"Mhm mhm mhm!"
"Miku thinks about Darling every single moment!"
"There are so many things I want to tell you!"
Miku vigorously nodded her head, then her expression shifted to one of slight regret.
"It's a shame I was quite busy back then. Whenever I had free time, you were unavailable..."
"There was so much I wanted to say, but I couldn't express it over the phone..."
Seeing the girl's look, Yuki led her over to the sofa nearby.
He sat down and pulled the girl into his embrace.
"But I'm right here now, aren't I?"
"Whatever you want to say, go ahead and say it. I'll stay by your side and listen."
Yuki spoke softly into the girl's ear.
Hearing this, a blissful smile appeared on Miku's face.
"Mhm!"
"I know, Darling!"
Miku nodded, then began pouring out everything she had wanted to tell Yuki for so long.
Mostly, it was about how much she loved Yuki. Every day, aside from practicing songs, rehearsing for performances, and studying, her mind was filled with thoughts of him.
She had constantly wondered what kind of person Yuki was, what he looked like, if his personality was good, what his hobbies were, and so on.
"Ever since that day, you stepped forward and protected me!"
"In Miku's heart, Darling will always be the most brilliant hero!"
Sincere emotion shone in Miku's eyes as she gazed at Yuki, pouring out her affection for him in a deeply heartfelt tone.
"I know."
"I've understood your feelings for a long time now, Miku."
Yuki gently nodded, reaching out to tenderly stroke Miku's cheek.
Miku, in turn, nuzzled against Yuki's hand, a sweet smile gracing her face.
"That just now... was my first kiss, you know!"
"I never imagined my first kiss would be so... intense. Darling, you're really naughty~~~"
A faint blush colored Miku's cheeks as she pouted playfully at Yuki.
Hearing this, the corner of Yuki's mouth twitched. He looked speechlessly at the girl putting on an act before him.
'It was you who initiated a full set of moves the moment you came in! What does that have to do with me?!'
Yuki cried injustice inwardly. He had merely chosen not to resist and to go along with it, not going against the lady's wishes! Was there anything wrong with that? Absolutely not!
"Since you've said that, if I don't do something, how can I live up to the reputation you've given me?!"
With that, Yuki gently pressed Miku down, launching a surprise 'attack' on her.
"No way~~~"
Miku let out only a surprised gasp before falling silent.
What followed was the sound of her bell-like laughter.
Far from stopping him, she even began to respond...
After another brief skirmish of wits (and lips), Miku quickly conceded, breathless.
"Mean~, Darling, you didn't even give me a chance to catch my breath!"
"Hmph, serves you right for provoking me. Now you know not to tease, right?"
Yuki retorted with a light laugh, gently pinching Miku's flawless cheek.
The sensation of her fair, smooth, elastic skin, almost springing back under his fingertips, made him playfully pinch it a few more times.
Miku didn't stop him, letting Yuki do as he pleased.
"Oh, right, Darling, I have some good news for you!"
"Oh? What good news?"
Hearing this, Yuki stopped teasing her cheek and smiled faintly, asking Miku in return.
"Starting today, I'll be able to stay by your side from now on!"
"My global tour has ended! So now it's time for me to return to school!"
"And my school is naturally the all-girls' academy, Rindouji Girls' Academy, in Tokyo!"
"So, I'll be staying in Tokyo for a long time now!"
"How about that? Isn't it a wonderful surprise?!"
A sweet smile graced Miku's face as she excitedly announced this news to Yuki.
Hearing this, Yuki gently nodded.
"Is that so?"
"That's great then!"
"That girls' academy is quite good. It happens to be not far from the school I attend."
"Moreover, being an all-girls' school means no other boys around to bother you."
Yuki was naturally very supportive of Miku attending a girls' academy.
After all, her popularity was too high. Attending a regular school, especially one with boys, could bring unnecessary trouble.
A girls' school perfectly avoided those issues.
Even though Miku had high popularity among females as well, compared to a co-ed school, the trouble would be far less.
"The only pity is not being able to attend the same school as Darling..."
The girl's brows furrowed slightly, her expression tinged with regret.
"But it's not too far. Whenever I miss you, I can just go find you~"
"Uh... it might be better if you don't do that too often..."
"No way! I will go find Darling!"
Miku pouted her cherry-like lips, vehemently insisting she would definitely visit Yuki at his school.
Yuki had no choice but to agree, reminding her to keep a low profile when she came.
Miku nodded, indicating she understood.
However, even so, Yuki had a feeling the girl wasn't really listening.
"Oh, right! I have another surprise to show you!"
Miku, seeming to remember something else, stood up slowly from the sofa with a mysterious smile.
She walked to stand directly in front of Yuki, a confident smile on her face.
"Oh? What other surprise?"
"This surprise! It's naturally something that will make Darling's eyes light up!"
Miku, as if already picturing Yuki's astonished expression, eagerly straightened up and raised one hand slightly above her head.
"Come forth!"
"Gabriel!"
With Miku's cry, a dazzling light erupted around her.
Rows of immense golden pipe organs materialized behind her, and Miku's entire outfit transformed into a completely new ensemble.
A top with hollowed-out sleeves and lace-like bands of light, paired with a skirt of light with ruffled edges—a gown of radiance.
A keyboard of light circled around her, used to control the pipe organs behind her.
In this Spirit Dress, Miku became even more dazzling and radiant, like a peerless songstress.
"So, how about it? Pretty surprising, right?!"
Miku asked Yuki with a face full of confidence and anticipation.
"Yes, it is quite surprising. I didn't expect Miku to have become a Spirit."
Yuki's expression showed genuine astonishment as he murmured in response.
"Huh?!"
"Darling knows about Spirits?!"
Hearing this term, which she thought only she knew, come from Yuki's mouth, it was now Miku's turn to be utterly shocked.
She never imagined that aside from herself and the person who had granted her Spirit powers, anyone else would know about Spirits.
"Of course. Not only do I know, but the person who granted you your Spirit powers is also connected to me."
"You mean... Lady Mio?"
"Mhm."
Yuki nodded.
"Oh my..."
"I thought I was giving Darling a surprise, but it turns out Darling already knows all about Spirits!"
Miku felt a bit disappointed.
She then slowly sat down next to Yuki, her silver eyes fixed intently on him.
"I get the feeling Darling knows a lot more than I do!"
"Darling never told me anything about it, hmph~~~ Darling is so mean!"
Miku pouted her lips, mumbling her dissatisfaction.
Yuki smiled faintly and pulled Miku into his embrace.
"Alright, Miku, don't be upset. I'll tell you some things about myself now."
Yuki then proceeded to tell Miku about Mio, about his arrival thirty years ago, his relationship with Mio, and about the other Spirits.
When Miku finished listening, she finally realized she wasn't the only one Mio had transformed into a Spirit.
She also understood that the Darling she loved was no ordinary mortal
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