Shin couldn’t stand it anymore. The persistent sensation of being watched had been gnawing at him ever since he and Lireina had sat down for dinner. Every now and then, he could feel a pair of eyes lingering on him from across the restaurant, like an invisible weight pressing against the back of his neck. The warm glow of the rooftop restaurant, the gentle melodies of the orchestra, and even Lireina’s company were no longer enough to distract him from the growing unease.
The blonde man was still there.
Watching. Judging. Waiting.
Shin finally decided that ignoring the problem would only make it worse.
“I’m sorry, Lena. I need a second,” Shin said, forcing a calm smile despite the tension creeping beneath his skin.
“Sure. Take as much time as you want,” Lireina replied casually.
She raised a hand to call for a waiter before turning her attention back to the menu. Moments later, she ordered a second plate of cheesy vegetable fries, apparently completely unconcerned by whatever was bothering him. The faint scent of melted cheese and roasted vegetables drifted from nearby tables as the waitstaff moved through the restaurant with practiced grace.
Shin pushed his chair back and stood. The legs scraped softly against the polished floor before being swallowed by the soothing violin performance echoing throughout the rooftop venue. He walked toward the direction of the blonde man, his expression carefully neutral.
Halfway there, he suddenly stopped.
He cleared his throat.
Adjusted the collar of his coat.
Then, without another glance, he veered toward the lavatory.
The blonde man immediately followed.
As soon as Shin entered the restroom, he approached one of the marble sinks and turned on the faucet. Crystal-clear water rushed into the basin with a steady hiss. He deliberately let it continue running. Lireina’s hearing was frighteningly sharp, and even with the orchestra playing outside, he had no intention of risking her overhearing a conversation she was never supposed to hear.
The cool water flowed over his hands while the restroom's polished mirrors reflected the bright overhead lights. A faint scent of soap and citrus cleaning products lingered in the air.
Aether stepped inside moments later.
The door clicked shut behind him.
“Bloody hell, Mister Rebellium,” Aether said with a crooked smirk. “You’re with the Untouchable Windwalker?”
“Our first date,” Shin answered flatly, not even looking at him. Water streamed between his fingers as he kept his attention fixed on the sink. “Did Adzeel send you?”
“No. I’m here of my own volition.” Aether leaned casually against the wall, folding his arms. “Pure coincidence, really. I spotted you on the street earlier and got curious about what you were doing.”
Shin finally raised his eyes to meet Aether’s reflection in the mirror.
“I can assure you,” he said calmly, “my loyalty belongs to the Iron Bandits. Me being with Lireina will not hinder our plans.”
“Playing double agent, huh?”
Aether chuckled softly.
The sound carried a mixture of amusement and disbelief.
“That’s a bold and risky move you’re playing.” His smirk widened. “Though I can see the rewards outweighing the costs. Don’t mind me. I’m not going to be an obstacle to your romance.”
He paused before adding,
“Just be careful.”
“You don’t need to tell me.”
Shin reached for a towel, drying his hands with measured movements. The rough fabric brushed against his skin before he discarded it into a nearby basket. Without another word, he turned away from the sink and headed for the exit.
The cool night air greeted him as he stepped back onto the rooftop.
Immediately, the atmosphere felt lighter.
The orchestra continued performing beneath strings of golden lights suspended overhead. Violins sang gentle melodies while the distant city skyline glittered beneath the stars. A pleasant evening breeze carried the fragrance of flowers from the rooftop gardens and the aroma of freshly prepared food from the restaurant.
At their table, Lireina seemed completely absorbed in the performance.
She sat with her chin resting on one hand while absentmindedly placing fries into her mouth. Her emerald-green eyes followed the musicians as they played, and the soft lighting accentuated the golden strands of her hair.
For a moment, Shin forgot about Aether entirely.
“I’m back,” Shin said with a smile as he returned to his seat.
Lireina turned toward him.
“So…” she began.
A smug expression slowly spread across her face.
“What’s with that guy’s deal?”
Her green eyes locked onto his.
Shin felt a chill run down his spine. It was the same look she wore whenever she knew something he didn’t.
“H-How did you know?” he muttered.
“That guy has been staring at you even before I came here, right?” Lireina said matter-of-factly.
She grabbed another fry and pointed it toward him accusingly.
“I noticed it right away when I arrived.”
Shin blinked.
Of course she had.
“He didn’t seem to be doing anything scary, so I just let him be.” She shrugged before tilting her head slightly. “But now that you confronted him, I won’t pry any further.”
The way she said it somehow made Shin even more nervous.
Just because she wouldn't pry didn't mean she hadn't already figured out half the truth.
“Just a guy from work. Nothing serious,” Shin replied.
The lie came out smoothly enough, but he immediately sought a safer topic before his own tongue betrayed him.
Fortunately, he noticed that Lireina had already finished the last of her fries. The empty plate sat before her, save for a few scattered crumbs and streaks of melted cheese.
An idea came to him instantly.
He stood and extended a hand toward her.
“Shall we walk around the rooftop gardens?”
The smugness on Lireina’s face softened into curiosity. Behind her, the orchestra reached the climax of its song, strings rising into a beautiful crescendo as the night breeze gently stirred her hair.
“Okay,” Lireina said, taking Shin’s hand without hesitation.
Her fingers were warm and light in his grasp, and the simple contact sent a strange jolt through his chest as he guided her upstairs.
The path opened into a grand rooftop garden, a quiet space suspended above the city like a hidden sanctuary. Soft lights shimmered along the railings, illuminating rows of carefully tended flowers and trimmed hedges. A handful of couples wandered between the pathways or stood near the edge in hushed conversation, all of them gazing out at the sea of city lights below. In the distance, a pianist played a gentle melody that drifted through the air like a lullaby, giving the whole place a dreamlike calm.
“Wow! Are those Queen of the Night?” Lireina gasped, her eyes widening as she leaned toward the white flowers. “They’re beautiful!”
Shin didn’t know the first thing about plants, but he knew exactly how to steer a conversation into his favor. He glanced at her instead of the flowers, letting his lips curl into an easy smile.
“They’re not as beautiful as you, though.”
The effect was immediate. Lireina’s cheeks tinted pink, and her ears gave a small twitch before flattening slightly in embarrassment. She shot him a pout, though it lacked any real sting.
“Jeez, Shin,” she mumbled.
“That’s true, though,” he added, his voice smooth and confident. “You’re so alluring and elegant, especially tonight.”
Lireina shifted, suddenly shy under his attention. She lightly twirled a lock of her golden hair around her finger, the motion delicate and nervous all at once. “W-Well… Croft helped me pick this dress. Do you like it?”
Shin let his gaze travel over her white and red dress, taking in the way it fit her figure and emphasized both her graceful posture and long legs. The fabric caught the soft rooftop lights, making her look almost radiant against the night skyline.
“I love it,” he said. “But it’s not really about the dress. It’s the one carrying it.”
That was strike three.
Lireina’s heart was pounding fast enough that she could feel it in her throat, and the warmth in her face only deepened. Her breathing came a little heavier now, though she seemed more flustered than offended. With a flurry of embarrassed frustration, she hammered Shin’s chest over and over with careful little punches, clearly putting effort into making sure she never actually hurt him.
“Hahaha,” Shin laughed, clearly pleased with himself.
He led her toward a bench placed near the edge of the garden, where the breeze was strongest and the view stretched endlessly over the city. They sat side by side, letting the quiet settle around them. The wind moved over Lireina’s hair, lifting her golden strands and sending them fluttering like a flag in the night air. For a brief moment, both of them simply relaxed and listened to the pianist’s soft notes drifting through the garden.
Shin stretched his arms and leaned back with a long breath. “This right here… it’s like a dream come true.”
“Huh?” Lireina tilted her head, her expression soft and curious.
“I mean, I always dreamed of asking you on a date,” Shin admitted. “I never actually thought you’d accept my invasion, though.”
Lireina gave a small, bashful smile and twirled her hair again. “W-Well… you saved me. So it’s the least I can do.”
“I’m glad you think I saved you, even though your Autonomous Evasion skill made my heroic act kind of pointless, haha.”
“Not really.” Lireina shook her head slowly, her smile turning gentler. Then she looked at him with a sincerity that made his chest tighten. “You proved your bravery and worth during that time. That is all enough for me.”
She brought a hand to her chest and closed her eyes, looking almost reverent for a moment.
Shin stared at her, stunned by the purity of that expression. He could hardly believe it. His heart felt as if it were singing praises, swelling with something far too deep and bright to name properly. They always said never to meet your heroes, but for Shin, Lireina was not merely a heroine.
She was his goddess.
He turned toward her, and the shift in his expression made Lireina tense up at once. After all, Shin had suddenly gone serious.
“Do you…” Shin swallowed hard, the words seeming to catch in his throat for a beat before he forced them out. “Do you remember me?”