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After having some of Yanami's snacks in the Service Club activity room, Asakura decisively took his leave as there was nothing else to do.
Yukinoshita Yukino probably felt that he needed rest after doing such a big thing yesterday (Asakura: Was it saving the world? Yukino: No, it was blowing up the tower twice), so she didn't say much.
Yuigahama Yui, however, watched Asakura's departing back for a while, seemingly wanting to follow him, but in the end, she didn't abandon her good friend and obediently stayed in the activity room, telling Yukino about what happened yesterday.
Asakura didn't go straight home but first went to the Clubroom.
The cabin had its own light source, but recently Asakura discovered that as a keeper, his control over the Clubroom was actually higher than he initially expected. For example, if he wished, two exquisite stained-glass windows, subtly out of place with the cabin's fairy-tale style, could appear on the walls embedded in the hallway.
Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting a dreamy hue over the entire room. A faint floral scent mingled with the rich aroma of black tea permeated the air.
"You're finally here…" The moment Asakura stepped into the Clubroom, the elegant back of a girl with long black hair came into view.
She sat gracefully on the only sofa in the cabin, her slender fingers gently holding the handle of a white porcelain teapot. Her long, black hair cascaded down to her waist, the ends swaying gently with her movements.
"You're here after all. I wondered why I didn't see you today—" Asakura said, looking at the girl with a hint of awkwardness. "Chihaya…"
Asagumo Chihaya turned her head, revealing a half-smile with a faint hint of resentment, a 'So you finally decided to come back' expression.
She was clearly a beautiful, vibrant young girl, yet for some reason, she always seemed to carry a hint of a resentful woman. Asakura wondered if it was just his imagination…
Long ago, Asagumo Chihaya had told Asakura that she hoped he would take her on his next adventure, hoping she could help him.
However, in this Chiba Port Tower battle, Asakura not only didn't bring Asagumo Chihaya but instead brought Yuigahama Yui and the newly joined Chihaya Anon. Although it was due to circumstances, this still made Asakura feel a bit subtle when facing Asagumo Chihaya.
Damn it, where did this sense of immorality, like sneaking out to cheat behind his wife's back, come from!
"Uh, listen to me…"
"Mm."
"Actually, there are many reasons. The situation was quite complicated, and I couldn't guarantee your safety…"
"Mm."
"And this opponent was quite troublesome. I wasn't confident before they officially showed up…"
"Mm."
"Bringing Yuigahama and Anon was just to prevent affecting the surroundings… Hmm, aren't you angry?" Asakura finally felt something was off.
"Because I know that even though Takuma-kun usually seems carefree, he's actually very meticulous about important matters. There must be a reason for his judgment. If I can't even understand that and get angry at you just because I couldn't be by your side, then what I said about supporting Takuma-kun would be completely putting the cart before the horse—" the girl said, looking at Asakura seriously and softly. "But I actually am still angry."
"Is that so…" Asakura raised his eyebrows, feeling that the girl's voice sounded not angry at all, but rather had a hint of coquetry.
Asagumo Chihaya stood up and gently caressed Asakura's face, her soft, fair fingertips lingering by his right eye: "I'm angry that Takuma-kun doesn't take good care of his body… It must be like that time again, right? Hmph, don't be so flippant, I'm really angry."
Asakura froze for a moment, then recalled the time he saved Asagumo Chihaya and lost an arm in front of her.
"Well, it wasn't that bad; I just tried a little too hard—" he said with an unaccustomed dry laugh, waving his hand. "It's not that serious this time, and my eye will heal quickly."
The girl sighed, "Anyway, no matter what I say, when that time comes, Takuma-kun will definitely make that choice again…"
"Wow~ This tea smells so good. Did you brew it, Chihaya?" Asakura pretended not to hear and changed the subject.
The girl gave him an exasperated look: "It's just ordinary floral tea. Don't expect too much."
Despite her words, she skillfully brewed tea for Asakura.
Asakura mechanically walked over and sat by the sofa, watching her fluid movements.
The moment hot water poured into the teapot, the scent of roses and jasmine bloomed in the air. She pushed a teacup towards me, and a few pink petals floated in the amber tea.
He picked up the teacup, the warm touch making Asakura relax a little. The tea aroma was refreshing, with a hint of sweetness on the palate.
"Excellent tea! Is it Darjeeling after the rain?" he praised.
"No, it's mostly tea bags from the supermarket, 300 yen for a large pack—" the girl replied earnestly, "and petals kindly provided by the school's gardening club."
Asakura, choked, put down his teacup in exasperation.
Then, as if remembering something, he slapped his palm.
"Speaking of which… Chihaya, give me your hand."
"Like this?" The girl extended her soft hand, puzzled.
"Both hands."
"Like this?"
"Exactly. Excuse me." Asakura gently held the girl's hands.
Feeling the warmth of her palms and the smooth softness of her skin, Asakura tried to dispel his distracting thoughts, then began to refine his Curse, intending to send it into the girl's body in a reverse flow.
Because of a past Curse rampage, Asagumo Chihaya had her past and most of her present and future Curse taken away. If Asakura hadn't intervened, even her life would have been affected.
It was precisely because of this that the girl's Curse fell silent forever with the disappearance of the Moon Clock.
But in the end, all of this was merely because Asagumo Chihaya had a 'debt' in terms of Curse.
And now, because of 'Limited Infinity,' Asakura, in a sense, already possessed almost infinite Curse.
So, could he draw Curse from himself to repay the Curse she owed?
Asakura tried.
The result wasn't great—it worked at first, but soon the Curse drawn from 'Limited Infinity,' probably due to its unique characteristics, was judged by the debt on the girl's body as 'this has already been paid, it cannot be paid again.'
It seems the girl's 'debt' still had to be repaid by her herself.
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