The Beginning of a Bond

"Ah..."

When Fang Li called out in surprise to Shirayuki Hoshigami Shirayuki Hoshigami, she immediately turned around and couldn't help but show a joyful expression when she saw Fang Li. But then she remembered something, covered her mouth, and hurriedly looked around.

He looked as if he was planning to find a place to hide.

"... What the hell is going on?"

Fang Li muttered something to himself, then stepped forward and asked the question.

What are you doing here?

"I... I..." Shirayuki Hoshigami seemed to be getting more and more flustered, and then she began to speak incoherently.

"I... I just happened to be passing by! I was definitely not following you!"

Fang Li's lips twitched slightly.

Doesn't this completely expose its own flaws?

So-called Miko, don't they ever lie?

Fang Li sighed and asked directly, "Why are you following me?"

"Hmm..." Shirayuki Hoshigami lowered her head, looking like a child who had done something wrong, and said in a mosquito-like voice, "I just wanted to see what kind of places you usually go and what you do when you're alone."

"Hmm?" Fang Li frowned, looking extremely puzzled, and said, "Why would you care about something like this?"

"Because...because..." Shirayuki Hoshigami lowered her head further and further, her voice growing weaker and weaker, as she said, "Because your destiny is very special, there is really no way for anyone to sit idly by."

"Is that so?" Fang Li smiled wryly.

A great man destined to save the world.

A villain destined to destroy the world.

A single thought can sway the course of the world.

Such a person is indeed someone that others cannot help but pay attention to.

However, no one took it seriously.

Except for Shirayuki Hoshigami.

"It seems you're quite confident in your divination," Fang Li said, raising his hands as if to show off his entire body. "But do I look like that kind of great person? Or could it be that Xingjia, your divination just went wrong?"

"No, that's not it." Shirayuki Hoshigami raised her head, her eyes no longer showing the timidity of before, but rather a very serious expression, and said this.

"Although I cannot confirm exactly which direction your future will take, your destiny is indeed very special. After that, I also asked people in my hometown to perform a second divination, but everyone's result was the same: they believed that you would influence the direction of the world."

When discussing professional knowledge, Shirayuki Hoshigami's seriousness is quite different from her usual gentleness.

At least, seeing Shirayuki Hoshigami's incredibly serious expression, even Fang Li couldn't bear to say 'that's wrong.'

So, Fang Li could only say helplessly, "So, out of a sense of mission or justice, you followed me here, only to get lost here. Not only could you not find me, but you almost didn't know how to get out, right?"

Shirayuki Hoshigami immediately covered her mouth.

That expression was as if to say, 'How did you know?'

Fang Li really wanted to tell Shirayuki Hoshigami that judging from her appearance just now, she was lost. Otherwise, she wouldn't have shown a joyful expression when she saw the person she was following, and then panicked when she realized what had happened.

"But how did you get lost?" Fang Li said. "Although this place is abandoned, it shouldn't be hard to find the exit, right?"

"But... but I just can't find the exit." Shirayuki Hoshigami lowered her head again, her voice also becoming weaker, and said in a mosquito-like voice, "Because this is my first time outside."

"First time outside?" Fang Li was stunned.

"...Yes." Shirayuki Hoshigami said softly, "This is my first time outside. Before coming to Armed Detective High School, I always stayed in the shrine and was not allowed to go out. Even after coming to Armed Detective High School, I cannot go out without the permission of the shrine."

One sentence completely changed the atmosphere.

Fang Li's emotions completely dissipated.

Looking at the girl in front of him, who was bowing her Fang Li and seemed embarrassed to face him, Fang Li frowned deeply and said in an unfriendly tone, "What does this mean? Does anyone still restrict someone's personal freedom in this day and age?"

"...Since ancient times, shrines have existed to protect something, and St. Gala Shrine is one of the oldest of them." Shirayuki Hoshigami said with a gentle smile, "Therefore, from birth, we St. Gala Shrine Maiden are meant to exist to protect something, forever."

At this moment, although Shirayuki Hoshigami's face was adorned with an impeccable smile, Fang Li.

This made Fang Li realize something.

That means I have to say something.

No man can remain unmoved when a woman makes that expression.

Even Fang Li is the same.

So, Fang Li said this directly.

"Could you show me the other two cards you drew when you did my fortune telling last time?"

Shirayuki Hoshigami was taken aback at first, then nodded, took out the cards from her pocket, pulled out the Forest and River cards, and handed them to Fang Li.

However, Fang Li didn't take both cards. Instead, he drew the one for the forest and said, as if talking to himself, "Last time, you said that this card represents loneliness, proving that my past is different from others, right?"

"Yes...yes." Shirayuki Hoshigami confirmed Fang Li's words, but her expression was somewhat puzzled.

Clearly, Shirayuki Hoshigami had no idea what Fang Li meant by saying that.

It wasn't until the next second that Fang Li said, "However, it's too unlucky that this card representing loneliness has always been in your hands. Now I'll take it away too, and from today onwards, you will no longer be lonely."

As he said this, Fang Li put the cards away, scratched his cheek, and, seeing Shirayuki Hoshigami's stunned expression, spoke in a somewhat evasive manner.

"Of course, this card also represents the past. Now I've taken your past away, and your life starts from this moment on. Enjoy it however you want. After all, you've already left the shrine and come out into the world, haven't you?"

After saying that, Fang Li extended a hand towards Shirayuki Hoshigami and smiled slightly.

"If you get lost, let me guide you."

So, there's no need to worry.

A slight ripple appeared in Shirayuki Hoshigami's eyes.

Looking at Fang Li's hand and then at Fang Li smile, Shirayuki Hoshigami timidly reached out her own hand and placed it on his.

This is the beginning of the bond between Fang Li and Shirayuki Hoshigami.