After breakfast, Jasper and Serena lazily sprawled across the large metallic sofa in the living room, relaxing in the artificial sunlight filtering through the holographic sky panels.
Meanwhile, in the control room, Sienna was back at work.
She sat at the central holographic navigation console, her fingers gliding across the transparent digital panel as she checked the ship's current course.
Her silver eyes scanned the trajectory map.
They were en route to Shinobi Trade Expanse Station—a massive intergalactic hub near Universe 15A's Land of Blaze.
But something caught her attention.
Blaze's space trajectory… was ending at the trade station.
Sienna frowned slightly.
Why was Blaze there?
It was a merchant hub, not a battleground.
Had he gone into hiding? Was he meeting someone? Was he planning to take a smuggling job to leave the system?
Her fingers moved quickly, analyzing every bit of data.
More than 35 hours until arrival.
She exhaled, a small sigh of relief.
Plenty of time.
But… at the same time, not enough.
And then—
A sudden flicker on the screen.
A holographic transmission request.
The emblem of Hyperion Defenders appeared, and her heart immediately tensed.
She straightened her posture, inhaled sharply, and accepted the transmission.
The holographic screen flickered to life, and suddenly—
A tall, imposing figure with piercing golden eyes and an icy, furious expression appeared.
Commander Sudipto.
Her squad in-charge.
And he was not happy.
"Sienna."
His voice was sharp. Unforgiving.
Sienna immediately stood at attention, her back straight, her hands behind her back in a professional stance.
"Commander," she greeted respectfully.
Sudipto's gaze hardened.
"You are very, very late."
Sienna opened her mouth to explain—
But he cut her off instantly.
"Your data collection mission in Shinobi Verse 15A was scheduled for completion in 72 hours. You are now 30 hours overdue."
Sienna's heart tightened.
"Sir, I—"
"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA," he barked, his voice booming through the control room, "how many times Group 7 from Blaze Village has contacted me, waiting at the trade station?! Their squad leader has called me AGAIN AND AGAIN, asking why my agent hasn't arrived!"
Sienna flinched slightly but kept her composure.
She tried again. "Commander, I can—"
Sudipto's voice thundered over her words.
"You have the best spacecraft in HD—Silverstar. A ship that could have completed this trip in TWO HOURS. And yet—YOU TOOK 30 EXTRA HOURS."
Sienna's throat tightened.
She knew.
She knew exactly why.
Because she had lowered the engine speed.
Because she had wanted to spend time with Jasper.
Because, for the first time, she had let herself choose personal emotions over duty.
And now?
Now she was paying the price.
"For the first time ever," Sudipto continued, his golden eyes flaring with disappointment, "you are failing in your duty."
Sienna felt her heart ache.
She had never been scolded like this.
Not once.
She had always been perfect.
Always followed orders.
Always delivered results on time.
But now—
She had let herself become distracted.
And she had no excuse.
For the next thirty minutes, Sudipto unleashed his full frustration on her.
Each word hit like a hammer.
She just stood there, taking it, not arguing, not defending herself.
She deserved it.
And she knew it.
By the time Sudipto was done, his voice lowered to a cold, final warning.
"You get ONE more mistake, Sienna. Just one. If this happens again—you will be suspended."
The transmission cut out.
Silence filled the room.
Sienna exhaled shakily, blinking quickly, wiping away the small tears that had formed in her eyes.
She didn't cry.
She never cried.
But for the first time—
She felt something break inside.
And then—
"Hey."
A voice.
She turned.
Jasper stood at the entrance of the control room, arms crossed, watching her carefully.
His usual smirk? Gone.
His teasing? Nowhere in sight.
His light blue eyes scanned her face, and for the first time—
She saw something she hadn't before.
Something like… concern.
"You okay?" he asked, voice lower than usual.
Sienna quickly composed herself, straightening her posture. "We will reach the station in two hours. Just wait a little longer."
Jasper narrowed his eyes slightly.
He wasn't stupid.
He had heard enough to know something was wrong.
But he didn't push.
Not yet.
"...Alright," he said finally, stepping back.
Sienna turned back to the controls, but inside—
She felt unsteady.
And for the first time—
She wasn't sure what to do about it.
The Silverstar's control room was silent except for the faint hum of the ship's navigation systems. The holographic interface flickered softly, displaying the countdown to their destination—2 hours until arrival at Shinobi Trade Expanse Station.
Sienna remained seated at the helm, her posture perfectly composed, her fingers lightly tapping across the controls.
But Jasper wasn't buying it.
He had stood in the doorway for over a minute, watching her, arms crossed.
Sienna was acting as if nothing had happened. As if she hadn't just been verbally annihilated by her commander. As if she wasn't just wiping her eyes a few moments ago.
Her hands moved precisely over the controls, but there was no energy behind them.
Her shoulders were relaxed, but too relaxed, as if she were trying to force herself to seem unaffected.
Her breathing was steady, but Jasper wasn't an idiot.
She had just been shouted at for half an hour like a rookie who had made a fatal mistake.
And she was pretending it didn't affect her.
Jasper sighed, pushing off the doorway and stepping further inside.
"You know," he said casually, walking up beside her, "I don't really like people yelling at me."
Sienna didn't look at him. "Then you must dislike authority figures."
Jasper smirked slightly. "Nah. I just don't listen to them."
Sienna continued typing. "That explains a lot."
Jasper leaned on the side of the console, tilting his head slightly as he watched her work. "But you? You do listen to them."
Sienna remained silent.
Jasper's smirk faded a little. "That's why this one hit different, huh?"
Her fingers hesitated for half a second before continuing.
Jasper caught it.
Bingo.
Sienna remained focused on the screen. "I am an HD agent. I follow orders."
Jasper nodded slowly. "Right. And you just got told you're failing at that."
Sienna's hands paused slightly before resuming. "...Yes."
Jasper watched her for a moment before sighing, running a hand through his messy green hair.
"Look, I get it," he admitted. "You're used to being the perfect one. The one who never screws up, never gets in trouble. The one who follows every rule and gets things done on time."
Sienna's silver eyes remained on the screen. "...That is correct."
Jasper gave a small nod. "Yeah. And today? You weren't that person."
Sienna tensed.
Just for a second.
But Jasper saw it.
"You slowed down the ship," he continued. "On purpose."
Sienna didn't reply.
Jasper let out a small breath, shaking his head. "You don't have to say it. I already know."
Sienna exhaled softly. "...It was my choice."
Jasper raised an eyebrow. "So? Why does it bother you this much?"
Sienna's hands rested lightly on the console. "...Because I have never chosen personal feelings over my duty before."
Jasper leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the control panel. "And what? Now you feel like you're losing control?"
Sienna's silver eyes flickered toward him for the first time since the conversation started.
"...Yes."
Jasper smirked slightly. "Told you. Perfectionist."
Sienna exhaled again, quiet but deep. "...Perhaps."
Jasper sat back, crossing his arms. "So, what now? You gonna reset? Pretend this never happened? Go back to being the 'perfect' agent again?"
Sienna stared at the screen for a moment.
Then—
"...No."
Jasper blinked.
That was unexpected.
Sienna's voice remained calm. "I don't regret my choice."
Jasper raised an eyebrow. "Even though you just got roasted for it?"
Sienna nodded. "Yes."
Jasper studied her expression carefully. She was composed, as always, but there was something different now.
A small shift.
Something she was still figuring out herself.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Jasper grinned, leaning back. "Damn, Sienna. You're getting rebellious."
Sienna glanced at him. "I would not go that far."
Jasper smirked. "Nah. You totally are."
Sienna didn't deny it.
And that was interesting.
Jasper wasn't the kind of guy to overthink things.
He didn't sit around analyzing emotions or trying to unravel deep, hidden meanings.
But right now—
He knew exactly what had happened.
Sienna had slowed down the ship because she wanted to spend more time here.
With him.
That was the truth she wasn't saying out loud.
And Jasper?
He wasn't stupid.
He knew what it meant.
But knowing and accepting it were two different things.
And right now?
He wasn't ready to accept it.
Not yet.
So instead, he smirked, leaning forward again. "So, does this mean you're officially a bad girl now?"
Sienna raised an eyebrow. "I am not sure what you mean."
Jasper grinned. "Well, you just disobeyed direct orders. You're breaking rules."
Sienna tilted her head slightly. "...If I am breaking rules, then what does that make you?"
Jasper chuckled. "Oh, sweetheart, I was never following them to begin with."
Sienna's lips twitched—not quite a smile, but close.
Jasper shook his head, sighing dramatically. "Man, I can't believe I'm corrupting an elite agent. What a tragedy."
Sienna blinked. "I do not believe you had any influence on my decision."
Jasper grinned. "Let me have my moment."
Sienna watched him for a second before nodding. "...Very well."
Jasper smirked. "That's more like it."
For now—
The conversation was over.
But the shift?
That small crack in Sienna's perfect walls?
It was still there.
And Jasper knew—
It wouldn't be the last.
The hum of the Silverstar's engines vibrated softly in the background, a steady rhythm that filled the otherwise quiet control room.
Jasper remained leaning against the console, arms crossed, a lazy smirk on his face after teasing Sienna about "becoming rebellious."
Sienna, however, hadn't looked away from the navigation panel.
She was still thinking.
Still processing.
And then—
She did something completely unexpected.
Without warning, Sienna turned completely toward him, stepping closer.
Jasper blinked, slightly surprised, but didn't move.
Sienna wasn't the type to initiate close distance.
Yet, here she was—standing right in front of him, her silver eyes locked onto his.
And then she spoke, her voice calm but firm.
"I slowed the ship down because I wanted to be with you longer."
Jasper froze.
For a brief second, his mind went completely blank.
It wasn't just what she said—
It was how she said it.
No hesitation.
No teasing.
No flustered emotions.
Just pure honesty.
Jasper, usually quick with a sarcastic comeback, found himself at a loss for words.
Sienna studied his expression for a moment before continuing.
"I was aware of my orders. I was aware of the consequences. And yet, I still made the decision to slow down," she admitted, her tone steady, unwavering.
Her silver eyes softened—just a little.
"Because I thought about you."
Jasper exhaled quietly, feeling a sudden, unfamiliar weight in his chest.
This wasn't like Serena's teasing.
This wasn't a game.
This was real.
And Jasper didn't like that.
Jasper quickly recovered, slipping back into his usual easygoing tone.
"Wow," he said, smirking. "So, what? You're saying I'm a distraction?"
Sienna didn't waver. "Yes."
Jasper's smirk faltered for a split second.
She wasn't playing.
He rubbed the back of his neck, letting out a short laugh. "Well, damn. Didn't know I had that effect on people."
Sienna tilted her head slightly. "You do."
Jasper blinked again.
Okay.
This was definitely not going how he expected.
He tried to steer the conversation back into a safer zone.
"So," he said, leaning back, "you're saying you—what? Like me?"
Sienna nodded. "Yes."
Jasper actually felt his heart stutter.
For the first time, he didn't know what to say.
Sienna continued, her voice quieter now.
"I think about you," she admitted. "More than I expected to."
Jasper shifted slightly, his smirk fading into something more uncertain.
"That's… uh… surprising," he muttered.
Sienna's gaze remained locked onto his.
"But you avoid it," she said. "You avoid feelings. You avoid love."
Jasper felt his chest tighten slightly.
"Yeah, well," he said, forcing a carefree chuckle, "I'm not exactly a romance guy, Sienna."
Sienna took another step closer.
"Why?"
Jasper sighed, rubbing his temple. "Because it's just… not my thing."
Sienna didn't accept that answer.
"You deflect," she stated.
Jasper groaned. "I'm not deflecting."
"You are."
Jasper let out a short, dry laugh. "Damn, you're relentless."
Sienna wasn't backing down.
"You avoid love like it is something to be feared," she said. "Why?"
Jasper hesitated.
For a brief moment, something flickered in his eyes—something he didn't want to acknowledge.
He could easily joke his way out of this.
He could laugh it off, change the subject, walk away.
But Sienna wasn't letting him escape.
And for some reason—
He didn't want to escape.
Jasper inhaled slowly, tapping his fingers against his arm.
"Look," he said finally, voice quieter than usual. "Love isn't exactly something I've ever… thought about."
Sienna remained silent, listening.
"I grew up in an orphanage," Jasper continued, his tone more casual, but there was something buried underneath it. "No family. No parents. No siblings. Just me, some random kids, and whatever future we scraped together."
Sienna didn't interrupt.
Jasper gave a small, bitter chuckle.
"And let's be honest—I'm not exactly the perfect guy for this kind of thing."
Sienna raised an eyebrow. "Why do you believe that?"
Jasper smirked. "Come on, Sienna. You've seen me. I joke around. I don't take things seriously. I flirt with every girl I meet just for the fun of it."
His smirk faded slightly.
"And, let's be real. I don't do relationships."
Sienna tilted her head. "Because you don't want to? Or because you're afraid to?"
Jasper stiffened slightly.
Sienna had hit the nerve.
Jasper let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "You're really trying to get me into a deep conversation, huh?"
Sienna nodded. "I wish to understand."
Jasper exhaled, running a hand through his light blue hair.
"You wanna know the truth?" he muttered.
Sienna nodded again.
Jasper leaned against the control panel, his voice softer now.
"I've never had anything permanent, Sienna."
Sienna's silver eyes flickered.
Jasper smirked, but it wasn't as cocky this time.
"I don't do love because love never stays."
Sienna watched him carefully.
Jasper shrugged. "People leave. Things change. Love? It's… temporary."
Sienna studied his expression, as if analyzing every movement, every subtle shift in his voice.
Then—
She spoke again.
"I am here."
Jasper froze.
Sienna's gaze was steady. "And I am not leaving."
Jasper felt his chest tighten.
Something about the way she said it—
So simple.
So certain.
Like it was a fact.
Jasper swallowed. "Yeah, well… I've heard that before."
Sienna stepped even closer—just inches away now.
"But this is different," she said softly.
Jasper's fingers curled slightly.
Sienna studied his face.
"You may not believe in love," she said. "But I believe in you."
Jasper felt something inexplicably warm in his chest.
Something he wasn't ready for.
So, instead—
He did what he always did.
He laughed lightly, brushing it off.
"Damn, Sienna," he said, smirking, "that was smooth. Almost like you're flirting with me."
Sienna blinked. "I was."
Jasper actually choked on air.
Sienna's lips twitched slightly. "Did I say it incorrectly?"
Jasper groaned, rubbing his face. "Oh, for the love of—"
And for the first time—
Sienna smiled.
Just a little.
And Jasper?
He had no idea what to do with that.