...
"I thought you'd argue with me." Seiun Sky's eyes and brows were filled with laughter.
Tonight, her aggressive desire to take the initiative was unmistakable—she was the one steering the conversation.
"It really is beautiful... I'm just being honest." At that moment, Lucian suddenly felt an itch on the back of his hand. He turned to look, but the mosquito had already vanished into the darkness. "This place is really nice, but there are a bit too many mosquitoes."
"Those mosquitoes haven't bitten me at all. You didn't forget to shower, did you?" Seiun Sky teased.
This was something she genuinely hadn't considered. The main reason she chose this spot was that it was secluded.
And today, most people nearby had probably gone to see the fireworks festival in person—making it even emptier.
Lucian rubbed his nose. "Well... I came straight after work. Didn't have time to shower."
"Oh~ Don't worry, I won't judge you for it, Trainer." Seiun Sky leaned against Lucian's shoulder and looked ahead. "The fireworks festival is about to start. It's been so long since I've made preparations just to watch fireworks."
"Same here." Lucian checked the time and began counting down silently in his heart.
But before he could finish counting, rows of fireworks in the distance shot into the sky, trailing streaks of starlight as they embraced the vast night.
With a series of muffled booms, colorful fireworks bloomed in their eyes, scattering like stars—dreamlike and fleeting.
One after another, the fireworks burst and faded, while the seed planted in Seiun Sky's heart had long since grown strong. Lush branches now bore plump buds, as if they would bloom at any moment.
But perhaps the season for blossoms had already arrived.
"Trainer." Seiun Sky turned away from the fireworks in the sky and looked at Lucian's gentle, clean profile, speaking word by word: "What about the promise you made me?"
Lucian had imagined many scenarios, but even now, his heart still raced with nervousness.
He turned his head, his gaze focusing solely on Seiun Sky.
"Are you sure? Here?" Lucian forced himself to stay composed.
"Mhm." Seiun Sky nodded.
"Then turn your face away."
"Okay~" Seiun Sky turned her head and tapped her cheek.
Lucian slowly leaned in, his warm breath brushing against Seiun Sky's face as his heart threatened to leap out of his chest.
Just as he was about to kiss her cheek, Seiun Sky suddenly turned her face back without warning.
And so, their lips met.
A sensation softer than the moonlit stream beneath their feet instantly enveloped them both.
Lucian's eyes widened, and something more dazzling than fireworks bloomed in his pupils.
...
The kiss ended as quickly as it began.
"You..." Lucian was still dazed, but Seiun Sky had already leaned forward and hugged him.
Her cheeks flushed with a faint pink ripple. "Trainer, I like you the most."
Lucian accepted it without hesitation, embracing her in return without any awkwardness.
Under the light, their shadows were no longer lonely, now tightly intertwined with each other.
The two held each other quietly, feeling each other's heartbeat and breath.
The sound of fireworks gradually faded, and time seemed to stretch endlessly.
By the time the fireworks festival ended completely, the world was so quiet that only the murmur of the flowing stream could be heard.
"How did it feel...?" Seiun Sky's shy whisper reached Lucian's ears.
"Well... soft?"
"And?" Seiun Sky hugged him tighter, biting her lip lightly.
"And..."
His heartbeat recorded the truest feelings—ones his clumsy mouth could never express.
The most innocent first kiss was one that touched the soul.
"You've already forgotten everything?" Seiun Sky pulled back slightly, looking boldly at Lucian.
Tenderness flowed from her eyes like water, and compared to the Seiun Sky of before, she now carried a charm that could melt hearts with a single glance.
"If we try again... maybe I'll remember." Lucian's face burned as his gaze once again escaped hers.
"Then... let's try again."
Seiun Sky grabbed Lucian's collar, closed her eyes, and kissed his lips once more.
...
A long moment later, they parted.
A silvery thread of moonlight coated the lingering connection between them, glistening like crystal.
Seiun Sky, now thoroughly embarrassed, buried herself in Lucian's embrace.
Without saying a word, the two could have stayed like that forever.
"First kiss."
"Same here."
"Pfft." Seiun Sky burst into laughter, but a sense of victory surged in her heart.
This "escape" tactic—she was miles ahead!
Haru Urara? Still stuck in the damn mud~
Silence Suzuka's "escape" is nothing special~
Special Week's late charge? Overrated~
Dextrous Bailey? Not even close~
Shuttle-chan? Move aside, move aside~
Tokai Teio? Who's that? Rice-chan? Never heard of them.
...
Just then, Lucian's phone, lying nearby, suddenly lit up and vibrated incessantly.
It was a video call.
The moment he saw the name "Silence Suzuka," Seiun Sky had already snatched the phone away, turned it off, and tossed it aside.
"Don't answer, don't answer... at least not now." Seiun Sky pouted stubbornly. "This time is mine. You promised."
"Alright, alright, I won't answer now." Lucian raised his hands in surrender.
After another moment of silence, Seiun Sky spoke up: "You can't tell them about this yet... I'd be too embarrassed."
"Okay, whatever you say."
"Actually, I saw it, you know." Seiun Sky suddenly said.
Lucian was baffled. "Saw what?"
"You and Suzuka in the break room... massaging!"
"How did you find out!?" Lucian's face was full of shock.
"Doesn't matter. You never massaged me, but you massaged Suzuka."
"That's because... I owed her a favor." Lucian now realized just how deep in debt he was.
"Hmph, excuses." Seiun Sky puffed out one cheek before abruptly changing the subject. "But I won't make things hard for you. Just don't neglect me because of them."
"I won't, how could I? After that time, I've never ignored you again."
Seiun Sky nodded, her heart swelling with satisfaction. "Then let's discuss this—from now on, you have to kiss me every day. How many times? Depends on my mood."
Having tasted the sweetness, Seiun Sky's mischievous side had grown exponentially.
The thought of secretly kissing Lucian behind the backs of her "defeated rivals" like Silence Suzuka, while he had to act calm and not give anything away... sounded incredibly fun.
"It's getting late. One more kiss... and then we'll go back." Seiun Sky tugged at Lucian's collar once more.
...