After finishing their ridiculous amount of desserts (Vastarael insisted on trying everything glowing just to "verify its safety"), the two slipped back into the bustling streets with their fingers laced together. Phaenora swung their joined hands playfully.
"Alright, Veneri. This is officially a date."
"Was it not already?"
"No. The moment you stole half my dessert, it became a date."
"Then yes. It's a date."
Their first stop was a towering dome tucked between two skyscrapers. Vastarael stepped inside first and froze. He saw a whole garden was blooming under the artificial ceiling. Trees with neon-veined leaves, flowers that emitted programmable scents and glowing vines creeping across clear digital mesh. Above them, the ceiling projected a field of stars that shimmered softly whenever someone walked.
Phaenora stepped beside him, grinning.
"Kind of crazy, right? Lower Rise aesthetic is wild."
"I've only ever seen Upper Rise's public gardens but this one feels alive."
Phaenora nudged him. "It's not meant to be perfect. It's meant to feel lived in. That's the charm."
They walked slowly through the paths. Vastarael reached out and brushed his fingers along a flower. It flickered purple to pink to blue, reacting to his touch. He turned to Phaenora.
"Phae… look."
He cupped the glowing bloom gently. It responded again, this time shifting into a warm gold. Phaenora leaned in, watching its light reflecting in her glitch-hidden eyes.
"That's… beautiful."
"It is."
But he... she wasn't looking at the flower anymore. Phaenora's cheeks warmed. It was not visibly, but Vastarael felt it through her hand in his. She cleared her throat aggressively.
"NEXT. We're not staying here long or I'll explode."
"Romantic overload?"
"Don't push your luck, rich boy."
Lower Rise's most chaotic (and adorable) location was the vast stretch of transparent platforms stacked at odd heights, full of vendors selling everything from glowing desserts to augmented accessories. Vastarael tugged Phaenora toward a stall selling custom emotion-light pendants.
"You pick one for the date."
Phaenora scanned the table until she spotted a tiny pendant shaped like a shard of sapphire crystal. Her lips curled knowingly.
"Weird that there's a crystal almost similar to your own."
The merchant bounced up excitedly.
"These pendants change color based on your emotional state! Couples love them—"
Phaenora slapped the payment down instantly. "Say no more."
She clipped the sapphire light to Vastarael's cloak. It glowed the brightest soft blue. Phaenora narrowed her eyes.
"Blue is calm, you know."
He shrugged. "I'm calm."
"Are you calm or are you panicking about holding hands with me in public?"
Vastarael coughed violently. "Phaenora—"
She cackled loudly. Several passersby smiled at them upon seeing the scene.
Their next stop was the largest hovering platform in Lower Rise, which was a massive spiral track where people raced sleek digital hoverboards.
Phaenora's eyes sparkled.
"Veneri. We are doing this."
"Is it safe?"
"Nope."
"Let's do it."
They rented two boards. Phaenora picked a silver one with neon streaks, Vastarael somehow picked the most elegant blue model on the rack without even trying. Once they stepped on, the boards lifted them softly. Phaenora leaned over hers like she was born for this.
"Try to keep up, princess."
Vastarael pushed off. Immediately, he shot past her like a comet.
"WHAT, VENERI?"
"You said 'keep up.' I decided not to!"
Phaenora burst out laughing. "You show-off!"
The race was pure chaos. Phaenora nearly crashed into a soft barrier twice, Vastarael found himself spinning midair because he leaned too far and at one point Phaenora reached over mid-flight and grabbed his waist, pulling them into a double-board glide that made nearby teenagers scream in excitement. When they finally stopped, both were breathless and laughing uncontrollably.
"I haven't laughed like that in years," Vastarael said, wiping his feminine eyes.
"Then today was worth it."
Their last stop wasn't fancy, just a long alley filled with thousands of floating umbrellas drifting overhead. The colors shifted slowly, reflecting off the metallic walls. Couples strolled beneath them. Phaenora and Vastarael walked quietly at first, hand in hand. Vastarael's disguise flickered a little. He was still a woman, but the lighting made her features glow in a gentle way.
Phaenora looked at her and spoke softly.
"You're… really beautiful, you know."
"Objectively speaking, that's my Boon."
"No." She squeezed his hand. "That's just you."
Vastarael stopped walking.
"Veneri?"
"Phae, thank you for dragging me around today. I didn't know how much I needed this, considering the chaos the world is in."
"Hey, you deserved a day that wasn't politics or crises."
He exhaled deeply and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Yeah… with you."
They stood there for a long time, watching the umbrellas drifting, warm lights flickering with Lower Rise bustling around them but for that moment, everything felt quiet.
"Veneri?"
"Mm?"
"Same-sex relationships being normal in Spheraphase doesn't excuse you from buying your date dessert."
Vastarael laughed. "Fine. One glowing cheesecake."
"And a drink."
"And a drink."
"And a waffle tower."
"That's too much even for you—"
"Veneri."
"Fine. The waffle tower too. Seriously, even though I'm rich doesn't mean I get to waste money that much.."
She kissed his cheek lightly.
"Best. Date. Ever."
And under the drifting lights of Lower Rise, Vastarael had to admit that it was. Well, in her scenario.