Promise Under the Starry Sky

　　"!?"

　　The sound of the wind, etc. disappeared in this kiss.

　　Shinichi's eyes widened, his mind went blank.

　　When the lips open, time flows again.

　　Shinichi sat on the ground, unmoving

　　Rui wiped her tears, her slightly red cheeks became a little cooler.

　　"This was a selfish act I did to satisfy myself. Will you hate me? Will you leave me?"

　　Shinichi remained silent, and he came to his own conclusions.

　　"I won't, because you like me too, even though it's not love between a man and a woman… If you did the same to me, I wouldn't do it, because I like you."

　　"…It's hard to say."

　　"Then you come and try?"

　　Shinichi looked away, confused and trying to find words to refute it, but the kiss from earlier kept replaying in his mind.

　　Rui looked at the side of her face and said in a serious tone.

　　"Don't think too highly of yourself. You can't determine the future, and you can't influence our feelings. Why do you have to take all this on yourself?"

　　After a moment of silence, Shinichi spoke.

　　"...I just said it, because you are the person I care about. What's wrong with thinking about my friend and little sister?"

　　(That's why you're so gentle.)

　　Rui didn't say these words, but touched her face carefully with his palm.

　　Shinichi always looked sideways at the sand.

　　"Stubborn as a rock," Rui sighed and said helplessly.

　　"So, your intentions are for our own good?"

　　Shinichi didn't nod, admitting this now would make him a little embarrassed.

　　"But based on what you do now, it will only make us sadder in the future and make us like you even more. On the contrary, we will move further away from your goals."

　　Rui concluded with certainty.

　　Because she herself is like this.

　　Shinichi sighed in resignation.

　　"It's because I don't know any other way that I was pressed to the ground by you like this."

　　"Then try changing yourself," Rui said matter-of-factly, "Think from another perspective and don't be so stubborn. If you really want us to be happy…"

　　She raised a finger and said, "The first thing is that you have to be happy first. If you are not gentle with yourself, for those of us who like you, that is the most annoying selfishness!"

　　"Simply…" Shinichi muttered, slowly thinking.

　　"The second thing is, respect our feelings and don't think about us without permission. We are not as fragile as you think. We were so hurt that we couldn't get back together because of emotional problems. Do you think everyone has the same glass heart as you?"

　　Shinichi gritted his teeth: "Who has a glass heart?! I only..."

　　"Not only that!" Rui put more pressure on her butt sitting on Shinichi's waist. She placed his hands on her chest and stared at him sharply, "Stop pretending to understand. Beginners who are in love should listen to what others say!"

　　"Who are you to say that I…" Feeling Rui's upturned butt trying to move downwards, Shinichi quickly changed his words, "You can say whatever you want, but don't move, quickly let go of me!"

　　Rui tilted her head.

　　"Get up after you finish talking. Why are you panicking? If you just treat me as my little sister, even if I go up and down, you won't have any reaction, right?"

　　Shinichi really regretted why he went out with her to eat late night snacks and chat when he had nothing to do.

　　"One more thing."

　　Rui then bowed.

　　Shinichi's heart tightened, and he hurriedly looked away and hid his mouth.

　　Unexpectedly, Rui didn't want to forcefully kiss him again.

　　Her petite body curled up in his arms, her face pressed against his chest and her voice reached his ears.

　　"Don't think too much… This is enough to make you happy."

Shinichi looked back blankly.

　　He watched in a daze.

　　Shinichi lay on the ground and looked up at the stars.

　　Rui seemed to realize something and wanted to open her eyes and raise her head.

　　But Shinichi covered his face with one palm, and carefully stroked her hair with the other.

　　"As a result, you and I both talk to ourselves a lot."

　　Shinichi's voice was so soft. But Rui still heard it.

　　"Rui, I..."

　　After a while, Rui nodded, a smile appearing on her face.

　　"Um, it's agreed."

　　In this way, the two made an agreement to transform under the starry sky.