Fishing

It was evening at Nia's home. Moonlight streamed in through the window, falling on the messy bed.

Higashino Makoto lay on the bed, Nia lay beside him.

Her gray hair was scattered on the pillow, like a tangled cloud.

His eyes were half-open, and a smile played on his lips.

She had already recalled that clone; aside from unlocking some new gameplay features, it hadn't served any other purpose.

If Kurumi finds out I used her power to do something like this, I'll get beaten up, right?

Well, she's done that herself, so it's fine.

"Higashino- kun."

"Um."

"You know what? In that timeline, my experience was the worst, and I died very young."

Thinking of what she experienced in the original work, Higashino Makoto rarely offered words of comfort.

"It's alright, it's all over now."

"Yes, it's all in the past."

She reached out and gently traced her fingers across his cheek.

"Because of you, I wasn't imprisoned by DEM and subjected to inhuman experiments, nor was I killed by the crazed Tohka Yatogami."

"Um."

"And you're more handsome than I imagined."

"Don't make me sound like a gigolo."

Nia's lips twitched slightly.

"You..."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

She buried her face in his chest.

"Sleep."

"Um."

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window and fell on Nia's face; she was still asleep.

Higashino Makoto walked down the street in the early morning, the sunlight shining on him, warm and comforting.

He rubbed his lower back, thinking about what happened last night.

Despite being one of the older Elf Kingdom, Nia's combat strength was surprisingly weak.

He recalled Nia lying motionless on the bed, her gray hair scattered on the pillow, her face buried in it, muttering, "I can't take it anymore."

She was the one who provoked him first, but she couldn't last more than a few rounds.

Higashino Makoto's lips curled up slightly.

He looked down at his palms.

Of the ten seeds inside, another one has begun to sprout, and the two that had already sprouted have grown a bit more.

He clenched his fist, feeling the growing power within him.

Who should we contact next?

Higashino Makoto checked the time; it was still early.

I'll go have breakfast first, and then I'll think about it later.

After leaving Nia's house, Higashino Makoto went to have breakfast first.

Soy milk and fried dough sticks, plus two tea eggs.

He believed that only when he was well-fed could he have the energy to work. This was a truth he had always believed in since he transmigrated.

After breakfast, he strolled around the streets, but had nothing to do.

Go find Origami?

It's only 8 a. m., too early.

Go find Yoshino?

He remembered Mio saying that Yoshino lived in the west of Tengu City, which was a bit far from here.

After thinking about it, he decided to go fishing by the river first.

Ever since he caught that mermaid in the Death Hall's World, he has been quite confident in his fishing skills.

Although strictly speaking, it was the mermaid who bit the hook herself, the result was good.

Once you've caught it, you've caught it; the process doesn't matter.

He bought a fishing rod at a convenience store, casually dug out a few earthworms from under a rock, and walked along the riverbank for about fifteen minutes until he found a place with calm water and dense shade.

I moved a rock to sit on, baited the hook, and cast the line.

The fishing line drew a graceful arc in the air before falling into the water, where the float gently swayed on the surface.

Higashino Makoto propped his fishing rod on a nearby tree branch, leaned it against the trunk, and waited.

The water was calm, with the occasional water strider gliding across it, creating tiny ripples.

A few white clouds drifted slowly across the distant sky. A breeze blew by, carrying the scent of water plants and earth.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on him.

He squinted, thinking that there shouldn't be any air force failures today.

After all, he's now considered the chosen one of this world; surely he wouldn't leave empty-handed from something as trivial as fishing?

The float bobbed slightly.

Higashino Makoto sat up straight, placed his hand on the fishing rod, and prepared to lift the rod.

Then a drop of water landed on the tip of his nose.

He looked up and noticed a small, dark cloud had appeared above him, just covering his position.

A crack appeared in the dark cloud, and rain poured down from it, as if someone had turned on a tap in the sky.

He was soaked to the bone, his hair plastered to his face, his clothes clinging to his body, and water droplets hanging from his fishing rod.

Higashino Makoto wiped the rain off his face and looked up at the dark cloud.

Seriously? They don't even allow fishing?

He turned his head and looked towards the riverbank not far away.

A small head peeked out from behind a sturdy willow tree.

Her long, light blue hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her large eyes looked at him timidly, her pupils a deep blue, like two pools of spring water.

She was wearing a rabbit hand puppet, its ears twitching.

She was wearing a blue dress, the hem of which swayed gently in the wind, and a pair of white leather shoes.

Yoshino.

Higashino Makoto looked at her, and she looked at Higashino Makoto.

Their eyes met, and her face flushed instantly. She shrank back behind the tree, leaving only half her head and the rabbit doll's ears showing.

Higashino Makoto's lips curled into a slight smile. He put away his fishing rod and waved to her.

Yoshino hesitated for a few seconds, then stepped out from behind the tree.

She lowered her head and walked towards him slowly, like a kitten testing the water temperature.

Her long, light blue hair swayed gently behind her, and the hem of her dress swayed with her steps.

She walked up to him, stopped, looked up, and gazed at him with her deep blue eyes.

"Is this Mr. Higashino?"

Her voice was very soft, like the rustling of leaves in the wind.

"Yes, it's me."

"Um... thank you so much, Mr. Higashino, for saving the world!"

She bent down and bowed deeply.

The movement was so fast that the hem of her skirt fluttered up and then fell back down.

Then she straightened up and took a step back.

"I'm so sorry you got caught in the rain, I'll be going now!"

She turned and ran.

Higashino Makoto reached out and pressed his hand against her little head.

Her hands were still running, and her feet were kicking the ground a few times, but he held her head down, making her stand still like a kitten being held by the scruff of its neck.

"Don't run away."

"Well?"

"Stay here and fish with me."

Yoshino stopped and turned around, looking at him with her deep blue eyes.

Is that alright?

Higashino Makoto looked into those eyes, which were filled with nervousness and anticipation.

She asked if that was enough, meaning she meant that all she wanted was for me to go fishing with her, and she didn't need to do anything else.

What a good child.