Yukino Ritsuko wanted to reply with "okay."

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

But her throat didn't produce the sound she desired, instead sighing softly, then nodding gently.

Is this what humans call the art of conversation?

Yukino Ritsuko didn't understand.

But she really liked the phrase "give you half of my heart," even if it was just a hollow promise.

The sound of leaves rustling came from afar and near, the wind stirred both clouds, leaves, and her short shoulder-length hair. A cherry blossom petal landed on her flushed cheek.

Monsters and humans can get along harmoniously too... she thought joyfully to herself.

[Routine 2 complete]

[Score +100]

The system popped a notification, and Fujiwara Reya instantly forgot what he said earlier, asking, "Did the bike arrive?"

"I had someone help drive it here," Yukino Ritsuko thought for a moment, then asked him, "How about I have him drive it back, and you can ride it from the bakery?"

"Sounds good."

Yukino Ritsuko called Mr. Kamiya, briefly explaining her request.

On the other end, Mr. Kamiya was silent for a long time. After hanging up, he grumbled and rode back on a little motor scooter.

"Shall we go to the vehicle registration office for the transfer tomorrow?" Fujiwara Reya asked.

"Hmm?"

Just having put away her phone, Yukino Ritsuko blinked in confusion, looking at him.

This bewildered expression really made her seem like an innocent Snow Woman baby... Fujiwara Reya shouted in his mind, asking her, "Your bike doesn't have license plates?"

"Um, no, what are license plates..." Yukino Ritsuko felt her cheeks burning.

Holding onto a sliver of hope, Fujiwara Reya asked, "You still have everything the shop gave you when you bought the bike, right?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Yukino Ritsuko quickly nodded.

"Alright then, give them to me tomorrow." Fujiwara Reya sighed in relief, then took out the guitar, tossing the case to her, "Hold this, lend a hand."

"What for?"

"Follow me, just crouch to the ground with it. With so many people at the flea market, we have to earn back the money for the guitar."

Fujiwara Reya, holding the guitar, came under a cherry tree, strumming the strings to test the sound.

"Oh, so it's busking..."

Yukino Ritsuko's face lit up with sudden realization. She quickly hugged the guitar case and crouched down in front of him.

A pleasant evening breeze blew from between the skyscrapers of Shinjuku, stirring the branches.

Cherry blossoms fell like snow, carried by the wind, with pink clouds floating atop the cherry tree branches.

"Everyone lives in secrets,"

"Living while pretending."

The youth's gentle singing voice, accompanied by the guitar, resonated under the romantic cherry blossoms.

Beside him crouched a woman as beautiful as snow.

The sunset acted like a spotlight, shining straight through the gaps in the buildings onto this corner, their shadows starkly cast on the road, their bodies' outlines glittered with the transparent clarity of the evening glow.

"The lights of Tokyo illuminate,"

"Sadness and hesitation."

"This street,"

"Is filled with your traces."

Pulled in by the singing and unwilling to leave due to the couple's outstanding looks, more and more people gathered, forming several circles, and the money in the guitar case grew steadily.

Women gave money to Fujiwara Reya.

Men gave money to Yukino Ritsuko.