Bonus chapter 🌟
"...Hurry up and get dressed, then let's head back to the seawall."
After 'replenishing mana' once more, Mahiru's pretty face was stained crimson. With her head lowered in shame, she hurried forward.
But after walking several paces, she didn't hear any movement behind her. Turning her head in confusion, she realized Sora was still standing rooted to the spot.
"Sora-kun, why aren't you moving?"
Mahiru suddenly grew a bit worried.
Did he develop 'magic resistance'? Is kissing the cheek no longer effective? Does it have to be... a real kiss?
Sora, with his eyes closed, said with absolute seriousness: "Because Mahiru-sama hasn't told me I can open my eyes yet. I don't dare walk with my eyes closed."
"..."
So irritating!
He's actually teasing me, super irritating!
Mahiru's pink cheeks quickly puffed out: "Open your eyes and hurry up and follow me."
"Yes, ma'am."
"..."
A moment later.
The two returned to the seawall together.
"Phew..."
Mahiru softly exhaled. While straightening her damp clothes, she tensed her pretty face, trying hard to use a nonchalant tone to command:
"Sora-kun, you are not allowed to tell anyone what happened in the time-stopped world."
Sora raised his right hand: "What if I do?"
Mahiru couldn't help but glare affectionately at him: "Then I'll give Sora-kun physical amnesia."
Sora asked again:
"What if I accidentally sleep-talk about it while dreaming? That won't be considered a crime, right?"
Mahiru lightly gritted her silver teeth: "...Equally guilty!"
"Mahiru-san is abusing her authority..."
"Anyway, you're not allowed to tell anyone!"
"..."
Although she didn't regret it, they weren't dating after all. If others found out about the kisses today, she would definitely be too embarrassed to show her face, right?
So, she absolutely couldn't let anyone else know.
"Sora-kun, I'm ending the Time Stop."
Mahiru softly reminded him, then quietly deactivated the Time Stop.
The paused world instantly 'came alive' again.
The sound of waves crashing against the seawall, the whistle of a distant ship, the chirping of birds in the sky—countless sounds flooded their ears.
"Although noise can be annoying, absolute silence is actually even more terrifying..."
Sora cleaned his ears while looking towards the beach.
He saw the rescued housewife sitting on the sand, looking around with a blank expression, probably thinking she was experiencing pre-drowning hallucinations. It wasn't until she heard her daughter crying and calling for 'Mom' that she finally snapped back to reality, fiercely hugged her daughter, and wailed at the top of her lungs.
Passersby on the beach, hearing the commotion, approached to ask what happened.
Between sobs, the housewife recounted the inexplicable events that happened to her. The story spread wider and wider, eventually evolving into an urban legend about an angel descending from heaven.
"Mahiru-san." Sora withdrew his gaze and looked at Angel-sama beside him. Her lips were slightly curled upward, clearly happy about saving them. He asked softly, "Which of your five senses did you lose this time?"
Mahiru pursed her beautiful lips, replying softly:
"It seems to be my sense of touch..."
Hearing this, Sora extended his right hand and said methodically:
"Mahiru-san, you don't want to catch another cold and fever, do you?"
"..."
Angel-sama couldn't help but turn her face away, her bright eyes glaring at him affectionately. But ultimately, she shyly raised her soft hand, allowing Sora to gently hold it.
Unknowingly, it was already dusk.
Sora and Angel-sama stood hand-in-hand on the seawall, looking together toward the end of the ocean.
Gazing into the distance, the sun had already become an orange-red fireball, slowly sinking below the horizon.
"The sunset is so beautiful. I feel like I've been so busy every day that I haven't seriously looked up at the sunset in a long time..."
Mahiru murmured softly.
"The sunset is actually like this every day; whether it looks beautiful or not depends entirely on your mood." Sora held a different view, his voice calm.
"Only when you are happy does the sunset look beautiful. When you're feeling indifferent, the sunset is just ordinary. When someone is lonely and desolate, they can only sigh, 'The sunset is infinitely beautiful, yet it's nearing dusk.'"
"..."
Hearing this, Mahiru pursed her pink lips and secretly looked up at Sora's profile.
(Sora-kun makes a lot of sense.)
(So that means... the reason I find the sunset so beautiful today is actually because I am very happy right now?)
Looking at the boy's profile tinged gold by the setting sun, and feeling the scorching heat transmitting from his palm, Angel-sama chose to face her own heart rather than run away in shyness.
(That's right...)
(The sunset is still that ordinary sunset.)
(It's because Sora-kun is watching the sunset with me that today's sunset is so beautiful...)
The magic purification was quickly completed.
Sora released Angel-sama's soft hand and bent down to pack up the fishing gear:
"We can head home now. Riding our bikes back, we'll arrive just before it gets completely dark."
"Okay..." Mahiru's pretty face was flushed. She quietly hid her right hand behind her back.
"I'll help."
The two quickly packed up, left the seawall, and returned to the small shop.
Sora first returned the rented fishing gear, then bought a super-large cooler box, lined it with ice, and placed the horse mackerel they caught today inside to keep them fresh.
They had caught over a dozen horse mackerel in one afternoon. Letting them go was out of the question; naturally, they were going to take them back and eat them.
Before leaving, the shop owner mentioned that there was a raffle event today for customers who spent over a certain amount, asking Sora and Mahiru if they wanted to participate.
"I'll participate."
Naturally, Sora wouldn't refuse. Only a fool wouldn't participate in a free raffle.
It was called a raffle, but it wasn't an opaque cardboard box. It was a handcrafted lucky wheel. The handwritten prizes on it were basically common snacks, drinks, and the like.
"Mahiru-san, you go first." Sora stepped aside.
"Okay."
Mahiru stepped forward and spun the prize wheel. Unfortunately, her luck wasn't great; she only won a bottle of soda.
"My turn."
Sora stepped up and gave it a casual spin. His luck was surprisingly quite good; he won a half-person-sized, fluffy panda body pillow.
"It's a panda!"
Looking at the black-and-white panda body pillow, Mahiru's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Here." Sora handed the panda pillow over. "I have no interest in body pillows."
"I-I can't take it..." Although Mahiru clearly wanted it very much, she still shook her head and refused.
"Sora-kun, take it back for Sagiri-chan."
"Sagiri's room is full of body pillows, there's barely any space left for them." Sora said casually. "I'm just thirsty anyway. Give me that bottle of soda, and the body pillow is yours."
Mahiru ultimately couldn't resist the cute temptation of the panda body pillow. She took it with both hands, blushing as she whispered her thanks:
"Thank you, Sora-kun."
"..."
The two left the small shop, secured their items to their bicycles, and then rode off toward the setting sun.
The journey was silent.
It wasn't until the vast twilight enveloped the earth and the streetlights quietly turned on that Sora and Mahiru finally returned home.
"You worked hard this afternoon. Go back, take a shower, and rest well." Sora parked his bike and looked at Angel-sama. "I'll put the horse mackerel in the fridge for now, we'll eat them tomorrow night."
"Okay." Mahiru nodded gently in agreement. "Sora-kun, see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
Returning home, Mahiru immediately took a shower, changed into clean, refreshing pajamas, and sat on the sofa, happily hugging the panda body pillow.
The originally cold and empty living room had now quietly warmed up.