Lu You led Kaguya Ruri out of the domain.
The pitch-black sphere behind them quietly dissipated. The illusion of the farmhouse, the broken sword tombs, and the lifeless star all dissolved into tiny particles of light, merging into Fuyuki City's night.
At the school gates, the light in the security booth was still dim and yellow.
Old Nobuta sat inside, a cup of thoroughly cold tea on the desk, his cloudy left eye half-closed.
He pretended he had been dozing from beginning to end, as though he had seen nothing.
But when Lu You walked up to him, the old man's hand trembled slightly.
"Old man, we're back. That was a close one. We almost didn't make it back."
Lu You spoke with a smile.
Nobuta raised his eyelids, glanced at him, then looked at Kaguya Ruri behind him.
You little brat, if you knew it was dangerous, you shouldn't have acted so recklessly!
But he no longer had much right to lecture Lu You. After all, he was merely an earthbound spirit who could not leave the school.
"Mm," he answered, his voice hoarse and betraying no emotion.
Kaguya Ruri's expression was cool as she hurried through the school gates. After a few steps, she looked back and saw Lu You still standing there.
She bit her pink lip, quietly said, "I'll head back first," then promptly fled at top speed.
Lu You watched her figure disappear toward the classroom building, then turned to look at old Nobuta.
The old man was not looking at him now. His gaze rested on the cup of cold tea, as though he were lost in thought.
"Old man, isn't there anything you want to ask?"
Nobuta fell silent for a moment, then shook his head.
"No."
"Not a single thing?"
"There's so