Sosuke walked down the quiet hotel hallway, shoes brushing softly against the carpet. He stopped at the room at the very end, took a breath to settle the nerves building in his chest, then raised his hand and knocked.
The door creaked open a moment later.
Rin stood in the doorway, tugging her loose hair back with one hand. She blinked in surprise.
"Oh—it's you!" she said, a little too loud. She took a quick step back, glancing down at her mismatched socks. "I'm, uh—kinda a mess right now. Just give me a second—wait, why are you here?"
Sosuke rubbed the back of his neck. "I was wondering what you were planning to do today. Nina says we're off the mission grid for a few days, so…"
He looked up at her, trying to sound casual. "Figured we've got time."
Rin raised a brow. "And?"
Sosuke gave her a sheepish smile. "And I thought it'd be nice if we went through the city together. Just us."
Her lips parted slightly, as if surprised. "You're… inviting me out? Alone?"
"Y-Yeah?" he said, voice catching slightly.
Rin's expression shifted—something unreadable flickered in her eyes. Then she shut the door with a firm click.
"Give me thirty minutes!"
Sosuke chuckled under his breath. "Alright."
⸻
Downstairs in the hotel lobby, Sosuke sat on a low couch, absently flipping through a dusty book someone had left behind. His eyes scanned the page without processing the words.
Isabelle.
The thought hit like a splash of cold water. He shut the book and leaned back. I got so caught up in talking to Rin again… Dammit. But—it can wait.
He heard quick footsteps on the stairwell. Sosuke turned his head.
Rin came into view, descending with hurried grace, her dark hair half-tamed, her outfit simple but sharp. There was something effortless about her look—unintentional and somehow perfect.
She stopped in front of him, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "So… do I look okay?"
Sosuke just stared.
Her eyes narrowed. "Well?"
"You're…" He swallowed. "You're really pretty."
Rin's face turned bright red. She slapped her hands over her cheeks. "What?! Don't mess with me like that!"
"I'm not!" Sosuke laughed, standing up. "I just didn't expect you to… look like that. I mean—look that good. Wait, not that you didn't before—"
"Okay, stop." Rin held up a hand, laughing now. "Before you implode."
Sosuke relaxed. "I, uh, I have a spot in mind. Later today."
Rin tilted her head. "Later? What about right now?"
Sosuke scratched his cheek. "Well, I didn't fully plan it. I just knew I wanted to go somewhere with you."
Rin rolled her eyes and grabbed his sleeve. "Then come on. We'll find something."
⸻
They wandered into the heart of the city—past rows of stone buildings and flickering lantern signs—until they reached a wide open plaza lined with glowing trees and shopfronts. The sky overhead had begun its shift toward twilight, staining the clouds orange and pink.
A street musician played soft melodies from a small wooden stage in the square's center, and tiny motes of mana-light hovered near the lanterns like fireflies.
"This feels… familiar," Sosuke said as they stepped onto the stonework path bordering a quiet koi pond.
"It's like the palace plaza," Rin replied, eyes scanning the reflecting water. "Back at Gabriel's. Do you remember?"
"Of course I do." Sosuke turned to her.
Then he noticed something.
He stepped in front of her, gently reaching out—his fingers brushing against the silver chain around her neck. He let the pendant settle into his palm. "You're wearing it?"
"I always try to bring it with me," she said. "Wouldn't want your money going to waste." She smirked.
Sosuke grinned and let it fall back against her chest. "I could've gotten something better if I had the coin. I know it's not much."
"It's not about that." Rin stepped beside him, her shoulder brushing his. "It's special because of why you gave it to me."
Sosuke glanced down at her. "You're really sentimental."
"I'm selectively sentimental," Rin corrected with a playful nudge. "Don't get any ideas."
"No promises."
They walked in silence for a few steps.
Then Rin's voice came quieter. "I didn't think we'd ever get time like this again."
Sosuke looked up at the evening sky. "Neither did I."
Their hands brushed as they walked. Neither pulled away.
They walked side by side, their pace slow, relaxed. A quiet buzz filled the plaza—shoppers chatting, merchants calling out their wares, the scent of grilled skewers drifting through the air.
Rin stopped in front of a jewelry shop tucked between two cafés.
She tapped the glass with her finger, pointing to a necklace that shimmered under the display lights. "Maybe you should've gotten me something like that instead."
Sosuke crossed his arms. "Or maybe you should be more grateful. I, for one, have never been bought jewelry."
Rin turned, raising a brow. "What kinda sad excuse is that?"
"It's a real tragedy. Honestly, I'm the victim here."
She smirked. "Alright then, poor baby—consider it your lucky day."
Before he could stop her, she slipped into the shop. Sosuke blinked. "Wait, hold on, what just—?"
She returned a minute later with a smug grin and a velvet pouch.
"Here."
He opened it cautiously. Inside sat two amethyst studs, small and sharp, with a deep violet gleam.
"They bring out your eyes," she said with a sly smile.
Sosuke blinked. "I don't have my ears pierced."
"Then get them pierced."
He stared at her. "You're serious?"
Rin shrugged. "You said no one buys you jewelry. I'm fixing that. Step two is committing to the look."
⸻
Some time later…
They emerged from a small pharmacy on the edge of the plaza. Sosuke rubbed his earlobes, looking both annoyed and vaguely impressed.
"I can't believe I just did that."
Rin gave him a once-over. "Can't believe it took this long. They suit you."
He tugged at his collar. "They hurt."
"They look good though," Rin teased, bumping his shoulder lightly. "Now you're halfway to being a fashion icon."
"Glad to know you're using your power responsibly."
Rin smirked. "Someone has to."
Sosuke glanced at her, then looked away quickly before she noticed his smile. "Thanks… I think."
As the day slipped toward twilight, Stalport transformed.
The sun, once blazing high, now bled behind the skyline, streaking the sky with swirls of gold and dusky violet. Warm lanternlight flickered to life along the cobblestone paths, casting a soft glow that shimmered in the shop windows and danced across glassy puddles from an earlier rain. Music drifted in from somewhere distant—strings, laughter, the occasional burst of firecrackers echoing between alley walls.
Sosuke and Rin walked side by side through the quieting streets, the city hushed by that rare, fleeting pause between day and night.
Rin stretched her arms above her head, her breath curling faintly in the cooling air. "We've been walking forever. I'm about five minutes from finding a food cart and moving in."
Sosuke smirked. "Guess it's time I take you somewhere."
She turned to him with an arched brow. "Where?"
"You remember that spot we went with Lyra, Reid, and Arthur?" Sosuke asked.
Rin narrowed her eyes. "The festival thing? You're kidding. That was ages ago."
"It's still going," he said, hands in his pockets. "Turns out it's part of an Astorian holiday that lasts several nights. I read about it."
"You read about it?" Rin snorted. "Of course you did. You and Arthur are like the only people left who actually open books willingly."
"Maybe you're just not intelligent enough to appreciate literature," Sosuke shot back, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh? You wanna go there?" Rin's smirk was razor-thin. "Because if we start that fight, I promise you, it doesn't end."
"I'll take my chances." He glanced to his left. "We're almost there."
As they turned the corner, the sound hit first—music swelling through the air, laughter rising over clinks of glasses and the thrum of a crowd. The festival plaza unfolded ahead of them like something out of a painting.
It had grown since their last visit.
Bright paper lanterns strung from building to building floated overhead like stars tethered to string. Stalls spilled over with pastries, painted masks, and glowing crystal charms. Performers twirled between bonfires, trailing sparks behind their spinning staffs. Couples strolled arm in arm, children ran underfoot, and the scent of roasted chestnuts and spiced cider pulled them forward.
"Whoa," Rin said under her breath. "There's way more people this time."
Sosuke smiled, watching her eyes catch the firelight. "Figured we could enjoy it a little more this time. Just us."
They slipped into the crowd, letting the energy of the place carry them. Sosuke didn't say much. Neither did Rin. But they didn't need to. Their steps stayed in sync. Their laughter came easy.
She shoved half a stick of cotton candy into her mouth as they passed a food stall. Sosuke raised an eyebrow.
"Now," he said, clapping his hands together, "since it's getting late, I'll tell you the real reason we're here."
Rin swallowed and tilted her head. "Wait—it wasn't the food?"
"I want to get you that stuffed animal I promised."
Her expression lit up. "You actually remembered that?"
"I sure did." Sosuke grinned. "And I meant what I said. It's time to win this game. First try."
⸻
He did not win first try.
The booth was simple enough—throw the rings, land them over the pegs. Easy. Except it wasn't.
"Okay… okay. That was a warm-up," Sosuke muttered, narrowing his eyes at the setup like it had personally wronged him.
"You missed by a mile," Rin laughed, one hand over her mouth. "Was that your secret technique?"
Sosuke extended a hand and a flicker of mana whispered through his fingertips. He tossed again—slightly sharper, guided this time.
It still missed.
Rin nearly choked from laughing. "You're cheating and still losing?"
"Apparently the booth is enchanted," he muttered. "Or maybe I'm cursed."
Throw. Miss. Throw. Miss again. He wiped his hands on his shirt like it'd help.
"That bear's not even that cute anymore," he grumbled.
"This is the best entertainment I've had in a while." Rin said between wheezes. "Please never stop."
"Glad I'm your clown."
"I didn't say that." Rin smiled, hands on her hips. "But you wear the role well."
Finally, on his seventh try, the ring clicked into place. The vendor gave a dry clap and handed Sosuke the oversized bear with a smirk.
Sosuke held it in triumph, just a little red in the face.
He handed it to Rin. "Here. Treasure it forever. It cost me my pride."
They walked toward an open bench near the far edge of the plaza, the light from the festival fading behind them. Lanterns flickered like stars above.
And the bear, impossibly fluffy, sat proudly between them.
Rin hugged the bear against her chest, still grinning. "I don't mean to exaggerate, but this might be the best gift ever."
"You're so easy to please," Sosuke said, smiling faintly.
"I know." She laughed—light, genuine, like the sound of a memory trying to take root.
Then came the silence. Not awkward, but something quieter. Comfortable. Honest.
"The moon looks beautiful tonight," Sosuke said, eyes lifted toward the silver glow overhead.
Rin raised an eyebrow. "Why are you being poetic?"
"Maybe I'm trying to impress you."
She tilted her head, suspicious. "Look at me."
"W-why?"
Before he could react, Rin grabbed his face with both hands and turned it toward her. She squinted. "Your eyes—you're really using your powers for this?" She let go with a sigh. "That's cheating. I know how they work. You just want to know the best things to say."
"What's wrong with that?" Sosuke asked.
"It has to be real," she said softly. Her gaze didn't waver. "I don't want this to be perfect. I want it to be you."
Sosuke blinked, and the ethereal shimmer faded from his eyes. The celestial rings disappeared, leaving only violet. Clear. Raw. They caught the moonlight like glass catching flame.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?" she asked.
"For trying to force you into something." His voice lowered. "Back when I saved you all… I didn't know what I was doing. I just knew I couldn't lose you. And maybe it took me some time to figure out who I really am. But I know I meant what I said."
Rin looked away. "Did you?"
He nodded. "Rin, I love you."
Rin went still. Her arms curled tighter around the bear. "I was worried you wouldn't anymore. After everything… when I heard you say those things, I really considered it. I thought about giving up. But I knew that wasn't really you. And I couldn't let you take the easy way out. But part of me… didn't want to carry that burden either. I didn't want to help you."
Her voice trembled, just a little. "I'm sorry."
Sosuke turned to her, fully. "Rin. It's okay. What I said back then was selfish. It wasn't fair to you."
A pink hue crept into her cheeks. She raised the bear between them, hiding half her face. "I don't want to rush into anything. I'd rather we take it slow."
"Huh?" Sosuke blinked. "What do you mean?"
Rin peeked at him over the bear's fuzzy ears. "Are you really making me say it?"
She inhaled once, steadying herself.
"I love you too."
The words cracked something open in him.
And then—it hit.
Everything.
Not in pieces. Not one emotion at a time. All of it. All at once.
It was the guilt he'd buried and the hope he'd barely dared to feel. It was relief that trembled in his chest like a collapsing wall. It was the ache of loneliness finally easing. The sting of past failures softened by something warm and terrifyingly real. It was that dizzy, electric flood of being seen—truly seen—and still chosen.
His breath caught in his throat. He couldn't speak. Couldn't move.
The air felt thinner somehow. Lighter. Brighter. Like the stars were watching just for them.
His heart raced as if trying to catch up to this moment, to her words. To her.
Not a final triumph.
But a beginning.
And for the first time in a long time…
Sosuke let himself feel it.
All of it.
He smiled—quiet, shaken, stunned—and let the moment wrap around them like a second sky.