Before Sosuke's transmigration, he had lived in a steel metropolis, rushing through dawn and dusk, busy from morning till night.
Though the stars were right above, how many people ever bothered to look up?
Now, sitting beside the person he admired, his nostrils filled with her fragrance as he gazed at the starry sea, an unprecedented tranquility suddenly settled in his heart.
"Ah, it's been so long since I last looked at the stars," he murmured, exhaling softly. He consciously relaxed his stiff body, striving for a more natural posture.
As he stretched his limbs, he heard a soft laugh beside him.
Turning his head, he saw Kanae watching him, the amusement in her eyes making Sosuke's face flush slightly.
"What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked.
"It's just... I'm happy to see you looking so relaxed again," Kanae said with a smile. "During our previous meetings, you seemed more tense than usual. Your nervousness even made me feel uneasy."
"Nervous?" Sosuke blinked. "Was I?"
"Absolutely!" Kanae nodded. "It's like every expression has to be carefully considered, every action weighed for its pros and cons, and every word meticulously chosen. It gives off a... very strained feeling."
Sosuke thought about it carefully. He hadn't paid much attention before, but it did seem to be true.
On one hand, he was anxious about Kanae's promise to tell him "next time." On the other hand, he hoped to earn some points through his actions.
Come to think of it, except for the night they encountered Upper Two, his mind always tensed up whenever he saw Kanae.
He was terrified that she might say something that would crush his hopes.
So, had his anxiety unconsciously been showing all along?
"I see..."
He chuckled bitterly, scooted down a bit, and lay back on the roof, crossing his arms behind his head. "I'm such a... failure."
"Hmm?" Kanae watched Sosuke lying there, looking quite comfortable, and a hint of curiosity flickered in her eyes.
"My current state must be making you nervous too, right?" Sosuke glanced at her, yet he understood the emotion flickering in her eyes.
He suddenly smiled. "Want to lie down and try it?"
Kanae frowned. "I'm a Pillar. Lying down would be too undignified."
"There's no one else here," Sosuke countered. "Lying down would be more comfortable. Otherwise, craning your neck like that will strain it!"
"Really?" Kanae rubbed her neck, which did feel a bit stiff. Still, she insisted, "Someone who trains as diligently as I do wouldn't strain their neck from just looking up a little. You're lying..."
"Just try it. No one will notice," Sosuke coaxed.
Kanae glanced around. Indeed, no one was nearby. Finally, she pursed her lips. "Just for a moment."
With that, she shifted downward and flopped down with a soft thud.
Perhaps due to her excessive nervousness, the back of her head collided sharply with the roof tiles.
"Ouch..."
She rubbed the back of her head, looking at Sosuke with a hint of grievance.
Sosuke couldn't help but chuckle. "You lay down too forcefully! That's practically a suicidal way to lie down!"
"There's no such thing as a suicidal way to lie down," she retorted, but as she spoke, her gaze was drawn to the vast, star-studded sky, and her body gradually relaxed.
Though the rough tiles beneath her weren't exactly comfortable, there was an inexplicable sense of ease in that moment.
"So comfortable," she murmured, gazing at the stars with a contented sigh.
After waiting for a while without a response from Sosuke, she turned her head to find him lying on his side, one hand propping up his head, his eyes fixed quietly on her.
Her cheeks flushed slightly. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because I wanted to see what it is about you that makes me instinctively tense up every time," Sosuke replied, his voice low and husky.
"And did you find the answer?"
"Hmm... I've found it," Sosuke said, turning to face her and resuming his position with his hands crossed behind his head.
Kanae was taken aback. He actually found it?
Skeptical, she asked, "What is it?"
"Well... it's because you're even more beautiful than the stars."
Kanae fell silent for a moment, suppressing a smile as she gently bit her lip. "You're just saying nonsense..."
With a sudden whoosh, she stood up from the rooftop.
"What's wrong?" Sosuke asked.
"Hmph, see for yourself!" Kanae shot him a glare. "I'm going back to sleep."
With that, she leaped off the roof and vanished into the distance in a few swift strides.
Sosuke sat up and scratched his head. "But I was just telling the truth..."
The next morning, after washing his face with cold water, Sosuke hadn't even stepped outside when his sister-in-law stormed in, her eyes blazing.
"Tell me! What did you and my sister talk about last night?"
She stood at the doorway, arms crossed, radiating the indomitable aura of a lone warrior guarding a pass against ten thousand foes.
Sosuke yawned. "I didn't say anything."
"You're lying!" Shinobu refused to believe him. "You ambitious swordsmith! You watched the stars with my Elder Sister on the roof and didn't say a word? Didn't you take advantage of the opportunity... to do something... something wicked, something immoral?"
"...How did you know I was stargazing with your sister?" Sosuke asked, genuinely puzzled.
Shinobu glared at him, arms still crossed, her expression grave.
'I'll never admit I came looking for you last night too.'
Of course, she hadn't come for something as pointless as stargazing. She had come to make him abandon his ambition.
Instead, she found her Elder Sister lying on the roof with him!
Heaven only knew how devastating that shock had been for her.
Only after her sister left did she return to her room, utterly distraught.
She tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.
The moment she woke up this morning, she had stormed over to confront him, ready to demand answers.
Yet the "culprit" showed no remorse, instead grinning and reaching out to ruffle her hair.
She swiftly dodged, glaring at Sosuke.
Sosuke glanced at his hand, unconcerned, and chuckled. "Adult matters are none of a child's business."
"...Who are you calling a child?" Shinobu snapped, furious. She wanted to argue with him, but Sosuke seized the moment she stepped aside from the doorway and darted out.
"I'm in a great mood today, so I'm going to have a proper meal," Sosuke's infuriating voice echoed back. "Want to join me?"
"Absolutely not!!!!" Shinobu gritted her teeth in fury.