PHASE 19 - KISSES CAN NEVER BE THIS SWEET

“Hey, Rikkun… Is it alright if I get a kiss?…”

...

…

…

I covered my face.

What the heck did I just say!? Did I actually say it? No, I’m sure I said that correctly! I’m not even stuttering or anything! I perfectly said it! Wait! Do I look that desperate? Why am I begging for a kiss while I haven’t confessed yet!?

I’m sorry! I’m sorry! The atmosphere was so great that I got too carried away and imagined some wild ideas! Now I’m sure he’s thinking of me as a weird creepy pervert!

I slowly opened my eyes to watch his reaction.

Rikkun slowly turned to me with a serious expression. He’s no longer blushing. Wait, is he going to reject me?

“I can’t believe you… You don’t have to ask me for that, just grab it from me.”

“E-E-Eeeeeeeeh!?” My face couldn’t be any redder right now.

“Here.” Rikkun reached out a pack of Chocolate Kisses from his pocket and poured it on my hand until I have seven pieces.

“...T-Thanks…”

Now that I think of it, I bought three packs of that chocolate yesterday on a whim, and I asked him to keep it for later consumption.

Anyway...

My eyes are no longer filled with hope.

I’m out of words. There’s a part of me that was grateful that he didn’t hear what I meant, but it troubles me that he is a lot denser than I imagined. I had the urge to punch him on the face for being so clueless, but that would be too unreasonable.

I can’t believe that Rikkun chose to be an idiot for this day.

I feel like I just embarrassed myself, and I think that God above is laughing at me right now. So I stood up and made an excuse to go away.

“Um… I’ll go back and check for Naomi and Kristoff. You follow later, okay?”

“Oh, we’re going already?” Rikkun tilted his head. “I’ll come with you.”

“No, you follow later, okay?” I insisted.

“No, we go together-”

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!” I cried as I immediately bolted away from the scene, leaving Rikkun behind my dust.

<>

Ah, I did it again.

I could’ve expressed my feelings for Rikkun if I stayed longer and didn’t chicken out. I should have made it clear that the kisses I meant are not these chocolates. I’m such a wimp.

I started to eat the chocolate bites as I surveyed the surroundings. The beach is no longer populated at this time of an hour.

I finally found the couple. Kristoff and Naomi. They are sitting on the bench as they watch the beautiful sunset.

Their baby daughter is just a meter away from them, busy molding simple sandcastles with her plastic cup.

“Naomi.” Kristoff gently grabbed Naomi’s hand. “I know I’m not worthy of your forgiveness. I know I’m not qualified to be given a second chance. But I wanted to tell you that I… I still love you.”

He groveled.

“Kristoff…” Naomi blushed as her eyes were hinted with tears. “We’ve been through a lot. Stand up, for I have forgiven you a long time ago. Stand up, because I will never get tired of giving you a second chance. I know that your feelings for me are true… So you should know that my feelings for you are the same too.”

Kristoff’s cheeks became wet because of his own tears. He knelt to the ground and opened a small box that contains a beautiful sparkling diamond ring.

“N-Naomi! Will you marry me?”

…

I averted my attention when I saw that their daughter’s eyes are now oozing with black blood. It’s clearly a sign that an Eidolon is nearby.

I won’t let this wedding proposal get interrupted!

I immediately swiped my fingers to open a Gate.

<>

The Mirose Grande Beach in Yami is so much different. Instead of fine white sand, the ground is made up of spiky little pebbles. The navy blue ocean is converted to crimson blood, and the setting golden sun was replaced by a red moon.

Above me is a flapping gigantic creature that has the head and body of a lion, a pair of dragon wings, a tail like those of a scorpion, and horns like those of a gazelle. According to some books that I have read, this creature looks like a Manticore.

“Tiara!”

It was Rikkun who just arrived from the scene. He already deployed his katana Weapon Gem and is ready for battle. I also had my hairpin transform into my Roman gauntlets.

“Tiara, switch to healer mode. I’ll handle it.” Rikkun said.

I shook my head. “No. I’ll handle this. You support me, Rikkun.”

“Geez, what’s wrong with you?” Rikkun mumbled as he switched his katana to his twin revolvers.

Nothing. I’m just in a bad mood. Really. It’s not about pride in taking down the monster. I just wanted to release all my negative emotions; my frustrations, my embarrassment, and my anger toward this Eidolon.

“Watch out!” Rikkun exclaimed.

The Manticore charged a gigantic greenish ball of flames and launched it directly to our direction!

“!!!”

I used both of my hands to block and absorb the burning hot projectile! As soon as the flame orb blinked out of existence, I activated the long-lost power of my Guardian Ability.

“!!! Manticore Green Flame, Set!”

My twin gauntlets were enveloped with emerald burning aura, full of energy. This is the upgraded power of my , which made me able to use the energy I absorbed to add up to my own power.

I hate to say this, but this Guardian Ability is the same thing I used to fuse Rikkun’s soul to his severed head in the previous timeline. The only difference is that instead of using a soul and a severed head, I used and combined the energy projectile with my gauntlet Weapon Gem.

“!!!” Rikkun’s twin revolver unleashed countless rockets that chased the manticore mid-air.

The Eidolon swirled around and tilted its body to evade those missiles, but its body is too big to avoid each and every attack. Rockets exploded on its wings which made it fall to the ground.

“This is your chance!”

“Right!” I shouted. I was already charging a glowing orb of light from my fist. “!!!”

With the energy I gathered, I unleashed a golden dragon from my fist. This dragon is different because it’s coated with green flames which adds some burning effect and more damage!

Boom! A loud explosion emerges, together with thick smoke. That attack completely converted the pesky Eidolon to dust, and the Quintessence orb went flying to my heart.

<>

It was too late when we finally returned to the Earth Realm. Naomi, Kristoff, and their daughter are no longer on the bench near the beach. The skies are now dark.

And here am I thinking that we finished the fight quickly.

“Tiara, Alaric…” It was a feminine voice. When we turned around, Naomi’s face greeted us with a smile. “Thanks for defeating that Eidolon for us.”

“Heh!” Rikkun proudly chinned up. “I’m sorry, I only accept ‘thank you’ in a form of cash- Pwahack!”

That’s the sound Rikkun made after having contact with my knuckle. Just when will he learn to stay humble?

“H-How did your date go, Miss Naomi?” I tried to wave off what I just did to my date.

“Great~” She said.

The smile on her face can never be painted. Especially that now her finger wears an expensive diamond ring.