Chapter 342

Novia nodded and tossed the temari ball to the silent Miyu. "I understand that... So you've really decided that all three wishes are unrelated to yourself, but rather to Miyu Satsuki? If she finds out, it'll put a lot of pressure on her."

"No, I believe Miyu is a very strong child, and that's what I, as someone who was once a 'Divine Child,' would hope for... That way, even knowing that I will soon be leaving Miyu's side, I can still see her Miyu properly."

As a mother, I hope my child can have at least a basic level of happiness.

"Then, let the wish begin."

As Novia's confident words fell, everything before Sakatsuki Hiyori and Miyu Satsuki's eyes changed once more, and the apocalyptic scene was instantly rewritten into the Sakatsuki of the past.

"Um, just a moment."

Looking at Novia's retreating figure sitting on the floor outside the door, Sakatsuki Hiyori subconsciously asked, "How should Miyu and I address you? Should we use the Sakatsuki name as a disguise? Satsuki and all that..."

"That won't be necessary."

Novia didn't turn around, but simply wove together words in a calm tone.

"Ivia, that's enough for me."

Chapter 383 Miyu is my Galaxy.

The cicadas' chirping seemed to dissolve into the air; there must be a few perched somewhere on the wall in front of me.

Ivia thought so.

The reason he was so certain was because he had heard an unusually loud cry while wandering within the Bounded Field with Miyu Satsuki.

To this day, he has been taking care of this Divine Child who has not yet become a 'human' for a year, within the Bounded Field of the Sakatsuki, in accordance with Yoshiko's wish.

But instead of taking care of her, I think of her as a playmate or taking on some of the 'motherly' responsibilities for Yoshiko, such as feeding her, helping her bathe, telling her fairy tales at bedtime, and playing games together. It's a very peaceful life like that.

It's summer now, and even though they're inside the Bounded Field, the Sun's heat bounces back from below, making them feel scorching hot, though it's not a big deal for Miyu and Ivia.

The sky was blue, a cool breeze blew by, and you could hear the faint rustling of the nearby trees. Below the wall where cicadas chirped, there was grass everywhere. As soon as Ivia approached with Miyu, the fresh scent of grass surrounded their noses.

Summer has begun...

Ivia smiled.

It was a radiant smile that could adorn the sky, and one could even say that it was incredibly enchanting.

Then, Ivia pulled out a paintbrush from somewhere and began drawing on the wall, stroke by stroke. At this moment, the cicadas that had been hiding suddenly stood on the wall and continued to chirp, making it appear to outsiders as if the boy and the cicadas were standing side by side.

However, only Miyu Satsuki was there. After Ivia let go, she stood there like a doll.

Soon, Ivia's masterpiece was displayed halfway up the wall—a painting depicting the distant sea.

People lined the shore in a dense, scattered pattern, like grains of rice, while many small boats awaited their departure the next day, arranged like rice grains. Three figures stood out from the crowd.

"Looks like my drawing wasn't too bad."

Ivia gave a scrutinizing look and nodded, a slight smile playing on her lips, before Miyu.

"Miyu, you can draw too! Even though it's just doodles, you'll eventually see the truly vast ocean, Miyu."

After saying that, he took Miyu's hand, placed his own hand on top of hers, and made her hold the paintbrush tightly, and they began to doodle.

So the sea also appeared on the other half of the wall, and the sea in their paintings was infinitely vast, as if it could extend to any place.

Ivia stopped just before the painting was about to float into the sky, then lifted Miyu high in her arms and smiled at the doll-like figure, saying:

"Let's finish painting the sky after the long summer is over,"

The vast mountains and the somewhat lonely Japanese-style houses—all that can be seen within this Bounded Field is the area where Satsuki, her daughter, and Ivia have always lived.

"Miyu uses her own hands to paint the sky, so use those same hands to pave your own path. I light a lamp of blessing for your Future."

Miyu, who was looking at Ivia, naturally didn't have any particular thoughts. After all, for her at this moment, simply nodding or shaking her head was enough.

However, as always, when she felt those slightly mature fingertips touching her, Miyu's vision included not only the silver-haired boy in front of her but also the small flower buds swaying on the ground behind him, with a cool breeze blowing over them.

"It's getting late, we should head back."

Even though she knew Miyu wouldn't respond, Ivia still turned around and nodded exaggeratedly, making a small victory gesture as she spoke to her.

"After all, today is July 20th, which is your Birthday, Miyu. I'm sure Yoshiko has already prepared a Birthday cake."

At this moment, Ivia leaned slightly forward and spoke softly to Miyu.

Under the Sun, their shadows gradually lengthened, like the hands of a clock at sunset. The stars in the sky above looked like streetlights guiding their way.

Meanwhile, in the black-haired girl's vision as she was being led away, the wall gradually receded into the distance and became blurred.

It was as if I could see a real seaside, with waves crashing against the breakwater, turning into sparkling spray in the air, the scorching sun baking the bustling beach, and making the distant scenery sway, mixed with the chirping of cicadas... Every part of the sea was filled with the atmosphere of summer.

This image only disappeared when the wall completely vanished from Miyu's sight.

It was already night when the two got home.

"Miyu and I are back, Yoshiko."

Ivia, holding Miyu in her arms, bounced around like a child on the stone-paved ground outside, then pushed open the door and called out.

"Oh, you Miyu are back."

Upon hearing the door open, Yoshiko turned to look at the entrance and answered respectfully.

Sakatsuki's house has many rooms, but because there aren't many people, only a few are occupied.

However, today is Miyu's Birthday, so Yoshiko has carefully decorated the room. Ribbons hang gently, colorful balloons float in the air, and the walls are covered with handwritten Cards, each one filled with Sakatsuki Hiyori's blessings for her daughter, Miyu Satsuki.

On the table in the center of the living room, layers of delicate handmade delicacies are laid out: small and exquisite sushi, fragrant fried shrimp tempura, crystal clear fruit salad... everything is as Perfection as a child's favorite.

In the center of the table, a white cream cake sat quietly, topped with strawberries and adorned with a few thin Chocolate shavings. If you looked closely, you could even see the words "Happy Birthday, Miyu!" written in exquisite Chocolate sauce.

A few thin candles were stuck on the cake, and the dim candlelight illuminated the faces of the three people in the room as night fell.

Although theoretically one should make a wish on their Birthday, Yoshiko, who knew Miyu's condition, simply said "Happy Birthday" softly and didn't say anything more, just smiling as she watched Miyu being fed by Ivia.

"Speaking of which, didn't you feed Miyu too much?"

That's not true.

Ivia looked puzzled. "Can't I eat more?"

"It's not impossible..."

Yoshiko leaned back lazily in her chair. "Eating too much will easily make you fat, which is a real problem for girls."

"Didn't you tell me to take good care of Miyu?"

That's what they say...

Yoshiko's eyebrows furrowed in a lack of confidence, forming a V-shape.

"It's rare for you to say something like that, Yoshiko. You usually wish for me Miyu to be as close as possible, as if you see me as Miyu Satsuki's guardian and childhood sweetheart."

"I don't deny that I have this thought. After all, if Miyu has a childhood friend, she would be the number one person in our Sakatsuki."

Yoshiko sighed, "But even the deepest concern can be Poison. If you leave..."

Admittedly, Yoshiko initially hoped that Ivia would take care of Miyu because she thought that if she could get Ivia's contact information when Miyu went through hardships in the future, things might be easier... However, now that she thinks about it, that was a mistake.

However, with Ivia joining her, things became much easier for her. After all, just as her appearance suggested, Miyu, whether she was swinging on the swings or sitting on the seesaw, and would even Miyu about the manga in the corner of the room.

"Regardless of the past or the Future, I am here now. You can't expect my room door to be open forever for Miyu."

Well...

"That sounds like I'm some heinous villain, but you should understand, after all, you're from the Sakatsuki."

Sakatsuki Hiyori naturally understood some things as well.

Just as some people, who are neither detectives with their reasoning abilities nor researchers with their insightful observations, can still derive their own Answer to life simply from the everyday things they take for granted.

As a family founded on the ability to 'receive people's thoughts and unconsciously realize them,' it's natural that they would understand what happiness is when they see people praying for the happiness of others.

"After thinking about it, that's indeed the case."

"Very conscientious, not bad."

Ivia continued:

"However, your concerns are valid. But just like a shoelace that comes undone can be tied again, whether it's parting or anything else, we'll meet again someday. People have to keep moving forward on their journeys, don't they?"

Ivia touched Miyu's hair, where the colorful ribbons were falling above her.

"Speaking of which, I took good care of Miyu during the wish period. Although she couldn't speak, we were still very happy to be together. After all, she can bathe herself now without me having to do it myself, so I guess that's something I did, right, Miyu?"

Miyu Satsuki didn't speak, she just nodded.

"Alright, now that you've finished eating, Miyu, you can go take a shower."

After closing her eyes tightly, Miyu washed off the shampoo, and the Waterflow from the showerhead flowed over her head, body, and legs.

This doesn't mean she knows how to take a bath, but rather she's imitating Ivia's past practices, since she can't possibly have independent consciousness now.

After soaking in the water for the designated time, Miyu put on Yukata and walked out of the Bathroom.

Inside the already darkened room, the night sky could be seen through the window, with a half-moon peeking out from behind the clouds. Miyu, unmoved by this, simply walked outside and looked at Ivia sitting on the floor.

Normally, Ivia would take her back to her room, tell her a few fairy tales by the bedside, and then Miyu would go to sleep, waiting for Ivia to wake her up the next day. However, today Ivia was sitting on the floor and did not get up immediately.

"The stars are out, and so is the moon."

After saying this, Ivia stood up, pulled Miyu to sit up, and made them look up at the night sky together.

A half-moon appeared naturally in the night sky.

The moonlight piled up on the ground like a pool of water, pale and ethereal.

In the distance, the streetlights twinkled through the Bounded Field, and the stars in the night sky and the lights on the ground were clearly reflected on the retinas of Ivia and Miyu Satsuki.

Isn't it beautiful?

Ivia's gaze fell on Miyu, and she said this.

His Silver Hair shimmered in the moonlight, giving the illusion that he himself came from the moon.

Of course, Miyu Satsuki neither had such a misconception nor responded to the words, which did not surprise Ivia.

"It's your Birthday after all, so I've prepared something as a gift."

As Ivia spoke, she took out a small jade carving of Buddha Statue from her pocket and handed it to Miyu.

It was a very common, seemingly cheap Jade carving of the plump Maitreya Buddha that you could easily buy on the street, and it wasn't worth much. This was actually brought to you by Yoshiko on Ivia's behalf, which made Yoshiko wonder if 'Ivia' was some kind of Buddha or Bodhisattva in the Buddhism system?

However, since there are many Buddhas and Bodhisattva associated with making wishes in folk religion, Yoshiko gave up guessing and decided to let things take their course.

The slightly cool skin of Yuhe, still warm from her bath, pressed against her body. Most people would probably shiver slightly due to the temperature difference, but Miyu was oblivious to that and remained perfectly still.

In fact, if Miyu were to recall this day in the future, she would surely feel the gentlest and slowest sensation of being touched by the Jade by Ivia, as if she were being crowned with something invisible.

But now, Miyu Satsuki remained silent, her expression unchanged, like that of a doll.

"I thought about what Yoshiko said earlier, and I feel that Miyu is like the Galaxy to me now? No, to be precise, she's like a star scattered throughout the Galaxy."

Ivia tilted her head slightly and said this.

Then.

"In that case, I'll make a wish upon the Radiant Galaxy, offering you Miyu light... This sounds a bit strange, like a confession."

Ivia stroked her chin. "But this kind of open and aboveboard approach doesn't really count, does it? It has to be that feeling of secretly closing the book, thinking about whispering 'See you tomorrow' to the person behind it—that kind of unrequited love..."

In short--

"For me, who is fulfilling my wish, Miyu, you are the most precious gift. You're like a passport that can easily pass through even a black hole, so whether it's day or night, I'll always be smiling as long as you're here."

Her long, silver hair swayed gently in Miyu's gaze.

His voice melted into the summer night sky on Miyu Satsuki's Birthday.

"This is a gift for my 'Galaxy'."

The Galaxy was indeed visible in the night sky, adorned Galaxy hundreds of millions of Stars, emitting a cold light, like countless tiny and dazzling gems, shining brightly. Where the stars were dense, there was a brilliant Star Sea stars, where starlight intertwined and converged, as if a ray of light was pouring down from the distant other side.

That night, the scene kept replaying in Miyu Satsuki's mind.

Chapter 384. Having Desire for a child is illegal.

"Did you and Ivia draw this, Miyu?"