Weekend morning sunlight filtered softly through Hina’s curtains.
She stirred in bed, half-asleep, and lazily reached for her phone.
“…So early…”
She squinted at the screen, then buried herself back into her pillow.
“It’s the weekend… I can sleep a little more…”
Just as she was about to drift off again, her eyes suddenly snapped open.
She sat upright.
“…Wait.”
A second later—
“THE AMUSEMENT PARK!”
Panic instantly replaced sleepiness.
Hina rushed out of bed, nearly tripping over her blanket.
“No, no, no—I’m late!”
She quickly got ready, showered, and stood fresh in front of the mirror, holding two outfits.
One was soft, cozy, and adorable.
The other was elegant, graceful, and beautiful.
“Which one…?”
She kept comparing them.
“This one?
No… maybe this…”
“Hina!” her aunt called from outside.
Hina opened her door.
“Coming—”
She froze.
Standing beside her aunt was Ryu.
“…Ryu?”
Her aunt smiled.
“He was waiting outside, so I invited him inside.”
Hina blinked.
“Early?
But there’s still so much time.”
Ryu scratched his cheek and laughed nervously.
“I… may have come a little too early.”
As their eyes met, Hina’s power activated.
His emotions flowed into her senses.
Nervousness.
Excitement.
Anticipation.
A faint warmth shimmered in his emotions, making her eyes glow slightly.
A small smile appeared on Hina’s lips.
Her aunt grinned.
“Why don’t you two talk in your room?”
A few minutes later, Ryu sat awkwardly in Hina’s room while she held up both outfits.
“So… which one should I wear?”
Ryu looked up.
Then froze.
Both outfits suited her.
Too well.
His ears slightly turned red.
Hina noticed the shift in his emotions immediately.
Her eyes shimmered again.
She caught his emotions.
Embarrassment.
Admiration.
Tender affection.
She tilted her head.
“Ryu?”
He jolted.
“H-Huh?”
“Which one?”
Ryu cleared his throat.
“The… elegant one.”
“This one?”
“…Yeah.”
“Why?”
Ryu looked away.
“It suits you.”
Hina smiled softly.
“Okay.”
She pointed at the door.
“Now go outside.”
Ryu blinked.
“Why?”
“So I can change.”
“…Right.”
After several minutes, Hina came out of her room.
She stepped into the living room.
Ryu turned—
And forgot how to breathe.
She looked stunning.
The elegant outfit complemented her perfectly, making her natural beauty even more radiant.
His heartbeat slammed against his chest.
Fast.
Too fast.
He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
His throat felt dry.
“Hina…”
She stepped closer.
“How do I look?”
No response.
“Ryu?”
Still nothing.
She waved a hand in front of his face.
“Hello?”
He finally snapped back.
“Huh?!”
“How do I look?”
Their eyes met.
Her ability activated.
Shock.
Admiration.
Overwhelming fondness.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Ryu stammered.
“You… you look really beautiful.”
A faint blush crept over his cheeks.
Hina blinked.
Then smiled.
“Thank you.”
Soon, they headed to the amusement park together.
The entire day passed like a dream.
They played arcade games.
Shared snacks.
Tried claw machines.
Wore matching headbands.
Even took silly photo booth pictures.
At one game booth, they sat in the same racing car.
“Don’t lose,” Hina teased.
Ryu smirked.
“Watch me win.”
Seconds later—
Hina overtook him.
Ryu stared.
“…Impossible.”
Hina giggled.
“I won.”
“That was rigged.”
“It wasn’t.”
“It definitely was.”
She laughed harder.
By evening, both were tired but happy.
They sat together on a bench, eating ice-cream while watching the golden sky slowly dim.
A comfortable silence settled between them.
Then Ryu spoke.
“Hina… do you know what my favorite flower is?”
She turned.
“No.
What is it?”
“Sunflowers.”
Hina smiled.
“Why?”
Ryu looked toward the sky.
“You know how sunflowers always turn toward the sun?”
Hina nodded.
“Yes.”
“I always loved that.”
His voice softened.
“They keep facing the one thing that gives them warmth.”
Hina listened quietly.
Ryu continued.
“When I was younger… I used to think…”
He smiled faintly.
“I wish I could find someone like that too.”
“Someone?”
“A sunshine.”
Hina blinked.
“A sunshine?”
He nodded.
“Someone whose presence naturally makes everything brighter.”
Hina smiled.
“That sounds romantic.”
Ryu chuckled softly.
“It does.”
Then he looked at her.
Directly.
Warmly.
And said—
“I think I’ve found my sunshine girl.”
Hina froze.
“Really?!”
She exclaimed.
A tiny smile formed on her lips.
“So… you have a girlfriend?”
Ryu laughed.
“No.”
“Then… a crush?”
“Yep.”
Hina leaned slightly forward.
“Who is she?”
Ryu smiled mischievously.
“Guess.”
Hina thought.
“Yui?”
Ryu stared.
“…What?”
She looked serious.
“Is it Yui?”
Ryu nearly choked.
“Absolutely not.”
Hina giggled.
“Then who?”
Ryu shook his head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because this is a secret.”
“But tell me.”
“No.”
“Please?”
He smiled.
“You’ll have to find out yourself.”
Hina pouted slightly.
“That’s unfair.”
Their eyes met again.
And instantly—
Her power activated.
This time, the emotions pouring from Ryu were stronger than ever.
Tenderness.
Warmth.
Affection.
Longing.
Devotion.
Her eyes widened slightly.
She could feel everything.
But somehow…
She still couldn’t understand who he was talking about.
Ryu noticed her expression and spoke softly.
A gentle smile touched his lips.
“You’ll figure it out someday.”
Hina whispered,
“How?”
Ryu’s smile grew softer.
“Try looking properly.”
He held her gaze.
“If you find her… you’ll understand.”
Hina stared at him.
Still confused.
Still searching.
Then, slowly, a smile spread across her face-
Soft, warm, and bright enough to change the atmosphere around them.
A smile that felt like sunlight itself.
“Okay,” she said gently.
“Then I’ll find it.”
Ryu smiled back.
“I’ll wait.”
Under the fading evening sky, they smiled at each other—
Warmly.
Softly.
But far from them—
Someone was watching.
A tall figure stood in the distance, half-hidden in the shadows.
Black hair.
Dark red eyes behind a pair of glasses.
His gaze remained fixed on the two of them.
Then, slowly, a faint smirk curved on his lips.
There was something deeply unsettling about him.
Something cold.
Something mysterious.
An eerie aura surrounded him—
As if danger itself had begun drawing closer.
End of Chapter 16.