The moment Selene stepped out of the hall, she snapped her fingers, and Ice appeared silently at her side, his footsteps barely making a sound as he fell in line behind her.
"Stall her every move," Selene said, her voice low but sharp, cutting through the air like ice. "I'm sure she has that stone. I don't know why I can't sense it. If anything suspicious happens, report it immediately."
He inclined his head without a sound, his gaze sharp and unreadable.
Ahead, Rin paced the hall, her small, restless steps echoing softly against the polished floor. The moment her eyes landed on Selene and Ice, she froze, as if her heart had skipped a beat.
"Hey, Ice," Rin blurted, forcing a smile that trembled at the edges. "I didn't see you come in earlier… Were you invisible or something?"
Ice as always quiet, a quiet storm behind his cold eyes.
"You're still here, Kisaragi," Selene finally said, voice even, expression still unreadable.
"Huh…? Yes…" Rin's voice faltered. She looked down, toes curling against the polished floor, fingers tightening around her sleeve. "I… I was waiting."
Selene tilted her head slightly, a hint of a smile flickering on her lips. "So… you were waiting for me so we could continue our kiss?"
Rin froze, hands shooting up instinctively, like she could physically catch the words before they hit her. "No! No, no—I was not waiting to kiss you! What do you think of me!"
Selene's smile widened just a little. "Okay, then. Why were you waiting, Kisaragi?"
"I…" Rin swallowed, her throat dry, chest rising and falling in nervous rhythm. Her voice trembled, soft but clear. "I wanted to ask you something before you leave." Her cheeks burned crimson, a heat she couldn't hide no matter how hard she tried.
Selene's eyes softened, the cold edge of her gaze melting slightly. "What do you want to ask me, Kisaragi?"
"You said seven dates," Rin began slowly, fingers twisting her sleeve tighter, "to show me… what love is." She hesitated, swallowed, then met Selene's eyes with courage fluttering in her chest. "Two dates are over… five remain. I want one date… from the five."
Selene's eyes flickered, sharp yet unreadable. "Why?"
Rin drew a shaky breath, letting it out slowly, like she was exhaling part of her worry. Her voice was small, honest. "I want… one date to show you… that I don't deserve to be loved."
Selene stepped closer, and the air between them shifted—cold, yet somehow warm. "That is not possible," she said firmly, shaking her head. "I don't know why you keep saying you don't deserve to be loved… But I'm not giving you one of my dates just for that."
"I was the one who agreed! I made the deal! Why can't you just give me my request?" Rin's voice wavered, a mix of frustration and pleading. "I'm asking… just one date!"
Selene's gaze softened, but her tone stayed gentle. "It's my dates. I get to decide how it will be played. I get to show you love."
"With a recipe book! Admit it! If you see my flaws, you'll stop loving me!" Rin exclaimed, hands clenching at her sides.
"No matter how many flaws you have," Selene said, voice calm but certain, "it won't make me stop loving you. Because when I fall in love… I never stop."
Rin froze. Her heart skipped a beat, eyes widening. "Really…?" She blinked rapidly, then remembered herself mid-argument. "If that's true… then give me one date!"
Selene's lips curved into a small, sly smile. "Fine. The next third date is yours. By the end of it, you'll see that I'll still be in love with you."
Rin's chest rose and fell rapidly, her heartbeat hammering in her ears. "How is the word… 'love' so easy for you to say?" Her voice softened, wistful, almost trembling. "You say it like it's just… normal. No matter how many shoujo I read, no matter how many I watch… the word love still feels… foreign to me. What… what is it that you saw… that made you fall in love with me?"
Selene looked at her, momentarily speechless.
"You… don't know what to say, do you?" Rin broke the silence, eyes searching Selene's face.
Selene's lips twitched, a faint, unreadable expression. "I… don't have the words for it, Kisaragi. Right now, I have other things to attend to. Maybe… when I'm done, I'll tell you." Her voice carried a subtle warmth, softer than usual.
"In the meantime," she added, tilting her head slightly, "you'll be with Ice. He's going to stay by your side."
Rin blinked, confused. "Why… are you going somewhere?"
Selene's gaze was calm, distant. "No… I'm onto something, so I'll be busy for a while."
Rin frowned, stepping a little closer. "But… why do you want me to… babysit your dragon?"
The moment she said it, Ice's eyes snapped to her, sharp and glinting, his expression a mix of fury and disbelief—as if Rin had personally insulted him.
Selene raised a hand, trying to ease the tension. "No, not babysit. Think of him as… your bodyguard."
Rin's eyes widened. "Bodyguard? Why would I need a bodyguard? No one is after my life… and even if they were, I have powers! Lightning, regeneration… reincarnation. I don't need a bodyguard. And Ice… he looks like a cute, adorable pet…"
Selene's voice turned firm, warning. "Hey! Be careful. Just because Ice doesn't talk doesn't mean he's harmless. Right now… his mind is filled with countless ways to destroy you. I won't let that happen—but stop calling him a baby or a pet. He doesn't like it."
Ice's face flushed a deep, pale red. Rin stared, caught between surprise and terror, heart skipping a beat at the sheer intensity of the dragon's gaze.
"Okay… okay, sorry," Rin stammered. "I won't call you that again… But you're supposed to tell Master Hoshino. He might give him a room to sleep."
Selene shook her head lightly. "Don't worry. Ice can sleep anywhere. Even… in the sky, if he has to."
She turned to leave, but Rin's voice stopped her. "If you have something important… what about the third date I'm planning?"
Selene stepped closer, soft yet steady. "Don't worry about it. I'll be there. Just tell Ice the date, and he'll inform me. No matter how busy I am, Kisaragi… I'll always make time for us."
Selene's heels clicked softly as she left. Rin watched her go, chest tight with anticipation, wondering what she was planning. Then her gaze fell on Ice, who still refused to meet her eyes.
"I… I'm sorry for calling you a baby," Rin said quietly, a small blush creeping onto her cheeks. "I didn't actually mean it… but I have to admit… you're cute. A good-looking dragon."
Her words hung in the air, breaking the tension—just as Shion appeared, stepping into the hallway.