Ch.72 : Symphony of Love

On the other side of town, before heading to the Unity Club, Nic stopped by the mall. He had a special order to place at Vera's knitting shop.

As soon as Vera saw Nic enter, her face turned bright red. The effect of his Love Shot had reached 50%, making it hard for her to even look him in the eye. Nic gave her a small smile and said he wanted to order a hand-knitted bracelet.

After discussing the design and details, Nic gave her the Unity Club's address for delivery once it was done. Then, he rushed home to grab a knitted box he had made himself. Without wasting time, he made his way toward Unity Club, slightly out of breath.

Standing in front of the Unity Club door, Nic took a deep breath before opening it. But the moment the door swung open, it was like a divine light shone straight into his eyes.

Melody's violin filled the air with a gentle melody, accompanied by Monica's emotional singing voice. The girls stood in a perfect line, all wearing dazzling dresses that radiated grace and beauty. Their hair accessories sparkled under the soft lights, creating a scene that looked like it came straight out of heaven.

Nic froze. His body trembled from a feeling he couldn't explain. Before he knew it, his knees buckled, and he dropped to the ground, overwhelmed by the sheer beauty in front of him.

Everyone gasped, about to rush over—but Nic raised his hand weakly and said with a trembling voice, "Keep going… don't stop."

So they continued, singing with emotion, unaware that Nic was now lying on the floor. A thin stream of blood dripped from his nose, while tears rolled down his cheeks.

"W-wait… did he faint?!" Vivi asked, breaking into a small laugh.

Quickly, they all carried Nic over to the sofa and laid him down gently. Mika looked at his peaceful sleeping face and said, "Nic seems really tired, and also too happy."

Lily giggled and pinched his cheek playfully. "Nic is so cute when he's like this."

Suddenly, Mira pointed at the box Nic had brought with him. Charlotte walked over, opened it, and found a letter inside. She turned to Viona and handed it over.

Viona cleared her throat and read it aloud:

"This is a special gift for all of my girlfriends. Winter is coming soon, and I want all of you to stay warm equally. These scarves I made myself—may they give you warmth, even if I'm not beside you. I hope you'll like them."

The room fell silent. Everyone blushed, touched by the message. Slowly, they each took one of the scarves Nic had made, each matching their color and personal style.

When they put them on, their expressions changed. The fabric was unbelievably soft and comforting.

Emily rubbed her cheek against hers and mumbled, "Did Nic make this yesterday?"

Chloe, who had been quiet the whole time, raised her hand. "He made them all last night. I know because the staff who picked me up said he fell asleep while knitting… then probably stayed up all night finishing them."

"So that's why he looked so sleepy at school this morning?" Fanny guessed.

Everyone went quiet again, touched by how much effort Nic had put in. One by one, they approached the still-unconscious Nic and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek in thanks.

A few minutes later, Nic slowly opened his eyes. His vision was blurry, but he could feel something soft under his head.

"Nic… are you awake?" Vivi's gentle voice greeted him, and he quickly realized his head was resting in her lap.

The other girls had gathered around too, watching him with concern and happiness. As Nic sat up and rubbed his forehead, he mumbled, "Sorry… I don't know why, I just suddenly felt super tired…"

"Well, that's because you overworked yourself, idiot," Fanny teased, followed by soft laughter from the others.

"Thank you, Nic… for the scarves," Olivia said quietly, still holding hers close around her neck.

"Yeah, it's so warm. I love the color," Yui added with a bright smile.

Nic chuckled. "If you like them, then I'm happy… But actually…" He looked around at them one by one with a mysterious smile. "There's one more gift for all of you."

"Huh? Another one?!" Mika gasped. "Oh my god, what kind of surprise this time?"

"That's a secret," Nic replied with a wink. "But before that, let's have a feast. Zestia, can I count on you to help with the food?"

Zestia instantly stood up and saluted with a grin. "Yes, Master Unity!" Her line made the whole room erupt in laughter.

Without wasting time, she headed to the kitchen, joined by the others who loved to cook: Olivia, Charlotte, Emily, Raina, and Sylvia. They split tasks and worked together, preparing a warm, delicious meal for everyone to enjoy.

Meanwhile, the rest of the girls relaxed in the lounge—chatting, laughing, and exploring more of the HQ's hidden rooms.

Before long…

Ding..Dong...

The sound of the doorbell rang, and Gina, who had been reading a comic near the entrance, stood up and walked to the front door. When she opened it, she saw a girl with short hair and a cozy sweater, holding a small bag in her hands.

"Um… is this the Unity HQ?" the girl asked shyly, double-checking the address Nic had sent her. "I have a delivery for… Nic."

"Oh, a package?" Gina asked warmly.

Vera nodded, a little nervous. "I was told to deliver it straight here. But… it's okay if I don't come in. I can just hand it to you."

"Uh-uh, no way. You gotta come inside, or Nic's gonna yell at me later," Gina joked, making Vera chuckle awkwardly. With no choice, she stepped into the lounge, eyes widening at the lavish interior.

"This is their HQ…? But this place was just an empty lot before…" she whispered to herself in awe.

Moments later, Nic emerged from the hallway with the others. When he saw Vera, he smiled warmly. "Right on time. Thanks for coming."

The other girls looked over curiously. "Who's that?" Monica asked.

"She's the one who helped me order something from the knitting shop," Nic explained.

But then Vera noticed someone across the room. "Huh? Chloe? You're here too?"

Chloe gave a small wave. "Hey Vera. Yeah, Nic invited me too."

Vera nodded with an awkward smile and handed Nic the small box. "Here's your order."

"Thanks." Nic received it carefully. "But don't leave yet, Vera. Stay and hang out with Chloe. We're having a big dinner together."

"Huh? Me too? W-well… okay, as long as I'm not in the way." Though nervous, Vera couldn't say no.

Soon, Zestia and the other makeshift chefs carried out large plates of warm, delicious food, filling the long dining table with mouthwatering scents. The whole room began to feel like a cozy little celebration.

Everyone gathered at their seats. Nic stood at the head of the table, raising a glass of juice.

"Starting today… the Unity HQ isn't just our hangout spot. It's our second home. A place to laugh, share, and grow together."

Smiles spread around the table. In unison, they lifted their glasses.

"Cheers!!"

Laughter and joy filled the air as they ate together, feeding each other, teasing, and joking around. Even Vera, who had felt awkward at first, began to relax and enjoy the moment.

After the food was finished and their stomachs full, Nic stood up and opened the small box he'd received. Inside were several simple bracelets, each with a different tiny symbol.

"These…" Nic said with heartfelt eyes, "are memory bracelets. So even if I'm not with you… you'll know my heart is always with you."

Everyone gazed at the bracelets with emotional expressions. Lily bit her lip to hold back a wide grin, while Mira hugged her scarf tighter and whispered, "Nic… this is so sweet…"

One by one, they put their bracelets on. The atmosphere turned tender and full of warmth. Then, without anyone saying a word, they all pulled Nic into a group hug—tight, warm, and full of love.

From a distance, Chloe, Gina, and Vera watched with gentle smiles on their faces. There were no words to describe what they were feeling, except for one simple sentence:

"a strange, yet harmonious relationship…"

To be continued...