Rin opened the door to find Shion standing on his porch, her tall frame illuminated by the moonlight. A hopeful smile touched his lips, thinking she might have come for a private visit, but her first words quickly dashed that notion.
"Rin-dono," she said, her tone a bit formal, "the Dwarfs sent me. They said a promise was made to share a drink tonight."
Rin blinked. He'd almost forgotten. "Ah, right. The celebration." He was about to agree when Shion hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floorboards.
"However…" she began, then stopped.
Rin could hear her thoughts clearly. I want to be alone with him, but he has to go. Maybe… maybe I could just walk with him? Would that be too forward?
"Is there something else, Shion-san?" Rin asked, feigning ignorance.
"May I… accompany you back to the town?" she asked, her voice softer than usual. "It's dark, and it's good to have company."
"Of course," Rin said with a warm smile. As they started walking down the path leading back to Tempest, he reached out and took her hand.
Shion flinched, a jolt running through her. Her first instinct was to pull away, her heart hammering against her ribs from the unexpected, bold gesture. But Rin's grip was firm, not forceful, but confident. And surprisingly… she didn't want to let go.
She was stronger than him, she knew that. She could easily break his hold. Yet, a strange weakness pervaded her limbs. The warmth of his hand, the cool night air, the gentle sounds of the forest around them… everything seemed to slow down. It felt as if they were the only two people in the world. In that quiet, intimate moment, walking hand-in-hand under the stars, the confusing tangle of her feelings finally unraveled into a single, undeniable truth.
I love him.
The realization was as terrifying as it was exhilarating.
Rin, listening to her heart's silent confession, quickly checked her status.
[STATUS ALERT - Shion]
* Romantic Love (for Rin Takakura): 90/100
* Sexual Interest (for Rin Takakura): 55/100 (+)
Perfect, he thought, a thrill running through him.
They arrived at the tavern, their hands still linked. The place was roaring with the boisterous laughter of the Dwarfs. As they stepped inside, Kaijin spotted them and let out a huge bellow.
"Hah! The lad arrives, and with the lovely lass in tow!" he roared, giving Rin a massive thumbs-up.
The attention snapped Shion out of her daze. She looked down and realized that she wasn't just being led; she was now actively clinging to Rin's hand. Her face instantly turned a shade of crimson that rivaled Benimaru's hair. She let go as if his hand were on fire and, with a squeaked apology, turned and fled the tavern, leaving a very confused group of Dwarfs and a very amused Rin.
"Lad, are you sure about that one?" one of the Dwarfs asked, leaning in conspiratorially. "We all know she's a demon with a ladle! We're worried she might poison you by accident!"
Rin just laughed. "I'm sure. Don't worry about me." He changed the subject. "Now, I believe a promise was made about a drink?"
The rest of the night was a blur of raucous partying, storytelling, and far more alcohol than Rin's new body was prepared for.
The next morning, Rin awoke to the dull, throbbing ache of a massive hangover. He was alone, lying on a cot in a back room of the tavern. The Dwarfs, seemingly immune to the effects of alcohol, were already up and back to their forges. Rin's head pounded, but thankfully, he didn't feel nauseous. He slowly got up and began the trek back to his riverside house, craving a bath.
As he walked along the forest path, he saw a familiar figure approaching. It was Shuna, carrying a neatly folded stack of clothes.
"Good morning, Rin-dono," she greeted him with her usual serene smile. "I heard you had a rather lively night. I took the liberty of preparing some fresh clothes for you, as I imagine you didn't bring many."
"Shuna-san, thank you. You're a lifesaver," Rin said gratefully.
As he reached out to take the clothes, an idea, as quick and mischievous as ever, sparked in his mind. He let his fingers "accidentally" brush against hers, holding the contact for a fraction of a second longer than necessary. In that instant, he dove into her status.
[STATUS ALERT - Shuna]
* Romantic Love (for Rin Takakura): 90/100
* Curiosity (about Rin Takakura): 95/100
* Jealousy (towards Shion): 60/100
Shuna froze. The brief touch sent an inexplicable jolt through her entire body. Her first thought was to politely withdraw her hand, but a second, far more powerful feeling washed over her—an intense, dizzying wave of affection. Her heart began to beat wildly. The thought of pulling away vanished, replaced by an overwhelming desire to get closer.
She looked up, her intelligent eyes becoming hazy, her mind a blur of newfound, inexplicable emotion. Without a single thought, acting on an impulse she never knew she possessed, she leaned forward and pressed her lips against Rin's.
At that exact moment, hidden behind a thicket of trees just off the path, another figure stood frozen, her violet eyes wide with disbelief and a dawning, heartbreaking pain.
Shion, who had been on her way to apologize to Rin for running away the night before, had seen the whole thing.