At this moment, Sakura finally breathed a sigh of relief, thinking: So it's just their usual bickering. I almost misunderstood. Sister, maybe you should leave earlier?
"Brother, stop bullying sister all the time," Sakura walked over. "A girl's heart is very delicate. Saying such hurtful things will make her angry."
"Sakura," Shinji slowly got up from the floor and sighed, "don't confuse girls with mountain gorillas."
"Who are you calling a mountain gorilla?!"
Rin's fist landed heavily on Shinji's head.
"Ow! Can't you hit a little lighter, you mountain gorilla?! Even your head is gorilla-level hard!"
"You're the gorilla!"
"Sorry, Miss Gorilla, you must be mistaken. I'm not your kind. Your home is on the hillside a few kilometers south."
"The hillside a few kilometers south..." Rin suddenly realized, "That's my house! You jerk, go to hell!"
Watching the two of them argue yet again, Sakura hurriedly tried to stop them. "Both of you, calm down! Brother, apologize to Sister quickly! Calling a girl a gorilla is bound to make her angry! And if Sister is a gorilla, then I am too..."
Rin was the first to stop, turning her head to look at Sakura with a strange expression.
Sakura, whose side are you on?
At 2 PM, shortly after Sakura returned, Rin left the Matou house.
After all, staying any longer, Rin felt she would likely lose control and punch Shinji, maybe even use her gem magic on him.
Before leaving, Rin subtly reminded Sakura to rest early and not go out at night. She also secretly hinted to Shinji about a private chat on the school rooftop tomorrow.
Time passed, and soon it was dusk. The golden sunset bathed the living room through the windows.
"Ah~~" Shinji stretched lazily after finishing some boring work. "Finally done."
Creak—
"Brother." Sakura entered the room with a bright smile, holding a guitar.
"Sakura, didn't I throw that guitar away?"
Shinji looked over, puzzled.
"I saved it. By the way, Brother, I don't think you've ever played it at home."
Sakura hesitated, looking a bit embarrassed.
Seeing her like this, Shinji sighed and reluctantly took the guitar from her.
Seeing Shinji take the guitar, Sakura's face lit up with joy. She sat down beside him, resting her chin on her hands, smiling expectantly as he tuned the guitar.
"Just one song, okay? I'm not really interested in this anymore," Shinji said, adjusting the strings before closing his eyes and strumming softly.
The soothing, tranquil prelude in C major began to play: C, E, Am, D, F, G, C, A.
"Just sit and relax for a while longer~"
Shinji's voice, still a bit husky from recently going through puberty, matched the song perfectly as the sun set.
"...Twilight is falling, and the evening glow will soon fill my eyes..."
As Shinji played and sang softly, Sakura closed her eyes, swaying gently to the melody.
In the dim living room, illuminated only by the last rays of the sunset, the purple-haired girl's heart gradually sank into the simple, pure, and soul-touching melody.
"...Only my shadow remains, standing alone—"
As the song ended, Shinji put the guitar aside.
"Sakura, it's over."
"It's a new song, Brother," Sakura said happily, opening her eyes. "And it's just as wonderful as always."
"It's just someone else's song," Shinji waved dismissively.
"Why do you always say it's someone else's song or book when you clearly wrote it?" Sakura asked, puzzled.
"I've said it's borrowed. I'm not thick-skinned enough to claim others' work as my own."
"Then tell me, Brother, where's the original song from?"
Sakura, hands on her hips, looked at Shinji with a knowing smile.
"Uh..."
Shinji was at a loss. He couldn't tell her it was from another world, and thinking about his past life...
Dad...
Mom...
Sister...
He wondered if the flow of time in the two worlds was the same. If so, his parents would be over sixty, and his sister would be in her thirties, possibly with a child in high school...
And then... would his computer's hard drive have been discovered? Would his physical death have led to a social death as well?
Watching Shinji silently lying on the floor with his hands behind his head, Sakura felt a small sense of pride and hummed as if to say: I knew it!
"Sakura, who's cooking dinner?"
As if remembering something or just wanting to change the topic, Shinji suddenly asked.
"Please let me handle it!"
Sakura stood up enthusiastically. "When I went out to buy your manga, I also bought dinner ingredients! Just wait and see!"
Seeing Sakura's eager expression, Shinji didn't argue. However, the sight of her bouncing made him a bit dizzy, and he couldn't take his eyes off her.
"Eh? Brother, what are you looking at?"
"Nothing," Shinji shook his head, wondering: Could Sakura's impressive figure be due to those special late-night snacks I used to make?
"Oh, almost forgot," Shinji said, getting up. "Sakura, I need to visit Ryudou Temple. I'll be back before dinner."
"Is it about donating that golden Buddha statue you mentioned?"
Shinji smiled, "No, not donating. Just gilding the temple's statues with a thin layer of gold leaf."
Shinji had arranged this a month ago with the previous head monk, who had been his master during his harsh training at the temple—Issei's father.
To Issei's father, who had muscles of steel, Shinji was a remarkable and rare disciple.
After all, Shinji had completed all the absurdly tough training in just three months.
Both Issei's father and brother (the current head monk) liked Shinji. The former saw him as an outstanding disciple, while the latter considered him a younger brother, much like Issei.
This was why Shinji and Issei had a good relationship.
At the entrance.
Shinji sat on the floor, changing into his outdoor shoes, while Sakura stood behind him, looking worried.
"Are you sure you can go out? Even though your fever's gone..."
"Yes, I'm almost fully recovered."
"Come back before dinner," Sakura reminded him.
Shinji smiled warmly as he opened the door. "I will. I'm off then."
"Have a safe trip."