Chapter 10

Three Days Later

The sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon as Akira, Shinobu, and Mitsuri arrived at the village. The soft glow of dawn bathed the small houses in golden light, and the early morning air carried the faint scent of dew on the grass. The village was peaceful, the kind of calm that only early mornings could bring.

Akira turned to the two girls beside him. "I'll be heading home now," he said with a smile. "Shinobu, Mitsuri, you two should stick together for now."

Shinobu gave a gentle wave. "Bye, Akira. See you later." Her hand lingered in the air for a moment, her gaze following him as he walked away.

Akira's House

Once home, Akira took a deep breath, glad to finally relax. His house was modest, but cozy. The first thing he did was customize his clothing using the system—his new robes were sleek, fitting him perfectly, with built-in features like auto-clean, temperature control, and repair.

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Afterward, he took a long, refreshing bath, the warmth of the water soothing his muscles from days of travel. After drying off, he enjoyed a simple lunch before deciding it was time to train.

He focused on gravity control, pushing his limits in small ways, manipulating objects around the room, and even testing the pull of gravity on his own body. He could feel his control sharpening with each attempt.

When night fell, he switched his training to something more subtle but equally important: night vision. The world around him seemed to change as his vision adapted to the darkness, allowing him to see everything clearly under the moonlit sky.

Shinobu's House

Meanwhile, Shinobu and Mitsuri arrived at Shinobu's house, where the girls quickly settled in. After washing away the exhaustion of travel in a warm bath, they shared a simple but delicious dinner together, enjoying each other's company in the cozy, dimly lit room.

As they ate, Mitsuri looked at Shinobu with a curious smile. "How long have you known Akira?"

Shinobu paused, thinking for a moment before answering. "We've known each other since we were children," she replied softly, a hint of nostalgia in her voice.

Mitsuri leaned in slightly, her cheeks flushed. "Have you two kissed yet?"

The question caught Shinobu off guard. Her face turned bright red, and she looked down at her plate, avoiding eye contact. "N-Not yet," she stammered, embarrassed. Mitsuri giggled, clearly enjoying her reaction.

After a few minutes, Shinobu's face returned to its normal color. She decided to tease Mitsuri back. "When are you planning to confess your feelings to Akira?"

Mitsuri's eyes widened in shock. "Is… is that okay with you and Akira?" she asked, genuinely surprised.

Shinobu smiled gently, her tone soft. "Of course. Akira once told me he'd likely have many girls who care for him. And if it's you, Mitsuri, I'm okay with it. I know you love him."

Mitsuri's cheeks burned a soft pink, and she smiled shyly. "I see… I'll confess when the time is right."

The two shared a warm, friendly conversation, and as the night deepened, they drifted off to sleep, content in their bond and their shared connection to Akira.

The Next Morning

Morning light filtered through Akira's window as he slept, his breathing rhythmic as he trained in his sleep, practicing the delicate control of his breathing techniques even while unconscious. Outside, the village was starting to come to life. He could hear faint murmurs through the walls—people whispering about him, Shinobu, and Mitsuri. They were the topic of conversation.

The whispers pulled him from his sleep, and he groggily opened his eyes. He stretched and got out of bed, listening closely to the voices outside. Curious, he opened his door. The villagers who had been speaking scattered the moment they heard the creak of the door.

"Huh?" Akira raised an eyebrow. "They're gone already? That was fast…" He sighed, deciding not to think too much about it.

After a quick morning routine, he decided to visit Shinobu and Mitsuri.

Shinobu's House

Arriving at Shinobu's place, Akira knocked on the door and called out, "Shinobu!"

After a moment, the door creaked open, and Shinobu appeared, yawning and rubbing her eyes. "What is it, Akira?" she asked, still half-asleep.

"Do you guys have any plans today?" Akira asked, hands in his pockets.

Shinobu blinked sleepily. "I was planning to clean the house today," she said with a small yawn.

Mitsuri, peeking out from behind Shinobu, chimed in. "I don't have anything to do today."

Shinobu grinned mischievously. "Oh, perfect timing. Akira, why don't you show Mitsuri around the village?"

Akira shrugged, smiling. "Sure thing. Mitsuri, I'll come back after lunch. Sound good?"

Mitsuri nodded eagerly. "Okay! I'll wait for you."

Noon

After a morning of training, Akira took another quick bath and ate some food he had purchased from the system. He didn't want to keep Mitsuri waiting, so he hurried over to Shinobu's house. As he approached, he called out her name again, "Mitsuri!!"

The door opened, and Mitsuri stepped out, smiling brightly. "Where will we go first?" she asked, her excitement clear.

Akira thought for a moment. "Let's start by showing you around the village."

Ten Minutes Later

Akira led Mitsuri through the bustling village streets, pointing out interesting spots and landmarks. They passed markets, quiet gardens, and scenic pathways. The village was small, but filled with life, and Mitsuri seemed fascinated by every little detail.

As they reached a clearing by the village's edge, Akira turned to her. "Mitsuri, how about we have a picnic?"

Mitsuri tilted her head in confusion. "What's a picnic?" she asked curiously.

Akira chuckled softly. "It's when you eat outside, usually in a nice, open place."

A smile spread across Mitsuri's face. "That sounds fun!" she said, her heart fluttering. She knew this might be the perfect moment to confess her feelings to Akira. She had been carrying those feelings for a while, and the peaceful setting felt just right.

Akira smiled back, his gaze warm. "Alright, let's find a nice spot and I'll grab us some food."

As they headed toward a quiet, grassy field, Mitsuri couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, today was the day she'd finally tell Akira how she felt.

To Be Continued…