Sayaka's eyes sparkled like a pair of tiny stars.
"Mitsuha! You're so cool today!"
Her admiration was clear and unfiltered, the kind of innocent praise that came straight from the heart.
Teshigawara couldn't help but laugh, his voice full of amusement.
"They must be furious right now!"
The glee in his tone was unmistakable—whoever "they" were, they'd clearly underestimated "Mitsuha."
Yukima Azuma, now inhabiting Mitsuha's body, didn't let their reactions ruffle him. If anything, he took it in stride. Since he was going to be Mitsuha for a while longer, he might as well solve some of her youthful troubles while he was at it.
But what he hadn't expected—was how excited her two best friends were.
"Today, Mitsuha feels different," Sayaka murmured as she hugged one of Yukima Azuma's arms, laughing softly.
"Cool, but in a mysterious, adult kind of way."
Normally, Mitsuha was cheerful, sweet, and undeniably cute. But today, something about her had shifted—her presence, her aura, maybe even the way she moved. It was subtle, yet impossible to ignore.
Yukima Azuma didn't resist Sayaka's closeness. Instead, he calmly traced a line in the air with his finger and offered a casual explanation.
"It's just a small change in mindset," he said. "Standing straighter when you walk, adjusting your steps to your own rhythm—tiny changes like that can influence how others perceive you. It boosts your confidence… or so I read online."
Sayaka's eyes were drawn to his finger, following its motion unconsciously. She blinked, then straightened her posture slightly without even realizing it. Maybe confidence wasn't everything—but when Mitsuha looked this cool, it was hard not to imitate her.
"So, where are we going today?" Yukima Azuma asked, feigning curiosity.
"Huh? Weren't we going to that café in the shopping district?" Teshigawara replied, slightly confused by the question.
"Yeah, yeah!" Sayaka nodded quickly. "You were really looking forward to it, remember?"
Yukima Azuma gave a small smile and nodded. Switching environments could help him think more clearly about what to do next. He was already turning over possibilities in his mind.
The three of them made their way to the bus stop. The rural route only had one bus every two hours. If they missed this one, they'd be stuck waiting half the morning.
Luckily, the bus pulled up right on time.
As they boarded and found their seats, Yukima Azuma gazed out the window. The quiet scenery of Itomori drifted by—endless green mountains, narrow roads weaving between rice fields, and the occasional cluster of wooden houses. It was peaceful, almost too peaceful.
He exhaled softly.
Saving Itomori… would not be easy.
This was a town many saw as cramped, outdated, and disconnected from opportunity. People left because the world outside seemed to promise more. But still, there were those who cherished this way of life—this slow, comfortable detachment from the world. For them, this town was home.
Convincing such people to leave—would be anything but simple.
But the comet wouldn't fall for another three years. There was still time. He'd figure out a plan.
Eventually, the scenery outside began to shift—less forest, more concrete. The town gave way to a cityscape, and the bus pulled into a larger district with wide sidewalks and clustered buildings.
They got off and followed the directions on Yukima Azuma's phone until they arrived at a small café tucked between two shops. Its fancy, Parisian-style sign made Sayaka and Teshigawara hesitate.
"Do we have enough saved for this?" Teshigawara asked, gulping slightly.
"Should be enough—we've been saving forever," Sayaka whispered, though she still looked nervous.
Before either could retreat, Yukima Azuma pushed open the café door.
A soft chime rang.
"Welcome," a waitress greeted warmly.
The atmosphere inside was cozy yet refined, the scent of roasted coffee beans mixing with sweet pastries.
Sayaka clung to Yukima Azuma's arm again, her voice small.
"Mitsuha, aren't you nervous?"
He tapped her lightly on the forehead.
"Be confident. Gambare, gambare."
"Confidence! YEAHHH!" Teshigawara suddenly burst out, puffing up his chest—only to immediately deflate when the waitress approached. He buried his face in the table, pretending to be unconscious.
Yukima Azuma sighed lightly and took the lead.
"Two donuts, one cappuccino," he ordered smoothly, then handed the menu to Sayaka.
She stared at it, overwhelmed by the choices. Her eyes bounced from one item to another—everything looked good, but nothing stood out.
"If you're unsure," Yukima Azuma said gently, "choose either the milk cream cake or fruit cream cake. Macarons are pretty but disappointing. As for coffee, canned blends are sweet, espresso and Americano are bitter. Mocha has chocolate—safer for beginners."
Sayaka nodded, the fog in her mind lifting.
"Then… mango cake and a latte," she said shyly.
The others soon followed her lead. Once the waitress walked away, Sayaka finally exhaled.
She turned to Yukima Azuma with sparkling eyes.
"Thank you, Mitsuha… I mean, really. You saved the day."
Her admiration had crossed a line—from simple friendship into something more tender.
When the desserts arrived, Sayaka immediately pulled out her phone.
Click! Click!
Every angle of the mango cake had to be captured.
Yukima Azuma also took a quick picture.
This wasn't his money. It was Mitsuha's savings, and the least he could do was commemorate it.
He took a sip of his cappuccino, the bitter foam kissing his lips as his gaze drifted to the window again.
Saving Itomori… perhaps the most direct way was to buy the affected land. It wasn't impossible to raise the funds in time—he had ways. But the legal and political side? Not so easy. Mitsuha was just a high school girl. She'd need backing. Maybe her father? Though their relationship made that route complicated.
He fell deep into thought.
Then something caught his eye.
Across the street—a girl with long black hair collapsed onto the sidewalk, her shoulders trembling with each breath. Her forehead glistened with cold sweat.
Yukima Azuma stood up, knocking over his chair.
"Mitsuha!?" Sayaka gasped behind him.
Without answering, he rushed outside.
He vaulted over the guardrail with practiced ease and dropped to the pavement beside the girl.
"Do you have emergency medicine!?" he asked, squatting down.
She shook her head weakly, struggling to breathe.
Asthma.
Yukima Azuma didn't hesitate. Sliding one arm under her knees and the other behind her back, he lifted her in a princess carry—making sure her airway wasn't restricted—and sprinted toward the hospital visible just one street away.
Sayaka and Teshigawara chased after him.
"She has asthma," he called out while running. "Help clear the path!"
Sayaka darted ahead, waving her arms at pedestrians.
"Out of the way, emergency!"
Teshigawara stayed by his side, ready to support him if he stumbled.
Despite the weight in his arms, Yukima Azuma ran like the wind. His real body's years of training made the feat possible.
Within three minutes, they burst through the doors of the hospital's emergency department.
A doctor immediately took action. The girl was placed on a gurney, a nurse fitted her with an inhaler. Her strained breathing slowly began to even out.
"You're lucky you brought her in when you did," the doctor said seriously. "A few minutes later, and the damage might've been permanent."
He turned to Yukima Azuma.
"Do you know if she's had asthma before? Has she used medication?"
Yukima Azuma shook his head.
"I don't know. I just saw her collapse and brought her here."
The doctor gave him a look of quiet admiration.
"That was heroic."
Yukima Azuma glanced toward the girl.
Saving her could actually turn into an opportunity—media attention, local goodwill, maybe even a connection to Mitsuha's father. Not bad at all.
But then—
The girl opened her eyes.
Her breathing steadied, and after a light cough, she looked at him.
Her gaze was strong and clear—purple eyes, gleaming like polished amethysts.
"Thank you. I'm Suou Yuki," she said with a faint smile. "You saved my life."
Yukima Azuma's mind clicked.
Suou Yuki?
The daughter of the Suou family—one of the most powerful and influential families in Gifu Prefecture?
In that case… he didn't need to worry about building a reputation.
He took her delicate hand and gave a soft, reassuring smile.
"It's nothing. Just glad you're safe, Yuki."
Her face flushed pink, her voice fluttered as she looked away.
He blinked.
Wait a second.
Was Suou Yuki… always this shy?
Her expression was way too dere for someone who'd just had an asthma attack.
Still—
O'kawaii koto~.