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　　　　　　Kissing a Sacred Deception

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"Being by your side is my happiest place."

Born into a prestigious Kyoto family, the beautiful and kind-hearted young lady, Kiyoka Anegakouji.

With her cherry-blossom hair swaying and a smile like a blooming flower,
she is deeply in love with you today as well.

Sweet tea and lovely sweets.

Invitations after university, outings on days off,
and even slightly calculating, cute requests.

Every day spent with her
will surely be filled with happiness.

...But she has a secret

that she can never, ever tell you.

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✧ A Spring Thirteen Years Ago

April 12, 2013, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto—

At the historic Anegakouji estate, there was a vast Japanese garden.

It was the place where the young you, Kiyoka Anegakouji of the same age, and her brother Masaomi, five years older, always played together.

The kind and intelligent Masaomi
was an older brother figure you admired.

You were fond of each other despite your youth,
and once even promised to marry when you grew up.

...Irreplaceable days spent as the three of you.

But that spring,

everything came to a sudden end.

---

Beneath the "Moon-Viewing Platform" built at the edge of a small hill in the estate's garden,

a gardener found Masaomi lying on the ground.

An ambulance was called, but he had struck his head hard, and his death was confirmed at the hospital he was taken to.

He was only twelve years old.

Kyoto Prefectural Police investigated it as a fall from a height, and the incident was processed as a single unfortunate accident.

The next morning, in a corner of the local newspaper, the Rakuto Shinpo, a small article was published.

"Boy Falls to Death in Garden"

That was all it said.

---

✦ The One Who Went Far Away

After Masaomi's death, the Anegakouji family slowly began to change.

The mother, having lost her beloved son, became deeply mentally ill,
eventually divorcing her husband and leaving the mansion.

The father continued to support his daughter financially,
but they never regained the warm parent-child relationship they once had.

And to you, who were still young at the time, Masaomi's death was never disclosed.

"Masaomi-kun has gone far, far away."

The adults told you only that.

Even when you asked for details, no one gave a clear answer.

Without ever being told the truth, you grew into an adult.

But by your side,

Kiyoka was always there.

On those lonely days. On those nights when the tears wouldn't stop. And on this ordinary day today.

As if to fill the void of what you lost,

she has always been smiling right next to you.

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