Spring breezes carried word of flowers; the early spring rain had just cleared, fragrant grass had only begun to sprout, and pear blossoms had yet to meet the rain.
The wind had begun to carry the scent of spring.
The Herrscher's appearance at the beginning of the year had not caused any ripples in people's lives.
Yet the departure of the Herrscher of Ice seemed to have brought news of spring as well.
"An amusement park! Assistant, I want to go play at an amusement park!" the girl clamored, tugging at the boy's sleeve.
"Let's go to the amusement park, Boss. We've never been before in all these years!" Pardo chimed in with Vill-V.
Yoshikage Kira nodded to show that he understood.
"Hehe, there are so many people. This is exactly the stage fit for the greatest magician of this century to make her entrance!" Standing before the amusement park entrance, Vill-V declared grandly with her hands on her hips.
Having just bought the tickets at the booth, Yoshikage Kira saw Vill-V shouting her entrance lines at the park gates.
"Go, Pardo. Bring Vill-V over here." Seeing the curious looks from the people around them, Yoshikage Kira decided to send Pardo.
"Eh... but..."
"No buts. Go on."
"Okay..." Pardo lowered her head as she walked toward Vill-V, terrified that someone might see her face.
"Hehe, Assistant, I'm going to put on a grand magic show here!" Vill-V said the same thing even after walking up to Yoshikage Kira.
Yoshikage Kira helplessly tapped her on the head and led them into the amusement park.
"The roller coaster! Assistant, I want to ride that!"
"The pirate ship! I want to ride it, I want to!"
The girl seemed to possess endless energy, pulling Yoshikage Kira by the hand from one attraction to the next.
Feeling the warmth of her hand, Yoshikage Kira let her lead him along.
After some time, the three sat down on a bench to rest for a while.
"Mmm, that was exhilarating." Vill-V stretched her body and sighed.
"Ugh, I can't take it anymore, Boss. Every time I close my eyes, I feel like I can see my great-grandma," Pardo said weakly, draping her entire body over Yoshikage Kira.
"Just don't throw up on me." Yoshikage Kira gently patted Pardo's back as he mercilessly teased her.
"Alright, we've rested enough. Let's hurry on; there are still so many attractions we haven't tried!"
"Ehh..." Pardo let out a miserable groan.
"Oh, it's a haunted house! Assistant, let's go try it." Before Yoshikage Kira and Pardo could answer, Vill-V had already run toward the haunted house.
"Hurry up, hurry up!" Seeing the two still behind her, Vill-V urged them on.
Thud. A decayed corpse suddenly emerged from a cabinet beside them and collapsed in front of the three.
"Oh? That's clever." Vill-V, who was leading the way, acted as though she had come home. Not only was she unafraid, she even pointed out and commented on the haunted house's mechanisms.
"Wah... Boss, aren't we out yet?" Behind Vill-V, Pardo clung to Yoshikage Kira's arm, pressing her head against him as her body trembled in fear.
"It's all fake. There's nothing to be afraid of," Yoshikage Kira said calmly.
Seeing Pardo holding Yoshikage Kira's arm, Vill-V realized this was bad. She hurried to his side and said, "Eek, Assistant, I'm so scared." With that, she wrapped herself around his other arm as well.
Yoshikage Kira was left speechless as Pardo and Vill-V hung from his arms like two ornaments.
"I can't walk properly like this." But neither of them showed any intention of letting go, and Yoshikage Kira said nothing more. The three left the haunted house in that pose, and before leaving, Yoshikage Kira successfully earned the envious glare of a staff member.
The day passed quickly. The sun set early, and then Stars adorned the sky.
"Before the park closes, let's ride the Ferris wheel!" Vill-V extended a hand to Yoshikage Kira, inviting him.
"Then you and Sister Vill-V can go ride it, Boss. I'll just wait below." Pardo thoughtfully gave the two some space.
The sound of machinery starting up rang out as the pair slowly rose from the ground.
"Wow, it's so high." Vill-V pressed both hands to the glass and looked outside, marveling at the neon-lit city glittering in the night.
"And so, the Great Magician Vill-V will now begin her performance." As she spoke, Vill-V reached behind Yoshikage Kira's ear, and a rose appeared in her hand.
"I thought you'd make a bigger spectacle of it." Taking the rose from Vill-V, Yoshikage Kira raised it to his nose and inhaled its fragrance.
"This is a magic trick meant for you alone. Do you like it?"
"Of course. The rose, and you."
The unexpected confession instantly made Vill-V blush scarlet.
"How sly, Assistant. I was the one who had planned to confess first." Her flushed face looked dreamlike beneath the neon lights.
"The magic isn't over yet. Next, dear audience member, please close your eyes."
Hearing that, Yoshikage Kira obediently closed his eyes. Then a soft sensation touched his lips.
Afterward, Yoshikage Kira opened his eyes and looked at Vill-V across from him.
At that moment, the blush on the girl's face spoke more sweetly than countless love words.
"So, Sister Vill-V, did it work?"
"Hehe, of course. Thanks, little Pardo."
"Hehe, it's nothing, it's nothing. Please take good care of me from now on, Sister Vill-V."
"Of course. From now on, you're my little sister."
Listening to the two behind him, Yoshikage Kira smiled.
Happiness had no tomorrow and no yesterday. It did not reminisce about the past or yearn for the future. It had only the present.
Before you continue