The sky darkened as the crescent moon and twinkling stars replaced the scorching sun, painting a serene celestial backdrop.
Waves crashed gently, accompanied by the rustling wind.
"Sip..."
Kiana enjoyed her warm drink while across from her, Zeke delicately placed a plump, vibrant red strawberry atop a towering fruit stack.
"Done, here's your colorful fruit cake... Take it slow, don't choke." Zeke softly spoke, pushing over the intricately crafted tower of fresh fruits on top of a cake base.
A knife and fork appeared in Kiana's hands.
"(???`?) Yay! But where should I start eating?!"
The cake's exquisite shape and vibrant colors made Kiana hesitate. Knowing that Zeke had meticulously arranged it by hand for quite some time further delayed her from taking a slice.
"Ah!"
Zeke sighed, shook his head, and grabbed Kiana's hand holding the knife. With a few swift motions, he sliced the fruit-topped cake into eight pieces.
"Agh! You cut it up! Zeke, you're so cruel!"
"Cruel? Please. It was just for show; we were always going to eat it anyway."
Gently tapping Kiana on the head, Zeke spoke with a deadpan tone.
Kiana playfully stuck out her tongue.
"Hehe! Alright, let me distribute these slices! One for Zeke...one for Kiana...no more for Zeke...the rest is all mine!"
After performing a mock-serious division of the cake, a solitary piece lay before Zeke while Kiana stretched her arms around the remaining portions, claiming them as hers.
Zeke lowered his head, expressionless, glanced at his single slice, then reached out and pinched Kiana's cheeks gently.
"You sure know how to be fair," Zeke remarked mildly, pulling her cheeks outward.
"Ow! Owieeee..."
"...How childish." Zeke let go of her cheeks.
Relieved to have narrowly escaped punishment, Kiana beamed brightly.
"Thanks, Zeke."
"Don't make a habit of it. And don't eat too much sugar before bedtime."
"Yes sir!"
Kiana gleefully responded, licking her lips before enthusiastically digging in.
Swimming during the day, watching the sea, fishing, playing chess—participating in various activities had significantly lifted Kiana's spirits. However, perhaps the most crucial factor was simply being by Zeke's side.
As Zeke observed her sparkling eyes, his own lips gradually curved upwards, and he took a forkful of cake into his mouth.
The dessert was rich, smooth, and infused with the perfectly balanced aroma of assorted fruits. It struck a delightful balance between sweetness without becoming cloying—a true masterpiece.
After all, he had crafted it himself, meticulously selecting ingredients and timing each step with precision. This exemplified the pinnacle of data-driven culinary artistry.
Seeing cream smeared around Kiana's mouth, with even some specks on her charming cheeks, Zeke couldn't help but set down his fork.
"Eat slower; no one is competing with you," he gently advised, sounding somewhat resigned as he reached out with his index finger to wipe away a dollop of white cream from Kiana's face.
Kiana looked up, blinking in confusion, her puffed cheeks indicating she was still savoring the delicious food.
Her innocent delight in savoring the food was utterly charming.
Zeke paused for a moment, then inexplicably brought his finger with the cream from Kiana's face to his mouth.
"Very sweet," he remarked nonchalantly, leaving it unclear whether he meant the cream or Kiana herself more.
The girl's cheeks flushed instantly.
"D-d-don't ambush me like that!" Holding her fork and knife crossed before her chest, she turned away, adopting a defensive posture as if unable to bear any further teasing.
In truth, she couldn't resist—suddenly, the sweetness of the cake paled in comparison to the warmth flooding her heart.
"Eat slowly; don't choke yourself," Zeke advised with a warm smile, pushing over his barely touched slice of cake towards her.
That indulgent grin and gentle gaze were expressions rarely seen on Zeke's face, even by Kiana. Consequently, her heart began to race uncontrollably.
Kiana lowered her head, slowing down slightly yet still focusing intently on eating her cake—a tactic to conceal both her enchantment and bewilderment.
Half an hour later on the cruise ship's deck, Kiana and Zeke lay side by side on a soft blanket, gazing at the moon and stars above.
Kiana gently patted her full belly with a contented smile and sighed softly.
"Ah! Seafood feast, followed by fruit cake—it's been such a satisfying day. I can't eat another bite."
"Don't pat your stomach when you're full; it's not a good habit."
Zeke instinctively offered this gentle advice before taking hold of Kiana's hand, guiding it down to rest beside them, their fingers intertwining.
With a chuckle, Kiana turned her head to look into Zeke's deep, ocean-blue eyes and asked,
"Are you happy, Zeke?"
"Yes, very much so."
"That's great! I'm incredibly happy too! It's wonderful being able to spend time with you, Zeke."
"There will be plenty more opportunities since we have all the time in the world."
"Absolutely!" Kiana exclaimed energetically, gazing up at the night sky once again and sighing blissfully. She then closed her eyes, relishing the soothing sea breeze—and the delightful feeling of holding hands with Zeke.
As night deepened and the moon reached its zenith in the sky, Kiana, who had fallen silent as if asleep, opened her eyes.
"Zeke, something's on your mind, isn't it? Is there something you want to tell me?" She tilted her head with a radiant smile, her voice carrying a rare tranquility amidst its usual tinkling lilt.
Zeke tightened his grip on her hand and turned his head towards her, asking, "Did you notice?"
"Of course! We've grown up together; no one knows Zeke better than I do." Kiana chuckled softly, her gaze filled with affection, bright like the starry heavens.
Zeke let out a long sigh.
"You're sure you want to talk about this now?"
"Mondstadt holds special significance for us. I wish it was just you and me going there, and I hope that whatever we need to do or say there involves only you and me. So, please tell me now, what happened? Why have you seemed troubled these past few days, Zeke?"
Kiana spoke with a tender voice, filled with reassurance and understanding. Gone was her usual air of innocence; now she exuded maturity and warmth.
Zeke fell silent for a moment, intertwining his fingers with hers as he slowly began to speak:
"How should I put this... During the half month you were away..."
"Hm?"
"I officially started dating Bronya."
"What do you mean... 'started dating'?" Kiana asked, bewildered, her eyes gradually widening. Then, she turned her gaze toward the starry sky, falling silent.
Neither spoke, but their hands unconsciously tightened around each other's grasp.
After a long pause, Kiana replied in a calm, composed tone:
"Oh, really? I never expected Bronya to feel that way—she certainly didn't show it at all."
Her overly serene reaction caught Zeke off guard.
Then, he noticed a single clear tear sliding from the corner of her eye, dampening the blanket beneath them.
"Kiana."
"Hm? What is it, Bronya?"
"...I'm sorry."
"(°ー°〃)...Huh?"
"There's something Bronya needs to apologize for. But that apology is all she can offer you. Beyond that, there is no regret, and I won't back down."
"(⊙▽⊙)...What?"
"In any case, enjoy your vacation. We'll have plenty of time to talk later."
"┐(?-`)┌..."
The previous night, before setting off on their journey, Bronya had said something peculiar to Kiana that left her utterly confused.
Now, she finally understood what it meant.
"Unfair..."
"It's just so unfair..."
"You knew I couldn't leave Zeke and that there was no way I could hate him, right?"
"Bullying..."
"You're both bullying me!"
Overwhelmed by a sense of injustice, Kiana could no longer hold back. She released Zeke's hand, covered her face with both palms, and began sobbing uncontrollably.
Zeke stood up, reached out, and gently wiped away the tears streaming down Kiana's cheeks from beneath her fingers.
Despite his resolve to always protect her, he had inadvertently caused her pain once again.
"Kiana, I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize!" Kia swatted away Zeke's hand, vehemently protesting through sobs.
Even Kiana herself couldn't count all the times Zeke had been there for her, so he didn't need to apologize—never did.
She turned sideways, curling into herself, her body trembling as she continued weeping.
Zeke opened his mouth, but his once boundlessly creative mind now felt utterly blank, unable to find any comforting words.
Once again, he realized that the most disarming weapon against him—the one thing he couldn't resist—in this world were Kiana's tears, especially those shed because of him.