Artem "Paired Blessings"/Rewards

Story Summary

This story takes place in Year 2. Artem has confessed to the MC, and the two are a romantic couple.

Artem and the MC prepare to drive to Cloudbreak Temple to show their gratitude. Both of them have been busy, and now they finally found time to visit the temple. A commentary from the radio tells them to show their gratitude at Cloudbreak Temple as soon as their wish is granted, else they will suffer from misfortune. After this, they begin to experience mishaps - the car starts to malfunction and the radio suddenly announces that the roads going to Cloudbreak Temple are temporarily closed due to the icy roads. They decide to take the subway instead.

Artem and the MC continue to experience small incidents as they head to the subway station. In the train, the MC recounts one time she took the subway and it was just as crowded. She was on her way to participate in a quiz organized by the bar association. Artem was in charge of compiling the question bank for that quiz. During that time, the MC just became Artem's partner.

The train suddenly stops. Artem and the MC continues to stay in the cramped space in the train. The MC starts to think that the commentary they heard from the radio might be true - mishaps have been happening to them because they were late in showing their gratitude. Artem reassures her and tells her not to worry because she is his "lucky star". He tells her that such discussions are just brought up for entertainment, and he thinks that despite the incidents, it's still nice that he's able to spend more time with her.

Artem reveals that aside from the time they went together to Cloudbreak Temple, he might have already made a wish much earlier. This was during that day when the MC was on her way to the quiz. Coincidentally, he was also in the same train as her. He did see her, but she was busy reading her notes at that time. It took a while before Artem was finally able to mentally prepare himself to say hello, but she had already reached her stop. He saw the Cloudbreak Temple from afar, and that was when he made a wish - "I wish for your competition to go smoothly and for your wishes to come true..." and "As for me, I just want another chance to get closer to her." The MC appreciates that Artem told her about this. She thinks that it was Artem himself who created the "second chance" he spoke of, and not some mysterious power.

Artem and the MC arrives at the Cloudbreak Temple. Artem wonders if he really needed to make a wish at the temple at that time. He wonders of the "if only's" - what would have happened if he approached her sooner? She asks Artem to tell her the things he couldn't say back then - he actually thought she looked ravishing that day and he wanted to preserve that image of hers. In a parallel world, Artem would have the courage to ask her out on a date. In turn, she says that in that parallel world, she will respond sincerely and ask him to visit Cloudbreak Temple with her. Whichever parallel universe they are in, they will sooner or later end up visiting Cloudbreak Temple together.

The MC asks what Artem wished for back when they first visited Cloudbreak Temple. Artem tells her that his wishes were influenced by the love psychology books he was reading back then - he wished to become closer to her, engage in various activities and go traveling with her, just like how the books described. But now, he no longer needs to make a wish. He'd rather share his past and new wishes with her.

Illustrations

Look Back in SilenceLooking at you now, I suddenly get the feeling that the noisy surroundings have become bearable.

Video Call

Video Call		Artem: Paired Blessings (After Story 6)

Video Call script

Artem: I just got out of the car repair shop. I'm now on a cab. Just letting you know that everything is fine.

Artem: ...How's the car? Well, the mechanic said there are some issues. The earliest I can collect it is probably next Wednesday.

Artem: It shouldn't affect my commute to work. I can still drive that sports car... if you still remember it.

Artem: But, if I do that, it may cause a commotion when I arrive at the law firm.

Artem: You're looking forward to it? Because I look cool when I drive that car? You...

Artem: Rather than next week, would it be too abrupt if I were to pick you up now?

Artem: I don't want to go back home alone after such a busy day. Have you had dinner yet? If not, maybe we can eat out together.

Artem: Yeah, it's a bit nippy outside. Hot pot and movies at home sound awesome. I'll ask the driver to turn around. I'll be there soon.

Artem: Of course, I remember the entrance password. After all, I was there after work last Friday.

Artem: You've changed the password? Hold on... I got your text... Hmm, this set of numbers look familiar...

Artem: Let's see. They're not our birthdays. Could it be the date when we first went to Cloudbreak Temple?

Artem: You picked them so that... it's easier for me to remember!?

Artem: Quit...quit thinking about the past! We can talk more about it after we meet up.

Artem: After the dinner and movie, can I stay for a while?

Artem: Okay, wait for me.

Story Locations

Artem's Car

Outside the Neighborhood

Cars of the Subway

Cloudbreak Temple

Story Characters

Artem Wing

Artem Wing

Radio Host

Story References

The Artem "Paired Blessings" story contains brief mentions or references of events that took place in the following:

• Artem "Entwined Fate"