Nami took a deep breath as she sat opposite Koya.
Her fingers lightly traced the laminated edges of the menu while her eyes slid toward him only to find him staring down at his own menu with the expression of a man contemplating the meaning of life.
His brows were furrowed and his mouth was slightly parted; he was the perfect picture of confusion.
She found it… ridiculously cute.
They were seated at Kumo Terrace, one of the famed Skyline Cafés built along the glass platforms suspended near the top floors of Keropolis' high-rise arcologies.
Wind brushed through the open-air terrace, carrying a light floral scent from the sky planters.
The translucent ceiling reflected the sunlight like flowing water. This was her special spot, her personal sanctuary… somewhere she came alone to unwind with parfaits and overpriced biscuits.
This was the first time she had ever brought a man here.
"Why are you looking at the menu as if you're looking at alien food?" she asked, leaning forward and giving him a playful punch on the shoulder even though they were sitting across from one another.
Her voice carried a teasing lilt. "Just order something, baka."
"You say that," he replied dryly, "as if you've picked up your own menu."
Her eyes darted away. "Mou… details, details."
A nearby waiter stood stiffly beside them, tray tucked under his arm, hands trembling slightly.
I can't believe Nami-san actually came on a date with this guy… the waiter thought despairingly. 'This ikemen… this two-liner…! Even I feel insecure just standing next to him.'
He swallowed as Koya shifted slightly in his seat, the wind catching his blond hair.
A breeze swept over the terrace.
Koya's shoulder-length blond hair lifted gently, sunlight catching the strands in a soft gold halo. His blue eyes reflected the barrier skyline behind them.
The waiter nearly bit his lip.
'Damn it… he's too handsome…'
"Alright, I've decided." Koya closed the menu. "I'll go with the Barrier Blue Latte and the Yuzu Cloud Cheesecake."
Nami perked up at his choice.
She handed her own menu to the waiter. "I'll have the same thing he's ordering… with an extra plate of Butter Biscuits." She flashed a confident smile. "Arigatō."
"Yes m'lady!" The waiter bowed deeply, nearly smashing his forehead into the table.
Then he hurried off at full speed, glancing back at Koya with a mysterious mix of envy and admiration.
Koya raised an eyebrow. "…Why did he run like that?"
"Who knows." Nami folded her hands and rested her chin on them. "He's dramatic."
Koya rested his forearms on the table and tilted his head back slightly, his eyes drifting toward the skyline.
From this height, the shimmering blue barrier that surrounded Keropolis was visible… a dome of layered mana lines dancing in the horizon.
"This feels nice," he muttered. The breeze brushed his shoulders again. "I guess I'll be coming here some more."
"Good," she said brightly. "Their lattes are amazing. You'll definitely taste the difference once they bring it over."
"I can't wait then," he admitted then he tapped the table lightly. "Hey, Nami—"
"Where are your honorifics?" She puffed her cheeks. "Hmph! Can't you say Nami-chan?"
Koya's internal reaction was immediate.
'Chan sounds so weird… absolutely not.'
"Nope," he said flatly. "Sounds very weird."
She deflated and her cheeks reddened. "You're so mean…"
"But anyway," he continued, "I wanted to ask… do you do this for every guy that completes his first raid?"
Nami froze and her heart skipped.
For a moment, her thoughts went full shoujo manga mode.
'Is he asking because he's jealous? Does he care that much? Could it be… is he interested in me?'
She pressed her lips together.
"No…" She shook her head gently. "This is my first time doing something like this."
She peeked up at him shyly only to see him look away as if it meant nothing.
"Oh. That's not bad, I guess," he muttered casually.
Her eye twitched.
'That's it? THAT'S your reaction?!'
She was seconds away from pulling her hair out when the waiter finally returned, breathless but smiling.
He set down the dishes carefully.
First he served Nami her Barrier Blue Latte.
It was stunning.
The drink was layered in gradients of sky blue to ocean sapphire, swirling faintly like real mana currents.
Thin streaks of shimmering silver danced within the drink, as if miniature lightning pulses were suspended inside.
The glass cup was transparent, with a ring of frosted crystal around its base, giving it an ethereal glow.
Next was the Yuzu Cloud Cheesecake.
It was shaped like a fluffy, cream-colored cloud floating above a thin golden crust.
The top was dusted lightly with powdered sugar that sparkled like morning dew, and a drizzle of yuzu syrup pooled at the base like a halo.
The texture looked impossibly soft like it would melt the moment a fork touched it.
And then… A plate of butter biscuits shaped eerily like Nami's face, complete with tiny chocolate dots for her eyes and a pouty mouth.
Koya stared.
Nami smiled proudly. "They already know me here because I'm a regular. So this is normal. Unusual, but normal."
Koya blinked. "Right…"
The waiter placed Koya's dishes down while giving him a lingering, almost challenging stare like a rival sizing up a protagonist.
Koya ignored it.
Nami lifted her latte cup with a bright smile. "To a successful raid! Kanpai!"
He clinked his glass against hers. "Kanpai."
They drank.
Koya's eyes widened slightly.
'It tastes… really nice.'
The flavor was airy yet rich, with a light citrus after-taste that lingered pleasantly.
He cut into his cheesecake, the fork sliding through effortlessly. He lifted a piece and tasted it.
It melted instantly on his tongue.
He nearly groaned. 'This is sinfully good…'
Then footsteps approached their table.
Koya didn't immediately look up, still focused on the cake. But Nami's expression shifted and she sat straighter.
Someone stopped right beside him.
Koya turned his head… and his pupils shrunk.
Standing beside him was a girl around his age, perhaps slightly older.
She wore a red hakama-style academy skirt with a tailored black jacket. Her long crimson hair cascaded down her back in glossy waves, and her eyes glowed with a sharp crimson hue.
On the right side of her cheek was a thin gold crest-line marking her as high nobility.
She was breathtaking and Koya recognized her immediately.
"You're Amagi Koya, right?" she asked, her voice was calm but carrying the authority of someone used to command. "And you're going to be attending ALI?"
He nodded slowly.
Her crimson eyes flicked to the two golden lines under his eye and her mouth opened before closing.
"Good," she murmured. "Then my assumptions were correct."
She folded her arms under her chest. "I'd like to talk to you alone. There's something important regarding ALI… and your involvement with the academy."
Nami stiffened. "A-Ano… sumimasen, but who are you exactly?"
The girl's gaze shifted toward Nami.
"My name is Kagutsuchi Akari," she said. "Daughter of the Kagutsuchi Clan. One of the Great Ten."
Nami felt her soul leave her body.
'Ah, shit. A heroine this early?'
Akari stepped slightly closer.
"We need to discuss in private. Please follow me."