Claire wasn't sure why her feet led her back to the bench where they'd sat earlier. The sun had dipped lower, painting the sky in soft streaks of orange and violet. Campus was thinning out, but the weight in her chest hadn't.
Ethan had changed. Not in a bad way. But in a way that made her nervous. It wasn't just the confidence or the way people looked at him now—it was how she looked at him, and how he had finally looked back.
They'd laughed, talked, almost touched—and something unspoken hovered between them now.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown Number: You free tonight? Meet me at the physics courtyard. Just us.
She knew that tone. Ethan.
Ten minutes later, Claire found him under the tree with the crooked branches, leaning against the trunk like it was the most natural place to be.
"Hey," she said.
He looked up and smiled. "Glad you came."
She sat beside him, close but not too close.
"Was it weird?" he asked. "Earlier?"
Claire hesitated. "No. It was… nice. Different. I liked it."
Ethan nodded slowly. The way he studied her face made her pulse quicken.
"I meant it," he said. "What I said about people caring. You've always been there, Claire."
Her breath caught.
"And now?" she asked. "Am I still just the friend who helps you study?"
He didn't answer right away. The silence stretched, but it wasn't empty.
Then, gently, he reached out and took her hand.
Before either of them could speak, the system shimmered behind Ethan's vision.
[Milestone Event: Shared Vulnerability With S-Rank Heroine (Claire Monroe)]
[Skill Draw Available. Choose one:]
[Skill 1] Heart Signal (Uncommon)
Allows subtle expression of romantic feelings to be better noticed and reciprocated.
[Skill 2] Clarity Pulse (Common)
Momentarily clears emotional confusion between two people.
[Skill 3] Trust Anchor (Uncommon)
Strengthens the emotional safety of a conversation, making others feel safer being vulnerable.
Ethan blinked, momentarily stunned. Each one felt... true. But only one echoed what he wanted Claire to feel tonight.
He exhaled, glancing at their joined hands.
[Skill Acquired: Heart Signal (Uncommon) — Allows subtle expression of romantic feelings to be better noticed and reciprocated.]
Claire squeezed his fingers gently. No words. Just warmth.
And for the first time in a long while, Ethan didn't feel like he had to explain anything. It was already understood.