The next evening.

I pretended to be ready for bed early.

The maid sisters, who had previously avoided me but were now incredibly eager, finally left me alone. Honestly, their closeness made me uneasy. I always felt overwhelmed by their attention and answered their questions cautiously.

Each time the maid sisters heard me speak like this, they found it incredibly novel.

Then they deliberately asked me more questions.

They said, “Is Aichina’s voice always like this? It’s so nice. My memory of the previous Aichina always stops at having thick bangs and being silent, seeming to only answer yes or no.”

They said, “After going to school, Master Naoya has changed a lot. He even dyed his hair and got an earring. It’s really incredible.”

They also asked, ” Aichina must know Master Naoya very well. I envy you. What does Master Naoya usually do when he’s with you?”

I stumbled through each question, hardly able to answer any of them.

After seeing off the maid sisters, I closed the door and finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, there was also a lot of information gained. I learned from them that Master Naoya should be back in a few days.

Tonight, I shouldn’t be discovered if I go out.

Close to nine o’clock, the Zen Temple House fell silent completely.

My window was gently tapped, it was Master Sato. He held my hand and quietly led me out through the window. We easily left the boundaries of the Zenyuan Temple House without anyone noticing.

We arrived at the train station I had been waiting for that day, just in time for the last train.

We went to the city center.

“There are no events like the Summer Festival today, but there’s a street that’s bustling almost like a temple fair every day, and they sell apple candy there,” Master Sato was very familiar with the outside world. He didn’t even need to look at the signs; he easily found the way, leading me through alleys to the crowded snack street filled with lanterns and people.

I was stunned.

I couldn’t react as I looked at everything before me, the street illuminated as bright as daylight, with a flow of people that didn’t pale in comparison to daytime.

Suddenly, my hand was held.

It was Master Sato.

I was startled, heat rushing to my cheeks, instinctively wanting to break free.

Master Sato said, “There are too many people, and it’s Aichina’s first time here. Holding hands can prevent us from getting separated.”

I stopped struggling.

My heart was pounding, walking hand in hand with Master Sato.

Master Sato bought apple candy for me.

I took a bite.

It was really sweet, so sweet it felt like my teeth would fall out.

But it was also quite interesting to eat.

Taking another bite, I turned my head and noticed Master Sato staring at me intently, his gaze filled with a complex and conflicted expression.

The warmth that had faded surged back up, and feeling uncomfortable, I nervously touched my earlobe. In a fluster, I came up with a foolish idea and held the apple candy up to Master Sato’s lips.

“Here.”

He snapped out of his daze, stunned.

I also snapped out of it, stunned.

But there was no way to retract my hand, so I awkwardly positioned the part of the candy I hadn’t bitten toward Master Sato, blushing as I stammered, “It’s, it’s really tasty, Master Sato. Would you like to try it?”

He leaned in and took a small bite, smiling. “Very tasty.”

I blushed, feeling embarrassed, and looked down.

Master Sato held my hand and walked a bit further, then suddenly he saw something and tightened his grip on my hand.

I looked up. “What’s wrong?”

He quickly relaxed his grip a bit, turning to me with a trembling smile. “Nothing, just saw some takoyaki. Have you ever tried it? It’s really good.”

I shook my head. “I haven’t.”

He said, “Then wait here for me, I’ll go queue up.”

I blinked and agreed.

He left me in the alley and disappeared into the crowd.

I held the apple candy, occasionally taking a bite while waiting for him. But after more than ten minutes passed and he didn’t return, it was Master Takuto who arrived first, along with several other branch family young masters.

Yes.

The ones who had assaulted Nakano Yoko to death.

I couldn’t believe it and slowly stepped back, then turned to run. Instinctively fearful, I searched for Master Sato’s figure among the crowd, but there were too many people; I couldn’t see him at all.

Before I could take more than a few steps, I was grabbed and dragged into an alley, my mouth covered.

I struggled incessantly, but my strength was like that of an ant that could be crushed at any moment before them.

My shoulders were tightly held, pressed against the wall.

Master Takuto brushed my cheek with the back of his hand, his eyes full of cruelty. “Seems like Naoya is paying too much attention to you lately, huh? Considering how pretty your face is. It’s really unexpected, that ugly girl from before could turn into this. But judging by Naoya’s possessiveness, if another man touches you, he’d probably kill you.”

My collar was pulled open, revealing my shoulder.

I screamed in terror, stuttering and pleading tearfully.

He ignored me, his smile sinister. “Don’t worry, I’ll be a bit gentler, won’t let you die just like this. After all, I hope you’ll serve me before serving Naoya in the future. Hahaha, imagine if he found out you’d been used by someone else, he’d probably be furious.”

I struggled harder, but received a heavy slap.

“Stay still.”

I was held down even more firmly, almost unable to move, just watching as my belt was pulled off and my clothes stripped away.

Master Takuto’s body pressed down on mine.

In that moment, the first thing that came to mind was the conversation among the maid sisters that day.

“Yoko died so miserably.”

“There wasn’t a single piece of good flesh on her, and even a piece of her scalp was torn off. Ah, she didn’t even die with her eyes closed.”

“No, please.”

I was terrified, on the verge of collapse, closing my eyes tightly.

But my body didn’t suffer any substantial harm; it was almost painless. However, my ears were filled with curses and screams one after another.

For a long, long time, I dared to slowly open my eyes, only to see Master Sato

He was panting heavily, covered in sweat.

The piping hot takoyaki was scattered all over the ground.

As for Master Takuto and the others, they were already beaten and lying on the ground.

Master Takuto’s eyes were bloodshot. “Sato, have you forgotten where you belong?”

Master Takuto’s chin received another heavy punch, knocking him unconscious again. Then Master Sato squatted down, quickly and shakily helped me put on my clothes, pulled me up, and swiftly fled the alleyway.

I couldn’t keep up with his pace.

He stopped and lifted me, continuing to run.

Until we were far from that street, he stopped and, after a moment of silence, apologized to me.

I asked him why he was apologizing.

He said, “I shouldn’t have left you alone.”

I quickly waved my hand, saying it was okay. But my eyes were still red from crying, and my voice was hoarse.

He fell silent, holding my hand tighter.

After that, he bought me takoyaki again, bought me new candy apples, and took me to eat ramen. We played many street games.

The night grew deeper.

It was time to go back.

We gradually ran out of topics and just walked in silence. The crowds were sparse now, but we didn’t let go of each other’s hands. Yet my heartbeat wasn’t as fast as before, and my face wasn’t as red, because we had to go back to the Zen Temple.

As we were about to leave the street, I slowly withdrew my hand from Master Sato.

He didn’t stop me.

Just as my fingertips were about to leave his palm, he suddenly grabbed me again, even harder this time. Without waiting for me to speak, he looked at me very seriously. “Let’s escape.”

I was stunned.

Couldn’t react.

He said again, “Aichina, let’s escape. Leave Kyoto together and never return to the Zenyuan Temple again.”

There was no moonlight that night, obscured by dark clouds.

But behind him was a bustling downtown, with shops brightly lit as if it were daytime.

I looked at him.

I thought again of the delicious takoyaki we had just eaten, the tooth-aching candy apples, the late-night fried rice cakes, and the lively temple fair he described, with couples holding hands happily strolling around.

I was speechless for a while before tremblingly saying, “Okay.”

As soon as this word left my throat, tears rolled down my cheeks.

We escaped.

That night.

I had no family, no close friends at the Zenyuan Temple. Master Sato didn’t even want to say goodbye to his family. Even when mentioning his family, MasterSato’s expression was almost indifferent.

It’s understandable.

He came to the Zenyuan Temple when he was ten.

Although he was the eldest son of the Sato family, he became a member of the Byo organization. Despite having decent skills among the young members, he had no chance of becoming the head of the Sato family in this lifetime.

I happened to hear other maid sisters mention that Master Sato’s mother died in childbirth shortly after giving birth to him. Shortly after, the head of the Sato family married again and had two healthy sons with magical powers.

Master Sato was not valued in his own home.

We escaped in the direction of Shikoku.

To avoid being tracked down, we stayed in shabby inn where no identity registration was required. Every time we went somewhere, we had to stay for about five days until we found a truck willing to take us to the next place before we could leave.

Taking the Shinkansen or the like would leave too many traces.

It seems that Kyoto has also discovered our escape. Master Sato hasn’t slept for the past few days, always secretly observing the situation outside through the room window.

I said I would guard the place.

He was as gentle as ever. “I’m fine, after all, I can be considered a level two sorcerer. It’s nothing. But Aichina, you’ve been through a lot during this time. Are you regretting it?”

I shook my head quickly, “I don’t regret it.”

I really meant it.

Although we’ve been on the run, living like rats. But rats at least can see the outside world, can’t they? And they don’t have to starve or be beaten. I really like this kind of life.

I speak my mind.

He chuckled and helped me untangle the strands of hair stuck to my face, his gaze lingering on my face for a long time. He whispered, “I will do everything I can to protect you, Aichina.”

I held his hand.

After hesitating nervously for a long time, I finally gathered the courage to kiss the corner of his mouth.

He froze, covering his mouth, looking unsure for the first time in front of me. “Aichina…”

I gathered more courage, looked at him, blushing profusely but still stuttering, “I not only like this kind of life, I, I also really like Master Sato, really like it.”

He pursed his lips, then couldn’t help but smile, his smile spreading. “Yeah, me too.”

“I really like Aichina too.”

The sky outside was very dark, covered by low-hanging dark clouds.

It was about to rain.

I secretly looked out the window. Master Sato hadn’t returned yet.

He went to see if there were any trucks heading to Kagawa from here again. As long as we reach Kagawa, we’ll be closer to our destination. Master Sato said it’s an isolated village.

Suddenly, a strong wind started blowing outside.

I dropped the curtains and hurriedly went to the balcony to take down the clothes hanging there. Since they were still half-dry, I brought them inside, planning to hang them on the rack. By morning, they should be dry.

There was a knock on the door of the inn.

I felt relieved and immediately forgot about the clothes, hastily tossing them on the bed before rushing to open the door.

“Master Sato, you—”

As I looked at the person outside, the words I was about to say got stuck in my throat.

I stood frozen in place, like a petrified sculpture. At the door, instead of Master Sato, stood Master Naoya, smiling happily with his eyes narrowed. He was still dressed in traditional kimono, with his disheveled golden locks falling over his forehead, and those mesmerizing golden eyes slightly squinting at me.

Seeing me struggling to react for so long, he widened his smile and in a charming Kyoto accent, he said,

“Ah, Aichina, so you are indeed here. It really took me a while to find you.”

Boom!

Outside, lightning flashed, followed by thunder, and a torrential downpour began.