After getting off Yuu's back and strolling briefly to enjoy the cool breeze, Haruno showed him her phone screen, displaying a Google Maps route.
"The nearest inn is still a kilometer away. Should we walk or…?"
"I'll carry you and run there?" Yuu understood the meaning behind her crescent-moon-shaped eyes. He crouched resignedly, ready to become a "human rickshaw" again.
But Haruno didn't immediately climb on with excitement. Instead, she asked him seriously, "Are you still strong enough? Don't push yourself if you're not—if you collapse and sleep like a log at the inn, I'll be in trouble."
"If you're going to care, care properly—don't deliberately talk like that."
Yuu rolled his eyes, then waved his hand back casually. "Get on. I just rested a bit, and I'm almost recovered."
"Then I won't hold back~"
A smile bloomed on her face. Haruno pressed her soft, full upper body against Yuu's back, hugging him tightly like a koala. Her firm, slender thighs clamped around his waist, as if wanting to squeeze him dry.
Gently blowing warm breath into the young man's ear, Haruno giggled and whispered, "The faster we get to the inn, the more Onee-san will teach you grown-up things~"
"Oh, that sounds promising." Yuu said flatly, not the least bit moved.
Then he stood up and once again ran through the darkness of the night with Haruno on his back.
The streets were empty, as if the whole world had left only the two of them. The atmosphere was so quiet that their intertwined heartbeats were clearly audible.
As if unwilling to disrupt this tranquility, Haruno didn't shout or squeal with excitement. She just lazily rested her head on Yuu's shoulder, softly humming a melody full of happiness.
"Hmph, hmph~"
"What song is that?"
Yuu vaguely recalled that before the system activated, he had heard Haruno humming this tune at a street corner near her house.
Back then, Haruno was tough and confident, her singing full of freedom but also tinged with loneliness—very different from now.
"Hm? Sounds nice?" Haruno narrowed her eyes and answered in a teasing, sleepy voice, "If it sounds nice, then it's right. It's my own creation."
"So like you, so narcissistic." Yuu admitted sincerely.
"It's not narcissism—it's confidence." Her cheek pressed against his, rubbing gently with the motion.
Haruno even lectured him, "Yuu-chan, you should be more confident too—not to mention your talents, just in terms of looks, not many people I know can beat you. How about being a bit more aware of how handsome you are?"
"Handsome?"
Yuu didn't feel much about this compliment.
After all, people only care about what they don't have and aren't too interested in what they already possess.
"I'm just a bit more humble, not lacking confidence."
Haruno thought for a moment, and it seemed true. She quickly changed her words, "Well, confident men are easily liked by women. But you already have me, so it's fine if you're not confident. I'll just believe in you."
"Haha." Yuu laughed, saying nothing.
While running, Haruno felt her phone vibrate.
She took it out of her bag, her arms wrapped around Yuu's chest, confidently entering the password and opening the chat window with her mother.
Mom: {Are you staying out tonight?}
Haruno: {Yup. Mom, are you home? Remember, don't let those two bodyguards spread what happened today.}
Mom: {Already home, no need to tell me. And, aren't you on your period? If you stay out like this, be careful he gets annoyed and dumps you.}
Haruno: {None of your business. Can't I just cuddle and talk under the blankets with him?}
Mom: {Hehe}
"Nosy old hag who loves meddling in her daughter's affairs…"
Haruno grumbled in annoyance. Too lazy to continue chatting with her mother's bad personality, she turned off the screen and was about to put her phone back in her bag when something caught on her wrist.
A faint snapping sound suddenly rang out.
The beaded bracelet on her left wrist quickly broke free from its elastic string, scattering into colorful beads in the air, then falling to the ground.
"Ah…"
Haruno's eyes widened in shock. The world seemed to slow for a moment. The gift Yuu had personally put on her wrist, each bead reflecting beautiful light in the air, was more stunning than any fireworks she'd ever seen.
Then, along with the street scenery, they zoomed backward until they were out of sight.
Though it was just a cheap bracelet breaking, it felt like a part of her heart had suddenly cracked. Pain and shortness of breath filled her chest, making it hard to breathe.
The cold night breeze hit her face, snapping her awake.
She hurriedly patted Yuu below her, unable to hold back an anxious shout, "Stop for a sec! The bracelet broke—I have to pick it up!"
"…"
Silently, Yuu shook his head, his steps not slowing even slightly.
"Dozens of beads scattered everywhere. You won't finish picking them up until tomorrow—give it up."
"I don't care!"
Haruno's tone suddenly turned cold. Her hands pressed on his shoulders, struggling to jump back to the ground. "That's something you gave me. Since it's mine, I can do whatever I want with it! Put me down!"
"…Haaa."
Yuu sighed softly—he didn't want to do this to Haruno.
But something as "meaningless" as picking up the bracelet, he wanted even less for Haruno to do.
After gathering his emotions for half a second, he tried to make his tone natural and gentle, so Haruno wouldn't notice. Like comforting a child, he said with resignation yet softly, "[I'll make you a new one tomorrow, as a memento of our relationship moving to the next stage. Don't pick it up, okay?]"
"Ugh…"
Like a warm stream flowing into her heart, it slowly calmed her anxiety and unease, mending the cracks that had opened.
Her hands on Yuu's shoulders tightened slightly. Haruno stared at the back of his head, gradually calming down.
Her tense body slowly relaxed, and finally, she lay back on his back, limp and sad.
"It was a handmade gift from you… The only one in the world, gone just like that…"
Yuu smiled, comforting her calmly, "It's my fault for not making it sturdy enough. Next time, I'll make one even prettier and more beautiful than this."
Though still unable to fully accept it, thinking that her selfish and spoiled behavior might have caused him trouble, Haruno finally let out a long sigh, as if giving up, so Yuu wouldn't get fed up.
"Fine, let's just call it an offering to our youth that's passed~"
"Besides, with you here, I can have as many bracelets as I want later."
Yuu's brow twitched. "Hey, you're treating me like a bracelet factory?"