When the movie ended, Shichen took Mio Takamiya's hand and led her out of the theater.
No one paid them any attention—but Mio couldn't lift her head.
If anyone had been paying attention, they would've noticed her ears were bright red.
After that kiss in the screening room, Mio couldn't bring herself to look at Shichen again. She couldn't even focus on the movie anymore—she spent the rest of it playing ostrich, keeping her head down and pretending nothing happened.
She'd been so bold and forceful at first, but the moment it was over, she turned shy instead.
She was scared. Nervous. Afraid Shichen might be upset.
But how could he be upset? Her initiative had surprised him in the best way—though it was a shame they hadn't explored it more.
Mio's lips were soft as cake, and Shichen wanted to savor them longer, but she had no experience. Even that feather-light, dragonfly touch was enough to overwhelm her.
She needed practice. Time to get used to it.
Shichen decided it was his responsibility to shoulder that burden.
Outside the theater, the contrast hit them all at once—bright light, noisy voices, open space—like breathing freedom again.
People passed near them, but an invisible barrier kept them from bumping into the two. No one noticed anything strange.
They were other moviegoers from the same screening, excitedly discussing the plot.
And the scene they talked about most was the kiss.
A group of inexperienced girls, shy yet bold, were openly whispering about how they imagined kissing someone they liked.
Why were they so fascinated by kissing?
Right now, Mio had the most authority to answer that.
It had only been lips touching lips, yet it had shaken her to her core—like electricity coursing through her body, like her soul itself was trembling.
Mio wasn't even sure she had a soul… but in that moment, she felt like she did.
Why had it been so unbelievable?
She thought… because it was Shichen.
"Mio, is there anything you want to eat?"
"Uh…"
Mio tried to sneak a look at his reaction—only to meet his gaze as he turned his head. Like a startled deer, she immediately dropped her eyes again.
Shichen chuckled at that. "What's wrong with you?"
"I…"
Mio steadied herself, gathered the courage she'd used to kiss him in the first place, and looked up.
Her pale face was flushed pink—like a strawberry daifuku: cute, sweet-looking, and frankly tempting enough that Shichen wanted to bite.
"Shichen… you don't mind?" she asked nervously.
"Mind? Mind what?" Shichen blinked.
"The… the kiss just now…" Mio reminded him in a small voice.
"Oh, that." Shichen finally understood—then laughed, half amused, half helpless.
She'd been worrying about that.
Did she really think he was that pure and conservative?
Besides, she asked him for forehead kisses every day—how different was it, really?
…No, it was different.
He'd told her before that a kiss on the forehead was a symbol of family affection—of being cherished.
A real kiss was on a completely different level. Worlds apart.
No matter how you spun it, you couldn't explain kissing as "family closeness."
And they weren't married.
"Mio, do you think I mind?" Shichen asked with a smile.
"I… I guess you don't?" Mio answered uncertainly.
"Be a little bolder."
"Then you don't mind." Mio smiled, relieved.
"Not only do I not mind—I'm happy I can't even keep up with it."
"H-happy?" Mio's heart lifted.
"Yeah. You being that proactive really surprised me—in a good way. The only regret is it was too short." Shichen nodded, sounding genuinely a little wistful.
"Too short… Shichen means… you still want more?" Mio pressed her lips together, heart racing as she stared at him, excited despite herself.
"Not here." Shichen gestured around them.
Even if people couldn't easily notice them, Shichen still didn't have that kind of hobby.
"Mm…" Mio let out a shy little sound, realizing it too.
Shichen chuckled. "Come on. Let's go—I'll take you to get crêpes."
"Crêpes?"
"A really tasty dessert." Shichen smiled. "Just like your kiss."
"Mmm…"
"Nom…"
Crêpes really were delicious. Mio took one bite and immediately fell in love.
Seeing her light up with that small-girl joy made Shichen smile too, and he couldn't help taking a bite of his own.
The fruit crêpe was bursting with flavor. A mix of different fruits filled his mouth without clashing—bright, clean, and sweet.
That sweetness made him think of Mio's kiss.
And it made him want another taste.
"You've got cream on your cheek." Shichen noticed a smear on Mio's face. He reached over, wiped it away with his finger—then licked his fingertip clean.
Mio stared at him, stunned, her cheeks turning redder by the second.
"What?" Shichen asked.
"It's nothing…" Mio started to shake her head, then thought of something and asked softly, "Shichen… what flavor is your crêpe?"
"Mixed fruit." Shichen showed her his.
Mio's eyes didn't really land on the fruit. She kept staring at the big bite mark Shichen had taken.
Her thoughts started running in circles. She'd seen it before—couples who were close would share food, swap bites.
For some reason, she wanted to taste Shichen's crêpe too—specifically from that missing-bite edge.
Was that kind of… perverted?
She realized she was thinking something a little strange, but then she remembered: they'd already kissed. An "indirect kiss" from sharing food was basically nothing, right?
And they were still "family." Family sharing food was normal.
With that logic, Mio managed to say it out loud.
"Can I… have a bite?"
"Hm? Sure." Shichen didn't hesitate. He held the crêpe up to her mouth.
Mio blinked at the crêpe hovering at her lips. The smell was already drifting into her nose, but she still cared most about that bite mark.
She glanced around out of the corner of her eye. Even knowing people couldn't really notice them, she still felt nervous.
Only after confirming everyone else was busy with their own lives did she finally open her mouth and bite.
Like a kid, she tried to take a huge bite—so cream ended up on her lips again—but she didn't care. She chewed happily, eyes squeezed shut, cheeks puffed out.
Shichen's crêpe tasted better than hers.
"You like crêpes that much?" Shichen laughed softly, took the crêpe back, and casually bit right where Mio had bitten.
…Huh?
Did it taste sweeter now?
"Shichen's crêpe… is tastier than mine," Mio said after swallowing.
"Really?"
Mio's was ice-cream flavored.
"If you don't believe me, try mine." Mio held her crêpe up to his mouth.
"Alright, I'll try it."
Unlike Mio, Shichen didn't hesitate—he leaned in and took a big bite.
"Feels like there's not much difference."
He didn't know if his taste buds were failing him, but her crêpe tasted basically the same as his.
They both had a strange, special sweetness.
"No, Shichen's is still better." Mio took another big bite of hers, then froze.
…Her crêpe suddenly tasted just as good as his.
"You don't like ice-cream flavor? Want me to buy you another one?" Shichen asked when he saw her go quiet.
"It's fine. We shouldn't waste it," Mio said, refusing.
"Alright."
After finishing their crêpes, they left hand-in-hand.
Shichen didn't know the area well, so he took Mio to browse clothing stores instead.
Mio didn't have many outfits. It was a good excuse to buy her a few nice ones. She was already beautiful—add fashionable clothes, and she'd be deadly.
Mio didn't care much about clothes, but since Shichen wanted to buy them for her, she didn't refuse.
They spent the whole afternoon trying things on and shopping. Shichen bought her a lot.
He had clothes in his "treasury" that would fit her, but buying them together like this felt different.
By the time they were done, it was evening. The sunset was fading. Shichen wanted to take her to a nice restaurant, but Mio wanted to go home and eat food he cooked.
Of course Shichen didn't argue.
They didn't walk back—Shichen simply moved them home in an instant.
The moment they arrived, Mio looked visibly more relaxed, like she'd finally exhaled.
"Mio, go rest for a bit. I'll—"
"Wait." Mio grabbed Shichen before he could head to the kitchen.
"Hm?"
"Now that we're home…" Mio asked softly, "…it's okay, right?"
Shichen didn't even finish speaking before he understood.
Mio stepped close, tilted her head up, and closed her eyes.
She was being proactive again.
And Shichen wasn't about to ignore that.
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her.
Mio felt that soul-shaking sensation again. Just in case her legs gave out, she slid her arms around his waist.
Then she suddenly opened her eyes.
"Mm!"
This kiss… was different.