A Night To Remember

Hiro stood in front of his mirror, adjusting his collar for what felt like the hundredth time. He let out a shaky breath, staring at his reflection as nerves settled in.

"Okay… I think I'm ready," he muttered. His hands instinctively reached for his hair, smoothing it down, then messing it up again. "But what if something goes wrong? What if I say something stupid? What if—"

He groaned, running a hand down his face. "Crap, I don't want to mess this up."

Meanwhile, across the city, Lucina was also getting ready. She stood before her closet, scanning through her outfits with a thoughtful look. As she reached for a dress, her mind drifted back to a painful memory—Hiro, unconscious in her arms, bloodied and barely alive.

Her fingers clenched around the fabric as the words she had whispered that night replayed in her mind.

"I couldn't even say… that I love you…"

She exhaled, shaking her head as if to push the memory away. "Maybe he heard me that night… maybe he always knew." She bit her lip, then smiled to herself. "But none of that matters now. Whatever happens tonight, I'm going to enjoy every second with him."

An hour later, Lucina stood outside her apartment, glancing at her phone as a message popped up from Hiro: I'm outside.

Her heart skipped a beat. With a deep breath, she grabbed her purse and hurried outside.

Hiro leaned against his car, dressed sharper than she had ever seen him before. His hands were stuffed into his pockets, but the slight shift of his weight gave away his nervousness.

Lucina grinned as she approached. "Sooo… what's the plan?"

Hiro chuckled, opening the passenger door for her. "Well, since you really wanted to go to the carnival, we'll start there… and after that, we'll see where the night takes us."

Lucina's excitement was unmistakable. "Ooooh, this is going to be fun."

Hiro nodded, feeling his own nerves ease as he started driving toward the carnival. The car ride was filled with conversation—lighthearted, yet meaningful.

"So… have you heard anything about Aidan?" Lucina asked, her voice tinged with hesitation.

Hiro sighed, gripping the wheel a little tighter. "No, not really. After our fight, I haven't heard anything from Umito either. He was probably taken back by the organization." He forced a small smile. "But let's not worry about that tonight. Today is about having fun."

Lucina turned to him, studying his face for a moment before nodding. "Yeah… today is all about fun."

The carnival was alive with bright lights, laughter, and the sound of games and rides whirring in motion. As they stepped inside, Hiro looked around before glancing at Lucina. "Well… where to first?"

Lucina scanned the attractions before linking her arm around his. "Let's get on some rides."

Hiro was slightly surprised by her sudden gesture but smiled nonetheless, tightening his hold around her arm. Lucina blushed but didn't pull away, and together, they walked deeper into the carnival.

They spent hours enjoying themselves—riding coasters, playing games, and indulging in carnival food that was definitely not good for them. Hiro, who rarely let his guard down, found himself laughing more than he had in years.

As the sun began to set, they found themselves in front of the Ferris wheel.

Lucina's eyes sparkled. "One last ride?"

Hiro smirked. "How could I say no?"

As the Ferris wheel ascended, the entire city stretched out before them, bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun. Lucina leaned back, exhaling happily. "Today was amazing. I really enjoyed every second with you."

Hiro turned to her, his gaze soft. "Yeah… me too."

Lucina hesitated before speaking again. "You know, Hiro… I never thought we'd go on a date. Mostly because I never imagined you'd have feelings for me."

Hiro let out a small chuckle, looking out at the horizon. "Lucina… ever since I met you, I thought you were interesting. I never imagined we'd even talk until you showed up at my boxing match. After that, we ran into each other more and started talking… then senior year, we started spending more time together." He paused. "I think that's when I realized how much you meant to me."

Lucina listened intently, her heart pounding. "I… I started having feelings for you during senior year too," she admitted. "But I wasn't sure if those feelings would last." She smiled softly. "But they never faded… if anything, they only grew stronger."

She turned to face him, leaning forward slightly. "I hope we can stay together and have more moments like this."

Hiro met her gaze and nodded. "Me too."

They sat in peaceful silence, watching the sun dip below the horizon. Lucina, feeling a surge of courage, rested her head against Hiro's shoulder. The warmth between them was comforting, unspoken.

And then, in a whisper, Lucina said, "I love you."

Hiro stiffened for a moment, then slowly smiled. "I love you too."

Later that night, Hiro walked Lucina back to her apartment. Their hands were intertwined, reluctant to let go.

"Tonight was amazing," Hiro murmured. "I hope we can do this again."

Lucina nodded. "Maybe we should make this a weekly thing."

Hiro chuckled. "I'd like that."

Just as he was about to leave, Lucina hesitated before asking, "You know… we could live together."

Hiro blinked, stunned by the offer. "You mean that?"

Lucina smiled. "Only if you want to."

Hiro's expression softened, and he nodded. "I'd love to."

Lucina's smile widened. "Then why don't you stay over tonight? We can figure everything out tomorrow."

Without hesitation, Hiro nodded. "Yeah… I'd like that."

As they stepped inside Lucina's apartment, neither of them noticed the dark figure watching them from a nearby rooftop.

A masked man crouched in the shadows, speaking into a radio. "What are your orders, boss?"

Through the static, Kazuya's voice came through, eerily calm. "Let them be… for now."

The masked figure nodded, vanishing into the darkness.

Meanwhile, Kazuya leaned back in his chair, a twisted grin forming on his lips. "Enjoy your peace while you can, Hiro… because your little girlfriend is going to be our next target."

A chilling laugh filled the room.

(End of Chapter)