Aisa room
Steam danced in the bathroom, curling in soft waves around Aisa's bare shoulders as she sank deeper into the warm water. It was quiet—peaceful, even—until...
Bzzzt. Bzzzt.
"Hm?" Aisa leaned forward, water sloshing gently. Her phone buzzed atop the nearby shelf. She wiped her hand, reached over, and froze the moment she saw the caller ID.
[Ryker Calling]
"Ehh?! R-Ryker?!"
Her cheeks instantly flushed a soft pink.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she tapped the screen.
"Ah, h-hello?"
Ryker's voice came through the speaker—deep, composed, and calm as always.
"Hm. Aisa. Are you free today?"
"Huh?" she blinked. "Free…?"
Why is he asking me like that…? Wait—wait—is this—
"Aisa?"
His voice snapped her from her thoughts.
"Y-Yes! I'm free!"
"Good," he said. "I need to buy some clothes. Sol's out on a date, and Celica's busy with work. So… if you're free, I want you to come and help."
Her heart thudded louder than the water dripping from her hair.
"Y-Yes! I'll come!"
"Alright. I'll send the location."
Click.
Aisa sat there in stunned silence, phone still pressed to her ear.
Then—
"H-h-he asked me out…?"
Her face turned crimson as she sank further into the tub, both hands covering her cheeks.
"Is this… is this our first date?!"
Later – In Front of the Mall
The sun was just overhead, casting a warm glow across the busy shopping district. Aisa stepped out of the car, her eyes immediately spotting the figure leaning casually against the pillar near the entrance.
Ryker.
He wore a navy-blue formal shirt with rolled sleeves, paired with sleek black pants. His silver watch glinted faintly in the light. Cool, calm, and sharp—like someone out of a fashion ad.
Aisa stopped in her tracks.
He's… he's so cool in formal clothes…
Her cheeks warmed again. She turned her face away, flustered.
"Hey, Aisa," he called.
She turned, trying not to trip over her own thoughts.
"H-hi," she said, voice softer than she meant.
Ryker tilted his head slightly. "What's wrong?"
"N-nothing!" she replied too quickly.
"If it's a problem, you don't have to come," he said flatly.
Her heart sank.
"N-No! I'm happy to be here!"
Ryker looked at her for a moment.
"…It's nothing to be that happy about," he said, looking away.
His words cut deeper than she expected.
Aisa looked down, biting her lip.
Even if it's nothing to him… it means everything to me.
At the Mall
The mall buzzed with weekend energy—couples walking hand in hand, laughter echoing from cafés, and bright displays lining the glass windows of each boutique.
Ryker and Aisa walked side by side, the crowd naturally parting around them.
Whispers followed wherever they went.
"Hey, aren't they…?"
"They look so good together."
"Such a perfect couple…"
"That guy's insanely handsome—wait, is she his girlfriend?"
Aisa blushed, pretending not to hear.
P-perfect couple? Me and Ryker?
She glanced at Ryker. Calm as ever. His expression unreadable.
Trying to shake off her fluster, she spoke.
"Ryker… what type of clothes do you love?"
He paused.
"…I don't really know," he admitted. "Usually, Sol or Celica choose my outfits."
Aisa tilted her head, pouting playfully.
"That's no good. You're a guy—you should know your own style."
She reached for his hand. "Come on, let's check this one!"
She didn't wait for his answer, pulling him gently into a nearby store.
"Try this!" Aisa held up a sharp, dark jacket and matching shirt.
Ryker raised an eyebrow but took it without argument.
A few minutes later, he stepped out of the changing room.
Aisa's breath caught in her throat.
He looks… amazing.
The fit, the color, the way his hair slightly curled over his collar—it was unfair how effortlessly cool he looked.
"…Aisa?"
"Huh?!" she blinked, caught staring.
"Should I try the next one?"
"Y-Yeah! Try it!"
One after another, Ryker tried different sets, and Aisa couldn't stop watching. But as he changed into the fifth outfit, her gaze wandered across the shop… and fell on it.
A light lavender one-piece with delicate embroidery. Feminine. Elegant. Beautiful.
Her eyes lit up for a moment.
Then she quickly looked away.
Ryker returned just then, catching the direction of her gaze.
"You like that dress?"
"Huh? N-no! I was just looking…"
He didn't say anything. A few minutes later, as they headed toward the exit, Ryker handed her a small bag.
"…Here."
Aisa blinked. "What's this?"
"The dress. You liked it, right?"
"I—Wait, Ryker, you didn't have to—"
"You gave me a gift on our Hokkaido trip," he said simply. "Said it was a thank you. This is mine."
She held the bag close to her chest, her heart pounding.
"There was no need for that…" she whispered.
"…I wanted to."
They stood in silence for a moment, the world fading into the background.
Aisa smiled softly.
Even if he doesn't say it in words… Ryker always knows how to make me feel special.
Aisa's Room
The soft evening light filtered through Aisa's curtains as she sat on her bed, her cheeks still tinged with pink.
In her hands was the lavender dress—still in its wrapping, still perfectly folded.
She hadn't changed out of her clothes yet. She hadn't even moved since returning home.
Her gaze was fixed on the gift.
"…This is… from Ryker," she whispered.
Carefully, like handling something sacred, she opened the packaging and gently pulled the dress out. The fabric shimmered slightly in the fading sunlight. Light. Soft. Beautiful.
She held it close to her chest, closing her eyes.
"Ahhh… Ryker… you idiot," she muttered with a flustered smile. "Why are you always like this?"
Then she stood, turned to her mirror, and held the dress up in front of her.
Her reflection stared back—a quiet girl with a loud heart.
"This is more than just a gift…" she murmured.
She hugged the dress tightly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"…I'll never lose this. No matter what."
And with that, she carefully placed it in her wardrobe—front and center—where it could never be forgotten.
The room was dim, light only by the moonlight seeping through the curtains.
Ryker sat on the edge of his bed, a glass of water in one hand, his phone in the other. He stared at the screen—no new messages.
He didn't know why he was expecting one.
"…She looked really happy," he muttered to himself, setting the glass down.
A memory flashed in his mind—Aisa pulling him by the hand, smiling as she held up clothes for him to try. Her soft voice, that gentle blush. The way she kept glancing at him when she thought he wasn't looking. Aisa happy
He leaned back, staring up at the ceiling.
Ryker turned his head toward his coat, now hanging on the wall.
"I… don't want to hurt her."
"…She really is a nice girl," he murmured to himself.
Kind. Pure. Honest.
Unlike him.
He leaned his forehead against the glass, sighing.
"She deserves someone better… someone not like me."
But even as he said that, he couldn't stop thinking about her. Her voice still echoed softly in his ears. Her warmth still lingered in his hand.
He closed his eyes for a moment.
If this world were kinder… I would have fallen for her completely.
A pause.
"…Maybe I already have."