Sunny opened his eyes suddenly, terror etched across his face. Did he really faint on the Chained Isles?
With a start, he jumped up, ready to face whatever monstrous Nightmare Creature might be lurking nearby.
Wait... why am I at home? he thought, scanning his surroundings. A beautiful bed covered in soft, silk-like white sheets, and a wooden nightstand sat beside him.
Huh? Those are pink pillows... Wait, why am I in Nephis' room?! he screamed internally, the realization hitting him like a brick.
Now that his senses were fully restored, he looked around again. I didn't have pink pillows. What's going on here? His thoughts spiraled as confusion clouded his mind. Is this a mental attack?
No... it can't be. If it were, the Nightmare Creature would have killed me by now, right? Sunny's paranoia only grew as he recalled where he'd been just a few hours ago: running for his life from an army of over a hundred Fallen Demons and a massive, horrifying creature.
And now? He was in Nephis' room.
Sunny's eyes widened as another realization hit him. Why the hell am I shirtless?! he screamed inwardly, his embarrassment flaring to the point where his cheeks turned a bright shade of red.
Nephis was lying on the couch in Sunny's living room, her brow furrowed as she got lost in her thoughts. How does that idiot always end up in life-or-death situations? Just a few hours ago, she had gone to the Chained Isles, worried sick, to look for him.
To her surprise—and terror—she found him unconscious in the middle of the Sanctuary of Noctis, covered in blood, as if he had just survived hell.
She couldn't lie: the sight of him like that had scared her senseless. Finding the person you care about in such a state is something no one should ever experience.
The first thing she did was make sure he was still alive... or maybe she healed him first. She couldn't quite remember. Her mind had been too overwhelmed at the time. While tending to his wounds, something caught her off guard: Why does it embarrass me so much to touch him while he's asleep? she wondered, briefly averting her gaze.
Less than twelve hours ago, I woke up with him in the same bed... She brought a hand to her face, her cheeks warming at the memory. I'm definitely more lost than I thought.
Even now, she could still feel the memory of his alabaster skin beneath her fingers. So soft... it was like touching silk. His calm breathing was in stark contrast to what he had likely faced just minutes before: a battle that had left him on the brink of death.
That damn black hair... Why did she like it so much? And to be honest, she was quite jealous of Sunny's hair. Damn it! She had cut her own hair back at the academy, leaving it just below her ears, hoping her silver hair would grow back as black. But it didn't...
Better not to dwell on it, she thought with a sigh. Although, truthfully, she had grown used to her silver hair by now. And for some strange reason, it comforted her to know that Sunny liked her hair the way it was. Strange reason? No, it was far too obvious.
Then she saw him descending the stairs, a confused look flooding his black eyes. He seemed a little nervous, and seeing him like that, so disoriented... he was adorable.
"Nephis, why am I not wearing a shirt?" he asked, clearly uncomfortable. His nervousness was written all over his face, almost tangible in the air.
She chuckled internally. It had been just a little joke, something to entertain herself after all the recent tension. Keeping her usual neutral expression, she gave a half-hearted excuse. Inside, however, she was laughing. Of course, she couldn't let him know that.
An awkward silence settled in the room. Nephis began to feel embarrassed. Was he upset about her little prank? she wondered, unsure of what to say. But then his words caught her completely off guard.
"Neph, let's go buy you some clothes. Quickly."
And that's how they ended up in this situation. Sunny, in a rare act of generosity—and to help them blend in—had given her a temporary cosmetic dye that turned her hair black like his. According to Sunny, she now "looked on par with the most famous celebrities." Really? At first, she didn't believe him, but just as they were approaching the store, she saw it.
A massive billboard featured her, posing confidently, with the tagline:
"Nephis of the Immortal Flame Clan returns. Humanity's hope burns brighter than ever."
Her cheeks turned red with embarrassment. What the hell... This is so humiliating. I hope I don't see more of these, she thought, looking away quickly.
But as they neared the clothing store Kai had recommended, she spotted not one, but at least a dozen more identical billboards.
The young store attendant greeted them with a radiant smile and an almost overwhelming energy, showing them to the men's and women's fitting rooms. But something quickly irritated Nephis: why was she staring at Sunny so much? Her brow twitched in annoyance as she watched the girl stand far too close to him, smiling in a way Nephis found overly friendly.
Anger bubbled in her chest before she could stop it. Without thinking twice, she grabbed Sunny's arm firmly, pulling him away from the girl, and in a slightly haughty tone, told him to help her pick out a dress. The attendant didn't come near them again after that—for reasons Nephis didn't know but definitely appreciated.
The next thirty minutes were spent in a strange game where Nephis tried on dress after dress, secretly enjoying Sunny's shy reactions. The poor guy seemed to struggle to maintain his composure, especially with some of the outfits she chose. His face shifted between nervousness and confusion, something Nephis found inexplicably amusing.
One of the dresses she chose to buy was a simple light blue dress with thin straps. The fabric flowed lightly, the hem ending just above her knees. It was elegant yet casual, perfect for a calm day. The other was a black dress with subtle gold details, giving it a slightly more sophisticated edge. The flowing skirt reached mid-calf, and the golden accents shimmered faintly under the store lights.
Finally, she decided on those two dresses and a casual outfit consisting of a black shirt and white pants. Sunny, on the other hand, didn't seem as enthusiastic about shopping for himself, sticking almost entirely to black clothes. Despite her attempts to push him toward variety, he ultimately picked two identical black shirts made of soft fabric.
Nephis had been about to tease him about his lack of creativity, but when he tried one of the shirts on, the words caught in her throat. He looked... good. Too good. His slightly messy black hair fell over his cheekbones, framing his refined features. His dark eyes, almost mesmerizing, held that usual mix of nervousness and calm—always somewhere between confidence and hesitation. The black shirt fit him perfectly, highlighting his athletic build and pale skin, which seemed to glow faintly under the store's lights.
It was incredible to think that the boy she remembered, skin and bones back at the academy, had turned into... this.
As she thought about those days, she realized how much Sunny had changed. There was something about his presence—a mix of strength and vulnerability—that made him utterly fascinating. Perhaps it wasn't just his appearance that had evolved, but what he meant to her as well.
Just as she was about to tease him for his limited fashion choices, Sunny interrupted her with a shy smile.
"Are we done yet?" he asked, a faint blush coloring his cheeks.
Nephis smirked internally. Yes, she was done... but she definitely wouldn't let him forget how much fun she'd had watching him squirm.
They arrived home late at night, having been distracted by trivial things. Now that Sunny thought about it, today had felt oddly like... a date.
His shoulders slumped for a moment, but there wasn't much he could do about it now. In truth, he had really enjoyed the day. Facing death and then spending time with Nephis—it didn't get much better than that.
As they settled onto the couch, something he didn't expect happened.
"Don't think I've forgotten, you idiot," Nephis said, her beautiful voice carrying a trace of anger. "Why did you go to the Chained Isles alone?"
Sunny froze. He could hear the edge in her tone, the subtle tension.
"I didn't want to bother you?" he offered weakly, though even he didn't believe his own excuse.
And then, something even more unexpected happened. Nephis was suddenly in front of him, her delicate hands gripping his wrists firmly. Her usually neutral expression cracked slightly, revealing an unmistakable flash of anger.
"I know that while I was gone, you only formed another cohort for the Second Nightmare."
Her voice softened, but only slightly, as she added, "Idiot."
Her striking gray eyes locked with his onyx ones. Sunny hesitated, unsure of what to say. Her words were both scolding and... something else entirely.
"Then are you going to be part of my cohort?" Sunny joked, trying to ease the tension. After all, he was technically already a part of hers.
To his surprise, Nephis smiled faintly. "Yes."
"What?" Sunny blinked, utterly baffled. Damn it, Nephis! She seriously needed to learn how to catch a joke. Or so he thought—until he noticed the slight smirk on her face.
Wait... was she mocking me?
With a frown, Sunny sent two shadows to his wrists, amplifying his strength and momentarily surpassing Nephis.
The scene that followed was... awkward, to say the least. Sunny had somehow pinned Nephis onto the couch. Given that he was smaller than her, the sight was as ridiculous as it was amusing.
Sunny smirked to himself, savoring the rare moment of catching Nephis off guard. Her surprised expression was a delight to see, one he wouldn't soon forget.