Chapter 109: The Firefly That Lived Through Summer

Minamoto Kiyomoto sent his mother back to Shodoshima. He had originally wanted to stay at home until October, but was chased away by Ayako.

“It’s not a holiday. Why did you suddenly run home? The people on the island will think you can’t stay in Tokyo. Don’t embarrass me.”

“…Then I’ll go.”

With reluctance, Minamoto Kiyomoto returned to Tokyo, which he had been away from for more than twenty days. It was September 27th, a sunny Saturday.

Even in Tokyo, the season had already entered autumn. The outdoor temperature of twenty-two degrees was exceptionally comfortable.

“Go straight back?” Minamoto Kiyomoto, who was gradually becoming a mount, asked the two miko on his back.

“Go around to the supermarket. Shirako asked me to buy vegetables,” after a pause, Kamibayashi Miko’s voice had a hint of a smile. “She said she wants to make us a big meal.”

“Am I the one lighting the fire again?”

“Who told you to be so hot-headed?” Himemiya Izayoi didn’t settle the score at the time, but she did afterwards—she was very unhappy that he had touched another woman.

“That Suitengu miko, she’s simply a nymphomaniac,” Minamoto Kiyomoto searched for a supermarket from ten thousand meters in the air.

“What Suitengu miko? It’s Sister Mizuha.”

“I only have Sister Izayoi. I don’t know any Sister Mizuha,” the red-gold Western evil dragon plunged into the sea of clouds as if it were diving into the water.

The three of them landed in an alley.

As soon as they came out of the alley, they saw the dense crowd of people in Tokyo on a Saturday, the maids holding advertising signs, the students riding bicycles潇洒ly, and the couples buying flowers in front of the flower shop. Their mood brightened.

Entering the supermarket, Minamoto Kiyomoto was in charge of pushing the cart, and the two miko selected the ingredients.

“Is there anything you want to eat?” Kamibayashi Miko had the air of a housewife. Although her tone was still calm, it was extremely gentle.

“Hmm—what should I eat?” Himemiya Izayoi put her hands behind her back, her small face pondering, hopelessly cute.

“Miss Kamibayashi, Miss Kamibayashi,” Minamoto Kiyomoto called out in a low voice as if he had discovered a gold mine.

Kamibayashi Miko turned her head.

“Look,” Minamoto Kiyomoto handed her a box of vegetables.

“You want to eat tomatoes?” Kamibayashi Miko took it.

“Look at the price,” Minamoto Kiyomoto reminded her.

Kamibayashi Miko looked. A tomato for 298 yen, one! And it was only the size of Shirako’s fist.

“This is not something you, who has to pay back a loan, should touch,” Kamibayashi Miko returned the tomato to him and gestured for him to put it back.

“I think this world is really crazy. How dare they sell such a small tomato for 298!” Minamoto Kiyomoto was in disbelief.

“It wasn’t for people like you in the first place.”

“Then who is it for?”

Kamibayashi Miko’s gaze fell on Himemiya Izayoi, who was contemplating the high-end counter.

“I could have lived that kind of life too,” Minamoto Kiyomoto gritted his teeth, put the tomato back, and took a large bag of bean sprouts that only cost 98 yen.

“You can take it, as a reward for you,” Kamibayashi Miko said with a smile.

“Speaking of rewards…” Minamoto Kiyomoto smiled, his eyes sweeping over her delicate lips.

Kamibayashi Miko tilted her head and looked at him with confusion.

“Are you trying to go back on your word?” Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at her.

“Young Master Kiyoshi, come here,” Himemiya Izayoi’s gaze was still on the shelf. She waved for him to come over. It seemed that she had already decided what to choose.

Minamoto Kiyomoto pushed the cart and walked over, but his eyes were like they were equipped with facial recognition, staring at Kamibayashi Miko, full of unwillingness, anger, disbelief, and ‘you just wait’.

Kamibayashi Miko waved her hand and smiled as she sent him away.

“What did you two talk about?” Himemiya Izayoi did not look at Minamoto Kiyomoto, but compared the two portions of matsutake mushrooms, which were expensive enough to make the news.

Just this casual posture, the oppressive feeling of the “Lord of Kyoto” rushed over, making people worry that in the next moment, she would order someone to drag him out and behead him.

“I saw a tomato, this big, 298.”

“And then.”

“You’re so rich.”

“And.”

“That’s it.”

Himemiya Izayoi turned her face, a sneer on her face, “And.”

“…When we were at Lake Shikotsu, she promised me that as long as I could survive, she would allow me to pursue both of you at the same time.”

“You’re quite good at taking advantage of a fire.”

“Sister Izayoi, you promised me too, right?” Minamoto Kiyomoto moved closer and asked with a smile.

“Don’t even think about it,” Himemiya Izayoi slapped the more expensive box of matsutake mushrooms on his forehead and turned to walk away.

Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at the price of the matsutake mushrooms, and as he followed, he confirmed with her, “You’re paying for it yourself, right?”

“Look at your prospects. You still want to marry two?”

“What’s wrong with me?” Minamoto Kiyomoto put the matsutake mushrooms in the cart and walked beside her. “My wife is rich, and I live a simple life. The combination of the two is the long-term way—don’t you think what I said makes a lot of sense?”

“I don’t think so,” Himemiya Izayoi picked up a bottle of vinegar.

“I don’t think so either. In that case, I think we’re a good match.”

“I don’t think so,” Himemiya Izayoi put down the ordinary vinegar and replaced it with a bottle of lemon vinegar.

She couldn’t understand the ingredients at all. She just saw that there was lemon, and thought that since there was fruit, it should be better.

She handed the vinegar to Minamoto Kiyomoto, and Minamoto Kiyomoto remembered something.

“Do you want to buy vinegar?” He didn’t rush to put the vinegar in the cart. “Go and ask Miss Kamibayashi. I just finished my five sentences with her.”

Himemiya Izayoi looked at him with some disbelief.

“What’s wrong?” Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at himself.

“Just a bottle of vinegar. What’s the big deal if you buy too much?” Himemiya Izayoi said with disgust. “You not only need to improve your strength, but also cultivate your temperament.”

“Then you…”

Before Minamoto Kiyomoto could finish, Himemiya Izayoi interrupted him.

“I know what you’re going to say,” she said. “Impossible. Even if this world is destroyed, and I become a sow, and I’m really with Miko, I won’t help you pay back the loan. Don’t even think about it.”

“You guessed what I was thinking so quickly. We’re really a good match,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said with a grin.

Himemiya Izayoi’s charming eyes, with a hint of helplessness and a lot of amusement, rolled her eyes at him, and then gave him a charming glance.

Kamibayashi Miko, who had bought the cheap vegetables, came over.

The two miko discussed whether to buy lemon vinegar for five sentences, and even remotely asked Shirako.

This ordinary time, after the Lake Shikotsu incident, had also become precious.

Minamoto Kiyomoto was like he had climbed out of the cold sea water, wrapped in a blanket, facing the orange campfire, and drinking hot milk. He was as comfortable as he could be.

Taking a taxi back to Hakusan Shrine, they walked into the large banyan tree.

“Lady Miko!” Shirako jumped down from the crossbeam of the torii gate and threw herself into Kamibayashi Miko’s arms.

Kamibayashi Miko bent down, patted her small back, and a gentle smile appeared on her face.

Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at them for a while, then turned his gaze to the mountain path leading to the shrine. The foxtail grass, the cypress vine, and other unique and beautiful autumn grasses were shaking their heads and welcoming them.

Shirako raised her head from Kamibayashi Miko’s arms, wiped her tears, and her watery eyes instantly became fierce when she looked at Minamoto Kiyomoto.

“It’s all your fault. Why didn’t you protect Lady Miko!”

“What? I didn’t protect her? Ask yourself, who turned the tide, who brought them out!”

“That’s what you should do!”

“Miss Kamibayashi should be the one protecting me!”

“You’re not getting dinner tonight!”

“We’re arguing, why can’t I have dinner?!”

“Letting Lady Miko risk her life to save you, I’m already letting you in for Lady Miko’s sake.”

“Miss Kamibayashi, aren’t you going to do something? I worked so hard, but I don’t even get dinner when I come back!” Minamoto Kiyomoto could only turn to Kamibayashi Miko.

“Shirako is just kidding,” Kamibayashi Miko said with a smile.

“I’m not kidding,” Shirako hugged her arms, snorted, and turned away.

Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at her duplicitous appearance and couldn’t help but rub her small head.

“What are you doing!” Shirako covered her military cap, her face as fierce as a demon.

“…I couldn’t help it. You’re too cute.”

“Cute? You dare to say your superior is cute?!”

“Alright, alright,” Himemiya Izayoi yawned. “Let’s go back. When I sit down, you can argue as much as you want.”

Shirako snorted, took off her military cap, straightened her bun, put the military cap back on, and walked up the mountain with her head held high.

Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at her golden hair and suddenly thought of the golden-haired girl who had disappeared in the fierce flames.

Returning to the shrine, the little butterfly, who was not sad at all, was sleeping soundly on the veranda, her cute little mouth breathing “hoo-ah, hoo-ah.”

Because she was making a big meal, although it was still early for dinner, Minamoto Kiyomoto had already been called to the kitchen by Shirako to light the fire.

After dinner, the sky was already dark.

After being tired for so many days, Himemiya Izayoi went back to rest early.

Minamoto Kiyomoto was the last to finish his bath. He sat in front of Kamibayashi Miko, who was studying French literature, and casually picked up a copy of her “The Story of the King of Buddha’s Escape.”

He half-read, his eyes occasionally glancing at Kamibayashi Miko.

“Why are you always staring at Lady Miko?” Shirako did not allow anyone to look at Kamibayashi Miko, especially the lustful Minamoto Kiyomoto.

“I like her,” Minamoto Kiyomoto replied frankly.

“…” Shirako seemed to not know what to say for a moment. “You’re not allowed to like her!”

“Hey, Shirako.”

“What!”

Minamoto Kiyomoto’s gaze left “The Story of the King of Buddha’s Escape,” and his eyes stared at Kamibayashi Miko. He said to Shirako:
“Look, Lady Miko is sitting gracefully on the oak chair, her slender white fingertips turning the pages of the book. Every movement is indescribably beautiful, right?”

Shirako followed his description and admired Kamibayashi Miko.

Kamibayashi Miko, being discussed and looked at by the two of them like this, subconsciously used her fingertips to comb the black hair hanging on her shoulders.

“That’s right,” Shirako agreed.

“Not to mention me, even you, Shirako, who is always with her, wouldn’t you be fascinated?”

“Of course, Lady Miko is the most beautiful!”

“So, it’s only natural that I fell in love with her. I couldn’t help it,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said.

“You can like her, but you’re not allowed to look,” Shirako took a step back.

“Shirako, love is not that simple,” Minamoto Kiyomoto closed “The Story of the King of Buddha’s Escape.” “It’s like the water that melts from a snow mountain.”

“The water that melts from a snow mountain?”

“Drop by drop, it gathers into a gurgling stream. If you put a stone in it, it will be angered and turn into a turbulent stream; if there are no obstacles, it will flow down and become a river, and finally merge into the vast sea.”

“What do you mean?” Shirako asked with a frown.

“What I mean is, you can’t stop me, and I can’t stop myself. Love is just that kind of thing,” Minamoto Kiyomoto replied.

“What about building a dam?” Kamibayashi Miko finally spoke, asking with a smile.

Minamoto Kiyomoto immediately smiled and looked at her, and replied kindly, “Which dam doesn’t open its gates to release water? Even if it’s only occasionally, just once.”

He looked at her soft lips.

Kamibayashi Miko lowered her head again to look at her notes, ignoring him.

“Ah, I’m so angry,” Minamoto Kiyomoto lay down on the tatami and picked up “The Story of the King of Buddha’s Escape” again.

Shirako didn’t read. She stayed with the two of them for a while, and finally couldn’t stand it anymore and went to sleep.

“Don’t be disrespectful to Lady Miko, you know?”

“Do you think I can beat her?” Minamoto Kiyomoto replied without raising his head.

As soon as Shirako left, he immediately put down his book and sat next to Kamibayashi Miko.

“Miss Kamibayashi~” he pulled her sleeve.

“What is it?”

“You promised me.”

“Yes,” Kamibayashi Miko nodded. “I promised you, I’ll allow you to pursue me and Izayoi at the same time.”

“Not this—of course you promised me this, but there’s one more thing.”

“What?”

“Let me… let me kiss you again,” in the quiet night, Minamoto Kiyomoto’s breathing became hot.

“I don’t remember promising you.”

“You clearly promised!” Minamoto Kiyomoto said coquettishly. “Miss Kamibayashi, Sister Miko~, Miko~~”

Kamibayashi Miko did not speak. Minamoto Kiyomoto silently looked at her side profile.

Her appearance was beautiful and elegant, unparalleled. Her every move was extremely graceful. A beautiful and pure young girl.

Minamoto Kiyomoto slowly reached out, wanting to hold her waist from behind.

Before his hand could close, Kamibayashi Miko put down her book and took his hand, turning around.

“Don’t do anything extra,” she closed her eyes. “Hurry up.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto’s heart immediately pounded, and he couldn’t help but swallow.

“Wait!” he said.

Kamibayashi Miko opened her eyes and saw him sitting by the wall, his back against the wall, his legs straight, in an “L” shape.

“Miss Kamibayashi,” Minamoto Kiyomoto patted his leg. “Sit here.”

Kamibayashi Miko looked at him.

“I promise I won’t do anything, just kiss.”

“…”

“Miko~” he called again.

Kamibayashi Miko sighed helplessly, stood up, walked over slowly, and after hesitating for a long time, she slowly sat on Minamoto Kiyomoto’s lap.

The two of them were face to face.

On his thigh, he felt a soft touch.

“Miss Kamibayashi, I…” Minamoto Kiyomoto couldn’t help but swallow again. “I’m coming.”

This time, Kamibayashi Miko did not close her eyes. Her sparkling eyes looked at Minamoto Kiyomoto as he gradually approached.

Gradually, the two of them could feel each other’s breathing.

Kamibayashi Miko saw the moonlight shining on the courtyard. A firefly that had survived the summer, dragging a faint but distinct stream of light, fluttered on the window lattice, like the fireworks of that night.

She closed her eyes. The sound of the electric current from the fluorescent lamp above her head was more real than usual.

The touch on her lips instantly entered the depths of her heart.

She suddenly felt weak all over.

The warmth and body temperature of Minamoto Kiyomoto that flowed in from her mouth seemed to make everything irrelevant at this moment.

When the two of them separated, gasping for breath, Minamoto Kiyomoto had already held Kamibayashi Miko’s soft and delicate waist in his arms.

And Kamibayashi Miko also hugged Minamoto Kiyomoto’s head, her slender fingers running through his hair.

“Ever since our first kiss, I’ve been thinking of you day and night,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said in a low voice. “Even when I don’t see you after school, I feel that time is so long.”

As he spoke, Minamoto Kiyomoto leaned his face closer again, and like a reed brushing against the water, he gave Kamibayashi Miko a gentle kiss.

“I love you, Miko,” he whispered gently.

Kamibayashi Miko felt suffocated. This sentence, as if it were going to melt her heart through her ears.

Compared to the kiss just now, she was even more lost in herself now.

Minamoto Kiyomoto smelled Kamibayashi Miko’s fragrance and couldn’t help but kiss her again.

“…Mmm?”

Kamibayashi Miko reached out and pressed his face against the wall. Her lips even pouted.

“You said you wouldn’t do anything,” she said coldly.

“I didn’t do anything,” Minamoto Kiyomoto’s face was pressed, and he was a little slurred.

“Hand.”

“I couldn’t help it.”

Kamibayashi Miko’s waist was so soft, her skin was so smooth, her voice was so crisp, her lips were so beautiful, and her tongue was so sweet. Even if he died, Minamoto Kiyomoto would not let go.

“Liar,” Kamibayashi Miko stood up and broke free from his embrace. “There won’t be a next time.”

She didn’t even pack her books, turned around and walked out of the living room, and returned to her room.

Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at the ceiling, his heart beating so fast.

Thank you all for your rewards, subscriptions, monthly tickets, and recommendation tickets.

(End of Chapter)