[Jeanne Alter’s footsteps were light but carried a hint of stiffness.
Her fingers unconsciously tugged at her skirt hem as she looked around curiously, her clear eyes filled with the radiance of excitement.
She lingered among the rows of shops, letting out one exclamation of wonder after another.]
[“E-E-E-Eh—!
So this is what it’s like here.” She tilted her face slightly to look at the buildings on both sides, her gaze sweeping over the carved lintels and corridors.
She murmured softly with a hint of inquiry, “Building streets inside buildings—that’s what they call European style, right?”]
[As soon as she finished speaking, the corners of her lips curled up into a vivid and bright smile, her eyes curving into a beautiful arc.
She looked up at the dome above the commercial street and said in a coquettish, teasing tone, “Ah, a fake sky!
Thinking of such strange things—modern people are really idiots!”]
[Just after saying that, she seemed to suddenly realize something and froze.
Her cheeks quietly flushed a faint crimson, and her eyes dodged a bit as she hurriedly waved her hands to add, her tone becoming more flustered: “Eh, was ‘idiot’ rude?
No, I didn’t mean idiot…”]
[She lowered her eyelashes, fingers curling slightly, and hurriedly tried to fix it, her voice full of helplessness.
“I did say idiot—no, that’s not what I meant, it’s not like that?”]
[As Jeanne Alter spoke, she hurriedly looked away, her gaze quickly scanning the shops along the street.
She caught sight of the bright sign of an ice cream shop and, as if grabbing a lifeline, her eyes lit up.
Her tone instantly lightened as she changed the subject, her footsteps subconsciously moving toward the shop with a bit of urgency.]
[“Ice cream!
Instead of that, let’s eat ice cream!” She forced herself to look calm and natural on the surface, but ripples stirred quietly in her heart as her thoughts spread uncontrollably:…A date.
Although there were times we were alone together in the past, a situation like this, as expected, I haven’t experienced it before.]
[She walked slowly following Fujimaru Ritsuka, her gaze aimlessly falling on the passing pedestrians and the dazzling array of goods, but her footsteps were exceptionally gentle.
Thoughts turned over in her mind: Although I’ve been to many Singularities, places either filled with smoke or deserted, being in the bustling Odaiba of Tokyo like this, strolling side by side on a date so leisurely, as expected…]
[Jeanne Alter slightly turned her face, her peripheral vision quietly falling on Fujimaru Ritsuka walking beside her.
Her footsteps subconsciously slowed down, her fingers tightened slightly, and the thoughts in her heart continued to surge: When we first met, we were enemies—]
[She looked down at the tips of her shoes, her eyes, which usually had a sharp edge, now tinged with a bit of melancholy.
The voice in her heart didn’t stop: As the dragon witch, I certainly—]
[Images of their past confrontations flashed through her mind.
She unconsciously clenched her palms, her knuckles turning slightly white.
The words in her heart carried a bit of self-deprecation and emotion: All I thought about was burning you, killing you, things like that.
Treating you like a bothersome pebble on the side of the road, that kind of feeling.]
[She looked up slightly, took another quick glance at Fujimaru Ritsuka, and then quickly lowered her eyes again.
A softness she hadn’t even noticed herself lingered at the corners of her mouth, her heart full of disbelief: And now, we’re actually on a date in Odaiba?]
[Jeanne Alter paused slightly, looking at the bustling scene of people coming and going.
Her eyes were full of a daze, and the voice in her heart carried a bit of confusion and relief: Of course, I never even thought about it.
At the beginning, it really was like this; I didn’t have even a tiny bit of imagination for it.]
[She started walking again, side by side with Fujimaru Ritsuka.
A breeze brushed past her hair, bringing a hint of sweetness.
The thoughts in her heart gradually became soft: But…
recently, actually, yes, I have thought about it a little bit.
Looking at all the electronic data in Chaldea, modern fashion magazines and such too.]
[Her cheeks were quietly tinged with a thin layer of red, and a hint of shyness flickered in her eyes.
Her heart was full of a young girl’s tender thoughts: Yes, I’ve thought, “This place is quite good—that place is also quite nice.” I’ve fantasized about many scenes, including Odaiba.
But…]
[Jeanne Alter held the Gelato in her hand, her fingertips trembling slightly from the cool touch.
She turned her head slightly to look at Fujimaru Ritsuka beside her, her eyes carrying a hint of subtle testing and nervousness, and asked softly: “How does the Gelato taste?
Is it good?” Hearing this, Fujimaru Ritsuka turned his face and smiled, throwing the question back.]
[She was startled, her fingers holding the ice cream pausing for a moment.
Panic flashed in her eyes, but she quickly looked away, forcing a composed and casual smile.
Her tone carried a bit of forced nonchalance: “Eh, you’re asking me?
Well, it’s fine, not bad, it’s very sweet.” As she spoke, she hurriedly added another sentence, as if to prove her point, though her eyes were a bit shifty: “It’s cold and sweet, isn’t it?”]
[She lowered her head and took a small bite of the ice cream.
The icy touch melted on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t taste its true flavor at all.
Her heart was full of helplessness and annoyance:…Ah, this won’t do.]
[Jeanne Alter lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly to hide the panic within.
The voice in her heart was full of anxiety: To be honest, because my heart is filled with all sorts of thoughts, just acting like usual has already consumed all my energy.
I have no idea what I’m eating, whether the food has any taste, I don’t feel anything at all.
When you asked me like that, I just involuntarily said ‘it’s good’.]
[She frowned slightly, her heart full of frustration and self-blame, her fingers unconsciously stroking the ice cream cone: Even though I’ve looked at magazines so many times and simulated it in my head so many times, it still doesn’t work.
None of it is useful.]
[She looked at the calm and composed Fujimaru Ritsuka beside her, the unease in her heart growing stronger, her brow furrowing deeper: Neither trends nor strategies work.
How exactly do you go on a proper date?
I have no idea…]
[She quietly looked up, quickly checking her clothes, then hurriedly lowered her head, her fingers curling slightly.
Her heart was full of apprehension and confusion: —Am I performing well?
Do I look like a girl who is enjoying a date?
Am I properly playing the role of a modern girl?…Ah, it’s really hard.]
[Jeanne Alter sighed softly, her brow tinged with weariness and helplessness.
The decisiveness and efficiency she once had on the battlefield were gone, and her heart was full of confusion: In comparison, fighting in a singularity is much easier.
At least I know what I’m supposed to do.
How to burn, how to pierce, how to kill—I know it all.
To let you win, I know what I should do.
Usually, I wouldn’t have any hesitation, but now, it’s not working.
I don’t know, right now, I don’t know anything—]
[Jeanne Alter slowly turned her head and looked fixedly at Fujimaru Ritsuka beside her.
The panic and helplessness from before had faded from her eyes, leaving only a hint of soft tenderness.
Her lips moved slightly, but nothing came out.
The emotions in her heart surged even more violently.
But, but, probably, if I’m with you like this, then I will definitely…]
[Her gaze fell tenderly on Fujimaru Ritsuka, and the corners of her lips unconsciously curled into a faint smile.
Her eyes were full of clear tenderness.
All the sharpness and edge of the past had turned into soft affection.
Her heart was full of certainty and attachment: Whether it’s eating Gelato together, or looking at clothes and wandering around together, whether it’s fighting hard in a singularity or watching your shy expression, I must—]
[Jeanne Alter looked at Fujimaru Ritsuka’s profile, a faint blush on her cheeks, her eyes full of unmistakable tenderness and joy.
The voice in her heart carried absolute determination and passion:…be in love with all of this.]