CTS TIME: RE250.05.25 – 9:30 PM (Hikarashi Village Local Time)
LOCATION: Ryuji & Aiko's House – Dining Area
Jasper slumped against the back of his chair, arms crossed in frustration, while Serena continued her merciless teasing.
"You know, Jasper," Serena smirked, twirling her chopsticks between her fingers, "it's totally okay to be a little whipped. Every guy falls for someone eventually."
Jasper groaned.
"Oh my god, will you let this go?"
Aiko giggled, nudging Sienna.
"So, Sienna, are you just gonna sit there while Jasper keeps pretending he doesn't care?"
Sienna, who had remained silent and composed, finally set down her teacup.
She glanced at Jasper.
Then—
She smirked.
"No, I think it's time I add my own thoughts."
Jasper froze.
Serena blinked.
"Wait—what?"
Sienna leaned slightly forward, resting her elbow on the table, her silver eyes gleaming with amusement.
"You know, Serena, I've been analyzing Jasper's behavioral patterns for quite some time now."
Jasper sat up straighter, suddenly feeling nervous.
"Wait. What do you mean analyzing—"
Sienna ignored him.
"Based on his reactions, tone shifts, and avoidance of direct emotional responses, I've concluded that Jasper is, in fact…"
She paused dramatically.
"In love with me already."
Silence.
Jasper's brain short-circuited.
Aiko gasped.
Serena's jaw dropped.
Ryuji, mid-bite, choked on his dumpling.
"WHAAAAT?!" Serena shouted, slamming her hands on the table. "Sienna, you LEGEND! That was the best move I've ever seen!"
Jasper's face turned a shade of red that rivaled Serena's hair.
"W-WHAT?! I NEVER SAID THAT!"
Sienna, completely calm, took another sip of tea.
"You didn't have to. Your actions say enough."
Serena howled with laughter.
"Oh my god, this is beautiful. I'm crying. Sienna, you're my new hero."
Jasper was still malfunctioning.
"You—you can't just DECIDE that I'm in love with you!"
Sienna tilted her head.
"Why not? I've calculated your reactions every time I interact with you. You act tough, but when I'm around, you lower your defenses. You never reject my presence, and you subconsciously position yourself near me even when unprovoked."
Jasper stared at her like she just spoke an ancient forbidden language.
"Wha—? I don't—?! That doesn't mean I—"
Sienna kept going.
"When I gave you the Dragonis necklace, you wore it without hesitation. You also touched it absentmindedly at least 12 times during dinner alone."
Serena and Aiko erupted into laughter.
"SHE'S GOT YOU ANALYZED LIKE A MATH PROBLEM, JASPER!" Serena wheezed.
Jasper grabbed his head in frustration.
"STOP MAKING ME SOUND LIKE A SCIENCE EXPERIMENT!"
Sienna smiled softly.
"You're not an experiment. You're just… predictable."
Serena clutched her stomach, unable to breathe from laughing too hard.
Aiko, wiping away tears, grinned.
"Okay, Sienna, I take back what I said. You're not just smart—you're a savage."
Ryuji nodded.
"Total savage."
Jasper, completely flustered, shoved a dumpling in his mouth just to avoid talking.
Serena wasn't done yet.
"Oh, this is GOLD. Jasper, you've been utterly DESTROYED."
Jasper, mouth still full, grumbled.
"Mffh dmfhm fmfh."
Sienna pretended not to hear.
"What was that, Jasper? Were you finally admitting something?"
Jasper pointed a chopstick at her.
"I HATE YOU."
Sienna smiled.
"Interesting. Hate is often an intense emotion connected to love. Are you sure you're not just confused?"
Serena and Aiko fell over laughing.
"STOP. SHE'S TOO GOOD AT THIS!" Serena wheezed.
Aiko nodded between gasps.
CTS TIME: RE250.05.26 – 12:30 AM (Hikarashi Village Local Time)
The night air was crisp, carrying the soft scent of cherry blossoms through the silent village. The moon hung high, bathing the rooftops in a silvery glow, casting long shadows across the quiet streets.
Jasper sat on the wooden balcony, his back against the railing, gazing at the sea of stars above.
For the first time in a long while, he felt at peace.
No chaotic space battles.
No tournaments.
No loud teasing from Serena.
Just… the stillness of nature.
He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply, feeling the cool night breeze brush against his face.
Then—
"Hey, what are you doing out here?"
Jasper jerked slightly, his body instinctively tense.
Ryuji.
The kid had somehow appeared without making a sound.
"Damn it, kid, don't sneak up on me like that!" Jasper muttered, rubbing his forehead.
Ryuji grinned, sitting down next to him.
"You looked all serious. Thought you were planning something cool."
Jasper smirked.
"Nah. Just… thinking."
The two sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the wind rustling the trees in the distance.
Then, Ryuji spoke.
"Hey, Jasper?"
"Yeah?"
"I've decided something."
Jasper raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? And what's that?"
Ryuji's golden eyes burned with determination.
"I'm going to become the strongest shinobi. Stronger than you."
Jasper blinked. Then—
He laughed.
"That's a pretty big dream, kid."
Ryuji clenched his fists.
"Yeah, but I know I can do it."
Jasper smirked.
"Well, you've got the attitude, I'll give you that."
Ryuji hesitated before adding—
"And, uh… also, I kind of like someone."
Jasper glanced at him curiously.
"Oh? Who?"
Ryuji's face turned red.
"Aiko."
Jasper smirked.
"Ohhh, I see where this is going."
Ryuji sighed.
"But… she likes Kai."
Jasper raised an eyebrow.
"Kai? The emo kid?"
Ryuji groaned.
"Yeah! I don't get it! He just stands around, looking cool and mysterious, and somehow all the girls love him!"
Jasper patted his shoulder.
"Yeah, man. That's just how it works."
Ryuji leaned back against the railing.
"You're so lucky, though. Sienna loves you."
Jasper stiffened.
"Tch. That's what you think."
Ryuji turned toward him, frowning.
"What do you mean? It's obvious. She made you that necklace, she's always watching over you, she defends you when Serena teases you—bro, she loves you."
Jasper sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Look, kid… I don't like Sienna like that."
Ryuji squinted at him.
"You think I'm an idiot? You totally do."
Jasper groaned.
"No, I don't! I mean—" He hesitated before sighing. "I don't know what love is, okay? I never had parents, no family, no siblings… I don't even know how I'm supposed to feel about this kind of stuff."
Ryuji nodded slowly.
"I get that. I don't know my family either. But… my sensei and my friends are always beside me. Love isn't something you 'figure out.' It's just… something you feel."
Jasper looked away.
"Sienna is making a mistake."
Ryuji frowned.
"How? She clearly likes you."
Jasper exhaled sharply.
"She's… too good for me, okay? She's an all-rounder. She's smart, a pro hero, intelligent, beautiful—she should be with someone cool and handsome, like some kind of noble prince. And I'm just… Jasper."
Ryuji stared at him.
"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."
Jasper scowled.
"Shut up, kid."
Ryuji shook his head.
"Dude, you're strong. You're cool. And love isn't measured by 'how perfect' someone is. It's about the connection."
Jasper clenched his fists.
"I don't want to ruin her."
Ryuji tilted his head.
"What do you mean?"
Jasper's expression darkened.
"She thinks I'm her type, but I'm not. I'm just a reckless idiot with a sword. She deserves better, and I'll prove it to her."
Ryuji's eyes widened.
"Wait… what do you mean 'prove it'?"
Jasper smirked bitterly.
"Tomorrow, I'm going to act like a total bastard. I'll make her hate me."
Ryuji's face fell.
"Dude. That's messed up."
Jasper chuckled.
"Nah. It's doing her a favor."
Ryuji shook his head aggressively.
"That's not how love works! You can't force someone to stop loving you!"
Jasper looked away.
"You're just a kid. You don't understand."
Ryuji's heart clenched.
Jasper was so blind.
What neither of them realized was that—
Sienna was still awake.
She had been in her room, quietly finishing some research reports, when she had overheard their conversation through the open balcony door.
She hadn't meant to eavesdrop.
But now, she couldn't unhear it.
Jasper's words echoed in her head.
"She deserves someone better."
"I'll make her hate me."
Sienna's fingers curled into fists.
Her chest tightened.
She wasn't angry.
She wasn't hurt.
But she felt… something.
A rare sting of disappointment.
She had always known Jasper was emotionally dense.
But she hadn't realized how deep his insecurities ran.
She sighed, closing her holopad.
"You're an idiot, Jasper."
She stood up, adjusting her wristwatch.
If he was planning to push her away…
Then she'd make sure he realized just how wrong he was.
"Jasper, just give up. She's outplaying you completely."
Jasper, completely defeated, slumped back in his chair and covered his face with his hands.
"I hate everything."
Sienna, taking one final sip of tea, smirked.
"Good. Then you can keep thinking about me all night."