"Eh? Rai-kun, you... how did you know?!"
"My husband really did die in a car accident a few years ago."
Yukino Shinto blinked at Rai Hikaru in surprise, her deep-blue eyes widening.
"It wasn't hard to guess. If I had a wife as beautiful as you, Miss Yukino, I'd never let her deal with someone like Takahashi alone," Rai said with a faint smile.
"E–Eh… Rai-kun… you… you think I'm beautiful?" Yukino's cheeks flushed a faint pink. Her lashes lowered as her fingers nervously toyed with the hem of her blouse.
For someone who had lost her husband years ago, she suddenly looked more like a shy, lovestruck girl than a widow.
"Of course," Rai replied without hesitation, openly meeting her eyes. "If I'd met a woman like you earlier, Miss Yukino, I'd probably have fallen in love long ago."
"Wow… thank you, Rai-kun. You're flattering me too much…"
"Then… I-I hope you can find someone special soon," she said with a small smile.
Just hearing his words made Yukino's lips curve slightly with a subdued but unmistakable joy.
But the moment her gaze caught the wedding ring still circling her left ring finger, that smile faded almost instantly.
What was she even doing—feeling happy that Rai-kun might find someone?
That had nothing to do with her.
Suppressing the faint sting in her chest, she forced a gentle blessing out of her mouth instead.
"Women as beautiful as Miss Yukino don't come around often," Rai murmured.
Yukino, head lowered, didn't notice that Rai's eyes lingered quietly on her face as he spoke. The expression he wore was complicated—half fond amusement, half restrained temptation.
Honestly, Rai wanted to sigh.
Miss Yukino, why do you keep trying to hide that wedding ring? Don't you get it? That ring doesn't scare men away—it makes you even more irresistible.
Yukino said a few more polite words of thanks, but soon ran out of things to say.
Rai figured that Akane Shizunomiya should have finished up whatever she was doing by now, so he prepared to take his leave.
"Ah! Wait—before you go, Rai-kun…" Yukino suddenly spoke, her voice a little tense. "To thank you properly… I'd like to invite you to dinner this weekend. Would that be alright?"
"I think my schedule's open," Rai said with an easy nod.
"Then… let's exchange contact info."
Their fingers brushed as they exchanged phone numbers. The simple act felt strangely intimate, almost too natural between the two of them.
When Yukino finally went to close the door, she hesitated, reluctant.
But before the door could shut completely, Rai's hand pressed lightly against the frame. "Wait a second."
"Eh?" Yukino blinked, puzzled.
Rai unzipped his school bag, rummaged through it a moment, then drew out a small, thumb-sized charm carved from translucent jade.
"We only just met, but I believe in fate," he said, offering the charm to her.
"This is an amulet I got from a temple. It's said to calm the heart and ward off bad thoughts. Consider it a little gift from me."
Yukino took it almost on instinct.
The charm felt smooth and cool in her palm, shaped into a small square. Pale-blue light pulsed faintly from within—as if moonlight had been captured inside the gem. Just looking at it gave the impression of something precious, almost sacred.
"I… I can't accept this!" Yukino said quickly, shaking her head.
"You've already done so much for me today, Rai-kun. How could I possibly take something like this?"
She pushed it back toward him, but Rai gently refused.
"Please, Miss Yukino. I'm giving it to you because I think of you as a friend. Unless… you don't see me that way?"
That left her speechless. After a beat, she smiled softly and nodded.
"Then… thank you, Rai-kun. Truly. I really don't know how to repay you today… You helped me so much, and now you've given me this too. I don't even have anything prepared for you…"
"It's fine," Rai said lightly. "You can give me a present next time we meet."
He added with a teasing, almost mischievous tone, "But promise me this—keep that charm on you at all times. If you don't, I'll be really upset."
This "amulet," of course, was no ordinary trinket—it was the Qingming Protective Talisman he'd drawn from the [Pure Love God of War System] not long ago. When worn, it granted the bearer immunity to hypnotic effects.
"Eh… okay! I promise, I'll wear it every day," Yukino said quickly, sensing the rare seriousness in his voice.
Her heart fluttered. Maybe… was this his way of showing he cared?
Could this be one of those modern ways young people confessed—giving someone a charm and making them promise to always wear it, as proof they'd stay connected… like lovers?
Oh no! What am I even thinking—?!
Her cheeks burned as she scolded herself.
I'm a widow. There's no way I could ever… with a high school student, of all people!
Flustered, she shook her head rapidly, trying to banish the thought.
"Also," Rai added, his tone turning serious again, "be careful at home. Don't ever open the door to strangers. Especially not to that guy Takahashi. And if you ever see him again—pay attention to his hands. If he's wearing a ring, get away from him immediately."
"I understand," Yukino said earnestly, nodding.
She didn't really understand why, but somehow, she trusted Rai completely now.
"Alright, then I'll get going. And if anything happens, you can call me anytime, Miss Yukino."
He smiled faintly, pushing the door to close—
But before he could, a pair of warm, delicate hands cupped his.
He looked up. Yukino was gazing straight at him, holding his hand firmly between both of hers.
"Rai-kun… thank you. For everything you did today."
"If it weren't for you, I don't know what might've happened."
She lowered her head slightly, her voice soft but sincere. "I'm really, truly grateful."
Then—as though swept up by emotion—she bent at the waist in a deep bow, still holding his hand.
It should've been just a simple, polite gesture. But given Yukino Shinto's… figure, the effect was anything but innocent.
Rai felt his breath hitch as something soft and warm pressed down against the back of his hand—slowly, firmly, until his entire hand was enveloped.
"Hah…" Too dangerous, he thought, trying not to flinch. Miss Yukino, you're absolutely lethal.
In that moment of contact, Yukino's body trembled minutely. She almost straightened up, instinct screaming that the pose was far too compromising.
But then she remembered—this was gratitude. It would be rude to pull away too soon.
And so, wordlessly, they both pretended not to notice.
For a few long, silent heartbeats, neither moved.
By the time Yukino finally stood upright, Rai's hand felt like it was melting.
Her face burned crimson now. Without daring to look up again, she mumbled a goodbye and quickly shut the door.
Rai stood there for a second, staring at his hand. He lifted it, sniffed lightly—and a faint, intoxicating scent of her perfume lingered.
He chuckled and shook his head. "Good grief…"
Meanwhile
The moment the door clicked shut, Yukino's elegant, mature composure unraveled completely.
Her flushed face deepened to a vivid crimson that spread from her cheeks to the tips of her ears—and down the graceful curve of her neck. Her pale skin glowed with a soft pink haze, making her beauty all the more dangerously alluring.
Her knees gave way as a strange weakness overtook her. She slipped down to the floor, her back against the door, breath trembling.
Perhaps it was because her dormant yuki-onna powers had stirred without control. When snow melts, it becomes water—
—and now, water blossomed beneath her in shimmering ripples, pooling quickly across the floor in a faintly sticky sheen.
"…Rai-kun really is… wonderful," she whispered, clutching her chest as memories of the encounter flickered in her mind like fireflies against the snow.