Although the rhetoric of "absolute trust" is loud and clear on this Arch Bridge, Physical Laws will not be deflected in the slightest by human emotional oaths.
The biting cold wind still blows tirelessly across the river, mercilessly robbing the human body of the remaining heat.
For Kazehara Tetsu, whose Physical Fitness has already surpassed ordinary people, this may be just a slightly cool breeze, but for Sakayanagi Arisu's fragile body, this is already a harsh environment.
"Huh..."
"Although... I really want to continue this discussion about 'sincerity' on this stage with only the two of us..."
She also spoke a little faster than usual, as if to save breath.
"But, as you said before, this body of mine... does not seem to live up to expectations."
"So..."
She turned around and cast her sights on the glowing building in the distance.
"Go to Shopping Mall."
"Although there is an annoying noise there, under the premise of 'Self-Preservation', those trivial shortcomings have become tolerable."
Kazehara Tetsu did not take the opportunity to laugh at her "defeat", but took a step closer to her very naturally, using his body to block the oncoming Wind Gap for her.
"Wise judgment."
He slowed down his pace, always keeping half a step from the side and back.
The moment I walked into the door of Keyaki Mall, I felt a rush of warm air.
"Well..."
Sakayanagi Arisu stopped and squinted his eyes slightly, as if he was adjusting to the sudden light and noise.
This is truly a sea of lovers.
On the night of Christmas, the entire Shopping Mall seems to have turned into a huge courtship field.
There are men and women holding hands everywhere with happy faces.
"It's really lively."
Kazehara Tetsu glanced around.
"In a place like this, finding a quiet corner is probably more difficult than going to heaven."
"It doesn't matter."
Sakayanagi Arisu took off the white Beret, patted the snow that might be stained on it, and then combed the silver short hair with his hands.
"After all... in the eyes of others, aren't we just a 'vulgar couple' among all living beings?"
She turned her head and gave Kazehara Tetsu a meaningful smile.
The two of them were wandering aimlessly in the mall.
Compared to the severe cold outside, the temperature here is so comfortable that it makes people feel a little lazy.
Sakayanagi Arisu's face gradually regained some color.
When passing by Second Floor Corridor, a strong fragrance caught their footsteps.
That's a Dessert Shop.
Although the store is not big, the exquisite desserts displayed in the window are enough to make anyone have even a slight craving for sugar during this holiday.
"Let's... replenish a little energy."
Sakayanagi Arisu stopped in front of the display window, looking through the glass and landing on a piece of Cake that was not fancy.
"Besides, since it's Christmas, if I don't eat something sweet, I always feel like there's something missing from the ceremony."
Kazehara Tetsu followed her gaze.
"Tiramisu?"
It's an extremely classic Italian dessert.
"That's it."
The two of them queued up and bought two tiramisu.
Because the store was already packed - there were couples feeding each other or taking photos and checking in, so the two had no choice but to take the packed small boxes to Lounge Area on the side of the mall corridor.
There is a row of benches here. Although they are not as comfortable as the sofas in the store, they are still clean.
The two sat down side by side.
When you open the box, the aroma wafts out.
"I'm starting."
Sakayanagi Arisu Picked up the thumb-sized plastic spoon and gently dug out a corner.
Put it in your mouth.
"Well..."
She narrowed her eyes with satisfaction and made a very light nasal sound.
"Not bad."
"There is no excessive increase in sugar to cater to popular tastes."
"This taste... is indeed much better than the cheap Cake that just piles on the cream."
Kazehara Tetsu also took a big spoonful and put it into his mouth.
"Indeed."
He nodded. Although his appreciation of desserts is not as professional as Sakayanagi Arisu, this thing is indeed not boring.
In the corner of this noisy shopping mall, the two of them were holding the small Cake box, sitting side by side, enjoying this rare tranquility.
Occasionally, when passers-by pass by and see this pair of extremely good-looking couples, they can't help but cast curious glances.
Soon, the not-so-large Cake hit the bottom.
Sakayanagi Arisu put down the spoon and ate her portion very cleanly, with not much residue left in the corner of the box.
It seems that she really likes the taste, or she is trying to fulfill her previous promise of "eating as much as possible".
"Do you still need to go shopping?"
She turned her head and wanted to ask about the next trip.
"Wait a minute."
Kazehara Tetsu did not answer her question, but suddenly stretched out his hand and stopped her from getting up.
His body leaned forward slightly and his eyes focused on Sakayanagi Arisu's face.
To be more precise, focus on her lips.
In the process of eating, no matter how careful Sakayanagi Arisu is, there will still be some "marks" inevitably on the corners of the mouth.
It was a touch of white cream, mixed with a little Cocoa Powder, and left on the corner of her lips.
"What's wrong?"
Sakayanagi Arisu looked at him with some confusion and subconsciously wanted to reach out and touch it.
"Don't move."
Before Sakayanagi Arisu could react, a hand had already been stretched out.
This faux pas should have been handled with tissues.
But Kazehara Tetsu didn't take out the tissue in his pocket.
He directly extended his thumb.
The fingertips with rough fingerprints gently pressed on the soft corners of Sakayanagi Arisu's lips.
"?"
Kazehara Tetsu's fingers applied a little force on that small area of skin.
The fingertips slid across the skin, taking away the touch of cream.
"Huh..."
At that moment, Sakayanagi Arisu even forgot to breathe.
She felt that the finger did not leave immediately, but stayed on the edge of her lower lip for a while.
Then, Kazehara Tetsu took back his hand.
That smear of white cream was lying quietly on his thumb at the moment, glowing under the lights of the mall.
"What a careless kitten, Arisu."
Kazehara Tetsu looked at the cream on his fingers, and a slightly naughty smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"For such a big person, when you eat, you still get food on your face."
He didn't look around for a trash can or a tissue to wipe off his hands.
He opened his mouth, ready to lick the sweetness on his fingertips.
However.
The expected scene of the tip of the tongue touching the pads of the fingers did not happen.
At the moment Kazehara Tetsu was about to eat it.
"Crack."
A fair and slender hand grabbed Kazehara Tetsu's wrist.
It's Sakayanagi Arisu.
There was no shyness or offended anger on her face.
"You..."
Kazehara Tetsu looked at her in surprise.
The distance between the two people was instantly stretched to the limit.
Her breath sprayed on his fingers, carrying a faint fragrance.
"Tetsu-kun."
Sakayanagi Arisu looked at the fingers close at hand and the dab of cream on them.
"This is... my thing."
"Whether it's this piece of Cake, or the 'mark' on the corner of my mouth... or even the power to deal with it."
"How can you enjoy it without permission?"
The words have not yet fallen.
She opened her lips slightly.
Then.
Without any hesitation.
She lowered her head.
"Ugh!"
Kazehara Tetsu felt the cream on her fingertips being swept away.
This scene, on a bench in this shopping mall where people are coming and going, is simply bold to the extreme.
If you don't look at the specific actions, just this posture and demeanor, it just seems like you are performing some kind of indescribable behavior.
A few seconds later.
Sakayanagi Arisu let go.
She did not rush to let go of her hand holding Kazehara Tetsu's wrist, but raised her head slightly and looked at Kazehara Tetsu who was in a daze.
"Tastes good."
"And, Tetsu-kun..."
"Didn't you say that before?"
She deliberately imitated Kazehara Tetsu's previous tone and said word for word, "'Eat more to grow stronger'."
"Although it's just a little bit of cream... but since it's nutrition, I can't waste it, can I?"
"After all... I want to work hard to keep fit so that I can better 'accompany' you in the future."
The hustle and bustle around me seemed to have gone away.