Five week later... Kitsune was from her training with Silk-Weaver when she saw from the corner of her eye Yv'Storm and Arctora'hm training and she watched longingly. "Still pining over him eh?" Kitsune jumped and turned to see Ace. "Great Merciful Buddha! How long have you been standing there for?" (He's been standing there for the past 40 seconds.) "Still weird having one of your nanites in my head." "At least you're not constantly going back and forth with them on everything just to become the perfect symbiotic being."
"Fair point, how's training with Arlech going for you and any progress with you and Yoko?" "Training with Arlech is a living hellish nightmare I don't think I ever wanted to just be able to punch someone so much that they don't exist more than him with this training regimen he's got me on. As for Yoko it- it's coming along nicely." "What do you mean? By the way I know you're lying; you haven't made a move on her yet." "I mean right now in the process of communicating with the Codex itself in the 5th dimension every time I get close the nanites voices get louder and louder to the point I have to stop or else I'll pass out from trying to maintain the connection. Plus, it's not like I haven't tried to talk to her but I never had the right time."
(Correction, you have embarrassed yourself multiple times before even attempting an actual conversation with Miss Yoko.) Ace chuckled out loud nervously as he replied back: Tha- That's not true name one time I have." A centipede nanite burrowed it way out of Ace and pulled up hologram montage of Aces' failed attempts of trying to talk to Yoko. (There was the time you tried to bring her flowers and tripped and fell. The other time was you about to speak and you ran into the rock. Another time was when you when you went to the catfish pond and got sprayed by that catfish causing it to look like urinated on yourself. Then there was that time when you....) "Alright! That's enough!" Ace tried to smack the nanite away but it just ran away. Kitsune was about to laugh out loud when Ace put a hand over her mouth just as Yoko walked past them but she looked their way real quick as she shook her head with her head down as she got back to her patrol.
Kitsune zapped Aces' hand and he yelped out in pain and surprise. "Y-Ow!" "I'll do you this favor because we're friends. I'll talk to Yoko about you and see how she feels about you. Oh and next time you put your hand on my face at all I'll make sure it's the last time you'll feel anything ever again. Do I make myself clear?" "Ye-Yes ma'am! But you have to do something for yourself first." "Which is what?" "You've got to ask out Arctora'hm to the Festival of Dreams. You can't chicken out either." "I won't chicken out, and I'll do it if you ask Yoko to the Festival of Dreams." "Deal." Ace and Kitsune shook hands to seal the deal. "Alright! Kid your training is complete for the day I'll see you at the festival later?" "More than likely not but who knows what could happen between now and then." Arctora'hm began to walk to his room as he wiped the sweat off his body. As he was about to enter his room he saw Yoko appear. "Hmm? What's up Yoko?" "Can we talk real quick Arctora'hm?"
"Yeah, just let me get my Dragon fruit and boba tea." As Arctora'hm and Yoko walked out on the beach and Arctora'hm was eating his dragon fruit he looked up at the evening sky. "So what's up Yoko? You bought me out here for a reason?" "I just wanted to talk to you about Ace and Kitsune." "What about 'em?" "They've been super secretive and weird the past few weeks I think they might have feelings for each other or doing something else." Yoko started to fidget a bit and play with her hair a bit. "And if they are what of it? Why are you so hung up on it?" "Be-because I've got a crush on Ace and I didn't know what kind of relationship him and Kitsune had so I thought I'd come talk to you since you're all on the same team ya know?" "Oh boy. Feelings and relationships aren't much of a strong suit for me but tell me more?" "Sorry for dumping all this on you like this in advance but I can't really go to Kitsune with this because of what might be."
"Just take your time and spew your guts out when you're ready." "Well,I've had feelings for Ace since I got small glimpse of him back at the facility and this would be my first relationship ever. I was always overlooked or sister zoned or too aggressive or not feminine enough for the guys in my dimension. Plus I didn't feel like I belonged there. But when I came here I felt like I belonged here and I could start a new beginning here Ace was the first guy to acknowledge me and see me more than just a scary military woman. But it's like every time we try to talk he's either injured, disappeared, and there's this awkward silence between us." Arctora'hm finished his dragon fruit and tossed it in the trash. "I see, a predicament for sure. Well here's a thought you ask him out to the Festival of Dreams." "But what if I'm waisting my time with even asking him if he and Kitsune actually are a...."
"If you want my honest opinion on those two they're like brother and sister if they were actually born from the same mother. I feel like those two would never date but would do anything to help those they care about wether it be friend, foe, or stranger alike. You owe it to yourself at least to try to be happy. Are you scared you won't find another person like him?" "That's the thing Arctora'hm. I feel like he is my person and I won't ever feel like this again with anyone else. I never actually truly had a crush on anyone from my dimension or looked at someone with romantic intentions." "Well you go and find Ace and tell him how you truly feel. Go and be happy and ask him to the Festival." "You're right. Thank you so much Arctora'hm." Yoko hugged Arctora'hm and he was caught off guard but smiled and returned the hug. "You're welcome Yoko." Yoko kissed his cheek and ran off to find Ace.
Meanwhile just at the pier overlooking the beach head... Kitsune looked down at the scene distraught as she put a deathgrip a journal she had bought for Arctora'hm she dropped the journal on the pier as tears streamed down her face and her hair covered her face from the wind pick up as she began to walk away. Arctora'hm looked up to Kitsune's last position and saw her leaving somewhat in a hurry. (What's up with Kitsune?) Arctora'hm sipped on his boba tea and began to run after Kitsune. (Hmm, did she drop her diary?) Arctora'hm bent down to pick it up and saw that it was a smooth leather sapphire blue journal and on the back it had Arctora'hm's name engraved in Emerald green. (Did she get this custom made for me? But why? I better go ask.) Arctora'hm picked up the journal and ran after Kitsune.