"???" Akio's heart skipped a beat upon hearing Paimon's words. He turned to Lumine, who was blushing furiously—so she had been dreaming of him day and night?
Perfect! Akio was overjoyed. Lumine was his ultimate white moonlight! She might not be the most conventionally beautiful among the women in his life, but she had an undeniable charm—gentle, elegant, and cool all at once, a blend only she could pull off.
Feeling his gaze, Lumine's cheeks burned hotter. She glared at Paimon, who was hiding in Akio's arms, and hissed, "Paimon! Next month's food budget is cut in half!"
"Waaah! Noooo!" Paimon flailed her tiny arms and turned to Akio. "Akio, look at her! Do something!"
"Paimon's right, Lumine dear, you shouldn't bully her," Akio said with an amused smirk.
"Mmm…" Lumine's face warmed at the affectionate nickname. She lowered her head, flustered.
Akio shifted closer, taking hold of her soft, jade-like hands.
Oddly enough, despite years of battle and adventure, her fingers remained smooth and fair—so much so that Akio couldn't resist stroking them.
"Mmnn…" Being touched like this made Lumine feel as if she might faint from embarrassment. She had never been this intimate with a man before.
"Lumine dear, is what Paimon said true?" Akio murmured, leaning close to her ear.
"...Yes." At this point, there was no hiding it. Lumine nodded, her cheeks burning.
When she lifted her gaze to meet his, her eyes shimmered with emotions too deep for words.
"I don't know what's happening to me. Lately… I keep thinking about you," she whispered, tightening her grip on his hand.
"Whoa~" Paimon's eyes widened as she watched Lumine take the initiative.
But Lumine ignored her tiny hype-woman and continued, "I don't know when it started. It's just… suddenly, your shadow appeared in my heart. So I thought… I should hold on to this rare chance."
"Lumine dear…" Akio was stunned. Lumine, the usually reserved traveler, was pouring her heart out!
Taking a deep breath, Lumine plucked a flower from her hair—an Inteyvat, lightly glowing in the sunlight.
She placed it in his palm and said, "This is the flower I've kept since I woke up. The Inteyvat—the national flower of Khaenri'ah."
"I still have a journey to complete. So, Akio… will you hold onto it for me? No matter where I go, I'll always return to you. You will be my home. Okay?"
"Of course. I'll always wait for you." Akio smiled and raised his hand. A bracelet materialized—golden, studded with tiny falling stars that glimmered faintly.
After explaining its function, Akio slipped it onto her wrist.
"Akio! Akio! I want one too!" Paimon immediately demanded after seeing the bracelet.
Akio chuckled. "Hmm? This is for wives only."
"Huh?!" Paimon frowned, then grinned mischievously. "Then I'll be your wife too! Give me one~"
Akio: "???"
Lumine: "???"
Akio squinted at her for a moment before shaking his head. "Paimon, you're too small."
There's just no way. How on earth would that even work?!
"I'm not that small!" Paimon crossed her arms, puffed up, then deflated. "Okay, maybe a little…"
"Ugh! So unfair!" Frustrated, she flew up and aggressively ruffled Akio's hair.
"Alright, alright." Amused, Akio pulled her back down and summoned a smaller version of the bracelet—this one adorned with a starry sky pattern.
Paimon was still an enigma. (Frankly, the author didn't dare to define her either—no one wanted a lore-backfire.)
"Yay! Akio, you're the best!" Thrilled, Paimon happily floated circles around him.
Lumine watched them fondly.
Days like this were truly wonderful.
If only… if only she didn't have her mission weighing on her, she'd gladly stay with Akio forever.
For a fleeting second, she even considered abandoning her search for her brother—but the thought vanished as quickly as it came.
Aether was still out there. She had to find him.
Aether, watching from the void: So love makes you forget your own brother? Huh?!
---
On their way to the Grand Narukami Shrine, the trio chatted and laughed—but Akio's smirk deepened.
A certain jealous older brother had been stalking them from another dimension.
Akio had noticed immediately. Did he really think he could hide using spatial powers in front of him?
Pathetic.
When Lumine confessed again mid-conversation, Akio pulled her close and kissed her.
"Mmph—!" Lumine clumsily reciprocated, surrendering her first kiss wholeheartedly.
But a second later, Akio's lips curled.
Finally making your move, huh?
Space cracked open beside them, and a golden-haired youth leaped out—Greatsword in hand—bringing it down with devastating force.
The blade struck a golden barrier and bounced, the recoil sending him flying backward.
"Took you long enough," Akio mused, arms still wrapped around Lumine.
Well, well, well—if it wasn't Aether himself.
Lumine gasped. "Brother?!"
But her shock turned to fury when she saw the weapon in his grip.
"Aether! What the hell are you doing?!" she snarled.
Aether looked utterly betrayed.
His precious sister—scolding him over a man?!
"Akio, are you okay?!" Lumine turned back, fussing over him.
"I'm fine, love," Akio chuckled, kissing her forehead. "You know nothing can hurt me."
"STOP THAT—WAIT, NO, STOP KISSING HER!" Aether roared, lifting his weapon again.
"STAND DOWN, RIGHT NOW!" Lumine's voice cracked like a whip.
Aether froze.
"Aether! You're crossing a line!" she snapped. "And drop that stupid club—NOW!"
Trembling, Aether immediately let go, the Greatsword clattering to the ground.
"Lumine! This guy has countless women! He's just playing you!" Aether pleaded.
"Hmph! You don't understand anything." Lumine crossed her arms. "Akio is extraordinary—of course he attracts people. And I know about them. So what?"
Aether: ...What kind of brainwashing is this?!
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