CHAPTER 17: BREAKING THE ICE (PART 2)

Kentaro stiffened. His heart spiked.

Crap.

Tenka had specifically told him not to let Serica know about the comms, to keep things natural, close, personal. If she found out he was being monitored or coached, it might break her trust.

"U-Uhh... I was talking to myself!" he blurted out, waving his hands like an idiot.

"What you said just got me thinking, hahahaha... nervous habit, you know?"

Serica stared at him. Not confused. Just... watching.

Her eyes held his longer than before, and for a moment Kentaro felt frozen under the weight of her quiet intensity. She wasn’t looking through him; she was reading him.

"...Hmmm."

Her eyes narrowed slightly. Kentaro was drenched in sweat.

Then, suddenly, she smiled.

"You’re funny, Kentaro."

Kentaro nearly collapsed with relief. At the same time, the entire Halcyon command room let out a collective exhale.

"Geez, I thought he was gonna blow it," Riku muttered.

"That was Close," Haruka said.

"Damn," Shogo added, "I think my entire body was sweating. Especially my crack."

Haruka slowly turned to him, her expression blank, radiating death.

She didn’t say a word. But Shogo shut up and focused on the screen.

After buying the book (which Kentaro insisted on paying for), the two made their way down the shopping center to a cozy cafê tucked between a boutique and a florist. Serica pressed her face to the dessert display like a curious child.

"They have parfaits," she whispered like it was a secret.

"You want one?" Kentaro asked.

"I mean, if you’re paying," She teased, eyes gleaming.

They sat outside, under a white umbrella. Serica spooned vanilla and fruit into her mouth like it was the greatest invention of humanity. Kentaro couldn’t stop smiling.

"You eat like you’ve never had sweets before," he said.

"I haven’t. Not since I became... what I am."

The air stilled.

Serica paused, staring at the whipped cream melting in her cup.

"Everything after that day... It’s like someone hit pause on the world. And then one day, I woke up again and everything was different. I-i wasn’t a person anymore. Just something to be hunted."

Kentaro didn’t answer right away. He reached out and gently tapped the edge of her parfait glass with his spoon.

"You’re still you, Serica. Bookstores. Parfaits. That’s all you. Not the powers. Not the bloom."

Serica looked up slowly.

"Even if everyone else sees a monster?"

"I see you," Kentaro said.

Her eyes met his; they sparkled like a pressure had been lifted off her chest.

"Thank you, Ken!" she chirped, her face glowing with a smile worth all the gold and silver in the world.

Kentaro laughed softly, watching her dig happily into the rest of her parfait. Somehow, just seeing her enjoy something so simple made the morning feel a little lighter.

After finishing up, the two headed to the arcade. Bright lights. Beeping machines, screaming mascots. It was overwhelming and colourful, but for once, it didn’t feel like too much. They wandered down the Claw machines when Serica stopped, eyes locked onto a claw machine. Inside, a white rabbit plushie with a small eyepatch sat tilted against the glass.

She didn’t say anything, just stared quietly with a small smile, like she was trying not to look too interested.

Kentaro caught it right away. "You want that one?"

Serica nodded, hard.

"I want to try first!"

"Hey, Ken," Tenka whispered through the comms, amused.

"I feel like I’m watching a romcom right now. Y’know, the part where the girl fails miserably at winning the prize and ends up breaking the glass."

Kentaro Chuckled a bit. "Yeah, yeah hahaahha"

Serica stepped up to the claw and inserted the coin, intense focus in her eyes. Her tongue poked out slightly as she lined it up.

And missed.

Badly.

Twice.

Then a third time.

She sighed, defeated.

"Maybe if I froze it solid and broke the glass..."

"NO-no no, it’s fine i-I’ll get it for you!" Kentaro panicked

Serica looked at him with a cheeky grin. "Hehehe. I’m just kidding, Kentaro.

He let out a massive sigh. "Whew..."

"She got you," Haruka said blandly through comms.

Shogo added, "I was sweating just watching that. Especially... y’know. My crack."

Haruka turned to him with a blank stare. Shogo immediately shut up.

Back at the machine, Serica gently tugged Kentaro’s sleeve. "Your turn."

Kentaro stepped forward, hand trembling slightly. He only had two coins left, the last of what Haruka gave him for the day. He cracked his knuckles like it was life or death.

"You got this, Ken!" Serica encouraged, hands clenched at her chest.

Kentaro lined up the claw.

It missed.

The plushie jiggled. Nothing fell

"Ara Ara Kentaro, seems you’re really bad at this," Tenka muttered, not hiding her disappointment.

"C’mon, bro."

Shogo whispered through the comms.

"No pressure but... You fail, we all freeze... well, you first."

Kentaro muttered back, "ZIP it, Shogo!"

Deep breath.

One coin left.

He moved the claw just slightly off-centre. Serica watched him like it was the most important moment of the day.

He hit the button.

The claw lowered.

Clamped.

The rabbit lifted.

And started to slip.

Everyone watching through the screen gasped.

Serica’s hands clenched tighter. "C’mon.... c’mon...!"

CLUNK

The rabbit dropped clean into the prize slot.

"LET’S GO, KENNY BOY!" Shogo and the crew yelled over comms.

Serica squealed with joy, pulling the plushie from the machine like she just won a national championship.

Her eyes sparkled.

"So what’s the name?" Kentaro asked, smiling.

Serica paused, tilting her head. She brought the bunny up to eye level and studied it.

"...Yoshino!" she declared proudly.

"Yoshino, huh..." Kentaro blinked. "That sounds... weirdly familiar..."

Before he could overthink it, Serica was already hopping toward the next game.

Kentaro followed, smiling to himself.

Whatever this day held next, he was ready for it.

The date had gone smoother than expected.

Surprisingly smooth.

With each stop, the bookshop, the arcade, the parfait cafe, Kentaro followed the plan provided by Tenka and the group, one step at a time. And now, as the sun dipped low, painting the sky in amber streaks, the final stage of the date slowly unfolded.

Serica and Kentaro strolled side by side along the riverbank. The golden light shimmered across the surface of the water, casting soft reflections that danced like fireflies on the current.

Serica walked a few steps ahead, arms gently swaying, her hums soft and content. She even started skipping a little, innocent, light, completely in the moment.

Behind her, Kentaro just stared.

His lips curled into a dopey grin.

"This actually went well," he muttered under his breath.

"Maybe... maybe I’m not totally useless with girls after all."

A voice buzzed in his ear.

"Ken. Wipe that idiotic grin off your face and seal the deal already." Tenka’s voice rang like a dry slap.

He blinked. "R-right! Sorry! Just... how do I do it again?" he asked, eyes still tracking Serica’s every hop like she was made of starlight.

Haruka’s voice came in, calm as always.

"Just like we discussed. When you’re sure she’s ready, place your hand over her heart. Not metaphorically, literally. Then rest your forehead against hers. You’ll feel a rush of heat, but that’s just her mana syncing with yours."

Kentaro nodded, absorbing the instructions, until his thoughts veered.

"...Touch her chest, huh..."

There was a beat of silence.

"NOT her breasts, you dum-ass!" Tenka roared.

"Center of the chest. Like a normal person. You grope her by mistake. I swear to God you’ll die before the mana burns you!"

"Understood!" Kentaro yelped. "Message received! Chest. Not Breast."

"Ken. Please don’t think about doing it," Haruka added.

"Smooth, Ken," Shogo chimed in from the background.

"Can’t wait to engrave that on your tombstone: ’Died doing what he loved- misunderstanding basic instructions."

Kentaro flushed red, shaking his head to clear the mental images. At that moment, he realised Serica had walked a bit ahead of him.

"Ken?" she called back, turning around. "Everything okay?"

He snapped out of panic mode and quickly caught up. "Yeah! Totally. I was just... uh... taking in the view."

Serica smiled warmly. She turned back toward the horizon, her eye reflecting the soft orange sky.

"It’s beautiful, isn’t it?" she whispered.

Then she turned back to him again, stepping closer this time, walking beside him.

"I’ve... never had a day like this. Never had a reason to smile this much. Not in a long time."

Kentaro felt something catch in his throat. It wasn’t pity. It was... something else. Something heavier.

She stopped walking, her feet gently crunching the grass as she turned to face him completely.

"Ken... I know I can be weird. Quiet. Broken maybe. But thank you. For seeing me as something more than just... a threat."

She reached up, brushing a stand of hair behind her ear.

He knew this was it.

The moment.

The anchor sealing moment.

He stepped forward, slowly, his hand raising just slightly toward her chest.

Serica watched, blinking. Her eyes weren’t scared, they were curious. Trusting. It was as if she knew what was going to happen next.

Kentaro’s fingers trembled. He reached out...

Almost touching her.

Just above her heart.

Their eyes locked.

He started to lean forward, gently tilting his head to press to hers.

"...Kentaro," a voice rang out. It was slow. But most importantly, It was surprised.

Kentaro turned around, his eyes widening as he turned his head around.

".....It’s you," Serica said.

Everyone on Halycon’s side stopped breathing. It was something that they hadn’t thought of when planning the date.

A crucial mistake that would lead to a near disaster of the entire day....