Chapter 96 Summer Festival
At night, a cool breeze blows.

Thanks to Zhishi's foresight, Xia Yu successfully got a kimono, which was purely handmade and custom-made.

As we all know, the most expensive clothes are never those with famous brands, but those that are purely handmade and customized. Because no matter how expensive brand-name clothes are, they cannot escape the label of mass production, while purely handmade and customized clothes are unique in the world.

This time I feel like I have received a great favor from Zhishi.

Xia Yu kept walking, thinking secretly.

No, he has to find a way to return the gift. Only when there is give and take can friendship last forever.

"Xia, are you thinking about returning the gift?"

Suddenly, Zhishi's voice sounded in his ears. Xia Yu looked at him in surprise. Did he just say what was in his heart?

"Haha~ Xia didn't say what was in your heart aloud just now."

Tomoyo covered her mouth and chuckled: "It's just that Xia's expression has already exposed her thoughts. Sometimes Xia is easy to understand."

Ah this...

Xia Yu's face rarely turned red. Is he so easy to understand?
No, it's obviously that Tomoyo's observation ability is too strong. Whether it was the last extracurricular teaching at the seaside or this time's guesses, it was clearly Tomoyo's own observations.

After Zhishi revealed his thoughts, Xia Yu didn't know how to respond. He did want to return the gift, but from Zhishi's tone, it seemed that he was told not to think about returning the gift?

"Xia classmate."

"Ok?"

A breeze blew past, ruffling their hair. Zhishi raised her hand to tuck the hair behind her ears, then turned to Xia Yu and said with a smile, "The kimono is not an ordinary gift, but my thank you gift. After all, Xia has helped me so much, this is just a small token of my appreciation."

A thank you gift?
Xia Yu was silent for a few seconds. No matter how to say it, this thank-you gift was still quite expensive.

However, before he could say anything, Zhi Shi said again: "So Xia classmate, don't even think about returning the gift. If Xia classmate really chooses to return the gift regardless of my wishes, I will be angry and I will not accept the gift."

"..."

Now that things have come to this, what else can we do?

Xia Yu sighed and gave up the idea of ​​returning the gift, even though he hadn't said anything yet.

Really, I always feel like he is being controlled by Tomoyo...

An illusion, it must be an illusion!

The night was dark, but the road did not seem dim.

Unlike other deserted nights, there are many pedestrians on the streets tonight. Most of them are wearing slim-fitting kimonos, walking in groups of three or four, or accompanied by beautiful women.

If the information is correct, their destination should be the same place, Tsukimine Shrine.

These are tourists participating in the shrine's summer festival. Today is the last day of the summer festival, and accordingly, this last day is far more lively than the previous days.

After Xia Yu and Chi Shi walked for a distance together, they heard the sound of lively fun in the distance. Under the moonlight and starlight, they could see many stalls on the streets inside the Torii, as well as tourists gathered together.

Chiyo pointed at the torii gate and smiled softly, "This is the entrance to the shrine. It is said that the torii gate represents the entrance to the divine realm, used to distinguish between the divine realm where gods live and the secular world where humans live. It has quite a mysterious meaning."

In front of the Torii.

The boy and girl stood together, looking at the tall torii gate at the entrance of the shrine from afar. Although they didn't know whether the torii gate really separated the divine realm from the secular world, it did separate the hustle and bustle from the tranquility.

Xia Yu took half a step forward and looked at the bustling crowd inside the torii from afar. He could hear the joyful sounds from here, but it also made the place seem more peaceful.

Zhishi looked at Xia Yu who seemed to be in a trance, her lips slightly pursed. She saw the lonely look on Xia Yu's face that she had seen before.

Although it was slight, she still noticed it.

What is Xia's concern? "Tomoyo!!"

Suddenly, a voice came from afar.

The shout brought Xia Yu and Zhi Shi back to their senses at the same time. They turned their heads and saw Sakura waving her hands and jogging towards them in wooden clogs not far away.

Tonight, Sakura is wearing a pink kimono with large cherry blossoms patterned on it. With the small pink cherry blossom fan in her hand, she looks quite lively and cute.

"Huh? Xia-san is here too."

It was only when she got closer that Sakura noticed that Xia Yu was there too. Because Tomoyo's kimono was bright yellow, it was quite conspicuous in the dark, so she only noticed Tomoyo at first.

"Haha~ Classmate Xia and I came here together."

Tomoyo smiled softly, holding her face with one hand, her eyes sparkling: "Sakura, this kimono really suits you."

Hearing Tomoyo's praise, Sakura narrowed her eyes and smiled, raised her hand to show her kimono, and said: "My father made this for me last year."

"Sakura's father is really good at cooking."

Tomoyo looked up and down at Sakura, who was different from usual. Sakura, wearing a kimono, was less lively than usual and more reserved and gentle.

"Hey hey hey..."

(ω)

Although she is always praised by Chise in various ways, she still blushes with shyness every time she hears such heartfelt praise.

"Okay, everyone is here, let's go."

Seeing that Tomoyo seemed to be obsessed with Sakura's cuteness again, and Touya and Yukito who came with Sakura had no intention of speaking, Xia Yu had to become the bad guy again.

As soon as he finished speaking, Xia Yu walked in front with his hands in his pockets. Tomoyo, who had come to her senses, took Sakura's hand and followed. At the end were Touya and Yukito, who were walking side by side.

Geumine Shrine.

A vertical plaque is hung on the huge torii, with the four powerful Chinese characters "Gesumine Shrine" written on it.

Passing through the Torii gate, you arrive at the interior of the shrine. Looking around, this vast area of ​​land can be said to belong to the shrine.

On the road leading to the main hall of the shrine, there are bustling stalls everywhere, neatly arranged in an orderly manner, offering everything from food to drinks to entertainment.

Classic items like scooping goldfish and fishing for water balls are essential items on the stalls.

"It's so lively."

Xia Yu looked at the lively festival and couldn't help but sigh. He had often seen such scenes in various daily life animations, but this was his first time to participate in it in person.

"Is this your first time attending this kind of festival, Xia?" Sakura, who seemed to have heard Xia Yu's sigh, walked up and asked curiously.

"That's it."

Xia Yu nodded. At least it was the first time in this world.

To be more precise, whether in this world or not, this was his first time participating in a festival called the Summer Festival.

"Well...then Xia-san must have fun!"

Upon hearing that this was indeed Xia Yu's first time attending the festival, Sakura wanted to say something more appropriate to the situation, but she couldn't think of what to say for a moment, so she could only answer with the universal answer "Have fun."

In response to Xiaoying's simple answer, Xia Yu chuckled and nodded: "I will have fun."

　Please stop giving me tips, guys. Stop it now. I'm so scared when you do this. (ω)
　　
　
(End of this chapter)