Chapter 7:

Asher rested his head against his palm, his elbow propped on the table, watching Mei with quiet amusement. She was completely focused on arranging her drink and dessert for the perfect shot—adjusting the angle, the lighting, and even the position of her strawberry soda.

Her eyes sparkled with delight as she finally tapped the shutter. Asher couldn't help but smile. Mei's expression, so full of simple joy, was more charming than the dessert itself.

Then suddenly—click.

"Huh?" Asher blinked, caught off guard.

Mei had turned the camera on him.

She giggled. "You looked so serious. Like you were thinking about something really deep." She showed him the photo.

Asher stared at the image of himself: brows slightly furrowed, eyes lost in thought. A faint chuckle escaped his lips. "Yeah… I do look way too serious."

"What were you thinking about?" Mei asked casually, slipping her phone back.

"Mm… nothing important," Asher replied, brushing it off.

Mei looked at him a moment, as if she wanted to ask more—but then smiled instead. "If you don't want to tell me, that's fine."

She turned back to the dessert, then glanced at Asher again. "Hey, come here. Let's take a photo together!"

"Huh?" Asher hesitated.

"Come on," she said, patting the seat beside her.

After a brief pause, Asher stood and moved next to her. Mei slid the cheesecake plate between them and held it gently, guiding Asher's hand to hold it with her.

"Smile," she said softly as she lifted her phone with her free hand.

He didn't look at the camera—he looked at her, just for a second—and then smiled.

Click.

Mei checked the photo and smile. "This one's cute."

"Let me see," Asher said.

She turned her phone toward him. He nodded, satisfied, then moved to return to his seat—but paused when Mei grabbed his sleeve.

"Don't go yet," she said quietly.

He looked at her, then sighed with a tiny smile and stayed seated.

Mei picked up a fork, sliced a bite from the mochi cheesecake, and took a taste. "Mmm… sweet!"

Then she took another bite's worth and held it out to him. "Say ah~"

Asher blinked, a little surprised—but leaned forward, and let her feed him.

"Not bad," he said after chewing.

At the counter nearby, the cashier watched the scene unfold in silence. She leaned on the register and sighed.

"Young people these days… feeding each other dessert, smiling like they're in a romance manga… Meanwhile, I'm pushing thirty and still going home to instant noodles and a cat who ignores me. This world is truly unfair."

She glanced away and muttered under her breath, "Hope they at least post those pictures. That cheesecake needs more publicity."

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Outside, on the streets of Nagazora…

Asher and Mei walked side by side, their pace leisurely, the breeze light. Asher glanced at his wristwatch.

3:00 PM.

Still early. The sun hadn't begun its descent yet, and the sky remained a soft blue.

He turned slightly toward Mei.
“Do you have any plans after this? Or... should I walk you home?”

Mei tilted her head, her long hair swaying gently.
“Um… let’s spend more time together,” she replied with a soft smile.

Asher nodded. “Alright.”

They continued strolling in companionable silence until something caught Mei’s eye. She stopped in her tracks, her attention pulled toward a colorful storefront just ahead.

Asher paused and followed her gaze.

Clawcade.

A retro-themed arcade filled with claw machines, neon signs, and rows of plushies inside clear display boxes.

“You wanna try one?” Asher asked, noticing the childlike sparkle in Mei’s eyes.

Mei turned to him and nodded. “Um.”

Without a word, Asher led the way into the shop. Bright lights and faint chiptune music greeted them as they stepped inside.

Asher glanced around before asking, “Which one caught your eye?”

Mei walked up to a machine and pointed inside.

“Homu plushie, huh?” Asher smiled. “You like that one?”

“Yes,” Mei said softly, her eyes never leaving the plush.

Asher exchanged some bills for tokens and walked back.
“Do you want to try first?”

“Yes. I think it looks fun,” Mei said, a little uncertain.

Asher slipped a token into the machine and turned to her.
“Alright, here—this button drops the claw, and the joystick lets you move it.”

Mei nodded but seemed unsure. Asher noticed her hesitation.
“If you’re still not sure… here.”

He gently took her hand and guided it to the controls, his hand covering hers.

“Like this,” he said, his voice calm.

Mei’s breath hitched slightly, her cheeks burning as she stared at their hands. Her heart thumped loudly in her chest.

She didn’t understand this feeling this the first time ever she feel it but she didn't dislike it.

A few careful movements later, the claw descended…

Clink. Clatter.

Success.

Now hugging the soft Homu plushie tightly to her chest, Mei turned her gaze slightly downward, her face flushed red, peeking shyly toward Asher.

“…Thank you, Ash,” she murmured.

Asher smiled, scratching the back of his neck.
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you like it.”

Mei quickly turned away to hide her expression.

Exiting the arcade, Mei and Asher strolled aimlessly through the lively streets of Nagazora.

The soft breeze carried the smell of sweet confections, and Asher suddenly stopped when he spotted a small ice cream cart tucked beside a bookstore.

He glanced at Mei.

“Wanna grab some ice cream?”

Mei tilted her head. “Ice cream?”

Asher nodded. “Yeah, I could use something cold.”

Mei smiled. “Sure.”

They bought two cones. Asher chose vanilla, Mei went with strawberry. They wandered into a few quirky shops nearby, buying random accessories and laughing at things that made no sense.

Eventually, Mei burst into giggles again as she looked up at Asher.

“You still have that alien on your head,” she chuckled.

Asher grinned. “You picked it for me.”

“Well, it suits you,” she said.

“To be fair,” he said, reaching into the bag and pulling out an identical alien headband, “I’m not suffering alone.”

He placed it gently on her head. “Now we match.”

Mei looked up at him and chuckle.

Then she lit up. “Ash, let’s take a picture together!”

“Sure,” Asher replied, but as she raised her phone, it was obvious the height difference made it tricky to frame both of their faces properly.

“I think we should ask someone else to take it,” Asher said.

Mei nodded, looking around. “Good idea—”

But before they could approach anyone, a voice called out from behind.

“Senpai?”

Asher turned.

Standing there was a girl with long light purple hair and mismatched green and black eyes. Her expression was unreadable.

“…Yuna?” Asher said, surprised.

Yuna blinked once and stepped forward, eyeing the pair of them and the matching headbands.

Then her gaze settled on Mei.

Mei blinked and asked curiously, “Hmm? Who’s that, Ash? Your junior?”

Asher nodded. “Yeah. Mei, meet Yuna she my junior. Yuna, this is Mei.”

Mei gave a polite smile. “Nice to meet you, Yuna-san.”

Yuna stared for a second before replying in a quiet tone, “Nice to meet you too… Mei-senpai.”

Then she asked bluntly, “Are you two dating?”

Mei quickly waved her hands. “No, no—we’re not dating!”

Yuna watched Mei’s reaction carefully, then looked back at Asher.

“We’re just hanging out,” Asher added, calm as ever.

“I see…” Yuna murmured.

Trying to break the sudden awkwardness, Asher asked, “Anyway, what are you doing here? Out with some friends?”

Yuna narrowed her eyes slightly. “Senpai, you know I don’t have friends other than you. Are you trying to mock me?”

Asher blinked, caught off guard. “What? No, not at all. I honestly hope you do make more friends someday.”

There was a beat of silence. Yuna seemed taken aback….

Mei stepped forward. “Then let me be your second friend, Yuna-chan!”

Yuna flinched slightly, surprised by the sudden offer. She instinctively took a half-step back when Mei looked like ready to hug her, but Mei restrained herself.

“…Yuna-chan?” Yuna repeated, unfamiliar with the nickname.

“If you don’t like it, I’ll just call you Yuna,” Mei added quickly.

“…No,” Yuna said, her voice smaller than usual. “I don’t mind. Senpai can call me that.”

Mei smile. “Alright then, Yuna-chan.”

Yuna stared at her for a moment… then gave the faintest smile.

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At an undisclosed location...

In a dimly lit office adorned with sleek steel walls and a floor-to-ceiling window, a blonde-haired woman sat behind a polished desk. Her sharp purple eyes scanned the contents of a confidential file with unwavering focus. The room was silent, save for the soft rustle of turning pages.

A knock echoed at the door.

"Enter," the woman said without looking up.

A subordinate stepped in, dressed in a formal black suit, posture rigid with discipline. The woman—still focused on the file—glanced briefly at them before returning to her reading.

“Madam, the preparations are complete,” the subordinate reported. “We are ready to proceed. Just waiting for your green light.”

The woman closed the file slowly, setting it down on her desk. A faint, calculated smile curved her lips as she rose to her feet and walked toward the massive window overlooking a sprawling, gleaming metropolis.

Her reflection stared back at her in the glass poised, powerful, and unreadable.

“Good,” she said quietly. “You may initiate the next phase.”

“Yes, Madam Cocolia.” The subordinate gave a deep bow and exited swiftly.

Cocolia stood in silence for a moment longer, arms crossed behind her back as she watched the city below.

“Soon... M.E. Corp will be under my control,” she murmured, her voice like ice beneath velvet.

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