The room was dark, and his instinct told him to pull out his handgun, but when he felt something warm pushing against his mouth, something soft and squishy against his chest, and noticed a sweet, alluring fragrance, his heart started racing.

“Amelia?” he said to the dark before she slammed the door and turned on the lights.

Alan’s eyes darted from her lacy black bra, barely able to contain her stacked bosom, to her matching underwear below. Her hips were covered by a garter belt, and her thighs and legs were adorned with stockings.

“Clara told me how you saved me from falling to my death, so I wanted to say thank you.”

“Y-your welcome! I’m glad I made it in time.”

Amelia strolled to him, making the sound of her high heels echo through the room. “I’ve also been watching Clara’s stream, over and over again. You acted bravely. The way you managed the situation…”

“I-I watched it too, and it’s incredible that I don’t look like I'm shitting my pants, huh?”

“You looked awesome.” Amelia kissed him again. An intense, vigorous kiss, as she pushed him to the bed.

“Come on, Alan! Get this thing off!” She impatiently shredded his t-shirt and ripped his pants off, all while maintaining a lit glimmer in her eyes.

“Whoah, you’re strong!” he cried nervously, and a beeping sound was heard. “What’s that?” he asked, looking around before noticing an expression of horror on her face.

“The ABB!” she cried before getting frozen, unable to even talk.

“Amelia? Are you--?”

This is the Anti-Bad Behavior System!

A gentle, festive voice was heard and a red screen appeared in front of Alan’s face.

Where have I heard that before? Oh, right! Lara Andersen mentioned it before. But why…?

Today, on July 19, at 10:15 pm, we have detected a non-consensual sexual advance by - Amelia Laflamme - towards - Alan Warden -.

Amelia’s eyes looked watery and in pain.

“W-what?! Wait!”

If you accept, we will send a Moderator to apprehend - Amelia Laflamme - immediately. If this is a mistake and you are not being pressured or forced into this situation, please, tell us that you are willingly--

“It is a mistake, absolutely! This is totally consensual! I like it rough, you know what I mean?!”

Response by the User received! Thanks for your cooperation. We apologize for the inconveniences this may have caused to you and your partner. Have fun!

As soon as the system window disappeared, Amelia grasped for air and grabbed her neck.

“Are you okay, Amelia?”

“I-I... I fucking ruined it…”

“What? No! Of course not! You were just showing me how passionate you--”

“I’m so sorry!” she said, letting tears run down her cheeks. Her long, silky red hair flew above her neck when she dashed to the exit. A fire explosion illuminated the corridor, indicating that someone had seen her semi naked.

***

“There you are,” Alan said softly while climbing to the rooftop of the building, where Amelia was sitting, hugging her legs and wearing a black dress. “You really like high places, huh? You act like a cat.”

“A stupid cat,” she wept, hiding her face.

Alan sat beside her and sighed, looking at the sky. “Remember when we sat on top of the house and admired a clear night like this? Which reminds me...” He pulled something out of his inventory and shook it close to Amelia’s ear, sounding liquid.

“What is it?”

“A bottle of wine, courtesy of Miss Cosmica. She says that Actives are always gifting her things, so she gave me this one. She has a full box of it, I think.”

“Okay, I’ll take a sip… But don’t look at my face!”

“I won’t.”

He turned his gaze away, and Amelia snatched the bottle out of his hand.

“It tastes good.”

“Free things always taste good.”

"Remember when you told me that you distrusted me, thinking that Marco Souza may have sent me to play with you?"

"I apologize. I don't think that anymore."

"It's okay... You know, my father once told me that to truly know a person, one must watch how they act under pressure or at their lowest. When their true nature comes to light.”

“He sounds like a very wise man.”

“Yes, he was…” she said and handed him the bottle. “That’s what differentiates you from Marco Souza,” she whispered, looking him in the eyes. “When defeated, he acted out of spite, and let the bitterness take control of him. But you…”

“You hold me in such high esteem. I don’t think I…”

“Quiet,” she whispered, leaning her face to his. “Or I’ll get mad at you.”

“Hey, don’t burn the recently rebuilt town, okay?”

She chuckled and ran strands of hair away from his forehead. “I’m sorry for ruining the night. I wanted your first time to be special, but my freaking horniness got in the way.”

“I ruined it too. I think my nervousness activated the ABB alert.”

“Yes, I noticed you were shaking like crazy. It kinda turned me on.” She looked away in shock. “I can’t believe I said that…”

“Maybe we could... Start from the basics?” he asked, making her frown. He corrected his posture. “Like kissing and making out.”

“What about holding hands?”

“Nah, that’s too advanced for me. Too lewd.”

Amelia burst out laughing.

Her laugh… fills me.

“Alright, that’s a good plan,” she said. “Would you be able to keep the pace?”

“I think so, yeah…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle… at first.”

As both locked lips and remained on that rooftop for hours like a cat couple, the virtual moon and the fake stars above them showed a calm, beautiful display of lights and out-of-this-world dreams.

***

“How is everyone! Are you guys tired?” The idol said from her stage, in front of over 300 people. Her two companions, Nebuline and Celestine, were at her side, waving at the public. “Do you still have the energy to sing with me?”

“Yeees!”

“Raise your voice, all the Guilds that followed me on this whim of mine!”

“Yeah!”

“Now, raise your voice, let me hear you citizens of New Unus City!”

“Yeah, we love you Miss Cosmica!”

“It still sounds like ‘anus’, but what are we going to do, right? Tee-hee!”

The entire audience burst out laughing while jumping and cheering.

“Is it my imagination, or does she sometimes sound very passive-aggressive?” Alan asked aloud from their sitting place atop their rebuilt house.

“She has always been like that,” Amelia said, half-smiling. “And we love her just the way she is.”

“I know this is a time for celebration, but we have not discussed yet what we are going to do next,” Ashley said by Alan’s side, causing him to fold his arms.

“Yeah, we haven’t talked about that yet. What to do?”

“I think it’s pretty obvious,” Amelia added. “We can’t stay here. If the Singular attacks us again, it would undo this city’s progress. We should move to another, higher-level city. One where its citizens can defend themselves if another hell breaks loose.”

“I do not think that the Singular would try another full-front attack again,” Ashley replied. “They will be more careful next time.”

“If they even consider us a menace,” Alan said, without taking his eyes off the concert. “The Singular escaped knowing two things. They know Isabella I and II are actively pursuing them, after all this time, and it doesn’t matter if I contact other Administrators, we Phantom Seekers won’t reveal this information to the public. We are in some kind of stalemate. They’ll continue doing their thing and leave us alone for the moment, and as long as we don’t push their buttons too much, we won’t have to worry about them pestering us for the time being.”

“A stalemate, huh?” Amelia sighed. “That would actually help us. We could go on the offensive next time.”

“Are you kidding me? I’m still at the lowest level in all The Novus. I don’t feel prepared in the slightest.”

“Well, you’re Alan ‘Problem Fixer’ Warden. I think you’re doing great.”

“What’s with that surname?”

“I came up with it!” Clara Dominguez shouted enthusiastically behind them, jolting him.

“Holy Space Jeezus! What are you doing here?!”

“How rude! Is that how you receive the new member of Phantom Seekers?!”

“Pardon me?”

“I accepted her solicitude,” Amelia said, giving Alan an apologetic smile. “She helped us a lot during the fight, didn’t she?”

Alan grimaced. “Request denied by the Guild Master.”

“W-what?! Why?!” Clara cried.

“For being too noisy. That’s my job.”

“True, you two act alike…” Amelia said, looking away.

“Why don’t you say that to our face?!” Alan and Clara cried in unison

“Fine, on one condition.” Alan pointed at the Marco Souza lookalike, waving at the group from behind his master. “Get rid of him.”

“Denied!” Clara spat at every word. “He’s my current soulmate!”

“Change his face then. Now.”

“Never! Such perfectness shall be preserved.”

“Why do you want to join us, anyway? Didn’t you say that you suck at fighting? Admit it, you haven’t even unlocked your Unique Skill yet, that’s why you didn’t help the NPCs restrain the ‘affected’.”

“I’m not going to confirm or deny that. Besides, my job won’t demand any physical confrontation.” She made her drone camera appear. “I’m your official camerawoman!”

“Alan,” Ashley called, in a soft tone of voice. “Having someone with the ability to record at any time could be of help to our mission.”

“F-fine,” he said, wrinkling his nose. “But just because my co-co-leader says so.”

“Yay! You won’t regret it, boss!” Clara dashed to hug him, but immediately backed off after glancing at Amelia. “Oh, sorry. I know my boundaries, okay?”

“Hmm? What are you talking about?” Amelia asked, half-smiling.

“Oh, please. Everyone in New Unus City knows about you two.”

“What do you…?”

Clara unzipped her jacket, revealing a t-shirt with a printed photo of Amelia on her Super Form, kissing Alan. “I made a little fortune selling this.”

“Sorry Alan, I’ll kick her out of the guild myself.”

“You don’t have to worry about me stealing your boyfriend, friend,” Clara said, elbowing her playfully. “Why would I settle with an ordinary man, when I already have the fastest hips on this side of The Novus.” Clara pointed at her NPC, who gave a thumbs up from a distance.

“G-gross!” Amelia cried.

“Clara, tell us the truth and you can stay,” Alan continued. “You don’t want to work as a mayor anymore because the city has become bigger, right? That would mean more work for you.”

“L-look! Miss Cosmica is flashing her boobs!”

“No way!” Amelia and Alan turned their gaze to the concert at the same time, but the enormous digital screen above her stage showed her dancing and singing fully clothed.

“She got away, Master,” Anastasia informed.

“Well, I don’t see a problem in her joining us,” Bella said in a gentle, big-sister-like tone. “She’s quite nice.”

“Oh, sister, you say that because you haven’t worked for her,” Anastasia replied, repeating the same tone of voice, smiling. “She can be quite problematic sometimes.”

“I see. I’ll be careful when approaching her in the near future, sister, tee-hee.”

What the hell is going out back there? Alan thought, watching the NPCs. “Amelia, do you really think I behave like her?”

“Alan, dear, if you suddenly turned into a woman, I could not tell you both apart.”

“Wait, no, no, no. Clara acts a little crazier than me. I’m not that clownish. Am I?”

“You’re right. I would describe you more as a lovable oaf. Is that better?”

As both talked, Ashley stared at their intertwined hands.

***

“Excuse me,” Alan said, squinting. A speechless Amelia was sitting beside him. “Could you repeat that, please?”

The idol in front of them folded her arms and leaned back in her seat. “I want to sponsor your guild, Alan Warden. That’s why I bother coming here in the first place.”