[37.1] Reika Gets a Real Date

I stared at the tickets with a grin.

This! This is a true date!

I ran out of my house and to the gazebo by the lake where Cyrus would undoubtedly be.

I noticed he was still practicing the sword, so I hid in the bushes to watch.

He swung his sword with a look of complete concentration.

A small bead of sweat trailed down his face and neck.

He wiped at his forehead and pulled at his shirt to relieve himself from the summer heat.

I licked my lips.

Go on! Take it off!

Take the shirt off!

It's not like anyone's around!

Except, he didn't take his shirt off and instead put his sword away.

He plopped down on a chair by the white metallic table in the gazebo's shade. He let out an exhausted breath.

I jumped out of the bushes, "WHY DIDN'T YOU TAKE IT OFF!?"

Cyrus let out a shriek and nearly fell off his chair. He looked back at me in disbelief, "How long have you been there?"

I paused, "Um… Not long?"

He pursed his lips.

I quickly slammed the tickets down on the table in front of him, "THERE!"

He looked at the tickets, "What are those?"

I smiled proudly, "A proper date."

He raised an eyebrow, "Meaning?"

"They are tickets to an opera. Apparently, the famous singer 'Rose' is coming to town from the West. They say her voice can enchant anyone who listens."

"Oh."

"I got two tickets." I leaned forward, inches from his face, "Meaning it's a date… AND! I got us a private room. Do you know what that means?"

He studied my face as if thinking about something else and responded absentmindedly, "What?"

My lips curled up, "No one will know what we do there."

Caldwell chuckled, "How bold."

"W-What would we do!?" He looked away and clutched his chest. The corners of his lips twitched, threatening to smile, "It would be nice to be alone…"

I ignored him and leaned back with a sigh, "The only condition is that Zephyr and Hazel are also going… Although they have a room to themselves too."

Cyrus brushed back his hair, "Ah, so they're going together."

I nodded, "Yeah. There was a sale on tickets. If you bought three, you got one free."

Cyrus paused, "Did you buy three tickets just to get the sale?"

"Well duh! It's a sale! Do you know how much I saved!?"

He stared at me without expression, "But wouldn't you save more money just by buying two?"

I met his blue eyes silently.

I cleared my throat and changed the subject, "Anyway, it's a white-tie affair so you have to wear your best clothes."

I tugged at his shirt with thirsty eyes, "Which I'm sure wouldn't be a problem for you."

He pulled his shirt out of my grasp and stared at me as if I was a wolf, "I will wear my best suit then."

"Good." I sat down across from him while staring at him with a wide smile.

He stared back at me in confusion, "Is there anything else?"

I shook my head, "Nope!"

We continued to stare at each other.

He spoke slowly, "Then why are you still here? You never seem to leave your room on our days off."

I pursed my lips, "Can't I just sit here and enjoy your company?"

He looked at me a bit surprised, "I-It's fine… I guess."

I pushed my chair closer to him while batting my eyelashes, "You really want me to stay?"

He smirked and moved his chair closer to me. He reached out to softly touch my hand, "Do you want to stay with me that badly?"

I felt my cheeks get hot.

H-He's flirting with me, isn't he?!

Caldwell giggled to himself, "It seems like my presence has been forgotten."

Cyrus pulled his hand back and turned away with a grumpy look as he grumbled to himself, "Mood killer."

Caldwell ignored him and motioned to me, "Would you like some tea, miss?"

I nodded and slapped the tabletop happily, "Sure. Load me up."

After having a few sips of tea, I looked back at Cyrus, "Have you found any traces of Moni yet?"

He shook his head, "I haven't. Since we discovered his identity, the Bureau hasn't really kept me updated on the case. I guess it's out of our hands now."

I clicked my tongue and tapped the table with my finger, "Maybe we should pay my Uncle a visit."

Caldwell dropped the tray in his hand which clattered on the ground, "LET'S GO NOW!"

"I can't tonight." I turned to Cyrus with a mischievous smile, "I have a date."

Cyrus cleared his throat and pretended to be unperturbed.

Caldwell deflated in rejection, "But I haven't seen him in weeks… I'm getting lonely."

"Okay, don't cry. We can visit him tomorrow after class."

Caldwell visibly looked happier, "I guess I will just have to wait one more day to see my Prince charming."

I reached over the table to poke Cyrus, "I'm glad I got to see my Prince Charming today. There's no way I could wait another day."

Cyrus's face twitched, "Stop poking me."

I annoyed Cyrus for a little longer before I got kicked out.