"Thump, thump…" Akira and Shouko stepped out of their room and lightly knocked on the doorframe across the hall.

Without waiting for a response, Akira slid the door open to find Miyamura Shizuka sprawled on the tatami mat, casually scrolling through her phone.

"Mom, Shouko and I want to go for a walk nearby," Akira said.

Shizuka didn't even look up. She simply raised one hand in a halfhearted wave and yawned, "Tell your Dad in the living room. Let Iori take you around. I'm taking a nap."

Then she dropped her phone beside her and closed her eyes.

Seeing this, Akira silently shut the door and walked off with Shouko, hand in hand.

From the end of the corridor, bamboo wind chimes softly jingled in the mountain breeze, blending with the distant chirping of cicadas.

"Thump, thump, thump…"

"Come in," came the voice from the living room.

Akira pushed open the wooden door, letting the hanging wind chimes sing again.

Inside were his grandfather, uncle, and father. As soon as Grandpa saw Akira, his stern features softened.

"It's Akira. What is it?"

Akira and Shouko greeted everyone, then said, "Shouko and I want to take a walk around."

Before his father could speak, Grandpa chuckled, setting down his teacup.

"In these deep mountains, there's not much to see," he said. Then, after a pause, he added, "But I get it. Kids can't sit still. Iori should be downstairs. Let him take you, but don't go near the back woods."

Akira inwardly winced at the mention of Mitsuto Iori, recalling Iori's starry-eyed obsession with Shouko the moment they met.

He nearly refused, but thought better of it. Why make a fuss in front of Grandpa? He could just ditch Iori later.

"Okay," he said, nodding, then turned and led Shouko downstairs.

At the front desk, Mitsuto Junko was finishing up with some departing guests. She nodded as they walked past and glanced over when she noticed Shouko more clearly.

Earlier, she hadn't paid much attention—too busy. But now, her little brother's excited babbling about "that cute girl upstairs" made more sense.

She politely reintroduced herself to Shouko, who bowed politely in return. Junko gently patted Shouko's head with a smile.

Akira answered, "We just want to walk around the area a bit."

As they chatted, Iori emerged from the storage room, ears perking up at the mention of Shouko. His eyes flicked between her and Junko's hand on her head. His fingers itched.

"She's practically family," he thought to himself. "If Junko can pat her head, why not me?"

When Junko pulled her hand back, Iori saw his chance. He slowly reached out with his left hand—only for Shouko to sidestep him and latch onto Akira's arm with surprising speed.

She glared at Iori and snapped, "What are you doing?"

Everyone turned. Iori's hand froze in mid-air.

Junko blinked, then laughed awkwardly to break the tension. "Well then, if you're heading out, enjoy yourselves. But steer clear of the mountain trails."

Before Akira could respond, Junko's tone shifted as she whipped her head toward Iori.

"Hey! Why did you come out of the storage room empty-handed? Didn't I tell you what to get? Guests are still waiting!"

Iori quickly seized the escape route. "Oh! I forgot—I'll get it now!" He smacked her hand away, rubbed his ear where she pinched it, and bolted.

Junko sighed and turned back to Shouko. "I'm really sorry. Iori usually isn't like this. I'll make sure he learns some manners."

Akira, who had been gently patting Shouko's head to calm her, hesitated, thinking Junko was low-key scolding him too.

But before he could stop, Shouko reached up and pressed his hand back down onto her head, shooting him a glare—one that clearly meant, Keep going.

Unlike the look she gave Iori, though, this one was more of a pouty warning than an angry protest.

Junko shook her head, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "You two go on. Just don't wander too far."

As more guests entered, Junko turned back to the front desk, already a little too tired of the silent back-and-forth stares between the two lovebirds.

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1st Bonus Chapter - 150 POWER STONES

2nd Bonus Chapter - 300 POWER STONES

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