(VALENTINE SPECIAL) Hana's special date I

Tokyo-to, Suginami.

One year after the Upir Twins' battle and defeat.

*

In a spacious, luxurious bedroom, a king-sized bed sat opposite a grand balcony, resting atop an intricate rug woven with blue and golden hues.

On this bed lay not just a king—but a being of divinity, clad in soft, dragon-print pajamas. A deep blue duvet, adorned with scattered moons and stars, draped over their form. Their hair—long, silken strands infused with the very essence of the galaxy—spread across the mattress like flowing rivers of space-time, blending seamlessly with the celestial fabric of the bedspread.

Clink!

The door creaked open as a shadow flitted across the dimly lit room. Hanako Takeko, wrapped in a pale red midnight slip, tiptoed forward, a mischievous grin tugging at her lips.

She loomed over the sleeping figure, amber eyes twinkling with anticipation before—

"BOOO!" she yelled, pouncing onto him. Her vibrant orange hair tumbled forward, mixing with his cascading strands of cosmic dark blue. "Hehehe! Did I scare you?"

Legion remained utterly unshaken.

Blinking lazily, he rubbed his eyes, his long dark lashes fluttering as they framed his gaze—slanted golden pupils shimmering like molten stars, the specks within them subtly shifting like constellations in motion.

"What are you doing, Hana?" His voice, a rich blend of feminine elegance and the deep resonance of stringed instruments, carried the weight of something infinite.

Still perched atop him, Hana grinned, swinging her legs in excitement.

And then—she sang:

(Please, enjoy Hanako's lyrics.)

"Legion, hehehe, Legion, Legion-gion-gion! Ahahaha!"

Legion blinked. "What... is that song?"

Hana huffed. 'Hmph. My chest is pressing against him, but he's not reacting at all…'

"Guess what today is!" she beamed, eyes bright with anticipation.

Legion tilted his head slightly. "Do tell. Is it a festival?"

Hana gasped in offense. "What do you mean? I told you last week!"

"You tell me a lot of things, Hana."

"Jeeez!" She pouted, grabbing his perfectly sculpted nose and giving it a playful tug.

"Alright, I'll spare you—just for today." Leaning in close, her lips barely a breath away from his, she whispered, "Today is Va. Len. Tine."

Legion's expression remained blank.

"Vahlantyme...?" A pause. Then his golden eyes brightened in realization. "Oh. Valentine! The festive season of lovers!"

Legion turned to Hana with a soft smile. "Does my daughter have someone to enjoy this day with?"

Hana's brow twitched. 'Daughter?'

Oblivious to her irritation, Legion continued. "You don't have to worry about me. I'll be happy with whomever you bring home."

"Dummy! I don't have anyone!" she huffed and pursed her lips.

"Eh? Wh-What do we do now?" Legion blinked in confusion.

Hana let out an exaggerated sigh. "I can't believe how dense you are!"

Without another word, she grabbed his arm, trying to haul him off the bed.

"Stoooooooop, I want to sleep some moooooore," he whined, curling deeper into the duvet.

"What's with that?! Aren't you Divine now? You don't even need sleep!"

"To slumber is a luxury I refuse to give up," Legion murmured dreamily. "Sure, I don't need it, but it's a habit from my mortality that I intend to keep."

Hana rolled her eyes. "Are you a cat now? Stop resisting and get up!"

Legion clung to the sheets. "Where are you taking me?!"

"To the bath," she declared, tugging harder.

His golden eyes widened. "Wh-Why do I have to join you in the bath?!"

"Because we're out of time." Hana hesitated, cheeks dusting pink before she muttered, "We're going on a date today… and I'm not taking no for an answer!"

Legion blinked. "My body radiates [Infini-presence], which does more than keep me clean. I really don't need a bath."

'He ignored the date?!' Hana fumed.

"Can you hear yourself?!" she snapped, yanking on his horns this time.

As their struggle continued, a small yet piercing voice cut through the room.

"Isn't it too early to be creepy, Onee-chan?"

Hana froze, turning toward the door. A tiny girl—no older than three—stood there rubbing her eyes.

Her short, twin-tailed hair shimmered in shades of purple, tinged with streaks of black.

"Karane?!" Hana exclaimed. "I told you to stop sneaking around on your own! That's creepy—not me!"

"Shut up!" the little girl snapped, her deep violet eyes burning with defiance. "You didn't let me sleep last night, whispering Legion's name in the dead of night like some kind of stalker who obtained fresh goods!"

Hana twitched. 'This girl is three years old. This girl is three years old.' She repeated the mantra in her head to suppress the urge to do something reckless.

"Huh?! How dare you!" Hana folded her arms with a frown. "And whose place do you think you're freeloading in, you ungrateful little gremlin?!"

Legion sighed, moving between them as sparks of hostility crackled in the air. "Alright, alright. It's too early for you two to start a sibling war."

"This creepy baby's the one who started it!" Hana puffed.

"Me? Creepy?" Karane shot back, pointing her tiny finger in outrage. Her eyes gleamed with mischief. "Legion, do you want to hear about what I caught Hana doing to herself in the shower?!"

"YELP—" Hana jolted upright, hands flying in a frantic cease fire gesture.

Karane was Hanako's little sister—only three years old but already walking by four months. And, as you can see, she had quite the big mouth.

Their mother had died three years ago, shielding Karane from the Moonyrs. Not that it made much difference—the band of supernaturals had taken her corpse anyway, likely for their twisted experiments.

Their father had been lost even earlier, passing away before Karane was even born. For the past year, it had been just Hana and Karane, navigating life together.

"We'll drop her off at Nico-san's place," Hana declared, scooping up her little sister with a firm grip. "No one else can put this little freak under submission."

She turned to Legion with a knowing smirk. "What are you waiting for? Let's get in the shower."

Legion's face burned pink as he stammered, "A-A-All of us?"

As Hanako strode toward the bathroom, utterly unfazed, Legion remained frozen in place, questioning all his life choices.

This arc delves into themes of love, sacrifice, and loyalty, exploring the bonds that persist despite loss and hardship.

*

Hana's POV

Karane, Legion, and I finished our baths and started getting dressed. A wonderful date awaited us, and I had spent nearly a year preparing for this moment. I was nervous about these things before, but not anymore. This time, I was going to take the lead.

Legion, however, had been blushing like a tomato the entire time we bathed. I couldn't help but have fun teasing him.

For the occasion, I had picked out a new red dress—a striking piece:

It was a mesmerizing mix of elegance and allure. The sleek, form-fitting design hugged my figure without being restrictive, made of smooth black fabric with a subtle sheen that catches the light when I move. The high neckline contrasts with the bold, completely open back, exposing the curve of my spine.

Dark crimson embroidery decorates the edges, swirling like fire across the fabric. Slits on either side that allow for ease of movement, ensuring I wasn't hindered if the night takes a more dangerous turn. The dress is both powerful and enticing—a perfect balance for someone like me.

Ah, wait, I'm supposed to be thinking about the date, not a battle!!

The store attendant had called it a Virgin Killer. I wasn't sure why it was called that, though.

Maybe virgins didn't like it?

But I liked it. And I was a v-v-v-v-v—

"Onee-chan… you're so weird and creepy, giggling to yourself like a creep."

"It's you who's creepy, you creepy talking baby!!"

This Karane needed severe discipline. I had been sparing her since she was only three years old, but with a mouth like that, perhaps an increase in discipline was due.

Just then, Legion stepped into the room, fully dressed.

C-cute...

I had picked out his outfit based on Hank's advice:

Legion wore a deep red, skin-tight top with no sleeves, highlighting his lean yet powerful frame. Over it, he had a brown, cozy fur-lined jacket that made him look both elegant and effortlessly stylish. His overly long dark blue hair cascaded down his back like a waterfall of stars, catching the light as if it were spun from stardust.

For his bottom half, he wore black, almost punk-styled pants adorned with silver stripes reminiscent of a tiger's pattern. It was bold, striking—yet even with such an outfit, Legion still looked absurdly beautiful.

His long lashes framed luminous, otherworldly eyes, and his supple pink lips contrasted against the sharp angles of his face. If I were being honest… he looked even more feminine than I did.

But wait—

"We can't leave the house with those horns out!" I blurted. "And what about your draconic eyes? And your ridiculously long hair that looks like it holds an entire galaxy?"

"Hehehe. Suddenly being poetic, Onee-chan? You're a weirdo," Karane giggled, sipping from a cup of milk I had no idea where she got from.

I sighed, rubbing my temples.

I frowned at the cruel reality that this girl—this menace—was only three years old. And she hadn't even reached her rebellious phase yet.

"Ah, you're right!" Legion acknowledged, snapping me out of my thoughts. "I'll attract too much attention if I go out like this. I almost never leave the building, but the staff—both male and female—already propose to me at every chance they get." He smiled awkwardly, as if recalling an embarrassing memory.

Well, I didn't blame them. Legion was practically a deity. One that had captured me too.

We left the room, ready to drop Karane off at Nico-san's place. Only a Lucian could handle this kid. She'd traumatize anyone else.

Legion adjusted his appearance before we stepped out. His horns vanished, his starry blue hair lost its celestial glow and shortened to thigh-length, and his draconic, golden-slit eyes softened into something more human—still golden, and divine, but now with round pupils.

I hoisted up the dumb baby, and we took the special elevator down.

The penthouse we stayed in was perched atop an Investigation Agency Office—or at least, that was the official front. In reality, this was the Tokyo branch of the Monitor Agency, handling all manner of supernatural affairs behind the scenes.

The moment we stepped into the office, workers greeted us respectfully, though some were throwing lustful glances at Legion, making him visibly uncomfortable. Without missing a beat, I greeted them back with a bright, back off smile, grabbed Legion's wrist, and pulled him along.

"It's tough being popular, huh?" I teased as we walked.

Legion sighed. "Frankly, I don't do anything to encourage it..."

I grinned but kept my thoughts to myself. Today was Valentine's, and I wanted everything to be perfect. I even made a bucket list of everything we'd do, down to the moment I'd finally confess my love to Legion.

I wasn't going to overthink it. If he turned me down, we'd just go back to the way we were. I wouldn't let things get weird.

And actually... even if he turned me down, I'd just keep coming back. Again. And again. And again. Until I sent the message home. Hehehe.

"Ah! Onee-chaaan! Don't drool on me, pervy pig!"

"..." I was so grateful to have a talkative and polite three-year-old sister who definitely supports me.

"C'mon, Karane, be nicer to your elder sister," Legion chided gently.

"Shut up, you! Think I'll let her step on me like she did you? You cowardly dragon."

"Alright, hold up!" I cut in before Legion could break into tears. "Karane, your arrogance and disrespect are getting out of hand. Do you want me to report you to Lunaria Oba-chan?"

Karane's face went completely deadpan. "No, actually, Lunaria-chan TOLD me to be this way. She taught me everything I know."

Ah. So the true authority figure was the culprit.

Karane crossed her arms. "If anything, I'll tell her that you called her Lunaria Oba-chan. You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

"..." I was astonished.

"Look here, you brat!" I spat. "Normally, a child your age would be babbling, stammering, and crawling, so don't you just go—"

"Lemme eat the ice cream in the freezer, and I won't tell Lunaria-chan that you called her a wretched, miserable, and outmoded old lady with one foot in the grave."

...That… That was a blatant lie. I never said all that.

"Fine. You can have the sundae," I surrendered. "But no eating snacks after dark."

"No. I'm eating that ice cream. And after dark. Understood?"

"Yes. So sorry."

*

We wandered off the streets and into a secluded, bushy area, ensuring no prying eyes could see us.

"Are you ready?" Legion asked.

We were about to merge so I could fly.

It was infuriating that I still hadn't learned how to fly on my own. Sure, flight was a feat only a few flightless individuals ever achieved, but still—I was a dragon demigod. Yet, I couldn't even sprout my own wings.

Wouldn't it be amazing if I could do things like that without relying on Legion every time?

I sighed. "Yeah, I'm ready."

"Why do you sound so reluctant?!"

Before I could answer, Legion's body began to break apart into golden particles, drifting toward me in a warm, familiar embrace.

We merged.

My orange hair deepened into a celestial blue, strands shimmering like a starry sky. My eyes turned dark as night, with a golden serpentine slit hovering in the void.

I restricted the transformation just enough to keep my outfit from shifting into the usual divine white dress. Then, imagining the sensation of flight, I focused on what it would feel like to have wings.

Something stirred at my back.

I let it happen.

Two dark dragon wings unfurled, glowing faintly with a soft blue light. Despite their vast twelve-foot span, they didn't tear out of my back. Instead, they hovered just lightly against me, weightless.

Seeing that, Karane's face flushed as she stared up from my arms.

I smirked.

She immediately threw her face to the side, scowling. "Hmph! The only cool thing about Onee-chan, and she still needs Legion's help! Smelly Onee-chan."

…Her abuses were strange. Why I'm I smelly, again?

I filed that away for later. Next time she got embarrassed, I'd mind my business. Understood.

Without another word, I flapped my wings.

The force launched us into the air with an earth-shaking boom.

That brat couldn't help but giggle in awe as we soared, cutting through the skies, the city of Tokyo shrinking below us.

Sigh... Despite it all, she was still just a three-year-old. Despite it all.

We ascended higher and higher, until the clouds brushed against us.

Reaching the right altitude, I began my chant.

The clouds stirred, shifting and folding until they formed a makeshift doorway. A soft purple glow rippled across its surface—the signal that we had permission to enter.

With a powerful flap, I propelled us forward.

We shot through the portal.

The instant we crossed, the door vanished behind us.

Another world.

A vast land, a second world built atop Earth's foundation—so alike, yet able to exist without it. From this height, the endless blue sea stretched below, dotted with small villages and distant towns. Mountains rose in the distance, rolling hills painting the horizon.

Every time I saw it, I had to marvel.

One man created all of this.

This place was called "Nowhere."

An entire realm forged for High Humans and certain Supernaturals. A neutral ground, a place of peace.

A haven for the exiled and the loners.

At full speed, I shot toward the northern region, the world blurring past me.

My flight teetered on the edge of sound itself before my destination finally came into view.

I needed to drop this mischievous imp off quickly—then I could start my perfect Valentine's date.

Slowing down, I prepared to land, but before I even touched the ground, I spotted someone waving up at me. Brown hair, uninterested expression—Hank.

We landed before the grand Lucian Mansion, its design a tasteful blend of white, gold, and just a touch of red. A truly magnificent building.

Legion and I unfused.

"Good morning, Karane. Morning, Hana," Hank greeted, his usual indifferent tone in place.

I narrowed my eyes.

Hold on. Why didn't he put "good" in front of mine?

Then, with an uncharacteristic blush, Hank turned to Legion. "G-Good morning, Legion." His voice dropped into something dangerously close to earnest. "When you're free sometime, I'd also like to take you on a date... to our research lab. It'd be your first time, but I promise to be gentle and strike with only the tip of the surgical blade."

I yanked Legion behind me. "What kind of lunatic plans their torturous experiments right in front of their victim?!"

Hank clicked his tongue. "Tsk! Hana, you're so stingy."

"I'm stingy?! You're trying to run strange tests on my Legion!"

"Your Legion?" Hank squinted. "He's our Legion."

Since when?!

As we bickered, a small, childish voice sliced through the air like an invisible blade.

"Long time no see, Hana."

I stiffened. "Lu... Lunaria-san."

"It's been a while."

"Lunaria-chan!" Karane called excitedly.

"Ah, Karane, dear, how are you?"

"I'm great! Did you enjoy your trip?"

"Yes. I was away tearing flesh from bones and spilling the blood of the guilty. It was a most wonderful trip."

I fought the urge to physically recoil. Hearing things like that from someone who looked like an elementary school kid was deeply unsettling.

Lunaria's gaze flicked to me, then to Legion, who immediately looked away. Understandable—she did stab him the first time they met.

"I sensed that foreign energy of yours—the one you transition to whenever you merge with the lizard," she remarked, eyes still on Legion, who was pointedly not meeting her gaze.

She continued, "I knew you two would get stronger, but you far exceeded my expectations. Bravo." Then, without missing a beat—"Now, fight me, and show me you're stronger than your dead, weak mother!"

I knew it!

This murderous gremlin only wanted us to get stronger so she'd have people who could survive her blows!

"Alright, that's enough," Hank, ever the Lunaria-handler, poked her cheek. "Let's at least go inside. Gramps is waiting in the living room."

For once, Hank was behaving like a calm and level-headed person. Why couldn't he always be like this?

Oh, right—he was, unless something novel or strange happened. Like transformations. Or evolutions.

Just as we stepped inside—

"AH! HANA-CHAAAAAN!"

A voice erupted across the mansion grounds.

Nico-san abandoned the important-looking gentlemen he had been talking to and bolted toward me.

"Why don't you ever come visit?! Always holed up in that penthouse—maybe I should transfer you!"

I crossed my arms. "I dare you to, Director."

"HAHHHHHH?!" He practically roared. "Who the hell is 'Director'?! I told you to call me Uncle Nico! Alright, say it—Un. Cle. Ni. Co."

"Uncle Nico!" Karane chirped, leaping from my arms into his.

"That's my girl!" He caught her with ease, grinning.

I watched them interact and sighed.

They were perfect for each other.

Birds of a feather—weirdos.

*

Karane and the Lucians got along really well, as always.

So—mission accomplished, I suppose.

And now, it's time for the date!

I had been planning this for six months.

We were going to Fuji-Q Highland! And I was going to make sure Legion enjoyed himself—no doubt about it.

Now, before anything unsavory happened, we needed to leave.

"Ah, Hana-chan!"

I stopped mid-step.

Legion and I had just turned toward the park exit when Nico-san called out.

Probably something unsavory.

"Where are you going for the date?" he asked.

Suspicious.

Why was he asking? He wasn't planning to get in my way, was he?

"…Fuji-Q," I answered warily. "Why?"

"My, my! Calm down." He chuckled, waving a dismissive hand. "It's not like I plan to interfere with your date and take secret pictures of you being awkward or anything of the sort."

"Ahhh! I knew it!"

"Just kidding, just kidding!" Nico-san grinned, trying to pacify my glare. But I knew this man—he was unpredictable.

Then his expression shifted. His usual playfulness dimmed into something sharper. "The truth is…" He paused. "Giaoni came out of the shadows yesterday."

Tsk!

A quest?! On Valentine's Day?!