A fleeting struggle crossed her perfect features, and a soft hum lingered at her throat, the words of refusal almost spoken. An icy wind drifted through the air, and the chill of the world gathered from all around, converging on her. Her snow-white skin glowed with a luminous light, like the reflection of moonlight.
It was like a faint moonbeam streaming into the darkness, as silver-white hair spread before Fujiwara Reya’s eyes.
The initially noisy surroundings suddenly fell silent.
Everyone held their breath and stared at the suddenly appearing, stunning bewitching woman, dazed.
Fujiwara Reya’s heart was moved.
That flawless, unparalleled face was exactly like Snow Treasure’s, a face so exquisitely beautiful that even the finest artisans could not replicate. Her long, silver-white hair hung down to her waist, her expression serene yet somber, and her blue eyes resembled a lake stirred by ripples.
Yukino Ritsuko slowly moved her gaze, coolly glancing around.
Finally, her gaze settled calmly on Fujiwara Reya, her serene face betraying no emotion.
"Yukino..." Fujiwara Reya’s heartbeat abruptly slowed for a moment.
After transforming into a Snow Woman, her demeanor seemed considerably colder.
Between her brows, there was an elegance and loneliness, her eyes constantly revealing a sorrowful aura.
Yukino Ritsuko spoke softly, her voice like ice clashing, spreading through every corner.
A simple sentence, and one could feel the aura of a Snow Woman. Some even blushed, looking at that noble, breathtaking face, lost in imagination of some scenarios.
"I never thought I’d watch fireworks with Yukino." Fujiwara Reya held her hand and walked forward again.
"Me too. I will never forget today’s events." Yukino Ritsuko said with a serene yet somber expression, her white dress resembling a half-open lotus flower, tranquil and pure, blending sanctity and beauty perfectly.
Hand in hand, they stepped into the entrance of the town.
By now, the sky was completely dark, and a full moon appeared in the pitch-black sky, casting a silvery glow everywhere.
The brightly lit Hidden God Town turned into a dreamlike world.
Colorful lanterns lit up one after another, with continuous calls emerging. The shopkeepers were kappa, wearing aprons, with mouths like beaks and turtle shells on their backs.
"Do you want to eat something?" Fujiwara Reya’s gaze drifted over various stalls.
Yukino Ritsuko’s expression was very cold, like a piece of casually cut moonlight. On hearing Fujiwara Reya’s question, her red lips slightly parted, her voice cool and melodious, "You decide."
Fujiwara Reya glanced sideways at her.
The soft orange firelight fell on her silver-white hair, like a faint halo, faintly revealing the cool aura emanating from her hair.
Fujiwara Reya was particularly fond of her in this posture.
Or perhaps, he particularly liked this kind of aloof demeanor in women, including Kasahara Fumi. Watching an icy, aloof woman slowly melt in his embrace—that was undoubtedly a woman’s most charming and beautiful moment.
At this moment, Fujiwara Reya completely cast aside the Mountain God Festival.
His only thought now was to find a fun and delicious place, call Snow Treasure over too, and spend an unforgettable night together.
They walked along the street for a while.
"Clink clink clink" resounded a few crisp sounds as three bald heads rolled over before them.
These three heads belonged to yokai known as "Mai-Kubi". In the Kamakura Era, three samurai drank together and, during a dispute, drew swords against each other, severing each other’s heads. These three heads thus fused together, becoming the yokai Mai-Kubi.
The top head spoke first.
"We have delicious eel rice here!"
Immediately, the second and third heads also scrambled to speak.
"We have tasty sake here!"
"We have beautiful geisha performances here!"
Fujiwara Reya glanced at the shop at the back.
It bordered the river on one side, offering a beautiful night view of pavilion boats on the water. In the middle, the courtyard was set with artificial mountains and flowing water. Geishas in elaborate attire had already begun their performance, with cherry blossoms fluttering on stage and mist swirling around. The dining experience should be quite pleasant.
"Here?" Fujiwara Reya asked Yukino Ritsuko.
Yukino Ritsuko walked inside without a word.
Wherever her waist-length silver-white hair flowed, the temperature plummeted, and the moisture in the air quickly condensed into frost. Wherever she went, it was as though she opened up a world no one had touched before, pristine and cold. To Fujiwara Reya, who was by her side, the sensation was most direct, the clear, cooling clarity akin to mint spreading expansively, cool and tenderly cold.
Upon entering the shop, a maid quickly greeted them.
"To the rooftop terrace, please, honored guests."
Yukino Ritsuko ascended the stairs, her gaze still exuding the aloofness and detachment akin to cold moonlight.
Her enticing, graceful figure paired with that face as cold as an iceberg made her seem like a beauty emerging from a glacial river, her features encrusted with a thin layer of frosty chill that spoke of detachment. Especially those blue eyes, merely meeting her gaze felt like plunging into an icy, snowy world.
Upon stepping onto the terrace, they had to remove their shoes to enter.
"Take off the socks too," Fujiwara Reya reminded her.
"..." Yukino Ritsuko hesitated for a moment, ultimately removing the white foot coverings. Her delicate, pale feet stepped onto the tatami covered in candlelight, slightly damp.