Chapter 93: Did Kaguya Confess?
After triple-checking that Yakumo Yukari had well and truly departed, Kaguya Houraisan, being a Person of Penglai and thus immortal, was naturally not one to be stingy with her vitality. She decided, without a moment's hesitation, to press her luck.
First, she tossed out a simple question to test the waters.
[2456 × 5426 =?]
The ghost letter responded almost instantly.
[13326256]
"Good, it still works." Kaguya nodded, a flicker of satisfaction in her eyes. She took a deep breath, steeling herself, and finally posed the question that truly mattered.
[Question: How old is Yakumo Yukari this year?]
Both Haruto and Kaguya held their breath, their gazes locked onto the surface of the ghost letter. At some point, another figure had appeared beside them. Yakumo Ran had quietly returned, her almond-shaped eyes now also alight with a burning curiosity.
Kaguya's brow furrowed for a second, but she felt no sense of unease at the shikigami's presence. As she pondered this, two blood-red characters slowly bled onto the paper.
[17]
"???"
Three enormous, phantom question marks materialized above their heads. Was this answer for real?
Haruto shot Kaguya a look, and the immortal princess immediately understood.
[Is Yakumo Yukari a seventeen-year-old beautiful girl?]
[Yes.]
[454 × 464 =?]
[210656]
[Is Yakumo Yukari the one and only, peerless, super-beautiful girl in all of heaven, earth, and the mortal world?]
[Yes.]
[How old is Yakumo Yukari?]
[Seventeen.]
[How many years has Yakumo Yukari lived?]
[Seventeen.]
After a long series of attempts, both Haruto and Kaguya lapsed into a heavy silence.
With a sharp smack, Kaguya indignantly slammed the ghost letter onto the ground. "This piece of junk is way too cowardly!"
Haruto gave up completely, slumping onto the bed with a defeated sigh. He habitually reached out to grab a fluffy fox tail, only belatedly realizing that Yakumo Ran had returned. He couldn't help but grumble, his voice laced with gloom.
"Ran, you just ran off. You didn't even give us a heads-up."
"My apologies, my apologies. It was an emergency, Haruto-sama. I truly didn't have time to bring you and the others with me," Yakumo Ran replied, laughing awkwardly.
Her tone was sincere as she stepped forward to gently massage Haruto's shoulders. Her movements, however, suddenly paused. Her gaze fell upon the transparent ring on Haruto's left middle finger, and a glint of pure gossip flashed in her eyes.
"Have you and Princess Kaguya... made your relationship official?"
"Eh?" Haruto blinked, utterly uncomprehending. Nearby, Kaguya, who had been sulking, suddenly sat bolt upright, her back ramrod straight.
Yakumo Ran looked at the oblivious Haruto, then glanced at the flustered princess, and a knowing smile bloomed on her face. She instantly understood.
She pursed her lips, trying to suppress her amusement. "This ring was a gift from Princess Kaguya, was it not?"
"Is there a problem with that?" Haruto nodded, though he could already guess the answer from the teasing lilt in Ran's voice.
"My apologies, I am not entirely clear on the specifics myself. You might as well ask Lady Yukari, Haruto-sama," Yakumo Ran said, her voice a model of polite apology.
Kaguya quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing that Haruto was about to press the issue, she shot to her feet. "I'm heading back. My game's team raid is about to start."
Before her words had even finished echoing, Kaguya was already hurrying away.
Yakumo Ran glanced at the princess's retreating back, then at her dear Haruto-sama, and bowed gracefully before taking her own leave.
Haruto rested his chin in his hand, pondering for a long moment. Then, with a newfound resolve, he marched to Yakumo Yukari's bedroom, pushed the door open decisively, and rushed to her bedside in three quick strides.
"Yukari-nee!"
"Tell me, what trouble have you caused now?" Yukari's voice was lazy, muffled by her pillows. "You only call me 'Yukari-nee' when you want something."
"What do you mean, 'what trouble'? That's prejudice! A stereotype! Besides, I just got back. How could I have possibly had time to cause any trouble?" Haruto muttered in dissatisfaction.
"Stop being cheeky and get to the point."
"Huh? You weren't peeking at us just now?"
"I'm not that bored." Yakumo Yukari rolled her eyes at him.
"Is there anything special about this ring?" Haruto held up his hand, showing her the crystalline band.
Yukari was momentarily taken aback, then a single eyebrow arched in amusement. "Have you and that princess made your relationship official?"
"No." Haruto shook his head, then added tentatively, "But Kaguya gave me this ring."
"And did she specifically ask you to wear it on the middle finger of your left hand?" Yukari pressed.
Haruto nodded.
"Then that's it. Wearing a ring on the left middle finger indicates that the wearer is engaged or in a committed relationship. Doesn't that mean you've confirmed your relationship?"
"Are you sure?" Haruto still found it hard to believe.
"Why would I lie to you? If you don't believe me, go ask her yourself," Yukari said, rolling her eyes at him again.
Ask her himself?
Haruto couldn't help but imagine the scene—
He'd ask: 'Kaguya, what did you mean by giving me this ring?'Kaguya would look at him with disdain.'Didn't I say? I only gave it to you because I felt pity for you.'He'd ask again:'Then why did you insist I wear it on my left middle finger?'Kaguya would feign confusion.'Huh?'He'd go all in:'I'll be blunt. Do you like me?'Kaguya would pull an exaggerated, mocking face.'No way, no way! Haruto, you don't really think this princess meant that, do you? But... if you really want it that badly, it's not like this princess couldn't reluctantly...'
...The mere thought of that scenario sent a shudder down Haruto's spine.
No, absolutely not. He couldn't let himself be manipulated like that. He could ask, but he had to have some insurance first.
He looked at his sister, his expression suddenly serious. "Yukari-nee, do we have any rings of the same style at home?"
"I've already prepared them for you." Yakumo Yukari reached into a gap, fumbled around for a moment, and eventually pulled out an exquisite box filled to the brim with all sorts of rings. "Take your pick. I'm not short on these."
Haruto sifted through the collection, finally selecting a ring made of the same material, equally crystal clear, and of the exact same size.
Looking at the two nearly identical rings, he couldn't help but feel a pang of suspicion. If he didn't know better, he'd almost suspect that his sister and Yagokoro Eirin had conspired on this long ago.
After securing the ring, Haruto didn't head straight for Eientei.
Based on his understanding of Kaguya, going there now would only result in him being mocked as a 'shrimp-headed youkai'.
Besides, he had a long list of things to take care of.
Haruto counted on his fingers as he walked toward the Garden of the Sun.
First, he had to find Kazami Yuuka and have her clear a space in the center of the flower field to build his Secret Cabin. Then, he'd ask her to help plant that bag of Ghost Seeds he'd acquired to decorate the place.
Next, he'd visit Patchouli at the Scarlet Devil Mansion to trouble her with researching that ghost sticker. While he was there, he'd see if there was any progress on the mermaid pill research.
It would be even better if he ran into Aya Shameimaru; he could have her return to Youkai Mountain and send the ghost camera to those Kappa at their heavy industries division for repairs.
Most, he had to talk business with Reimu. He needed to buy the talismans and talisman cards she made so he could act as a middleman, earn a tidy profit, and finally achieve pocket money freedom. That way, he could exchange for other ghost artifacts from the game, and maybe even find that special one said to be able to bind one more person to enter an instance with him.
If he could really find it, Haruto would definitely bring Youmu along. At night, he'd have her Half-Phantom as a body pillow. Plus, she was exceptionally protective; if anyone so much as bared their teeth at him, she'd cut them down with a single, decisive sword strike.
Finally, under the pretext of delivering a gift to Yagokoro Eirin, he would go to Eientei, find Kaguya, and give her this ring.
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