Gate Guardian - Song of the Frozen Soul

PHASE 68 - DID I FORGET SOME KIND OF PROMISE?

PHASE 68 - DID I FORGET SOME KIND OF PROMISE?

It's an hour before midnight. Once all the clock's hand turns twelve, the city will be celebrating Dradecim Festival, which includes the glorious fireworks display. There are also stalls in the riverside where we can buy lots of useless souvenirs and some street foods.

Dradecim City always adheres to the Japanese way of celebration because this city was occupied by a generous and kind Japanese General during World War 2.

Tadaaa~ The more you know.

This is the first time I'm seeing this festival. I was never interested in it, but when I saw the videos, It certainly sounded fun.

"Hey, hey... Rikkun..." There was a soft pinch on my sleeve.

I turned to my date and was dazzled by her alluring looks. She's wearing a sky-blue yukata that has white Sampaguita symbols in it. Now that I'm seeing this, she certainly looks slim, except for her bust and thighs.

I'm not a fan of yukata, and honestly, her shrine maiden robe suits her better.

"D-Do you have some cough drops?" Tiara shyly asked.

"Here." I lent out a tamarind candy from my sleeve. I'm wearing a traditional robe too, but mine is just pure blue with white borders in it.

Tiara immediately put the candy to her mouth. "T-Thanks for this, Rikkun. I-I'm quite hungry so...."

Just how many stomachs does this girl have? We already had an expensive steak for dinner, had some spicy chicken wings during the karaoke, and now, that cough drop!

Anyway, I just remembered that we still have a lot of money on our voucher. Maybe it's better to feed this doggy. "Let's see if there are good snacks on those stalls," I said.

"Mmmm!" Tiara brightly smiled.

<>

Tiara is not that hungry.

We ate fried squid on a stick, two plates of takoyaki, one yakisoba bread, roasted sweet potato chips, blueberry taiyakis, and banana crepes. I know that her twin Diadem's Guardian Ability is <Dark Hole> but I think Tiara has that black hole too... Inside her stomach.

It's too hard for me to eat all these meals, but when the time was already quarter to twelve, Tiara made her clean-up duty to finish all the leftovers. She just swallowed everything whole. Then she took me to the uphill side of the river so that we will have a better view of the fireworks display.

"H-Hey, Rikkun. I know I'm selfish, but... I have another request..." Tiara hid her expression by bowing.

"What is it?"

"About the Mall Tour. We will be visiting a mall in Linder City... And from that place, there is a one-hour ride to... Brightmore Town... I would like to visit the place where I was born... But I don't have the courage, so... I-I think it would be good if I'm with you... B-But you don't have to come if you d-don't want to."

"I'll go with you," I said in a composed manner.

"E-Eh!?" Tiara was astounded. "A-Are you sure!? B-By the time we go to the Brightmore Town, it's already the third Friday, which means your <Presage> will come! I might become a Cursed Guardian, y'know!"

"I don't care about the <Presage>." I pushed my face towards her and stared on her watery golden-brown eyes. "I will never let you become the witch. I know that a precious person like you will never be an enemy. I will trust you with all my heart and soul. "