.
\SATURDAY – NIGHT/
*Rings.
[Ember] \opens her phone\ (Message from Cyan.)
*Cyan chats the tour schedule.
[Ember] \smiles\ That's a lot. Of walking and spending. \giggles\
*Ember prepares for tomorrow.
.
...
\SUNDAY – EARLY MORNING/
*Early morning before sunrise.
*Rings.
[Ember] \reads notification\ (Cyan's already at the lobby.) \gets ready\
*Ember goes downstairs.
[Ember] \sighs\ (Yesterday's wedding thoughts are really messing with my head right now.)
[Ember] (I wonder if I can ask Cyan to make me forget.)
[Ember] \arrives and goes to Cyan\ Good morning, Cyan. \smiles\
[Cyan] \stands and kisses Ember\
*Good morning kiss.
[Ember] \!\ (What thoughts? Again?)
[Cyan] \parts and smiles\ Good morning, Ember.
*Ember didn't need to ask Cyan to make her forget. With Cyan, she already does.
[Cyan] \grabs a carton of chocolate milk and a biscuit and hands them to Ember\ Breakfast. \smiles\
[Ember] \surprised\ (A carton of chocolate milk and a biscuit? Are we pre-school?) \giggles\
[Ember] \grabs the carton of chocolate milk, biscuit and sips, and snack\ Please don't tell me this is the entire breakfast. \stares at Cyan\
[Cyan] \giggles\ Nope, we will eat a lot today. \smiles\
[Ember] \smiles\
*They both wait in the lobby, after booking an online cab.
*Cyan and Ember go to The Summit.
*The Summit is an urban destination district built to gather the world in one place.
*The cab drops them off at an all day breakfast place.
*Cyan and Ember enter and take a seat.
[Cyan] Two Souffle pancakes, and two orange juices.
[Ember] Pancakes and orange juices. \giggles and stares at Cyan\
[Cyan] \grins\
*Cyan and Ember enjoy their pancakes.
[Cyan] Let's catch the morning sunrise at the viewing deck.
[Ember] Okay.
*Cyan and Ember take a short walk and enter a building.
*Enters elevator and clicks, Rooftop.
*Cyan and Ember pay the entrance fee to the viewing deck. It comes with free coffee and biscuit claiming stub.
*The dawn greets them with gentle light.
*The sun says hello as it wakes up from the distant horizon.
*The buildings, still asleep and stripped of their night lights, now shimmer and beam, waking up the city's shadows.
[Cyan] Just in time. \grins\ Tada! Sunrise!
[Ember] \stares at the sunrise\ (Pretty.) \:>\
[Cyan] \sits in the adjustable cushioned sun loungers\ Ember, let's take this spot.
[Ember] \sits beside Cyan\
*Between them is a table with an umbrella.
[Ember] (Plus points, Cyan.) \:>\
[Ember] Cyan, want a challenge? Can you paint that?
[Cyan] \stares at the sunrise\ \takes out phone and snaps a picture\ I'll try.
[Ember] \smiles\
*Cyan and Ember continue their chat, chilling.
[Cyan] Hang on, give me your stubs. Let me get our coffees.
[Ember] \gives Cyan the claim stub\ Okay.
[Cyan] \brings back coffee and biscuits\ Let's continue.
*They continue their chatter. And when enough time passes.
[Cyan] \takes out a home cooked dish\ Ember, salad.
[Ember] \remembers\ Oh, yeah. \smiles\ Let me critique Cyan's salad.
[Ember] \takes a fork and tastes the chicken salad\ (Wow.) \suspicious\
[Ember] Wait, I thought you said salad is a light dinner? Why now?
[Cyan] \shrugs it off\ Why not.
*They continue their talks.
…
[Cyan] It's time. Let's go visit the marine theme park.
[Ember] Bet.
*Cyan and Ember enter the elevator, go down the lobby, and go to the marine theme park.
[Ember] \notices\ There's the line for the ticket booth. Let's go before it gets longer. \points\
[Cyan] No need. \shows Ember his phone\ Online tickets booked and ready.
[Ember] \smiles\ Oh. \sends money to Cyan\ Done. \smiles\
[Cyan] \smiles\ Let's go, skip the line.
[Ember] \smiles and tilts head\ We're not really skipping, but more like we don't need to fall in line for tickets. Because we already had one.
[Cyan] The technicalities. \smiles\ I know.
*Cyan and Ember visit the marine theme park.
*The marine theme park is a sprawling aquatic wonderland where massive glass tunnels cut through deep blue basins filled with miniature marine ecosystems.
*The park features a wooden boat theme, attractions that mimic life above the sea, swim-with-the-fish experiences, and a specialized icy habitat for the penguins.
*Cyan and Ember tour the marine theme park
[Cyan] Let's see the new zone, the penguin attraction. \takes the lead\
[Ember] Penguins huh. \whispers\ Maybe I'll see you in black and white too.
[Cyan] What did you say?
[Ember] Nothing. \grins\
*Cyan and Ember continue their marine theme park tour.
[Ember] \sees fish\ Cyan, can we get sushi?
[Cyan] \smiles\ You're really thinking sushi now, when you're seeing fish.
[Ember] \smiles and points\ Fresh fish. \grins\
[Cyan] \giggles\ Sure, let's get some later.
[Ember] \happy\
*Cyan and Ember continue the tour until they reach the souvenir shop.
[Cyan] Want to buy the big penguin plushie.
*The penguin plushie is a human size body pillow.
[Ember] Will you carry it throughout the day?
[Cyan] \thinks\ That sounds bad.
[Ember] \giggles\ Let's skip this, maybe next time. \smiles\
[Ember] Besides you'll be carrying a lot more after shopping. \grins\
[Cyan] \realizes\ Oh yeah, mall is open now. Let's go.
*Cyan and Ember walk to the nearby mall.
*The mall is still quiet, with some shops already open while others wait, for their closed signs to be flipped to open.
*The air is fresh, holding a single clean scent that hasn't yet been overtaken by the smell of food or the midday rush.
*At the corner is a single coffee shop connected to the street, busy compared to the stillness of the half-awakened mall.
*They pass by different shops, visiting them if they see what they like.
[Ember] \spots something, and dashes towards it saying\ Cyan, follow me.
[Cyan] \follows\
[Ember] \points\ You said swimming right. Want me to buy that? \grins\
[Cyan] \looks and imagines\ It's wild, I guess.
[Ember] \smiles\ It's a pair too, you will wear that one Cyan. \points to a nearby spot\
[Cyan] \looks\ I'd rather not. \escapes and dashes\ Let's go.
[Ember] \laughs\
*Cyan and Ember continue their shopping tour.
[Cyan] \walking\
[Ember] \looks at Cyan\ By the way. Where did you buy your bag?
[Cyan] \remembers\ Ah, right. It's \looks around\ over there. \walks towards a direction\
[Ember] \follows\
*Cyan and Ember enter a suitcase store.
[Cyan] \points\ What color would you like?
[Ember] \looks\ I'll take the white one. \grins\
[Cyan] Alright. \hands Ember money\
[Ember] \ponders\ Actually, Cyan, Let me buy this one myself. \smiles\
[Cyan] Huh? I thought I'd buy you one? \confused\
[Ember] \ponders\ Yeah. I'm sure. \smiles\
[Cyan] \suspicious\ Okay.
*Cyan and Ember continue their shopping. They both buy matching shoes and hoodie.
*Lunchtime.
*Cyan asks Ember what fast-food does she want.
*They go to the fast-food place.
[Cyan] \looks\ It's crowded. Do you see an empty table?
[Ember] \searches\ Nah. Let's just order take out.
*Cyan and Ember wait in the long line together and chat.
*They get their food: burger, fries and soda.
*Cyan and Ember scout for an empty spot until they come across a bench in a nearby park.
[Cyan] \eats a fry and sips\ \staring at Ember\
[Ember] \uses fries to scoop ice cream\ \notices Cyan staring\ What?
[Cyan] Nothing much. \giggles\ Will you not use ketchup?
[Ember] Nah. Do you want it? \offers ketchup packets\
[Cyan] \takes ketchup packets\ Thanks.
*Cyan and Ember finish their lunch casually conversing in the park.
*Ember points to a dog, and Cyan tries to guess its name.
*They go to their next destination, the indoor arcade.
*The arcade's automatic sliding doors beep with a retro game sound every time someone enters, making it feel like characters logging into a game.
*There's a lively excitement as people crowd the counters buying packs labeled: top-up promos for their arcade cards.
*In the background, the music plays a light, upbeat slice-of-life anime-like soundtrack that perfectly captures the energetic morning vibe.
[Cyan] \falls in line\ I'll top up my arcade card. I'll be back in a bit.
[Ember] Okay. \turns and views the plush prizes in the claw machines\
[Ember] \confused\ (What even is that?) \giggles\
*Cyan comes back with a topped up card ready for an entire gaming marathon.
[Cyan] So, which one first?
[Ember] Let me borrow that card. Imma get that weird one. \points\
[Cyan] \looks\ What is that? \giggles\
[Ember] Right, right! I'm curious too! \giggles\
*Ember swipes the card, uses the claw and reveals the full figure of the mystery plush doll.
[Cyan] A plant, robot, squid plushie, with cat ears?
*One of the hard to find plushies frequently found in claw machines.
[Ember] \giggles\ I want that one. \laughs\
[Cyan] Want to try your luck in this gacha?
[Ember] Yeah, it's the rng claw god's will. \giggles\
*Cyan and Ember use multiple tries to get the cute but weird plushie.
[Ember] Finally!!! \smiles and victory v-signs\ Take a picture! \grins\
[Cyan] \snaps a shot, send\
[Ember] Let's go, uhm to the trampoline park!
*The trampoline park, has ball pits, foam pits, and trampolines.
*They enter the park, Ember leads into the lane.
[Ember] \turns and walk backwards\ Cyan! Follow me! \smiles and turns\
[Ember] \standing front handspring to front tuck into the foam pit\ Tada!!! \arms in v-sign/
[Cyan] (A flip?) Uhm, Ember I don't think I can flip that many. Will one backflip do?
*Cyan refers to a tumbling pass, the entire sequence of flips performed in one motion.
[Ember] \confused\ Wait, you can back flip?
[Cyan] Ah, yeah. \walks closer\ Just a simple backflip though.
*Cyan does a simple back flip.
[Ember] \sitting on the side\ (What!?)
*Cyan lands on his back.
[Cyan] (The trampoline, I reach too high.)
[Ember] Cyan, do it again.
[Cyan] Uhm, okay?
[Cyan] \adjusts and flips\
[Ember] (No tuck, no hands backflip is simple? Not!) \suspicious\
[Cyan] \lands on foot\ I did it!
[Ember] Cyan, that's a simple back flip?
[Cyan] Well, it's the recent one I did I guess.
[Ember] Do it again.
[Cyan] Eh? Why?
[Ember] For me! \smiles\
*Cyan flips one more time.
[Ember] (It's a gainer, layout, single step air-walk backflip.) \thinks\
[Ember] (But why does it seem slower, and stay in the air longer?) \thinks\
[Ember] \suspicious\ (And why does it seem like he's kicking the air?)
*Cyan's flip has a slight movement that looks like a midair jump.
[Ember] \stares at Cyan\ (Cyan said he doesn't know tumble pass so just a backflip.)
[Ember] (Does Cyan do parkour? No, no, he prefers indoors than outside.) \sighs\
[Ember] Cyan, want to flip one more time?
[Cyan] Can't. I'm tired.
[Ember] \giggles\ Fine. \rises and stands\ Let's go to the ball pit.
*Cyan and Ember dive into the ball pit.
[Ember] \throws a ball to Cyan and utters\ Ordinary offensive magic!
[Cyan] \giggles\ Don't we have infinite mana here though. \points at the balls around them\
[Ember] \throws another ball to Cyan\ I can only sense low magical power. This will be the place of your defeat!
[Cyan] \giggles\ \gets into character\ Ember, you underestimated my total mana. \throws multiple balls at Ember\
[Ember] \shocked\ \throws balls at Cyan\
*Cyan and Ember playfully throw balls at each other.
[Ember] \laughing\ Hahaha I can't timeout. \lays down\
[Cyan] \lays down\ Want another competition?
[Ember] Okay, lets go shooting games.
*Cyan and Ember compete in different games like basketball, archery, shooting, and bowling.
[Ember] \spots the dance rhythm game\ Cyan, want to play that? \points\
[Cyan] \looks\ Okay.
*Cyan and Ember play the dance rhythm game, with Ember ending with overwhelming victory.
[Ember] \giggles\ By the way Cyan, are you a dancer?
[Cyan] Not really, I just played this game before.
[Ember] I see.
[Cyan] My turn. \points\ Karaoke pop punk queen?
[Ember] \thinks\ Hmmm, maybe next time.
[Cyan] \sad\ Then other games then.
*Cyan and Ember play other games like arcade machines, gacha pulls and others.
[Cyan] \tired\ I'm hungry, let's buy snacks.
[Ember] \smiles\ Yeah, I think we're done here anyway. Let's get some water.
*Cyan and Ember buy water, and stroll outside for snacks.
*They saw a stall with meat skewers and corn.
[Cyan] That looks good. \points\
[Ember] Yeah.
*Cyan and Ember go to the stall, order skewers and corn.
*They then sit on the bench nearby and eat their afternoon snack.
[Ember] I forgot, where are we going next?
[Cyan] Art museum.
[Ember] Oh. \excited\ Let's go.
[Cyan] Now? Okay.
*Cyan and Ember go to the art museum, finishing their snacks along the way.
*The museum is silent. The air feels heavy with the weight of centuries, tracing the evolution of human creativity from primal strokes to abstract wonders.
*Wide galleries serve as a timeline of the soul, showcasing the journey from the rigid elegance of the Renaissance to the rebellious splashes of modern expression.
*Every hall is a portal into a different era, where the perception of beauty remains frozen on the canvas.
*They sit on a bench with multiple art pieces around them.
[Ember] Cyan, what do you think that means? \points to a painting\
[Cyan] A historic city, maybe in the style of romanticism.
[Ember] Why do they call it romanticism anyway?
[Cyan] Romance, uhm, stories of imagination and emotion, if I remember correctly.
[Ember] I see. \smiles\ (The summit, in painting huh.) \imagines\
*The art questions continue and Cyan answers each one enthusiastically.
*They finish touring the art museum.
*Outside.
[Cyan] Ember. \points\ Isn't that name, our school?
[Ember] \looks\ Aureline University Dance Crew. Wait, that's Senior Cat! \pulls Cyan towards them\
*The Aureline University Dance Crew is included in this open grounds dance tournament.
[Ember] It is them! So this is why our seniors are busy.
[Cyan] Want to wait for their dance?
[Ember] Yeah! Let's watch. \smiles\
*Cyan and Ember watch the dance crew battle, until their university's dance crew performs.
[Cyan] Wow, college dance is on another level.
[Ember] \staring\ (My seniors dance is amazing! Will I also perform in this stage?)
*The dance finishes, Cyan and Ember leave after to escape the crowd.
[Cyan] \points\ Found the sushi.
[Ember] Let's go. \takes the lead and walks ahead of Cyan\
[Cyan] Follows.
*Cyan and Ember order two identical sushi rolls, a set of 5.
[Cyan] \takes a bite\ So Ember, does it taste like the fresh fish in the aquarium?
[Ember] \eating\ I don't know. But this one does taste like it's the fresh crabs from the aquarium. \giggles\
[Cyan] \giggles\ I see. \takes another roll\
*Cyan and Ember finish their sushi rolls.
[Ember] Botanical garden is next right?
[Cyan] Yeah.
[Ember] Can I pick the flowers.
[Cyan] No. \giggles\ They have flowers at the souvenir shop.
[Ember] \giggles\ Buy me then. \grins\
[Cyan] Sure.
*Cyan and Ember go to the botanical garden.
*The garden sits under a colossal glass dome, housing towering trees and thousands of blooms.
*The entrance begins with rows of lush plant arches that form a living tunnel over the pathway.
*The path reveals vast sea of vibrant petals, winding around the thunderous central indoor waterfall.
*Elevated walkways climb through the tropical canopy to a sprawling rooftop, offering a panoramic view of The Summit.
*Cyan and Ember go to the entrance.
*The entrance begins with a small vineyard with arches implying a path.
[Cyan and Ember] \curious\ (There's a path?)
*The path opens up to this open space.
*Cyan and Ember enter an indoor plain of flowers.
[Ember] Are you sure we can't pick them? \grins\
[Cyan] \looking around\ Yeah, this is a lot. Even I want to pick one.
[Ember] Right! \smiles\ \touches a stem\
[Cyan] Ember, no.
[Ember] \grins and giggles\ I know.\touches the petals\
[Ember] (Pretty.) \smiles\
*They continue walking until they reach the indoor waterfall at the center of the botanical garden.
*They were somehow, on the second floor.
[Cyan] \sits at the bench\ So this is the park.
[Ember] \sits beside Cyan\ Yeah.
*Cyan and Ember rest at the bench just looking at the garden.
[Ember] Cyan. \points\ There's a swing set.
[Cyan] \points\ They even have a tent. And they're hosting a picnic.
[Ember] Want me to ask them if we can sit with them? \teases\
[Cyan] I prefer you don't.
[Ember] \giggles\ Same, I can't just ask that.
[Cyan] \giggles\ Wait, maybe you should?
[Cyan and Ember] \stares at each other\ Nah. \disregards the thought\
*Cyan and Ember continue their stroll to this garden, with a ground floor, and a rooftop.
*Cyan and Ember reach the rooftop.
[Cyan] Sunset huh.
[Ember] \stares at the horizon\ Yeah.
[Ember] \remembers and blushes\ Pretty. \grins at Cyan\
*Cyan and Ember exit the garden.
[Ember] Time for dinner, before the light show. Where to? \turns to Cyan\
[Cyan] No worries. We got reservation.
[Ember] Reservation?
*Cyan and Ember go to a fancy restaurant.
[Cyan] Table for two, under the name Cyan.
*They both enter.
*The grand glass doors open into a high-ceilinged hall where the soft hum of the city fades into a sanctuary of polished marble and hushed conversations.
*Spaced-out circular tables draped in heavy white linen sit beneath crystal installations, creating a private oasis that feels worlds away from the bustling urban district outside.
*Cyan and Ember take their seats and are given the menus.
[Waiter] …\waiting\
[Ember] \stares at the menu and stares at Cyan\
[Cyan] \notices Ember staring\ You got your order?
[Ember] Your treat right? You order. \smiles and grins\
[Cyan] \giggles\ Okay. \tells the waiter\
[Cyan] One peach gazpacho, caviar steak, dark chocolate fondant for her and one avocado mousse, caviar steak, strawberry tart for me.
*Caviar steak is for a steak with caviar garnish. Peach gazpacho is a chilled peach soup. And dark chocolate fondant is a mini molten cake.
[Waiter] \writes\ What about drinks sir?
[Cyan] \turns and stares at Ember\
[Ember] \shrugs shoulders\ Any non-alcoholic?
[Waiter] My recommendation madam is a bottle of sparkling mock rose.
*A sparkling mock rose is a non-alcoholic pink wine.
[Ember] Okay, \points\ That one.
[Waiter] Awesome, I'll be right back. \leaves\
[Ember] \whispers\ Have you been here before?
[Cyan] \motions\ No.
[Ember] \whispers\ Then how?
[Cyan] Research!
[Ember] \suspicious\
*Waiter comes back with one big baguette, cheese and other dips.
[Ember] \points\ Did you order?
[Cyan] \shrugs shoulders\ Must be free.
[Cyan] \snaps a piece of the baguette\ (That crunch sound though.)
[Cyan] Ember, come here. \crunches the bread near enough for Ember to hear\
[Ember] \giggles\ That crunch though.
[Cyan] Right! \giggles\
*Settled down.
[Ember] Cyan, aren't we too underdressed here? \looks around\
[Ember] \whispers\ I'm not wearing heels.
[Cyan] It's fine, look for younger people. \points\
[Ember] \looks\ (Oh, yeah. Those two attires look just like us. They must've had a whole day date too.) \turns to Cyan and smiles\
[Ember] (Cyan. Wait, why am I thinking about Cyan?) \forgets something\
[Ember] \remembers\ (Ah! Plus points, Cyan.) \smiles\
*Their appetizers are served.
[Ember] \scoops a spoon of the peach gazpacho\ (Wow.)
*It tastes light but bold.
[Cyan] \scoops a spoon of avocado mousse\ \smiles\
*It tastes creamy, sweet and buttered.
[Cyan and Ember] \stares at each other and eats\ \smiles\
*Cyan and Ember share a piece of their appetizers to check the taste.
*Cyan and Ember are both happy.
[Ember] \sips a glass of mock rose\ \smiles\
[Cyan] \sips a glass of mock rose\ \smiles\
*The steaks with caviar garnish arrive.
[Cyan] \takes a bite\ (Wow.) \grins as the meat melts in his mouth\
[Ember] \takes a bite\ (It's gone!) \happy as the meat fully spreads through the palate\
*The steak tastes rich, buttery and savory.
[Cyan and Ember] \taste the caviar\ (!)
*The caviar leaves a salty, deep and rich umami.
[Ember] Cyan, let's go here again. \grins\
[Cyan] Yeah, we can try other stuff too. \smiles\
*Cyan and Ember finish their main dishes as they converse.
*The desserts are now on their table.
[Ember] \uses the spoon to see the molten chocolate\ \excited\ \takes a bite\
[Ember] (Uhmm!!! The dark chocolates taste even better than I imagined.) \grins\
[Cyan] \crunches the strawberry tart, leaving one strawberry and a tart in his spoon\ \takes a bite\ (I want more.) \giggles\
*Cyan and Ember share a piece of their dessert to share the taste.
[Ember] (Dark chocolate flavored strawberries.) \giggles\
[Cyan] (I wonder If I can bake this.)
*Cyan and Ember finish up their meal, tip the waiter and leave with a 5 star rating.
[Ember] Thank you, Cyan. That was amazing.
[Cyan] Right! It was truly amazing.
[Ember] Are we late for the light show?
[Cyan] \checks time\ We got enough time, let's go.
*Cyan and Ember walk towards the nearby man-made lake.
*They take their seats in comfy padded loungers beside each other, and wait for the spectacle to begin.
*It starts as thousands of tiny lights drift and flow like a celestial river, weaving through the darkness with the fluid grace of a high-tech aurora.
*Individual stars pulse and glide across the void, systematically realigning to form ancient constellations that shift and turn in a slow, breathtaking dance of light.
.
[Cyan] \staring at Ember's eyes then her lips\ (I want to kiss her.)
*Cyan brushes his hand against her cheek to turn her face toward his, then kisses her.
[Ember] \!\ \<3\
…
*The shimmering patterns descend and swell in waves of purple and silver-white.
*Making it feel as though the very heavens are being rewritten to align the stars.
[Cyan] \finishes the kiss\
[Ember] \smiles\ So do I taste like dark chocolate?
[Cyan] \smiles\ You taste like Ember. \grins\
*The lightshow finishes. And the crowd starts to spread.
[Ember] Let's go Cyan, home.
[Cyan] Yeah.
*Ember goes to a small empty roadside waiting sheltered bench.
*Cyan follows.
*They arrive and sit.
[Ember] (Today is perfect.) \smiles\ (It's over now.)
[Ember] \remembers yesterday\ (Ah, right. Now that it's over, reality is back.)
[Ember] \turns to Cyan and stares\ (Thanks Cyan for the escapade… but, I don't think we can escape.)
…
[Ember] Cyan…
*Chapter 25 – Full Moon.