Oko's face darkened instantly. Those words from Damian hit him like a slap.
But Damian didn't wait for his reaction. He jumped down from the windowsill and walked calmly until he stood in front of Kaguya, who remained motionless.
He suddenly leaned forward, bringing his face so close that the tip of his nose nearly brushed against hers.
His deep eyes locked onto Kaguya's.
"Hmm?"
That gaze… that ice in his pupils. Ice Kaguya.
The name flashed through his mind. She was different from the girl he remembered—colder, much more distant.
A second later, he straightened up as if nothing had happened and placed his helmet in Kaguya's arms, which she took without thinking.
"Hold this."
His voice left no room for objection.
Then he turned his head toward Oko, who was barely managing to hide his mix of anger and confusion.
"Oko Shinomiya?"
The muscles in Oko's jaw tensed, clearly wounded by the lack of respect, but he quickly forced a smile and bowed. "That's right, Mr. Damian."
Damian raised an eyebrow, observing him with disinterest. His gaze pierced through his composure.
"Explain yourself." He gestured toward Kaguya. "What was that she 'understood' a moment ago?"
!
Oko's smile froze. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
The air grew heavy again.
Un'yo took a step forward. "Mr. Damian," he said with a slight bow, "my brother may have acted rashly, but he meant no offense toward Kaguya. The Shinomiya family holds you in the highest esteem—"
Before he could finish, Damian's gaze cut through him.
And that look alone was enough to silence Un'yo, who swallowed the rest of his words.
"...It had better be that way."
Damian turned toward Kaguya, who was still standing motionless, clutching the helmet in her arms. His gaze softened suddenly, and a warm smile curved his lips.
"Come on," he said, ruffling her hair. "I'll take you to see the fireworks."
Kaguya's eyes widened slightly, but she couldn't form a single word.
Her mind went completely blank. Damian's palm was so warm… and his smile… so beautiful…
Before she could react, Damian crouched down, wrapped an arm around her waist, and lifted her in one smooth motion, carrying her over his shoulder.
"Kyaa!" Kaguya screamed, her entire face turning red. The cold "Ice Kaguya" vanished instantly. Her small face flushed a deep crimson, and she had no idea where to put her hands or feet.
Too… too close… like this… I'm going to get pregnant…
Ridiculous thoughts swirled in her head. And if we have a child? Or a daughter? Will they look like him… or me?
Completely unaware of her inner chaos, Damian walked toward the exit. As he passed by Oko, he stopped for a moment and, without looking at him, asked:
"I'm taking her with me. Any problem with that?"
Oko's face shifted between green and white, but he didn't dare make a single sound.
When Damian disappeared down the end of the hallway, the air finally began to move again. Un'yo let out a deep breath and realized that sweat was dripping down his back.
Meanwhile, over Damian's shoulder, Kaguya covered her burning face with both hands, her mind spinning out of control. I'm doomed… what if… I'm already pregnant?
Damian walked across the garden with steady steps. Kaguya's legs hung over his chest, and the hem of her dress swayed with each stride.
"Miss!" a maid shouted, dropping the tray in her hands at the sight of him.
The guards froze, their hands on their weapons, but none dared to move. That was the guest even Seiryū-sama himself had to welcome personally!
At the corner of the corridor, Seiryū Shinomiya looked around, frowning. "Strange, she was just here a moment ago…"
"S-Seiryū-sama!" a servant stammered, pointing behind him.
The moment Seiryū turned, his pupils contracted. Over Damian's shoulder, the flushed young woman covering her face with her hands was his sister.
"Hey, you—!" he managed to say, but Damian walked right past him without even looking, carrying her as if it were nothing.
Outside the main gate, Damian stopped and lifted his gaze toward the third-floor window.
Standing there, with a dark expression on his face, was Gan'an Shinomiya.
"Mr. Shinomiya," Damian said, nodding respectfully, "I'm taking your daughter. I'll bring her back later."
BANG
The window burst open. The patriarch was trembling with rage, his mustache quivering from the sheer force of it.
"You damned brat! Do you think my daughter is some kind of cargo?! How dare you carry her like that?!"
Kaguya peeked through her fingers, unable to believe what she was seeing. Father… is shouting?
"Put her down this instant! Immediately! And what kind of posture is that?! My daughter is about to be completely exposed!"
Damian turned his head slightly and looked at Kaguya, hanging over his shoulder. "This way's more comfortable."
"More comfortable?! My ass!" Gan'an roared, completely losing his composure. "Do you think you're carrying a sack of rice?!"
The servants in the courtyard lowered their heads, struggling not to laugh. Seiryū stood frozen, unable to process the scene. He had never seen his father lose his composure like this.
Kaguya was so mortified she wished she could disappear. It's over… father saw me…
Damian gave the furious Gan'an at the window a calm, almost casual smile. "We're leaving."
Without waiting for an answer, he turned around, raised a hand in farewell, and walked away with Kaguya still over his shoulder.
"..."
Gan'an watched him go, unable to believe what he was seeing. His chest heaved with fury… but gradually, it all faded.
His face regained its usual calm—the impassive expression of a man who had spent decades ruling an empire.
He remained by the window, watching as Damian disappeared from view.
"Butler."
"I'm here." The old butler, who had been silent in the corner like a shadow, immediately stepped forward.
"Tell Oko that from now on, he is not allowed to involve himself in Kaguya's affairs."
"Understood." The butler asked no questions, bowed deeply, and left.
The room fell silent once again. Gan'an continued staring outside for a long time. It was a while before something complex and indescribable flickered in his deep, sharp eyes.
There was resignation, reflection—and in the end, it all blended into a kind of nostalgia that was hard to define.
Slowly, he ran his hand along the cold window frame and murmured with a sigh:
"Nayotake…"
"Our daughter… has grown up."
…
With Kaguya still over his shoulder, Damian crossed through the main gate of the Shinomiya mansion. Outside waited a heavy motorcycle of unique design, with the imposing look of a "Cavaliere."
With one motion, he lifted Kaguya and set her on the back seat.
"..."
Dazed, she was still clutching the metal helmet, her gaze distant.
Damian laughed softly at the sight. From somewhere, he pulled out another helmet—completely different from his own. It was a pale pinkish white, with fluffy dog ears on top and little puppy drawings on the sides.
Before she could protest, he placed it on her head.
"Eh?!"
Kaguya flinched and lifted the visor. "D-Damian-kun? Wh-where are we going?"
He smiled and lightly tapped the top of the helmet with his knuckles. Then he took off his black leather jacket and draped it over Kaguya's shoulders.
It was far too big for her, wrapping her completely.
Damian climbed onto the front seat and started the motorcycle. The engine roared deeply, vibrating through the air.
He turned his head with a smile. "Didn't I tell you just a moment ago?"
The bike surged forward, and Kaguya let out a scream, gripping tightly around his waist.
"To see the fireworks!"
The roar of the engine cut through the night as the wind lashed against their faces.
Kaguya held onto him tightly, pressing the helmet against his back. The speed made her forget her embarrassment, her thoughts, and everything she had left behind.
The lights and colors blurred before her eyes, turning into flashes that flickered without pattern. The wind struck her body with force, pushing her backward, while her heart pounded so fast she could feel it echoing in her ears.
Adrenaline completely enveloped her.
It was a strange feeling… yet familiar. Like the time he had taken her on a roller coaster, right at the moment when the car plunged from its highest point: vertigo, loss of control, and… freedom.
At first, she was tense, her fingers digging into his waist, feeling the firm muscles of Damian's abdomen beneath the fabric. But little by little, fear gave way to something else.
The roar of the wind, which had first overwhelmed her, began to sound like a wild melody that shut out the rest of the world.
She no longer saw the scenery; she only felt the warmth of his body and the security of his back, her only point of support. She wasn't thinking about the destination or where they were going.
Only about him.
She tightened her arms around his waist, pressing herself against him completely, and rested her head on his warm back. Through the helmet, she thought she could hear his heartbeat.
Thump… thump…
Her eyelids grew heavy, and the world became a trail of lights. Only he remained.
Damian felt her arms cling tighter. He smiled and twisted his wrist. The roar of the engine exploded, and the speedometer's needle brushed against the red zone.
No one tried to stop them. The police already knew who he was.
In a matter of seconds, the speed carried them to the coast of Kujukuri.
The engine went silent, and the world suddenly grew still, leaving only the deep, rhythmic sound of the Pacific waves.
With the helmet resting against his back, Kaguya stayed motionless, lost in the warmth surrounding her.
"Kaguya." Damian's voice reached her through the helmet. "We've arrived."
It was like an alarm clock. Kaguya's eyes shot open, and she realized she was still holding tightly onto his waist. She immediately pulled away, her face burning beneath the helmet.
Damian got off the motorcycle and leaned toward her. His face was so close to the visor that Kaguya could see the amused glint in his eyes.
"Get off."
"Mm…" She nodded, fumbling as she removed the helmet. The salty sea breeze brushed against her face, and her hair fluttered in the wind.
In front of her, a large hand reached out silently.
Kaguya looked up.
Damian was watching her with a calm smile.
Kaguya couldn't help but smile back. Her cheeks were still red, but her hand lifted on its own, sliding softly into his.
Warm… and firm.
Their fingers intertwined naturally.
"Come with me."
Damian guided her calmly across the cool sand. His black jacket fluttered behind him as they walked to where several cardboard boxes rested on the beach.
He crouched down, tore the tape open, and began taking out various types of fireworks. Kaguya watched him curiously.
He picked up a thin stick with a small golden star at the tip and held it out to her.
"Want to try?"
Kaguya took it carefully.
Damian snapped his fingers.
!
A small orange flame flickered to life at the tip of his finger.
Kaguya's eyes widened. Even though she had already heard about the Gojo family matter and knew he wasn't an ordinary person, seeing him ignite fire out of nothing made her heart race.
The flame lit her face with a warm glow. Damian brought it close to the stick, and the moment it touched the tip, a shower of golden sparks burst forth instantly.
The radiance danced in the air, reflecting in Kaguya's crimson eyes.
She watched the sparks with a childlike smile.
Seeing the gleam in her eyes, Damian ruffled her hair.
Then, as if performing a magic trick, he pulled several toys out of the box: a spinning top that whirled while shooting fire, a small rocket that left a trail of colors, and sparklers that crackled with bright flashes. He piled them into her arms.
"Take them. Have fun."
Kaguya's eyes shone even brighter. In that instant, all her composure vanished. She took off her shoes and ran barefoot across the sand, lighting the fireworks one after another, laughing as she watched them spin and soar.
When they were all spent and the smell of gunpowder still lingered in the air, Kaguya came running back to Damian, her cheeks flushed, her eyes sparkling, and her smile radiant.
Damian let out a quiet laugh, turned around, and pulled a large metal block of fireworks from the box. He ran a few meters ahead, set it down on the sand, then came back and took her hand, guiding her backward.
They sat together on the sand, and Damian raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
!
The fuse lit, sending a bright trail of sparks forward.
Boom
The first rocket soared upward with a tail of light and burst in the sky, illuminating the beach with a sphere of gold and red.
Then thousands of shimmering lights rained down like a waterfall.
Boom Boom Boom
One after another, the fireworks filled the sky with color: chrysanthemums, willows, peonies. The heavens were covered in hues of purple and crimson, and their glow wrapped around the two figures sitting on the sand.
Kaguya lifted her face, never looking away from the spectacle. The lights reflected in her pupils like tiny diamonds, and a contented smile curved her lips.
The breeze played with her hair as her head slowly leaned until it rested on Damian's arm.
He didn't move, simply letting her stay there.
"Damian-kun…"
Damian turned his head. Kaguya was still gazing upward, but her face, illuminated by the lights, carried a tenderness that stole his breath away.
Her eyelashes trembled. Then she turned her face toward him, and her crimson eyes met his.
"Tonight…" she murmured, pausing briefly before smiling shyly. "I don't want to go home."
________
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