"RUN."
Lyra's voice snapped everything back into motion.
Elric grabbed Mii's hand without thinking.
"Come on!"
They bolted.
Behind them...
Drones descended, humming with cold precision.
Red targeting lines flickered across the pavement.
Kaida-9 charged ahead, clearing a path.
Lyra moved alongside her, directing movement.
"Left... now!"
Pix whooped somewhere behind them, "I MAY HAVE MADE IT WORSE!"
Sera's voice cut through, calm but sharp. "…You definitely did."
Elric didn't look back.
Didn't need to.
He could feel it...
That pressure.
That tightening.
Like the world itself was trying to close in.
They turned sharply into a side corridor.
And just like that...
The noise dropped.
Not gone.
Just… muted.
The corridor was narrow.
Dim.
Hidden between two towering structures.
No people.
No music.
No perfect smiles.
Just them.
Elric slowed first.
Breathing steady, but heavier now.
"…Okay," he muttered. "…temporary not-death achieved."
Mii didn't let go of his hand.
He noticed.
Looked down.
Her grip was tight.
Not dramatic.
Not playful.
Just… tight.
"…Hey," he said quietly.
She didn't answer right away.
Her head lowered slightly.
Shoulders rising and falling.
"…That wasn't how it was supposed to go," she said.
No performance.
No sparkle.
No script.
Elric leaned back lightly against the wall, still holding her hand.
"…Yeah," he said. "…kinda figured."
She let out a small breath.
"…I had it planned."
A pause.
"…Like… everything."
He tilted his head.
"…Everything?"
She nodded.
Still not looking at him.
"…The walk. The conversation. The reactions."
A small, almost embarrassed laugh.
"…Even what you were supposed to say."
Elric blinked.
"…Wait... you scripted me?"
She winced slightly.
"…Only a little."
He snorted.
"…That explains why it felt weird."
She finally looked up.
Not smiling.
Not performing.
Just… her.
"…I didn't want to mess it up," she said.
The words landed heavier than anything else so far.
Elric didn't joke this time.
Didn't deflect.
"…Why?" he asked.
Mii hesitated.
That hesitation...
That alone...
Was new.
"…Because," she said slowly,
"…everything I do is supposed to be perfect."
A pause.
"…That's what I'm for."
The corridor felt quieter somehow.
Elric watched her.
Really watched her.
The way her usual energy wasn't there.
The way she wasn't filling the silence.
"…Yeah," he said.
"…you're really bad at that."
She blinked.
"…What?"
He shrugged slightly.
"…The perfect thing."
A beat.
"…You trip. You shout. You overdo everything."
She stared at him.
"…That's not helping."
He smirked.
"…It is."
A pause.
Then...
"…because that's the part that doesn't feel fake."
Silence.
Mii's fingers loosened slightly around his hand.
Not pulling away.
Just… relaxing.
"…You're saying I'm a mess."
Elric nodded.
"…A complete disaster."
She squinted at him.
"…That sounds like an insult."
He shook his head.
"…Nah."
A small grin.
"…That's what made this fun."
Another pause.
Then...
Very quietly...
"…It was?" she asked.
Elric leaned his head back against the wall.
"…Yeah."
A beat.
"…Way better than the scripted version."
Mii stared at him.
Searching his face.
Like she was trying to figure out if he was joking.
He wasn't.
"…Even the part where everything broke?" she asked.
He chuckled.
"…Especially that part."
A small laugh escaped her.
Real this time.
Uncontrolled.
"…This is the worst date ever," she said.
Elric nodded.
"…Yeah."
A beat.
"…Let's keep it."
She looked at him again.
Different now.
"…You're weird," she said.
"…I've been told."
Another pause.
But this one...
Wasn't awkward.
Then...
Footsteps.
Fast.
Approaching.
Lyra's voice echoed from the corridor entrance.
"Move. Now."
The moment snapped.
Mii squeezed his hand once.
Quick.
Reflexive.
Then let go.
"…Right," she said, straightening slightly.
"…Date's not over yet."
Elric pushed off the wall.
Grinning.
"…Wouldn't want it to end early."
Behind Lyra...
Red light flooded the entrance.
Drones closing in.
Pix shouted, "OKAY NOW IT'S REALLY BAD!"
Kaida-9 stepped into position.
"…Prepare for engagement."
Sera's voice dropped.
"…No."
A beat.
"…We run."
Elen stepped beside Elric again.
As always.
"…Stay close," she said softly.
Elric cracked his neck slightly.
"…Step three," he muttered.
"…date turns into survival mode."
The corridor lit up red.
And the chase began again.