Part 1
"That was insane!" Akari exclaimed, stretching her arms with energy, her eyes still glowing as if lightning coursed through her veins. "We definitely deserve a good dinner after that!"
"I suggest Nami's Lighthouse," Jake offered, checking his reservation app with the air of a seasoned expert. "The nighttime view by the sea is gorgeous, and their seafood ramen is legendary."
"Mmm… sounds good," Hina nodded, though her tone was more subdued than usual. "Are we all going?"
"I'll join later," Shizuki cut in, checking the time on her pocket watch. "I need to clean up and change first."
"Ohhh, the princess is getting fancy?" Jake teased, raising an eyebrow theatrically.
"I'm sweaty… and my uniform got wrecked during the fight." Shizuki typed something into her phone with her usual precision. "A proper bath and clean clothes are more than necessary. Honestly, you all should consider it too."
"Eh?" They all looked down at their wrinkled, stained uniforms.
"You don't want to walk into a restaurant looking like that, do you?" she added, giving them a pointed look that felt like a fashion death sentence.
"She's got a point…" Touma muttered, scratching his cheek. "How about we meet there at 8:00 PM?"
"Sounds good," Hina agreed with a soft smile. Then she turned to Akari. "Want to come with us? We might have something you can borrow."
"Eh?! Just because I'm a fighter doesn't mean I don't have cute clothes!" Akari puffed her cheeks like an indignant hamster. "But okay, I'll swing by your room after I freshen up, okay?"
"Perfect," Hina nodded.
And just like that, the three girls walked off toward the dorms, chatting and laughing softly.
Right then, as if summoned by divine script, a sleek limousine slid up to the curb—so silently it seemed to glide.
Shizuki stopped with her usual poise: upright, serene, untouchable.
The butler opened the door with a graceful bow.
"Milady," he said in a low, flawless voice.
Shizuki nodded and stepped inside without a word. The door shut with a soft click, and the limousine vanished into the traffic like a mirage.
Touma watched her in silence.
Jake stepped up beside him.
"Come on, tell me you don't have some feelings for that girl."
"Shut up!" Touma snapped, turning away to hide his flushed face.
"You're right. A girl like her would never notice a scrawny, ambitionless guy," Jake shrugged.
"Quit spouting nonsense and let's go change… and you could use a real bath, too. You stink," Touma added with a teasing grin.
"Yeah, yeah… such a caring friend."
Still joking around, the two headed off toward the dorms, the ocean breeze gently brushing the evening air.
A few hours later—clean, dressed, and after confirming everyone's messages—the night fell over Tenryu City.
The sky, a deep navy blue, sparkled with the first stars as the lights along the coast reflected over the calm sea.
Touma, his hair still damp, checked himself in the mirror before heading out.
Nami's Lighthouse, a seaside restaurant, awaited with its terrace bathed in the glow of lanterns and torches. Wooden tables and swaying umbrellas made it feel like a dream tucked into the shoreline.
"This place… is nicer than I expected," Touma said, glancing around with mild surprise.
"Told you. I always read the reviews," Jake replied proudly as he passed a decorative fountain with golden koi. "The food's amazing. And look at that view."
The two headed toward the outdoor seating area. Several tables were already occupied by couples and small groups.
"What about that one over there?" Touma asked, pointing to a table a little removed from the rest of the diners.
"It's a bit far, but yeah, looks good," Jake nodded.
"Knowing Shizuki, it's probably the best choice."
They took their seats, and Touma let out a long sigh as he draped the light jacket he'd been carrying over the back of his chair.
"You know… after everything that happened today, this actually feels kind of nice."
"You mean watching two girls who look like they stepped out of an action RPG nearly destroy the arena?" Jake smirked. "Yeah, I'd say a good dinner is the least we deserve."
Touma chuckled.
"You think everyone's coming? Hina's a given—I know her better than anyone."
"She'll be here for sure. Akari won't miss a meal even if a meteor hits, Mirai's way too responsible to bail on anyone, and Shizuki… well, she said she'd come. And if she says it, she means it."
"You're right."
As they waited, a young waiter approached with a polite smile.
"Would you like to order anything?"
"Thanks, we're waiting on a few others," Touma replied. "But could we get a couple of soft drinks in the meantime?"
The waiter nodded and left smoothly.
"So," Jake said, resting his elbows on the table with a thoughtful expression, "what did you think of today's duel?"
"Both of them were incredible," Touma said without hesitation.
"Yeah… I expected as much from the president. Her movements, her control, her level… they're unreal."
Jake crossed his arms, thinking.
"And Shizuki… she really rose to the occasion. Honestly, she surprised me."
"She's always seemed like an amazing girl to me," Touma murmured, lowering his gaze like he was searching for something in his thoughts. "I wish I were as strong as her… maybe then I could actually protect what matters most to me."
Jake glanced at him sideways, a small smile forming on his lips.
"Come on, don't get like that. At least you've got your health… I think. And who knows, maybe one day your Astra Core will wake up."
Touma chuckled softly.
"Sure. About as likely as you beating Misaki Toudou in a sim match."
"Hey, that was uncalled for. I'm the top pilot in all of America, you know. If we were over there, I'd crush her."
"I admire that good ol' American confidence," Touma said with a smirk. "But no, I stand by what I said."
Jake clicked his tongue, resigned.
A few minutes later, the restaurant lights flickered softly as three figures approached from the main entrance.
"They're here," Jake said, turning his head.
Hina and Mirai walked in side by side, both wearing simple pastel-colored dresses that gave them a sweet, dreamy café vibe.
Hina had on a lavender dress with delicate lace accents, while Mirai wore a pale pink one with a soft white knit cardigan. Their gentle, shy smiles completed the look.
"Wow… they look like stars in a perfume commercial," Jake whispered, raising a brow.
"Yeah…" Touma nodded, unable to take his eyes off them.
And then Akari appeared behind them.
She was wearing a hoodie with rounded ears on the hood, a stitched-on face, and a pom-pom tail bouncing in the back. Below that—tight jeans and a T-shirt featuring karate-bunny cartoons.
"Heeey! We're not late, are we?" she called out, waving enthusiastically. The hood cast an adorably shady veil over her eyes.
Touma blinked.
Jake froze for a few seconds.
"…Is that a panda?" he whispered.
"Or maybe a bear… but definitely fluffy," Touma murmured, mouth slightly open.
Akari stopped in front of them like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"What? Do I have something on my face?"
"No, no…" Jake cleared his throat. "It's just… a lot to take in, visually."
"Huh? You don't like it? This coat is my favorite! I got it at a kawaii fair in Harajuku," Akari said, puffing out her cheeks. "Plus, it's super cozy and warm! Look, it's got paw-shaped pockets!"
She slid her hands into them and pulled them out like claws.
"Rawr!"
Touma covered his face, barely holding in his laughter.
"You're… more ferocious than ever."
"Exactly!" Akari nodded proudly. "It's the perfect balance between cuteness and destructive power!"
"You look very cute, Akari," Hina said with a sincere smile.
"Y-yeah… s-so adorable…" Mirai added in a whisper.
"See? They get it!" Akari said, crossing her arms as the bear hood slipped to one side, making her look even more ridiculously adorable.
Jake sighed in defeat and pointed to the table.
"Alright, sit down before that coat starts attracting raccoons from the woods."
Akari stuck out her tongue.
"You're just jealous because you couldn't pull off a panda look even if your life depended on it."
Everyone laughed as they settled around the table. The atmosphere warmed instantly, becoming more relaxed, more personal.
Touma glanced around as everyone got comfortable. Shizuki still hadn't arrived.
"What about the Ice Princess?" Jake asked, flipping through the menu.
"She said she'd come straight here," Touma replied. "You know how she is—punctual, elegant, and… mysterious."
"Classic."
Just then, a figure appeared at the entrance.
Shizuki walked in with graceful steps, wrapped in a lilac dress that flowed like silk over her figure, a delicate arrangement of silver flowers tucked to one side of her hair.
She wore no jewelry. She didn't need any.
She was the jewel.
Every eye in the restaurant turned toward her, as if the world itself had pressed pause.
Touma swallowed hard, and Jake dropped his menu.
"…We are absolutely not in the same league," Hina murmured.
Shizuki simply looked up, and for a moment, even the ocean seemed to fall silent in her presence.