Hiratsuka Ryosuke grabbed Nishimiya Yuzuru because he saw Nishimiya Shoko suddenly stop at the corner. If Shoko had turned her head and paid the slightest attention to the utility pole, she would have discovered them.
Shoko hadn't noticed their movements for two reasons. First, her hearing was naturally weaker than average. Second, her attention was caught by a small creature in front of her.
"Woof! Woof!" A yellow and white Akita dog ran up to Shoko, panting and wagging its tail furiously. Shoko seemed familiar with the dog; she smiled faintly and reached out to pet its head, looking relaxed and at ease.
Behind the pole, the two observers were anything but relaxed.
Nishimiya Yuzuru hadn't initially understood why Ryosuke had yanked her back, but the sudden realization that her sister had stopped right in front of them terrified her. We were almost exposed! she thought, hastily trying to steady her heart rate and breathing behind the pole.
But a moment later, she realized she was being tightly held in a boy's embrace. Their summer clothes were thin, and both were wearing short sleeves. She could clearly feel the warmth of his body and the firmness of his muscles. Despite her boyish demeanor, Nishimiya Yuzuru was fundamentally a young girl. In the boy's warm, strong hug, their arms touched skin-to-skin. Her previously startled heart rate hadn't settled, and now it sped up even faster.
Nishimiya Yuzuru craned her head slightly to catch a breath. Her eyes met Ryosuke's serious face. The boy's warm breath fanned her cheek, causing it to flush instantly. As if burned by boiling water, she quickly lowered her head, curled her body inward, and nervously squeezed the hem of her shirt, feeling utterly overwhelmed.
The warmth of the hug made her mind wander. She was reminded of that equally warm, sturdy back in the bamboo forest a year ago. Ryosuke-nii... he really is handsome. At that moment, Yuzuru felt a hint of envy toward her sister, whom she cherished most.
No, no, what am I thinking? She immediately shook her head, trying to clear away the stray thoughts.
After another moment, Nishimiya Shoko continued walking without looking back.
Ryosuke stepped out from behind the pole and said calmly, "Let's go, Yuzuru. We'll follow her."
He walked a few steps, then noticed Nishimiya Yuzuru standing motionless behind the pole, looking down.
"Yuzuru, are you feeling unwell? Your face is so red, and you're sweating a lot," Ryosuke asked with concern, noticing her unusual state.
Nishimiya Yuzuru snapped back to reality, saw his concerned gaze, and quickly waved her hands. She could vaguely feel the lingering warmth of the hug on her body, and she was too flushed to meet Ryosuke's eyes. She shifted her gaze to the utility pole next to her and lightly kicked it. She whispered incoherently, "I... I'm fine, Ryosuke-nii. Let's keep following her."
"Are you sure you're okay?" Ryosuke eyed Yuzuru suspiciously. The usually frank and spirited Nishimiya Yuzuru, whose behavior was often like a boy's, was now acting as if Shoko had possessed her.
Nishimiya Yuzuru, feeling extremely guilty, nodded repeatedly like a pecking chick.
Ryosuke stood on his toes, gazing toward the direction Shoko had gone, realizing her figure was receding into the distance. He continued, "Alright, if you're fine, let's hurry up, or we'll lose Shoko." Fearing they might lose their target, he quickly chased after her.
Nishimiya Yuzuru lightly patted her face, which felt hot. She took a deep breath to compose herself, then followed after him.
The Peculiar Practice Session
There weren't many places to hide near the river. This time, Ryosuke and Yuzuru had to crouch near a bridge railing, observing their target from afar.
Nishimiya Shoko sat alone on the grass. She opened her empty lunch box, enjoying the cool breeze. She was practicing because she wanted to give Ryosuke a homemade lunch box after school started. Even after practicing many times during the holidays, she was still nervous.
Nishimiya Shoko pretended to pick up food from the empty box, but the hand holding the chopsticks trembled uncontrollably. She gazed into the air next to her, as if transported back to the time before she learned to speak, and asked in a faint, unclear, mosquito-like voice, "Ryo... Ryosuke, does the lunch I made taste good?"
As soon as she finished, she put down the chopsticks and continuously tapped her head with both hands. Oops, Shoko, you big idiot! If you fed him like that, the food would fall to the ground!
She repeated the action over and over until her hand stopped trembling. After several attempts, her hand finally steadied. She had completed her practice for the day.
She then looked toward the empty air beside her and timidly spoke, "Ryo... Ryosuke, I... I want to eat this. Can you feed me?" She then lifted her own hand, placed the empty chopsticks into her mouth, and pretended to chew.
Nishimiya Shoko cupped her cheeks and squinted her eyes. She wore a look of pure happiness, as if enjoying the most delicious food on earth. Yay!This feeding practice was a success! You made great progress from yesterday, Shoko-chan, you're amazing!
Crouching by the bridge, the two observers naturally couldn't hear what Shoko was saying, but her actions were certainly bizarre. Ryosuke finally understood why Yuzuru had suggested her sister was under an Onmyōji curse. This was too spooky; his good eyesight confirmed there was no food on the chopsticks.
He watched the scene unfold, blinking blankly. His confidence from before had lessened. He tentatively asked the girl beside him, "Yuzuru, how long has Shoko been like this? I think your sister is acting even stranger than my sister today."
"I knew it! My sister has been cursed, hasn't she, Ryosuke-nii? I told you I wasn't lying!" Nishimiya Yuzuru stated self-righteously.
The result was another flick on the forehead.
Ryosuke glanced at Yuzuru and said earnestly, "Don't say that about your sister. Shoko must be hiding something from us. We need to find a way to ask her about it later." It was the modern age; Hiratsuka Ryosuke didn't believe in the occult.
"Hmph!" Nishimiya Yuzuru rubbed her head, pouted, and let out a soft huff of dissatisfaction.
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
A sudden, sharp bark came from right next to Nishimiya Yuzuru. Though normally not afraid of dogs, the sudden noise startled her, and she instinctively jumped toward Ryosuke. She grabbed his arm tightly and shouted, "Ryosuke-nii! A dog!"
Hiratsuka Ryosuke shielded Nishimiya Yuzuru behind him and glared fiercely at the dog. He raised one hand high, occasionally waving it, posturing to attack. Dogs that bite don't usually bark so aggressively, and this snarling dog was likely all bluster. The dog and the two people stood in a stalemate for a brief moment before the Akita dog turned and trotted off sheepishly.
Nishimiya Yuzuru's eyes sparkled, and she looked at Hiratsuka Ryosuke with admiration. "Wow, Ryosuke-nii, you're amazing!"
Hiratsuka Ryosuke smiled and patted Yuzuru's head. "Are you okay, Yuzuru?"
Yuzuru, like an obedient puppy, sweetly lowered her head to enjoy the petting. She kept her head down, a smile playing in her eyes, secretly thinking, Hehe, Ryosuke-nii is so dependable, and his hand is so warm.
Ryosuke genuinely liked Nishimiya Yuzuru, too. She was a loyal, vibrant, and natural little sister.
Just as the atmosphere between them was warm and pleasant...
Clatter!
A sharp, clear sound came from nearby. Both of them, crouching by the bridge, looked up at the sound.
Nishimiya Shoko was standing on the bridge above them. Her eyes were wide, her mouth slightly ajar, and her lower lip was trembling. Ryosuke used to love stroking her head that way, but now he was gently stroking her sister Yuzuru's head. Even her lunch box had slipped from her hand, the wooden box hitting the ground with a crisp sound.
Nishimiya Shoko looked utterly bewildered, her mind a complete blank, seemingly unable to process anything. Finally, her facial muscles moved slightly, and she struggled to force a few words from her throat.
"Ryo... Ryosuke, and Yuzuru, what are you doing here?"