Chapter 7: Date? part 1

Eidan offered a helpless smile as Asta pulled him through the dense crowd of the mall, her hand wrapped firmly around his as if she were afraid he might disappear if she let go.

Several stores later, Asta had already picked out more than a dozen outfits for him.

He refused every single one.

Not because he minded her spending money—Asta clearly did not see money the way normal people did—but because most of the clothes were far too flashy. Bright trims, glittering fabrics, exaggerated cuts… none of it suited him.

So, after much hesitation, Eidan suggested they try a quieter, more modest clothing store tucked between two luxury brands.

Now, standing in front of the mirror inside the changing room, he adjusted the sleeves of the outfit he had finally agreed to try.

"It really suits you, Eidan!" Asta said warmly, clasping her hands together in delight.

"Does it?" he asked, turning slightly to examine himself.

He wore a fitted dark ensemble—somewhere between formalwear and tactical attire. The high-collared coat was charcoal black with subtle silver lining along the seams, elegant but understated. Slim gloves covered his hands, and the tailored cut gave him a sharper, more composed silhouette. It wasn't flashy.

But it made him look… capable.

Asta nodded enthusiastically. "Mm!"

Eidan studied his reflection.

For a brief moment, the image in the mirror seemed to waver.

His reflection's lips moved.

Don't forget.

"…Eidan? Is something wrong?" Asta called gently.

He blinked.

The mirror showed nothing unusual now. Just him.

"Ah—no. It's nothing," he said quickly, shaking his head.

Asta nodded, though her eyes lingered on the mirror where he had been staring a little too long.

It looked completely normal.

"Let's just buy this one, Asta," he said, changing the subject.

She smiled and agreed.

Outside the store, they walked side by side through the mall.

"Oh! Right, Eidan—you need a weapon," Asta said, holding onto his sleeve.

"A weapon…" Eidan stopped. She was right. Traveling with the Astral Express meant facing real dangers.

"Mhm," Asta nodded. "What kind do you want?"

"Let's go to the weapon section first," she added, already pulling him along.

When they arrived, Eidan glanced around the displays.

His eyes landed on a sleek, glowing blade mounted in a glass case.

"…A lightsaber?" he muttered.

Now that he thought about it… did this universe have Jedi? Xenomorphs? Honestly, with Aeons casually shooting arrows across galaxies, nothing felt impossible anymore.

"Eidan! Come here! I found something for you!" Asta called from behind.

He turned and saw the store manager beside her, smiling so wide it looked painful, rubbing his hands together like he had just found a treasure chest.

Eidan approached cautiously.

"What do you think?" Asta said excitedly as a holographic projection appeared. "You could get a mecha! You can wear it or have it follow you around! You'll be super safe!"

The screen displayed a towering mechanical titan.

Eidan blinked. "…It does sound great, but where would I even put this? How big is it?"

"Three hundred feet," the manager answered proudly.

Eidan stared at him. "I don't think this will even fit inside the Astral Express."

"…That's true," Asta admitted.

Eidan slowly turned to the manager.

This man is trying to make my boss spend on something unnecessary.

"Show me a normal weapon I can carry with my hands," Eidan said flatly.

The manager suddenly felt a chill and hurried away without another word.

Eidan looked back at Asta—and flicked her forehead lightly.

"You shouldn't let people sway you so easily, Asta."

The moment he did it—

He froze.

His finger was still in the air.

His brain stopped.

What did I just do?

He stared at Asta, horrified.

He had never done that before.

Never acted that casually.

It's over. My lifetime salary. Gone. I'm finished.

Asta, meanwhile, lowered her head slightly, one hand touching her forehead where he had flicked her.

A small warmth spread through her chest.

He's comfortable enough to do that…

Her lips curved into a bright, happy smile.

Eidan was still standing there, silently spiraling in self-despair.

Asta looked up at him, cheerful.

----------------divide-----------------

After the incident, Eidan chose something far more practical.

An old-design greatsword with subtle technological enhancements embedded along the spine of the blade. At first glance, it looked heavy—solid, reliable, almost antique in shape. But once he lifted it, the weight seemed to vanish in his hands. The internal stabilizers hummed faintly, redistributing the mass so the weapon moved as naturally as an extension of his arm.

He liked it immediately.

No glowing edges. No absurd features. Just a dependable weapon that felt right.

Asta paid without hesitation, clearly pleased that he had finally found something he liked.

Eidan glanced at her as they walked out of the store together. He was satisfied. Genuinely happy.

Which made him pause.

What about her?

He had been the one receiving things all day.

"Asta, it seems like we've already gotten everything," he said.

"Ah, already?" she looked at him, a little surprised.

He nodded. "So… how about we spend a bit more time here? Lunch first, then maybe just walk around. Have fun."

Asta blinked at him.

For a brief moment, she searched his eyes as if trying to confirm something unspoken.

Then she nodded. "Mm. Sure." A faint pink dusted her cheeks.

"Great," Eidan smiled. "Where should we go first?"

"Well…" Asta looked at him for a second longer, then gently took his hand. "Let me lead us."

And just like that, she walked ahead, still holding onto him.

Meanwhile, back at Herta Space Station…

A certain gray-haired raccoon was rolling dramatically on the floor near a teleportation pad.

"This is so unfair! If I stayed with Eidan, I could've gone shopping with Miss Asta at that super-duper expensive mall!"

She rolled once more for emphasis.

March 7th sighed. "Even if you keep whining, it won't change anything, Stelle."

"I know! But don't you think it's unfair?! Miss Asta clearly favors him!"

"I know it's unfair. Even I want to complain. But I have to maintain my image," March said with forced dignity.

Stelle stopped rolling and looked up at her. "You have one?"

"YOU—!"

Not far from the chaos, Arlan watched the scene with a weary smile and quietly shook his head.

-------------divide-------------

They arrived at a restaurant that did not resemble a “normal place to eat” in any sense of the word.

This was the kind of establishment where wealthy people came not because they were hungry, but because they could afford to not care how much the food cost.

A waiter guided them into a private dining room.

Inside, a single table stood beneath dim, warm lighting. Candles flickered gently. Rose petals were scattered across the polished floor. Soft instrumental music drifted through the air at a volume just low enough to feel intimate.

Eidan stopped at the doorway.

He looked at the room.

Then at Asta.

Then back at the room.

Asta, meanwhile, appeared completely unfazed—as if this were an ordinary lunch spot.

…Is this what she considers normal?

“Feel free to call me if you need anything,” the waiter said before leaving.

“Okay,” Eidan replied, still processing the atmosphere.

He pulled out the chair for Asta. She smiled softly as she sat.

“Thank you, Eidan.”

He nodded and took the seat across from her.

Before he could even look for the waiter again, a holographic menu projected itself above the table.

Right.

Sci-fi universe. Of course.

As his eyes scanned the list, he nearly choked internally.

This price is for a single dish?!

Worse, he had no idea what half the ingredients even were.

He glanced at Asta for help.

She noticed his look and smiled—then continued browsing as if this were casual reading.

Alright. Let’s gamble.

“Have you found something you’d like to order?” Asta asked.

“Yup… I guess?” Eidan replied uncertainly.

Asta pressed the call button. The waiter returned.

“I’ll have this, but prepared as a classic medium-rare steak, please,” Asta said smoothly.

“Of course, madam. And for you, sir?”

“This?” Eidan pointed at a random item.

The waiter paused. “Are you sure, sir?”

“…Is there something in the ingredients I should know about?”

“No, sir. It’s just… rarely ordered.”

“I see. Then I’ll change to this.”

“Are you sure, sir?”

“…?”

Eidan pointed at another.

“Are you sure, sir?”

“…????”

He looked at the waiter as if the man had personally offended him.

Asta let out a small chuckle. “It’s fine. Just order the same dish as me for him.”

“Very well. It will arrive shortly.” The waiter bowed and left.

Silence settled in the room.

A quiet, candlelit, suspiciously romantic silence.

“Ahem,” Eidan coughed, trying to defuse the awkwardness.

“Mm… Eidan, do you mind if I ask you something?” Asta said gently.

“Sure.”

“Do you… have a type of girl you like?”

“Huh?”

“No, no! Don’t misunderstand! I just heard some staff talking about preferences, and I got curious, that’s all!” she said quickly, waving her hands, eyes spinning with flustered panic.

Eidan chuckled.

“It’s not funny! I’m just asking!”

“It’s just… seeing you like this makes me want to give this moment a title.”

“Title? What title?”

“That Time My Boss Acted Way Too Cute.”

Asta froze.

“…Oh. That’s… a good title,” she said, pretending very hard that it didn’t affect her at all.

Then she leaned forward slightly. “So. What’s your type?”

Eidan looked at her.

“…Someone—”

His words stalled.

For a brief second, Asta’s image overlapped with another.

A woman with long purple hair, holding a lunch box. A warm, gentle smile.

“Does it taste good?”

“Ash—”

The image vanished.

Asta was in front of him again, looking worried.

“Eidan?”

He blinked. “It’s nothing. Just remembered something.”

He smiled lightly.

“I like the caring type.”

“I see…” Asta said, quietly taking note of that.

Eidan kept looking at her, as if trying to reconstruct the image that had overlapped moments ago.

He wasn’t slow.

When they first met, he thought Asta’s kindness was simply how she treated a close friend.

But ever since he told her he would join the Astral Express…

She had become bolder. Closer. More expressive.

If he still didn’t understand what that meant, then he would truly be a fool.

So yes.

Asta liked him.

He knew.

And yet…

For some reason, he felt like he couldn’t accept those feelings.

So he did the only thing he could.

He acted the same as always.

-----divide-----

(A/n: you can guess who is Eidan by now)