Near the entrance of Toyogasaki Private Academy, Shichen leaned against a tree trunk, looking up at the two giant dragons in the distant sky.
It was truly a dreamlike scene, but he was no longer surprised.
Having learned spatial magic, he naturally felt the spatial anomaly from the start, and since it was similar to the signs when Tohru first appeared, he decided to wait and see.
But he didn't expect Kanna to appear.
The moment he saw the white dragon, Shichen recognized her. It wasn't that he was very familiar with Kanna, but because Tohru was already there, he immediately made the connection.
Shichen was already very content that Tohru could appear in this world, but he didn't expect Kanna to come as well, and—
[Divine Spark Fragment host detected!]
[Target: Kanna.]
[Quest: Spend time with her, make her dependent on you, then you can collect the Divine Spark Fragment.]
As he expected, Kanna was indeed a Divine Spark Fragment host.
Kanna was probably here to find Tohru, but it didn't matter; since she had come, she wouldn't be able to escape.
Little Kanna was perfect for raising as a daughter; Shichen had this thought even when he was across dimensions.
He wasn't in a hurry to get involved in the two dragons' reunion. He believed Tohru could keep Kanna, and even if she couldn't, Kanna wouldn't be in such a rush to leave.
Ding-dong! Ding-dong!
Just then, the school bell finally rang, signaling the end of classes. Shichen withdrew his gaze and looked towards the school gate, quietly awaiting the figure of that mature and charming girl.
Soon, students began to appear at the school gate, though not many, mostly members of the going-home club.
Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar uniforms, Shichen felt a strange sense of nostalgia.
Shichen's position wasn't hidden, and many people quickly noticed him. Some even recognized him.
After all, he was a bit conspicuous, and they still remembered the scene of him and Utaha Kasumigaoka together a month ago.
Some people involuntarily stopped, wanting to see if Shichen had come to find Utaha Kasumigaoka again.
Although the going-home club mainly focused on games and anime, they also liked pretty girls, especially those with a two-dimensional vibe.
A senior, a top student, long black hair, black stockings, unapproachable... So many attributes, they really hit their preferences.
It was impossible for them not to care when someone they were interested in was involved with an opposite-sex person.
The essence of humanity is gossip.
More and more students gathered at the gate, mostly male students. There were fewer female members in the going-home club, as high school was their age to celebrate their youth.
Club activities were the most suitable place for them to celebrate their youth.
But there were also those who didn't like joining clubs; compared to hanging out with friends after school, club activities were much more boring.
It was mainly related to their dislike of studying.
These kinds of girls were basically categorized as gyarus, but gyarus had the least resistance to handsome guys.
Shichen's appearance and unique aura completely piqued their interest, making them unable to resist calling their little sisters over to admire him together.
The crowd at the school gate quickly grew.
Shichen didn't pay attention to everyone's stares. In the past, he might have gotten carried away, but now, his heart was only filled with the girls he had already fallen for.
It was just that the commotion was a bit too big, making him wonder if he should continue to stay there.
He remembered that Utaha Kasumigaoka didn't participate in any clubs and usually came home quickly after school.
She couldn't have joined a club in the month he was gone, could she?
It wasn't good to cause trouble for the school, so Shichen decided to wait a little longer, then leave and wait for Utaha Kasumigaoka somewhere else.
It was a shame that the surprise would be gone.
But luckily, after a little over a minute, a beautiful figure slowly walked out of the school gate, carrying a shoulder bag.
Her walking posture was graceful, taking small steps. Her figure was captivating, her body excellent. The uniform seemed tailor-made for her, and when she wore it, she looked completely different from the other girls around her, youthful and charming.
Perhaps the weather was getting warmer, as she was wearing white over-the-knee socks, not the black stockings Shichen remembered, but the sliver of fair skin between her pleated skirt and over-the-knee socks was still exceptionally eye-catching, even more dazzling than stockings.
Her legs were long and shapely, full of charm, which should have been a contradiction with pure white stockings, yet it was so harmonious.
She was both a young girl and so mature.
The moment she appeared, the male students who had been focused on Shichen immediately shifted their gaze to her, their eyes burning with obvious admiration.
The female students, on the other hand, expressed a mix of awe, envy, and jealousy, their expressions changing very quickly.
Utaha Kasumigaoka ignored the gazes converging on her, her expression calm, as she had long been accustomed to it.
However, when she looked at the culprit causing the student gathering at the school gate, her cold, aloof demeanor instantly melted, and undisguised joy appeared on her face.
Involuntarily, she quickened her steps, walking towards that culprit.
Shichen smiled as he watched Utaha Kasumigaoka approach, opening his arms: "Poetry Feather, I'm back."
"You still know how to come back!"
Utaha Kasumigaoka didn't throw herself into his arms as he wished; instead, she gave his chest a punch, though it didn't hurt at all.
However, a smile hung on her face, clearly showing her pleasant surprise at Shichen's return.
"Did you miss me?" Shichen asked, still holding his arms open, smiling.
"Hmph~ Who would miss you?" Utaha Kasumigaoka scoffed, lifting her chin.
"That's truly heartbreaking."
"It's only been a month... Then do you miss me?" Utaha Kasumigaoka couldn't help but retort.
"Isn't my gesture already very obvious?" Shichen indicated his open arms.
"This is... what does this mean?" Utaha Kasumigaoka chuckled softly, asking knowingly.
"Are you really not going to give me one? We already hugged when I left, you know."
"Hmph~ That's different." Utaha Kasumigaoka retorted: "Back then, you said it was for a blessing. What is this now?"
"This is... a celebration of our reunion?"
"Asking me? Your attitude isn't firm enough. Rejected."
"Then let's try another." Shichen settled for a compromise, withdrawing one hand.
"This is?" Utaha Kasumigaoka looked at Shichen's outstretched right hand and blinked.
"A handshake should be fine, right?" Shichen said honestly.
"A handshake... So many people are watching."
"I'm not familiar with them. Or are you saying you care?"
"I'm not familiar with them either... But you still need to find a reason to convince me, right?"
"Hmm..." Shichen thought for a moment and said, "You're an author, and I'm your fan. How about we just consider it a handshake?"
"In that case... that could work." Utaha Kasumigaoka smiled and nodded, then placed her slender, fair hand in his.
Shichen held it, feeling its smooth, cool touch: "Let's go, time to head back."
"Help me carry my bag."
"No problem."
The two walked hand in hand, slowly departing under the dazed gaze of most of the crowd.
Everyone stared blankly at the well-matched figures of the two, their familiar voices still faintly reaching their ears.
"Why did you come out so late? Are you on duty today?"
"Don't even get me started. I've been pestered by a blonde twin-tailed girl recently, and it was hard to shake her off... When did you get to know that guy?"
"Huh?"
"Don't play dumb with me. When you left that day, that guy suddenly came looking for me and even called you 'Prince Brother.' What exactly did you do?"
"I don't understand..."
"Still pretending!"
"I really don't understand... Instead of that, there's something more important: there's an extra dragon at home."
"Hm?"
"..."
The two walked further and further away until they disappeared from sight, while everyone gathered at the gate remained in a daze.
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from inside the school, and immediately after, a slender, golden figure ran out of the school gate.
She gasped, looked around, and didn't see the figure she was expecting. She then ran up to the classmate who had informed her and urgently asked, "Where's that Kasumigaoka? And that man who was with her?"
"Just... just left..." One of the girls was startled by her but still pointed in the direction Shichen and Utaha Kasumigaoka had left, replying softly.
She immediately turned her head, her twin tails swinging, and looked in that direction.
Naturally, there was nothing there.