Found a Shrine Maiden Under the Streetlight

Under the night sky.

A young man wearing a black trench coat with a sheathed straight sword strapped to his back walked along the empty streets.

Street lamps illuminated the path ahead, with tree shadows swaying along the roadside.

Su Ze, carrying the straight sword, listened to his best friend Shen Qingsheng's excited chatter through his earpiece.

He took out a flask from his waist and took a sip, then noticed something peculiar under a street lamp ahead, "Let's talk later."

He pressed the earpiece to end the call.

His gaze focused intently on the lonely figure under the street lamp.

It was a girl with vibrant wine-red hair, wearing a Japanese shrine maiden outfit with a white top and red skirt.

A Japanese person?

Su Ze was puzzled. He cautiously surveyed his surroundings and after confirming that her energy fluctuation was practically zero, he approached and asked, "Do you need help?"

Upon hearing his voice, the girl slowly lifted her face from where it had been buried in her knees.

A beautiful, fair face appeared before Su Ze!

Su Ze was momentarily stunned, "Why are you crouching here? Isn't it too late to be out? Shouldn't you head home?"

"Afraid of the dark."

The girl's voice was soft and delicate, with a hint of sadness, answering his first question.

"No home."

That was her answer to the second.

"You're Japanese, right? How did you end up here?"

"Don't know." The girl shook her head innocently.

A foreigner, homeless, with no idea how she got here - putting all the pieces together, Su Ze came to what seemed like a reasonable conclusion.

Su Ze took out his phone, dialed 110, and smiled, "How about I find you a place to stay? They provide regular meals, accommodation, and a structured daily routine."

To think a tiny spy would dare to appear so brazenly!

"Thank you."

The girl's amber eyes, full of innocence, looked up at him. Under the street lamp, the girl hugging her knees appeared both beautiful and pitiful.

Su Ze quietly put his phone back in his pocket. Well, calling her a spy seemed far-fetched now.

After all, she seemed rather simple-minded. If she were a spy, she should be blending in with the crowd, not sitting under a street lamp at night wearing such conspicuous clothing.

Without warning, Su Ze placed his hand on her head.

His ability 'Mirror' instantly allowed him to view all of the girl's rather limited memories.

He concluded that the girl was named Uesugi Akizuki, and she had amnesia, only remembering the past three days.

On the first and second days, a girl about her age had led her around, hiding from place to place, apparently being pursued by someone.

On the third day, this morning, they were discovered by their pursuers.

The girl who had been protecting Uesugi Akizuki hid her behind a large tree in a park before facing the pursuers alone. She hadn't been seen since, and her fate remained unknown.

Uesugi Akizuki waited until her stomach growled with hunger. As darkness fell, she fearfully ran from the grove. By then, there were few people on the streets, and she stood bewildered in the desolate road.

When the street lamps came on, she seemed to see hope, running to the light like a moth to flame. She crouched there, burying her head in her knees, curling up as if only this could give her a sense of security.

Su Ze couldn't help but feel moved. The country was facing unprecedented dangers, and it was a sensitive time. If he turned Uesugi Akizuki in as a spy, those lunatics responsible for handling domestic affairs would probably torture the poor girl beyond recognition.

It had been a month since graduating from high school, and Su Ze had been accepted to Huaxia University, with classes starting in another month.

He did have a way to handle this situation properly.

"I can protect you. Would you like to come home with me?"

Su Ze asked.

Uesugi Akizuki nodded without any hesitation, like an innocent child.

"Follow me," Su Ze said as he turned and started walking.

Suddenly, his hand was grabbed. Su Ze turned back to see Uesugi Akizuki looking somewhat anxious, as if she too felt this action might be inappropriate.

During these three days, the girl who had been helping Uesugi Akizuki escape had always held her hand to prevent her from wandering off or getting lost. This constant physical connection had given the amnesiac, confused, and lonely Uesugi Akizuki a sense of security.

Su Ze, having seen this poor girl's memories, understood her aimless wandering through Huaxia these past three days, being led around by that mysterious girl.

She could only choose to trust that girl, who had never even told Uesugi Akizuki her name.

Because Uesugi Akizuki never asked questions, just did whatever she was told.

Seeing that Su Ze didn't reject her but instead held her hand in return, Uesugi Akizuki's anxious heart finally calmed down.

They walked hand in hand through the quiet, dim streets, with Uesugi Akizuki following behind, her amber eyes studying the handsome, cold yet refined profile of the young man before her.

Ten years ago, Mystery descended upon the Blue Star, creating domains constructed by laws across the planet. It was a turbulent era, but one full of opportunities.

Those with real ability weren't at the gambling tables - the biggest gamble was entering the Mystery domains.

Due to Mystery's descent, all the shops on the street were closed, fearing supernatural occurrences at night.

Su Ze felt in his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He skillfully offered one to Uesugi Akizuki and put one in his own mouth. Just as he was about to light up, he suddenly froze.

He turned to see Uesugi Akizuki mimicking him, holding the cigarette backward in her mouth. He quickly pulled it from her lips.

He stared at her intently until she became frightened and pulled her free hand to her chest, nervously clenching it into a small fist. Only then did Su Ze grumble,

"Smoking at such a young age, wonder who taught you that."

Su Ze hypocritically blamed others for his own foolish action. After bullying the simple girl, he put the lighter back in his pocket and irritably tucked both cigarettes behind his ear.

Uesugi Akizuki looked at Su Ze with confusion, completely bewildered.

Back at home, in the dark living room, Su Ze could feel Uesugi Akizuki gripping his hand even tighter.

Click.

The living room suddenly blazed with light, startling Uesugi Akizuki so much that she crouched down, trembling like a frightened kitten.

Su Ze patted her head, and after a moment, the girl's shaking gradually subsided. A few minutes later, she dared to look up at Su Ze with her beautiful large eyes.

Su Ze patted her head again, and she finally stood up. "Are you hungry?"

The girl nodded slightly.

"Now, let go of my hand and sit over there while I make dinner. We'll eat together, okay?" Su Ze pointed to the sofa, speaking as if to a child.

The little shrine maiden nodded, obediently released his hand, and went to sit on the sofa. However, after sitting for just a moment, she pulled her feet up onto the soft sofa and curled up in the corner.

Su Ze could only shake his head in resignation.