What Is False?

All along the way, the journey had been so joyful, and the scenery they had passed on foot had been so beautiful.

If they waited here a few more minutes, incomparably brilliant fireworks would bloom in the sky—countless varieties, so beautiful that one could not look away.

But—

A cold wind blew against her face, lifting Huanyue's bangs and thoroughly cooling her heart.

Some words, once spoken, carried irreversible consequences. It was like a dream: as long as you did not realize you were dreaming, you could remain blissfully deluded forever. But once you woke up, you could never hold onto it again. All you could touch was the cold reality.

But clearly, Huanyue chose the latter.

Her lips moved.

"You... aren't the real Rinne Sonogami, are you?"

In an instant, everything before her and every sound beside her fell silent, as though only Huanyue's voice remained.

"Huh?" The smile on Rinne's face did not change, though a trace of confusion appeared.

"Although you're very similar..." Huanyue lowered her eyes, then raised them again to stare directly into those pink pupils. "But, just as I thought... there are still differences."

"Did I do something wrong, Huanyue?" Rinne avoided the question from before.

"Rinne, I can't feel your happiness. Other than Rinne's smile..." Qian Huanyue slowly placed her hand over Rinne's chest. "I can't feel anything. It's empty here. Even though living with you was very happy... this still isn't real happiness after all."

The moment her words fell—

Whoosh—boom!

Countless fireworks shot into the sky.

They stood out vividly against the darkening heavens, illuminating Huanyue's face and her glittering eyes.

"Happiness?"

Fireworks rose into the sky again.

"Yes. Sorry, but I reject it."

Her voice was not drowned out. Although the fireworks were loud, Rinne clearly heard Huanyue's words.

Rinne