December 24th.

Christmas Eve.

"A bad feeling."

Kagura Hikaru looked up at the dim, slightly blood-red full moon.

He murmured softly.

It started the moment he stepped out.

An ominous feeling kept surging from the depths of his heart.

It was as if once he left home,

he would never return.

"Why don't we just spend Christmas at home?"

He couldn't help but turn around.

Looking at Suse who was locking the door.

"What are you talking about?

The restaurant and hotel are all booked.

It's really hard to get a reservation at this time!"

Suse put the keys into her bag.

Pouting in disapproval.

"Alright."

Recently, Kagura Hikaru had become someone who couldn't say no to his girlfriend.

So he had no choice but to ignore the bad feeling in his heart.

And sat in the back seat of the taxi with Suse.

Kagura Hikaru very consciously held Suse's hand.

Fingers interlocked.

Suse returned the grip.

During this period, Kagura Hikaru had noticeably become more clingy to her.

Literally anyone could see his attentiveness.

Suse thought to herself.

She had to admit.

She did, indeed, cause Kagura Hikaru to develop an abnormal dependency.

And knowing that this was abnormal, she still pretended not to see it.

Choosing to let things take their course.

Because of this, Suse had been troubled recently.

Is this really for Kagura Hikaru's sake.....

Continuing to date Kagura Hikaru is supposed to help alleviate his condition—

Isn't this just an excuse because maintaining the status quo benefits me?

If it were before,

she could still use 'mutual affection' to justify and deceive herself.

But now that she knew Kagura Hikaru's true feelings.

Continuing such behavior,

what exactly is this?

Suse's right hand gently held Kagura Hikaru's hand.

The left hand, hidden on the other side, clenched tightly into a fist.

The world misunderstood you, Kohinata Motoyo.

You are indeed just a despicable woman.

You haven't changed a bit since back then.

Haven't learned any lessons at all.

Even numb yourself, ignoring others' feelings.

This is wrong.

She's already on a deviated path....!

....Even so.

Even so.

She still didn't intend to let go.

The warmth felt by the right hand.

Traveled through her fingers straight to the heart.

Making Suse linger, unable to forget.

Selfish or not,

isn't love like this?

Regardless of family, talent, appearance, wisdom, character.

She believed she wasn't inferior to any woman in the world.

Can't she bring happiness to Kagura Hikaru?

No, the answer is no.

She could surely give him happiness.

It must be so.

Since that's the case, what is there to worry and fret about.

They must be able to.....

Half an hour later.

The two arrived at a luxurious star-rated hotel in Shinjuku.

There, they enjoyed a romantic candlelight dinner.

During the meal, Kagura Hikaru seemed a bit absent-minded.

The ominous premonition was still troubling him.

But on the surface, he showed no sign at all.

Playing the perfect doting boyfriend carefully.

He must not let Suse feel any displeasure.

Otherwise, impure thoughts would surface again.

Kagura Hikaru didn't know why Suse's feelings wavered on the day of the earthquake.

He simply thought,

it was due to his overly firm stance on the matter of Kiryu Hina in the past.

So, after some serious reflection,

he decided to express his love more earnestly.

Whatever it takes to make Suse happy, he would do it!

As long as she continued to love him.

That would be enough.

As long as he had that, he felt content.

"This lobster is really well done, have a taste."

Kagura Hikaru forked the sliced lobster meat.

Gently feeding it to Suse.

A faint smile was surprisingly plastered on his face.

It was the most genuine 'fake smile' he acquired after repeated practice.

"Mm, delicious."

Suse smiled in response.

In both eyes and expression, there wasn't a single flaw.

Nobody knew.

At that moment, she was the same as Kagura Hikaru.

Playing the role of a perfect girlfriend who knows nothing.

Facing Kagura Hikaru's 'smile'.

Kohinata Motoyo didn't feel happy.

Only a growing sense of guilt.

Guilt, unease.

As deep and bottomless as a sea cave.

She had no appetite for tasting the delicacies, not even sensing the flavor.

The heavy burden in her heart made her unable to swallow her food.

Kagura Hikaru showed expressions he would never have shown in the past.

Even in his junior high school days, he would never display such subtle expressions — flattering and sycophancy.

Kagura Hikaru is a person with extremely high self-esteem.

To the extent of being arrogant.

Because he treats everyone equally.

Think carefully, and you'll realize how arrogant that is.

Facing Kohinata Motoyo, a daughter of the financial conglomerate with extraordinary talents, perfect and like a goddess descended from heaven.

He could approach her as an ordinary person.

With no special emotions in his words or expressions.

Even Kiryu Hina couldn't achieve this.

Motoyo still remembers the envy and admiration in her eyes the first time she saw her.

Only Kagura Hikaru was different.

Only he was different.

Only he wouldn't look at her with that kind of gaze.

In junior high, the self-proclaimed distinguished Motoyo first noticed Kagura Hikaru because of this.

But, look at now.

He unexpectedly displayed unconditional submission in front of her.

His eyes filled with boundless dependency.

As if she held the reins connecting his lifeline.

Sometime, Kagura Hikaru changed.

However, it seems Motoyo herself also changed.

She too is doing things she would never have done in the past.

Motoyo is deeply bothered by this.

Is she really Kagura Hikaru's girlfriend?

Or the owner holding the reins of a pet?

How long can a relationship built on pathology and lies last?

Most importantly.

If he hadn't developed dependency.

Would the normal Kagura Hikaru really love her?

A genius like Kohinata Motoyo.

She naturally already knew the answers to these questions.

Complex emotions filled her mind.

Little by little.

Cracking the solid interior.

Two people with conflicting thoughts.

Finished the dinner in this seemingly cozy atmosphere.

Leaving the restaurant.

They strolled around the street for a while.

Motoyo then pulled Kagura Hikaru straight towards Shinjuku's most famous couple's hotel.

It's the one they planned to go to but didn't when Hina caught them cheating back in the day.

Noble service.

Luxurious decoration.

Expensive price.

The ideal place for couples to spend the night on Christmas Eve.

Motoyo wanted to make up for what they missed there.

Maybe also, find her original intention?

"Let's go in~"

Motoyo happily pointed ahead, holding Hikaru's hand.

If the direction she pointed wasn't a luxurious castle-style couple's hotel.

This scene would look even more beautiful.

Yet, even so, the overflowing happiness was enough to draw attention.

Others could only gaze with envy.

What a deeply affectionate couple.

How wonderful.

"Wait, don't drag me; I can walk by myself."

"Hurry, hurry, keep up!"

Kohinata Motoyo's smile was radiant.

As if immersed in love, without any hint of gloom.

Kagura Hikaru also seemed like a boyfriend helplessly facing a willful girlfriend.

Displaying a gentle expression, reluctantly moving forward.

Yet their gazes.

Never met from start to finish.

The dazzling light from the love hotel seemed to envelop and devour them.

In the light.

Someone appeared.

A girl with shoulder-length hair.

Wearing a warm down jacket.

Her face rosy and fair, like a sparrow inviting affection.

She blocked Hikaru and Motoyo.

Stopping their path.

Their steps halted.

And expressions changed.

Because they both knew this girl.

And she shouldn't be here.

"Sorry, Little Hinata, for coming to you on such a day....."

The girl apologized to Motoyo first.

Then looked at Hikaru with a hint of timidity.

"Kagura, I, I have something to say to you."

".....What do you want to say, Ai Cheng."

Kagura Hikaru, Kohinata Motoyo, Ai Cheng Hua Lian.

The three stood at the entrance of the love hotel, looking at each other.

Their faces lit by the shining neon lights.

A bit of white quietly fell from the sky.

It's snowing.