Not a detective

Although the so-called "super strong boy in the first year of high school" was eventually clarified by a report in the school magazine and removed from the list of strange tales, the impact it left was very profound. The name Asakawa Riku officially entered the ranks of school celebrities, and many classmates knew that his physical qualities were extraordinary, that he was very strong, and that he had the benchmark of an athlete.

So the sports club pursued him almost like madmen, even resorting to bribery... Of course, coercion was out of the question.

However, Asakawa Riku couldn't stand the content of those sports clubs. To be honest, he might have been interested in visiting a "boxing club" or a "fighting club," but unfortunately, such activities would never pass the school's approval. So Asakawa Riku rejected them all, saying, "I already have a club, the mystery club."

It had been quiet for a while, but it's started happening again recently. Is it because it's the peak season for recruiting new students...?

"I understand. I won't disturb your grand dream of reaching Koshien."

Asakawa Riku picked up his bag and was about to leave: "As for me, you'd better find someone else."

I had only taken two steps when I was called back—

"and many more."

Haoji quickly caught up. He called the club manager to ask for leave, and after speaking, he patted Asakawa Riku on the back:

"What are you talking about? Since Lu rarely calls me, it must be something important. As his brother, how could I not go!"

He smiled mysteriously.

...

"Brother! Welcome back... Ah... And who is this?"

Yukie, who was greeting people at the door, went from a happy expression to one of confusion.

Asakawa Riku introduced the guy following behind him: "This is Hirata Hirokichi, my classmate and friend from school."

"Ah, welcome, I'm Yukie."

She immediately smiled sweetly and bowed politely, inviting me in.

Today, Yukie wore a floral off-shoulder dress. When she bowed, she didn't forget to cover her chest. It was a very spring-like girlish outfit, and seeing it made me feel like the season had changed.

Since she gained control of the "Snow Woman" ability, she no longer needed to deliberately avoid the cold.

"Hey hey, hello little sister—uh!"

Haoji hadn't even changed his shoes when Asakawa Riku stepped on his toe.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch! Be careful..."

He complained as he entered the room and began elbowing and poking Asakawa Riku in retaliation: "I never thought that you would be pursued by so many girls at school, and you actually live alone with such a beautiful younger sister at home. You really have the life of a winner. I've never heard you mention it before..."

A year has passed, and as Xuehui has grown up, she has become more and more beautiful, with skin as delicate as porcelain and eyes sparkling.

She served tea to the guests and Asakawa Riku with elegant and slow movements.

Her black hair curved gently around her ears, and her bangs curled softly inwards. She had grown quite a bit taller than her sister and had a more distinct Yamato Nadeshiko (ideal Japanese woman) feel to her.

"Thank you for your hard work. You don't need to cook dinner for this guy. I'll kick him out when it's time."

"Oh, really?"

Yukie paused for a moment, then noticed Asakawa Riku's expression and couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.

"Hey, hey, hey!!" Even though he knew it was a joke, Haoji couldn't help but complain, "What a stingy person, she's just your sister..."

"Not their biological child, but... fostered by a relative."

After Yukie left the room, Asakawa Riku said, "Besides, if you keep an eye on her, you'll be killed by the terrifying, dark, cursed woman in the school."

Haoji looked unconvinced, thinking he was joking: "There's no such thing as a dark, cursed woman... I'd probably be the one you kill first."

But the next second, he saw Asakawa Riku's extremely serious expression and pressed down on his shoulder:

"I'm serious, for your safety."

“…Okay, alright.”

Haoji couldn't help but shiver. Before he knew it, a cold wind suddenly swept past his back, even though he was indoors.

Only after completely dispelling his friend's concerns did Asakawa Riku feel relieved. He smiled and handed him the controller.

"Then let's play games, I'm so bored at home all by myself."

Spring of the Item: Chapter Two - Snow Child?

The Asakawa family did not originally have such recreational facilities.

This wasn't because of strict family discipline or parental disapproval; rather, he was so engrossed in martial arts training that he was relentlessly honing his skills that he had no free time or leisure.

It was those painful yet joyful experiences that forged this unique personality.

Now he wants to enjoy the life of a normal high school student, so he bought a new computer and game console and modified them to look like the ones his agency does.

He paid for it himself, of course. He had already saved a lot by working, especially after the incident last winter, which earned him two years' worth of bonuses, which were deposited directly into his account.

The detective was quite generous, even at crucial moments.

Although the amount of labor I put in was a bit beyond my expectations, I was still very happy when I received the money. It not only solved my tuition problem, but also made my life much more comfortable.

So, after he and Xuehui went out for a big meal, he also bought these entertainment devices as a reward for himself.

"You use that one, I'll use this one."

Asakawa Riku only said a few words, after all, Haoji was also a gamer, so there was no need to explain too much.

This was actually the first time he had opened the game after buying it, simply because he couldn't find anyone to play with. He had originally planned to ask Yukie, but she didn't seem to be good at or like games, and he didn't want to force anyone to play with her. To be honest, Asakawa Riku wasn't a big fan of the Monster Hunter series; he had only bought tickets for World and Rise of the Monsters.

He felt that hunting alone was rather boring, so after buying the new game, it has been gathering dust ever since, even though it was released several months ago.

He bought two more, and the thought of it still pains him. Fortunately, he finally has a chance to use them today.

"It's ready!" Haoji shouted excitedly as he looked at the screen.

Asakawa Rikuya smiled.

He looked at the Felyne on the character creation interface and suddenly thought it was quite cute. Should he get a cat?

But I'm not living alone now, so I should find an opportunity to ask Yukie for her opinion.

"Stop pinching people for so long... Hurry up and start!" Haoji urged impatiently from the side.

So the two started the game.

...

"Ah, my hands are tired... I need to rest for a bit!"

About two hours later, Haoji drank a lot of tea and beverages and hurriedly asked to use the restroom.

Just then, Asakawa Riku walked out of the room and found Yuki.

Xuehui was sitting on the sofa in the living room, with what looked like a TV drama or variety show playing on the TV. She was fiddling with what appeared to be some kind of handmade item.

During this time, I've seen Asakawa Riku play with a lot of little things like flower arranging, paper cutting, felting, yarn, and embroidery. These must be her hobbies.

"Oh, I forgot to cook... I'm so sorry."

Seeing Asakawa Riku approach, she smiled shyly and was about to put down what she was holding.

"No." Asakawa Riku stopped her and made her sit down again: "We've had some snacks, so we probably don't need to eat dinner for now. Just don't go hungry."

"Then I'll wait for my brother to eat together~"

There's just no way around it... After living together, I always feel like I can't even indulge myself occasionally anymore; I'm forced to eat healthily.

Asakawa Riku patted her head: "How are you feeling?"

"Hmm... I'm not hungry yet."

Yuki obediently peeked out and pressed her head against his palm.

Asakawa Riku replied, "That's not what I was asking."

They exchanged a glance, and Yukie seemed to read worry in his eyes, and then she suddenly understood their shared secret...

Snow Child.

What happened that winter seemed like a fleeting dream, but unlike summer dreams, the blizzard was real. At that moment, they seemed to merge into one, transforming into the "Snow Child," a white-haired boy, the young Asakawa Riku, with the ability to freeze, a snow country of frost, he gained an incredibly powerful transformation ability.

In an instant, he killed the incredibly powerful demon "Shuten-dōji," and the king of all demons was utterly powerless against him.

However, after Yuki-e woke up and they returned, "Yuki-douji's" abilities never reappeared.

Even when they tried to recreate the situation at home, experimenting with various conditions and variables, they were unable to figure out what the trigger for that transformation was.

That kind of "resonance" and unity has never appeared again.

Therefore, Riku Asakawa was very worried about Yukie's physical condition, fearing that his sudden change might have overdrawn some of Yukie's abilities.

"I'm fine, brother, you've asked me so many times."

Yukie grasped Asakawa Riku's hands in both, feeling a warmth: "And since then, it seems I've been able to control some of my superpowers a little."

As she finished speaking, the ends of her hair slowly turned white, and her eyes took on the aura of a "snow woman".

But the change in her hair color was only momentary; her palms and the surrounding temperature did not get cold, and there was no snowfall outside.

Now, Yukie is no longer so afraid of the cold, and her superpowers no longer go out of control.

—It can no longer be called a "symptom".

"That's good."

Asakawa Riku smiled with relief: "After observing for a while longer, he should be able to go to school normally."

From this perspective, it seems that the change was a good thing for Yukie; at least it appears to be a positive benefit now.

As long as he can maintain this effect, it doesn't matter if he can't regain the powerful strength of "Snow Child".

Asakawa Riku had consulted Kazamatsuri Akihisa, who said that the shrine, the so-called "Snow Child," was actually the name of a yokai, a spirit that seemed to be a doll sculpted from snow in legends. It wasn't considered a powerful yokai, and it even disappeared in spring. So why did Asakawa Riku's "Snow Child" possess such immense power...?

Akihisa Kazamatsuri said, "I haven't seen it with my own eyes, so I can't make a judgment, but what I do know is that it should have nothing to do with [youkai]."

Isn't it a monster...? Asakawa Riku was puzzled; he thought this name was the only clue.

Kazamatsuri Akihisa believes that it must be something that evolved from Asakawa Riku's "system" and is currently unknown; he knows nothing about it.

In short, it's all a mystery, there are no results, and it can't be reproduced now, so we can only pretend that nothing happened.

Let's just consider it a miracle that happened by chance.

As Asakawa Riku was thinking this, suddenly, Yukie in front of him said something out of the blue:

"Brother...have you been arguing with my sister lately?"

"Uh--"

Asakawa Riku's smile immediately froze: "Why would you think that?"

Yukie lowered her head: "I can tell, I've been in contact with my sister too... I still hope you can make up, and that we can all come back to eat together again?"

At this moment, Yukie was like a child worried about her parents arguing, but Asakawa Riku, thinking about her experiences, really lost the will to joke.

Yukie was probably the only one unaware of the truth that winter. She didn't know that her sister, Chizuko, had killed everyone in the Ryugu Palace for her sake, including her own mother—all for her. The two of them, as if bound by some unspoken agreement, kept the cruel truth from Yukie.

Asakawa Riku lowered his head and said softly:

"I promise you, we will make up."

Springtime: Chapter Three - Love Counseling

After calming Yukie down, I returned to my room and saw Hirata Hirokichi looking at me mysteriously.

Pretending not to see his friend's expression, Asakawa Riku picked up the controller from the ground: "Let's continue."

"Lu, you specifically asked me to come here, it couldn't just be for playing games, right?"

Haoji stared at him.

"You think too much."

Asakawa Riku chose a mission and went in to fight.

"It's [relationship counseling], right?"

Ignore that guy who thinks he's some kind of emotional detective.

"You broke up with that senior from the mystery club?"

"Hey!"