Five people camped on a deserted mountaintop, with insects chirping around them, and the night sky twinkling overhead.

"It's incredible, as if the world only has us left," Mrs. Kiyono said, seated and gazing at the Milky Way.

At the mountain top on a late May night, the campfire chased away the chill.

Flames flickered, casting the side and full faces of everyone in a bright yellow glow.

"Meiji and Lin have answered, now it's your turn, Mr. Dubian," Mrs. Jiutiao said excitedly.

"Your thoughts on Meiji and Kiyono?" Dubian Che asked.

"Let's start with that," Mrs. Jiutiao said, giving an expression that suggested a long night's discussion was impending.

Dubian Che examined Jiutiao Meijie and Kiyono Lin.

Jiutiao Meijie posed with her slender, beautiful legs, smiling back at him;

Kiyono Lin had a book in front of her, but she wasn't reading it, instead also looking at him.

"Let me think about how to phrase this."

"Hmm, that's for your own safety," Kiyono Lin said earnestly.

She and Dubian Che laughed together.

Such conversations had occurred many times last year.

It happened a year ago, yet it felt like a very long time had passed; now speaking it out loud carried a sense of nostalgia.

Jiutiao Meijie glanced at the two, sipping her tea.

After thinking for a while, Dubian Che said, "Meiji is proud, unreasonable, cold, and if she doesn't get what she wants, she'll destroy it."

"All bad traits?" Mrs. Jiutiao asked curiously.

"Of course there are good traits, but even these faults have their charming aspects."

"Let's hear it," Jiutiao Meijie urged, lifting her chin slightly.

"Proud, but she makes concessions just for me, even eating what I have."

"Ah!" Mrs. Kiyono exclaimed in disbelief.

"Normal for couples? Probably," Dubian Che said with a laugh, "Also, she's unreasonable, but after we started dating, it became just girlfriend capriciousness; as long as I speak nicely, she usually agrees; cold, but sometimes she's just pretending to be cold and can't help but laugh, which is very cute."

"There's such a side to her?" Mrs. Jiutiao said, surprised.

Listening to Dubian Che, Jiutiao Meijie remembered New Year's in Iwate Prefecture.

That morning, she had ridden a motorcycle for the first time in her life, using an old Honda Cub.

Country roads; a clear ditch beside the road; white windmills on distant ridges; the strength of Dubian Che's arm around her waist.

Bar for an initial accident involving the bike going into the ditch, nothing significant happened, but she clearly remembered it all.

"Meiji is a poisonous vine, approaching it on your own can cause injury or even death," Dubian Che continued, "but when you win her love, she retracts her thorns just for you, and on the vine, blooms a flower that's only for you."

Jiutiao Meijie watched Dubian Che without saying a word.

"How much do you love her?" Mrs. Kiyono asked Dubian Che.

The four watched him, but Dubian Che didn't answer immediately.

He sipped some black tea, swallowing slowly.

The warm sensation slowly moved from his throat to his stomach and spread throughout his body.

He took another sip and said,

"I could say 'higher than the mountains, deeper than the seas', could say 'like the stars before us, as long as they exist, I will love Meiji just as long', but these are just word plays; no matter how pretty the words, they can't describe the depth of love."

He paused briefly, then continued,

"I don't know how much I love Meiji, but I do know that I will never leave her in this lifetime."

"Not bad," Mrs. Jiutiao laughed, "Meiji, how do you feel?"

Jiutiao Meijie's face showed no emotion—no pride, no smugness, no contempt, no disdain.

The empty campground fell silent, with only the crackling of the firewood and the shrill insects.

"The depth of love is indescribable," Jiutiao Meijie finally spoke in the silence, "but simply speaking of who loves deeper, it's definitely me."

"Ah, Meiji's so bold?" Mrs. Kiyono covered her mouth lightly.

"Not bold, just the truth," Jiutiao Meijie said calmly, "In terms of depth of emotion, men simply can't compare to women. Like me and some others, once we set our minds on someone, we either burn everything to ashes or burn ourselves to ashes."

Dubian Che's heart skipped a beat, looking towards Jiutiao Meijie.

Jiutiao Meijie was also looking at him.

In those clear, icy pupils, the flickering firelight seemed to mercilessly burn something.

"Smell of hot pot on us all, let's go for a hot spring bath," Mrs. Jiutiao suddenly stood up.

"Changing directly into pajamas this time?" Mrs. Kiyono didn't ask why, echoing the sentiment.

"Yes, tired from today, let's rest early, tomorrow we go boating, go exploring."

Kiyono Lin fetched clothes from the tent, seeing Dubian Che still seated, she asked him, "Aren't you coming?"

"In a while," Dubian Che responded softly.

"Alright."

After they left, Dubian Che sat alone in the empty campground.

It was deathly silent around him, him being utterly alone.

◇

On the morning of May 29, Dubian Che opened his eyes.

Above him was the low tent ceiling, bird chirps clear to his ears, the scent of fresh grass detectable.

He got up and walked out of the tent, the sky was broad, clouds like a few strokes of paint randomly brushed across the blue by a painter.

The unease from the first cold war with Jiutiao Meijie the previous night was swept away.

Today was their anniversary, a day to maintain a joyful mood.

Stretching slightly, he started a morning run along the ridge, while checking the annual sign-in rewards.

[Sign-in Days: Jiutiao Meijie・One Year]

[Player Receives Sign-in Gift Pack]

[Money・Two Billion Yen]

[Charm Half-Price Voucher*1]

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