On the third day after the truth came out, rain fell over Lumina Square.
It was not a downpour, but a fine, endless drizzle that shrouded the entire neighborhood in gray mist.
Lin Shuo did not open his ramen stall that day-rainy days meant fewer customers, and he also wanted to practice Shurikenjutsu with Lin You.
"Your wrist! Watch your wrist!"
In the living room, Lin Shuo was correcting Lin You's throwing posture.
The little girl held a wooden shuriken, her Two-Tomoe Sharingan fixed intently on a target three meters away-a piece of cardboard with circles drawn on it, hanging on the wardrobe door.
"Hyah!"
The shuriken flew out, traced a rather imperfect arc through the air, and barely stuck into the edge of the target.
"Enough force, but not enough spin." Lin Shuo walked over to the target and pulled out the shuriken. "Watch my movements-"
He demonstrated once.
With a slight flick of his wrist and a small twist of his fingers, the wooden shuriken spun away as though it had come alive, lodging precisely in the bull's-eye.
"Wow..." Lin You's eyes lit up. "Daddy, you're amazing!"
"Practice more."
Lin Shuo handed the shuriken back to her. "The Sharingan isn't all-powerful. Muscle memory matters more."
"Got it~"
Lin You kept practicing while Little Shukaku watched from the side, occasionally offering an encouraging "Puki."
Rain pattered outside, and the only sound inside was the steady thunk of the shuriken hitting the target.
At ten that morning, Yuzuha arrived.
She carried her multifunctional umbrella, the word "Yuzuha" on its canopy standing out clearly in the rain.
Her red hair was tied into a low ponytail that day, with a few rain-soaked strands clinging to her cheeks.
"Lin Shuo! Little You!"
She closed her umbrella and stood in the doorway, shaking off the raindrops. "Rainy days are such a hassle... Dad sent me over with something."
Yuzuha took an insulated container from her bag. "He made chicken soup. Said you should have some to warm up on a rainy day."
Lin Shuo accepted it. "Thanks."
"You're welcome~" Yuzuha walked into the living room. Her eyes lit up when she saw Lin You practicing with shuriken. "Training, Little You? You're so dedicated!"
"Yuzuha!" Lin You put down her shuriken and ran over. "Don't you have school today?"
"The suspension's been extended." Yuzuha's expression grew a little more serious. "They still haven't cleared up what happened with the Order. The principal said they'd reassess next week."
She crouched down and straightened Lin You's collar. "You need to be careful lately too, Little You. Try not to go out alone."
"Okay! I have Little Shukaku with me!"
Little Shukaku gave a timely "Puki" and hopped onto Lin You's shoulder.
Yuzuha smiled and stroked Little Shukaku's head, then looked at Lin Shuo. "Lin Shuo, are you... free today?"
"Yes."
"Then..." Yuzuha hesitated. "Want to go to the bookstore together? I'm meeting someone."
Lin Shuo raised an eyebrow. "Meeting someone?"
"Yes, a... fellow reader," Yuzuha explained. "We met on Inter-Knot. We often talk about Chinese horror and strange tales. He said he wanted to give me a copy of his new collected comic volume today."
She paused, then added, "He's a novelist and comic artist. His username is 'Old Tang'-he's pretty nice, just... a bit out there."
Before Lin Shuo could answer, Lin You raised her hand. "I want to go too! I want to read comics!"
Lin Shuo thought for a moment. "...All right."
A trip to the bookstore was a decent way to spend a rainy day.
Paper and Ink Studio, the largest bookstore in Lumina Square, stood in the neighborhood's center, with three floors and old-fashioned decor.
Because of the rain, there were few customers inside, just a scattering of students sheltering from the weather and book lovers.
Yuzuha led Lin Shuo and Lin You up to the second floor with practiced ease-this was the comics and light novels section.
Several café tables stood between the shelves, and someone was already seated at one of them.
He was a... rather distinctive-looking young man.
Short white hair, purple eyes, and features so delicate they looked somewhat androgynous.
Most striking were the pair of fluffy white fox ears atop his head, twitching slightly as he moved.
Behind him was an equally white, bushy tail, currently curled around the chair back.
A Fox Thiren.
The young man wore a beige knitted sweater over a plaid shirt. A drawing tablet rested on his lap, and he was rapidly sketching something with a stylus.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up and blinked his purple eyes.
"Oh! Yuzu Pepper!"
He waved, his voice clear and masculine, but his delivery a little exaggerated and theatrical. "Finally, we meet in person! You're even cuter than I imagined!"
Yuzuha blushed. "Don't be like that, Old Tang... This is Lin Shuo, my boyfriend-and this is Little You, his niece."
Old Tang's fox ears twitched. His gaze lingered on Lin Shuo for several seconds before he grinned.
"A pleasure, a pleasure! I'm Tang, pen name 'Old Tang.' I specialize in Chinese horror and romance novels~"
He stood and extended his hand quite naturally.
Lin Shuo shook it. At the same time, a pale blue system interface silently appeared in his field of vision-
[Special NPC: Old Tang] [Race: Fox Thiren] [Occupation: Novelist/comic artist] [Status: Wanted by Hollow Special Operations Section 6 (minor)] [Connection to host: System-designated tool person (romance consultation)] [Notes: This NPC was created by the system but has no awareness of the system. Skilled in emotional analysis, with extensive romantic experience (in the negative sense). Has studied Chinese horror in depth and is a fellow reader of Ukinami Yuzuha's. Can provide a certain degree of plot progression.]
Lin Shuo withdrew his hand without a change in expression.
A system-designated tool person... for romance consultation?
This system really knew how to... arrange things.
"Sit, sit, sit!" Old Tang greeted them enthusiastically. "I ordered coffee and little cakes-would our young friend like some juice?"
"Yes!" Lin You nodded sweetly.
The four sat down.
Old Tang took two collected comic volumes from his bag and handed them to Yuzuha. "Here, my new work, volume one of Paper Bride 3: Unresolved Love. Adapted and drawn by yours truly. Completely faithful to the original!"
Yuzuha accepted them, her eyes shining. "Thank you! I've been really looking forward to this one! Your earlier Zangling Village scared me so badly I didn't dare go to the bathroom alone at night..."
"That means I wrote it well!" Old Tang swished his fox tail proudly. "Horror's only fun when it scares people~"
He looked at Lin Shuo. "Mr. Lin Shuo, right? Yuzu Pepper mentions you on Inter-Knot all the time. Says your ramen is the best in all of Lumina Square~"
"...You flatter me."
"Not at all, not at all!" Old Tang took a sip of coffee. "By the way, you two... only recently made things official?"
Yuzuha blushed again. "Old Tang!"
"Oh, I'm just asking~" Old Tang winked. "I write romance novels. I'm very interested in how real couples interact-it's all material, material!"
He turned to Lin Shuo, curiosity gleaming in his purple eyes. "Mr. Lin Shuo, did you use any special tricks when you were pursuing Yuzu Pepper? Like... hiding love letters beneath ramen bowls? Or making a little gift out of gray porcelain?"
Lin Shuo said, "...No."
"Huh-then how did you win her over? Your looks?"
"Old Tang!" Yuzuha could not take it anymore. "Keep this up and I'm leaving!"
"All right, all right, I'll stop asking~"
Old Tang raised both hands in surrender, though his fox ears were still twitching excitedly.
Watching this "system-designated tool person," Lin Shuo suddenly felt... perhaps he could get some useful advice from him.
Not about pursuing Yuzuha-that was no longer necessary.
But about... how to maintain their relationship better.
After all, he genuinely had little experience.
"Mr. Tang," Lin Shuo began. "Since you write romance novels, you must have studied... how couples get along?"
Old Tang's ears immediately perked up.
"Oh, oh! Finally, a question in my field!"
He set down his coffee cup and leaned forward. "What would you like to know, Mr. Lin Shuo? Ask away! Although my own romantic experience is... uh, rather tragic, I'm an expert on theory!"
Yuzuha watched Lin Shuo curiously, seemingly not having expected him to bring this up.
Lin Shuo considered his wording. "If... a couple consists of a girl who's still in school and a man who's already working, and they also have... some unusual family circumstances, how should they balance their time and relationship?"
He phrased it very indirectly, but Old Tang's fox ears twitched, as though he had caught the implication.
"Hmm... romance between a student and a working adult. A classic subject."
Old Tang rubbed his chin. "The key is finding shared time and space. For example-"
He counted on his fingers. "Weekend dates are important, of course, but you can't neglect little everyday interactions.
"For instance, calling during lunch break, getting dessert together after school, or... doing something together, like a hobby you both enjoy."
He looked at Yuzuha. "Yuzu Pepper likes strange tales. What about you, Mr. Lin Shuo? Any hobbies?"
Lin Shuo thought for a moment. "...Cooking ramen. And training."
"Training?"
"Physical training."
"Oh, oh! Then you could work out together!" Old Tang's eyes lit up.
Yuzuha said quietly, "My PE grades are terrible..."
"Then have Mr. Lin Shuo teach you!" Old Tang smiled brightly. "This whole 'coach and student' relationship is a classic romance comic scenario!"
Lin Shuo said, "..."
Somehow, that advice didn't seem very reliable.
But Yuzuha seemed to give it serious thought. "Working out together... that actually sounds nice-Lin Shuo, what time do you get up?"
"Five."
"...That's too early! I can't get up then!"
"Six, then?"
"Six thirty! No earlier!"
The two naturally slipped into a discussion, completely forgetting Old Tang beside them.
Old Tang rested his chin in his hand, watching their interaction as his fox tail swayed happily.
"My, my, this natural rapport is lovely~ Much better than those affected love stories I see on Inter-Knot."
Suddenly remembering something, he pulled another booklet from his bag. "Oh, right, this is for you two."
It was a hand-bound booklet, its cover reading "100 Little Tips for Keeping Romance Fresh (Tang Special Edition)."
Yuzuha took it and opened the first page. Her face immediately reddened.
"...Old Tang! What is all this stuff?!"
"Practical tips!" Old Tang declared without a hint of shame. "Take number twenty-three: 'Occasional physical contact can increase intimacy'-see, didn't you two just naturally start discussing your schedules? That's a precursor to physical contact!"
Lin Shuo took the booklet and flipped through a few pages.
The contents were indeed... very practical.
Although some suggestions were rather exaggerated, most were sound.
For example, "Have at least one in-depth conversation each week," "Respect each other's personal space," and "Make plans for the future together"...
He closed the booklet. "Thank you."
"You're welcome~" Old Tang said with a smile. "Seeing beautiful love in real life is the best material I could ask for."
He paused, his expression suddenly growing a little more serious. "But honestly, Mr. Lin Shuo, Yuzu Pepper... she's a good girl. She may like taking risks sometimes and be a bit of a little devil, but deep down, she's very gentle and really cares about the people around her."
He looked at Lin Shuo. "Treat her well. Otherwise... as someone on her 'family's side,' I'll write you into a novel for revenge~"
Yuzuha burst out laughing. "There you go again, Old Tang!"
Lin Shuo, however, nodded very seriously. "I will."
The atmosphere stayed warm for a while.
Lin You had been quietly drinking juice and reading comics beside them, but her Two-Tomoe Sharingan occasionally stole glances at the adults' interactions.
She whispered to Little Shukaku, "This fox uncle... seems pretty interesting."
"Puki," Little Shukaku agreed.
The rain gradually eased.
Old Tang checked the time. "Ah, I have to go. My editor's really hounding me for pages, and I still have ten to finish today..."
He packed his things, then suddenly lowered his voice to tell Lin Shuo, "By the way, Mr. Lin Shuo, there's something I need to warn you about."
Lin Shuo looked up.
"I've recently... become wanted by Hollow Special Operations Section 6."
Old Tang said it as casually as if he were remarking on the pleasant weather. "Because in my latest serialized work, I made Section Chief Hoshimi Miyabi the heroine... and created a twin older sister for her."
He smiled wryly. "The section chief doesn't seem very happy. So if you see a wanted poster on the street with a white-haired Fox Thiren on it... that's probably me."
Lin Shuo said, "...Do you need help?"
"No, no!"
Old Tang waved his hands. "I've got plenty of experience hiding~ Besides, being wanted might become material for my next novel!"
He slung on his bag and swished his fox tail. "Well, I'm off. Yuzu Pepper, Mr. Lin Shuo, Little You, see you next time~"
"Goodbye!"
Old Tang hurried away, disappearing among the bookshelves.
Watching him leave, Yuzuha sighed. "Old Tang's always like this... He's a genius writer, but he keeps getting wanted for all sorts of strange reasons."
Lin Shuo recalled "wanted by Hollow Special Operations Section 6" in the system notes and grew thoughtful.
This system-designated tool person... led quite an eventful life.
"Lin Shuo." Yuzuha turned and waved the manga volume in her hand. "Want to read with us? Old Tang's art style is really great."
"Mm."
The three sat in the bookstore's café area, sharing a manga.
The rain had stopped, and sunlight spilled through the clouds, casting dappled light and shadows on the bookstore's wooden floor.
Lin You sat on Lin Shuo's lap, and Yuzuha nestled against his shoulder as the three leafed through Paper Bride.
The story was classic Chinese horror-ghost marriage and curses.
The artwork was exquisite, and the atmosphere was rendered very effectively.
Yuzuha read with relish, occasionally commenting in a whisper, "Ah, this design is so good! I could draw on it for my next ghost story..."
Horror stories did little for Lin Shuo-after all, he had experienced things more terrifying than this.
But he liked the atmosphere they had now.
Quiet and warm, like an ordinary family.
Yuzuha leaned against his shoulder.
She paused. "I know you aren't good at expressing yourself, or dealing with feelings... but you're trying, right?"
Lin Shuo was silent for a few seconds, then gave a soft "Mm."
"I'm trying too," Yuzuha said. "Trying to be better, trying not to make you worry, trying... to be a proper girlfriend, and..."
She looked at Lin You and smiled. "A mom, too."
Lin You looked up, her green eyes sparkling. "You're already a great mom!"
"Not good enough." Yuzuha ruffled her hair. "I still have a lot to learn."
Watching the mother and daughter interact, something in Lin Shuo's heart softened completely.
He suddenly recalled a page from Old Tang's booklet:
"True love isn't about grand, passionate vows, but keeping each other company in ordinary daily life."
Maybe... he was right.
That afternoon, the three left the bookstore.
The air in Lumina Square was fresh after the rain, and puddles in the streets reflected the sky.
Yuzuha had to return to Kaidan House to help out, so Lin Shuo and Lin You walked her to the entrance.
"See you tomorrow?" Yuzuha stood in front of the shop and looked back to ask.
"Mm." Lin Shuo nodded. "The ramen stall will be open as usual tomorrow."
"Then I'll come for lunch~"
"I'll save you a seat."
Yuzuha smiled, then rose onto her tiptoes and swiftly kissed Lin Shuo on the cheek.
"Bye-bye!"
She ran into the shop, leaving behind a flushed Lin Shuo and a giggling Lin You.
"Dad, you got ambushed~"
"...Shut up."
On the way home, Lin You skipped along ahead.
"Dad, what do you think of that fox uncle?"
"He's an interesting person."
"Will you read the booklet he gave you?"
"...Maybe."
"Then you have to follow it!" Lin You turned around and walked backward. "Like number 56, 'Prepare little surprises now and then'-you could make Mom a special bento!"
Watching her excitement, Lin Shuo's lips curved slightly. "...Okay."
"And number 78, 'Develop shared hobbies together'-you could teach Mom to make cream puffs!"
"...She might shoot me with her umbrella shotgun."
"Hehe~"
Lin Shuo watched his daughter skipping ahead and thought again of Yuzuha leaning against his shoulder in the bookstore.
Then he said to the system in his mind:
Thanks.
The system did not respond.
But in the corner of his vision, the progress bar flickered slightly:
[Current progress: 81.2%. Special NPC "Old Tang" encountered. Tool man function unlocked: relationship counseling (limited time).]
Lin Shuo closed the interface.
Above the rain-washed streets, a rainbow emerged on the horizon.
Though faint, it was truly there.
Just like the ordinary happiness he had once thought he could never have.
Now, little by little, he was holding it in his hands.
[System notification: Heartwarming daily event "Bookstore Encounter" completed. Ukinami Yuzuha's affection +5, Lin You's happiness +10. Improvement in host's emotional stability detected. Please keep it up.]
(PS: There's really no other meaning behind mentioning Paper Bride here. Mainly, this author used to really like this series of games, though I haven't played them in years now. Of course, I only ever cleared them by looking up walkthroughs-all I can say is that the horror factor wasn't quite enough, but the brain-teaser factor was definitely strong.)