Chapter 579

Asuka had been enjoying the rare time alone with Mr. Uesugi, but as she sensed a familiar aura nearby, the girl immediately let out a joyful cry and lunged toward a certain direction in the crowd.

"Muneyuki? Ashura Rei?"

A familiar voice, tinged with surprise, rang out. Asuka looked up and saw Shirakawa Mai standing not far away, with two young girls in casual clothes following behind her, curiously looking around.

Senior Student Mai today wore a strikingly designed white hollow-out lace-trimmed dress, knee-length, elegant yet carrying just the right touch of vacation charm, her feet in a pair of nude flat sandals, ten toes painted with bright red nail polish peeking charmingly from the straps, crystal-clear like jade, complementing her luminously fair skin and stunningly beautiful face, causing all surrounding light to dim.

Seeing Asuka and Uesugi Muneyuki together, her eyes first flickered with a barely noticeable complexity, then settled into a proper smile.

Uesugi Muneyuki, upon seeing Senior Student Mai appear here, showed a clear and gentle smile on his face—one unlike the smiles he wore when facing Mikoto, Eirina, or Minami, carrying instead a unique familiarity and ease born of the One Lotus Together Born bond.

"So it's you, Senior Student—what a coincidence." His gaze lingered briefly on her, carrying appreciation and also a kind of profundity as if he could see through everything.

"Hehe, Junior Student also~came to Karuizawa for a vacation?" Senior Student Mai laughed, gesturing for the two girls behind her to come forward and meet: "Let me introduce them—these two are my newly accepted disciples, Tomoko Ono and Eisa Ikeda."

The two girls also stepped forward politely to greet, their faces showing respect and a hint of shyness.

Uesugi Muneyuki also took a moment to observe the two girls.

Tomoko Ono wore a white T-shirt printed with cute strawberry patterns, paired with washed-blue denim bib shorts, white ankle socks and canvas shoes on her feet, her smooth black hair tied into a high ponytail that swayed with her curious little movements, her face bearing a pure, innocent smile as clear and cloudless as Kagoshima's pristine sky, highly infectious, brimming with youthful vitality; she found everything in Karuizawa novel, and would crouch down to examine wildflowers by the roadside, her eyes sparkling bright.

Eisa Ikeda, meanwhile, chose a light purple floral chiffon dress, its hem light and flowing, swaying slightly with her steps. Her skin, nearly translucent in its fairness, appeared even more like a delicate porcelain doll under the soft purple hue.

Her light brownish-blond hair fell naturally, ends slightly curled; unlike Tomoko's liveliness, she simply followed quietly behind, yet her large, somewhat hazy eyes also sparkled with delight at this unexpected trip and a faint, barely perceptible sense of relaxation—her aura ethereal and tinged with a shy beauty, like a wisp of purple mist in the forest.

How adorable these girls are!

Upon seeing girls younger than herself, Asuka immediately began pretending to be a big shot and senior, saying nothing.

Uesugi Muneyuki also remained silent, and for a moment, the atmosphere grew slightly awkward.

Seeing this, Senior Student Mai simply clapped her hands, drawing the attention of the three young girls (Asuka, Tomoko, and Eisa), and said with a bright, slightly indulgent smile: "It's rare to come to Karuizawa—how could we not visit the outlets here? Come on, I'll take you; today I'm treating you, and I'll pick out a new outfit for each of you!"

"Really? Mai-sama!" Tomoko Ono was the first to exclaim in delight, her eyes wide and round, almost jumping up.

Eisa Ikeda also covered her mouth, her eyes filled with incredulous joy, her cheeks flushed with a faint blush, and she whispered in confirmation: "Chief Priest—this is too extravagant—"

Even Asuka Saito felt a bit surprised, but receiving a gift from Senior Student Mai always made her happy, so she too smiled: "Thank you, Mai-sama!"

Seeing the three girls instantly ignited with excitement, Senior Student Mai laughed, her tone bold yet gentle: "Of course it's real—just consider it a reward for your recent hard work. Let's go!"

The group then diverted to the famous Prince Shopping Plaza Outlets in Karuizawa. Upon arrival, the girls were immediately drawn to the dazzling array of brand stores, cheering as they plunged into the "battle."

Senior Student Mai moved about with ease, occasionally offering styling suggestions, the atmosphere harmonious and lively.

While the three girls were intently selecting and comparing clothes in a boutique, Senior Student Mai seemingly absentmindedly walked to where Uesugi Muneyuki stood quietly waiting near the shop entrance.

She did not speak immediately, merely standing shoulder to shoulder with him as light streamed into the store through the wide glass windows, falling on Eisa Ikeda, her smile radiant as she held a dress up to her front for comparison,

and on Tomoko Ono, who stood beside her, carefully adjusting Asuka's collar with deep respect.

The afternoon sunlight poured through the expansive glass windows of the outlets, gilding the girls' silhouettes with a soft golden edge.

After a while, Senior Student Mai slightly tilted her head, her gaze resting on Uesugi Muneyuki's beautifully lined profile. She said nothing, merely lifting her eyes to give him a look deeply meaningful.

"Look, these two girls I brought—what do you think?"

Uesugi Muneyuki was initially startled by her sudden remark, somewhat confused.

But he is, after all, Uesugi Muneyuki—meticulous in thought, astonishingly perceptive—his gaze quickly lingered on Mai's seemingly calm yet turbulent face, then swept over the two vibrant, distinctive beauties in the store: Tomoko, pure and lively, like sweet fruit under summer sunlight; Eisa, ethereal and fragile, like a dream veiled in moonlight.

In the flash of lightning and flint, a thought shot through his mind like a bolt, letting him instantly grasp the unspoken depth behind Mai's gaze.

These two girls are very likely the "inheritance" and "resurrection item" Senior Student Mai prepared for herself!

Moreover, there is another layer—this is Senior Student Mai's preparation of a "cauldron" for him, her "consort of the small surname"!

"How could you suddenly—" Uesugi Muneyuki frowned, lowering his voice: "Because of this incident? Or because of that Kansai figure?"

"That Kansai figure—that Kansai figure—is An from the Osaka Unified Teaching, no mistake; I've already investigated his background during this time." Senior Student Mai nodded calmly: "As for the exact situation, I'll tell you in detail later, but without doubt, this incident clearly involves him awakening an Inner World existence through special means, and he informed us through special channels, saying this was an accident and he would give us an explanation."

"If I'm not mistaken, in a few days, Shizuoka Prefecture will receive an explanation and the case will be closed." Senior Student Mai sighed: "For now, we can only accept their explanation—so don't get involved in this matter."

Uesugi Muneyuki nodded, helpless—we are weak, they are strong, and no matter what they say, they are the new god.

"Then what exactly does this An want to do?" Uesugi Muneyuki asked, frowning.

Without doubt, Kanto and Kansai are opposed, and the Uesugi White Alliance and this Kansai An are also opposed.

But what exactly is he trying to do by doing these things?

If we cannot figure out his purpose, how should we respond?

"We'll discuss this properly when we get the chance." Senior Student Mai lifted her head to gaze at Karuizawa's azure sky, then suddenly laughed: "Coming and going, we Inner World people pursue nothing more than these—new gods, old gods, High Plain of Heaven, void—never lacking."

"Indeed, that's true." Uesugi Muneyuki also gave a wry smile, but he may have already lived two lives, so these things lack sufficient appeal for him.

But what exactly is he trying to do by doing these things?

If we cannot figure out his own self, how should we respond?

"We'll discuss this properly when we get the chance." Senior Student Mai lifted her head to gaze at Karuizawa's azure sky, then suddenly laughed: "Coming and going, we Inner World people pursue nothing more than these—new gods, old gods, High Plain of Heaven, void—never lacking."

"Indeed, that's true." Uesugi Muneyuki also gave a wry smile, but he may have already lived two lives, so these things lack sufficient appeal for him.

For Inner World people, this also counts as a genuine oddity.

"Moreover, I seriously suspect that An might be related to my master!" After thinking, Senior Student Mai suddenly said.

"What?!"

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