The weather in midsummer is always changeable. It was bright and sunny at noon, but by evening when school ended, it was pouring rain.
"Yukino, time to go home."
Looking at the slender rain threads connecting sky and earth, with Ryuya's physical attributes, he naturally wasn't worried about a little rain.
Because many students hadn't brought umbrellas, the shops selling them, along with taxis and buses, were all packed.
Not wanting to use magecraft to bully ordinary people, Ryuya planned to use his jacket to shield Yukino from the rain and use a bit of mana to create an 'umbrella'.
"Ryuya, you really are..."
Looking at Ryuya with some worry, Yukino was still thinking about the noon incident.
Really, even though he was just here to make up the numbers, she ended up caring about her brother just like those other women before.
Although reluctant, she briefly explained her 'sibling' relationship with Ryuya. The lunch break wasn't long, and after that, Eriri bid farewell to Yukino and Ryuya, saying she had classes in the afternoon and would see them tomorrow or something.
She spent the afternoon classes thinking about Ryuya. Lacking confidence, Yukino was actually very worried about losing her brother.
This anxious, hesitant mood made her indifferent to the afternoon lessons. But seeing Ryuya signal he would shield her from the rain to go home, the young maiden's heart immediately lifted again.
Pretending to be helpless as she walked with Ryuya, her heart was secretly delighted.
…
In the heavy rain, the two hiding under Ryuya's jacket seemed to exist in a space of another world, an absolute territory no one could invade.
As if also fearing this existence, the pouring rain parted around them, avoiding them as if alive.
Both tacitly remained silent. Ryuya watched the path, while Yukino... watched Ryuya.
Although Ryuya was tall and slender, considerably taller than Yukino, their footsteps were remarkably synchronized. This is a tacit understanding cultivated over time and Ryuya's proactive care.
Her heart yearned for everything about Ryuya, but like Artoria once did, Yukino also feared that confessing would lead to failure and completely losing her brother.
After a brief jog, since the apartment was very close to the school, they arrived home.
"Yukino, you go clean up first, take a hot bath. I'll make dinner."
Although he had specifically controlled his mana during the return, not letting a single drop of rain touch Yukino, Ryuya still responsibly suggested.
"No, Ryuya, you go bathe first. I'll make dinner."
Shaking her head, in this world, Yukino's cooking skills were decent, thanks to Ryuya.
"You will?"
Feeling his little sister might be foolish, Ryuya subconsciously touched Yukino's forehead.
"Don't look at me like that. You helped me a lot today, Ryuya. I'm just making one meal."
She wasn't some villain who only knew how to take. Relying completely on Ryuya was just subconscious absolute trust.
Knowing her attitude towards Ryuya yesterday was somewhat poor, and today occupying the small classroom, having him find other club members, etc...
She also wanted to express her goodwill to her brother. Ultimately, Yukino just didn't know how to express these feelings.
Gently tugging Ryuya's sleeve, her stubborn demeanor clearly wouldn't back down.
"Hmm... I understand."
Nodding, Ryuya went to draw a bath first.
At the dinner table, perhaps because too much had happened these past two days, neither initiated conversation.
After the meal, Ryuya handled cleaning up, while Yukino went to bathe.
Inside the bathroom.
She's soaking in the bathtub filled with the water Ryuya had used earlier, as people in the Japan often don't change the water between family members.
In fact, Yukino couldn't accept that.
She used to meticulously clean the bathroom before every bath. But after moving out to live with Ryuya, she changed this habit.
One wonders how the Yukinoshita parents and Haruno would feel if they knew.
Gurgle...
Submerging her whole body in the bathtub water, only her head exposed, Yukino felt the water temperature, 'It was Ryuya's used bathwater.'
An unnatural blush gradually spread across her face. Recalling the embrace when they returned home in the rain today, it was the warmest moment Yukino had ever felt.
Closing her eyes slightly, the girl's murmuring voice sounded.
"Onii-chan..."
…
In the bedroom, a new day had arrived. Ryuya prepared to start today's life simulation.
'System, I want to start a life simulation.'
[Confirming host's life simulation. Currently available scenario, Rashomon.]
[Life simulation beginning. Please select talents to carry for this simulation.]
"I choose Fairy of Avalon, The Eternal Nation, and Lord of the End."
[Confirmed carried talents: Fairy of Avalon (S), The Eternal Nation (SS), Lord of the End (SS). The simulation begins.]
[You are born.]
Another very familiar phrase. Looking at the dim evening light around him, Ryuya wondered why he never saw his parents upon birth.
'Couldn't I be born like an ordinary person?'
[As a Phantasmal Species fairy, you were born in this chaotic era. You find this world lacks the mystery of the Age of Gods. The existence of mana is so sparse it's indescribable. Mana growth is incredibly difficult.]
[Due to the influence of The Eternal Nation and Lord of the End, even though this world lacks the mana of the Age of Gods, even though this world is far from your Britain, even though you are just a newborn infant, a king is a king. Even a king in a foreign land is a king followed by the masses.]
[Tengu from the mountains, Yuki-onna from the snow country, Kappa from the rivers, weak Kitsune... The youkai remnants of this era, pushed to the fringes by humanity, all gathered by your side. They follow you, pledge loyalty to you, and honor you as their king.]
Growing up gradually under the care of these weak youkai, Ryuya occasionally went down the mountain to look, visiting human villages.
"This era is in an awkward period of transition."
With the complete decline of the Age of Gods, few human experts could utilize mana. Most began studying martial paths, aiming to defeat the various Oni walking the earth.
Not clearly distinguishing between Oni and youkai, from the human perspective, both youkai and Oni were monsters that preyed on humans.
Therefore... the youkai, also affected by the decline of the Age of Gods' mystery, could only live with difficulty, existing as beings not accepted by humans.