Yessica and Blade had gone shopping, shared a “couples” drink, then had fun in a few other places. They played games for couples, ate fast food for couples, and had a street artist draw a couples sketch for them.
“All right, Blade, where to next? What do you wanna do?”
“Well, we’ve already had a lot of fun…”
Their dorm’s curfew was drawing near. Blade looked up toward the clock tower. It was usually visible from most locations across the city, but in this back alley, it was just out of sight.
“Did all that fun tire you out?” asked Yessica.
“Huh? No…”
Blade was about to say he wasn’t tired, but then he stopped himself. He knew by now that giving his partner false information was what made him “kind” and a “good guy” in this scenario. Yessica had beaten that much into him today.
“Well, a little, yeah.”
“Then let’s take a break and relax.”
She pulled his arm gently, before abruptly coming to a stop. Now she was looking at what appeared to be an ordinary building. Blade didn’t know what it was for, but there were signs on it reading things like LOVE HOTEL and REST STOP.
Was this where they were going to have fun next? What did Yessica say again? She wanted to have a break? Well, this was the spot, then, right? It said REST STOP right on the sign and everything. This had to be it.
“Huh? What’s up?” he asked.
Yessica turned toward him. At first, her face looked blank. Was she encouraging him, or was she completely oblivious? Blade wasn’t sure. He felt like she was telling him to decide for them.
Hmm. Hmm. Hmm.
He wasn’t actually tired at all. But he had already told Yessica that he was, and he couldn’t go back on it now. Would a good guy suggest they rest here? Or would it better to say “actually, never mind”? Which was the right answer? He wanted Yessica to smile and say “you pass” to him again. What choice would make him a “good man”? He was stumped. Blade thought about it.
Hmm. Hmm. Hmm…
The public tailing was still ongoing.
“Um, you know…like…this might be a misunderstanding on my part, but…” Earnest pointed her index finger at her chest. “Over there… They’re trying to figure out whether to go in or not, right? That place… It’s not really a store. It’s more like a hotel. It’s got all those fancy lights, but it feels kinda sketchy, too. Really weird. If my guess is correct, um…could that be…?”
“Earnest, I have to say that your guess is highly likely to be correct. Even without hearing your assumption, I understand perfectly what you are trying to say, because I am a high-spec machine.”
“Huh? Huh? Huh? Huhhh? I-I’m right? So it is that?!”
“What? Umm…? Wh-what is it?” asked Lunaria. “Hello? Hey, I’m here, too! Someone explain it so I can understand, too! Please!”
“If Blade is happy, that is all I need.”
“Whoa…?! Sophie! No! You can’t mean that! You’re really fine with this?”
“I’m not, but…it’s fine.”
“No it’s not!” insisted Earnest. Even if the whole world said yes, she would’ve shouted no—and that was the sort of determination that decided her next move.
Blade decided to stop stewing over it.
“Okay, I’ve decided. Listen, I—”
Just as he was about to give Yessica his eagerly-awaited answer…
“You will decide nothing!”
“Grrhh!”
Blade was hit with a drop kick to the side, sending him flying several yards away. He had sensed the kick coming about half a second before it hit him, giving him ample time to avoid it—but he decided to take it on purpose, given how angry the Empress seemed to be.
“Ow. Why’d you come in from the side like that?”
He got up slowly. He hadn’t been caught off guard by her attack, and even if he had been, he couldn’t call himself a Hero if he’d taken any damage from a kick like that. Not that he was a Hero anymore. He was just an incredibly, totally ordinary guy, hemming and hawing in front of the rest stop.
“Don’t just decide like that! You… You super-being freak! You need to act like a normal human for a change! You need to hesitate! Agonize over it! Go back and forth! Anything!”
“Why are you so angry?”
“I’m not angry! I just came over to stop you! …Yessica!” Earnest pointed at her next. “You said you were just gonna demonstrate how to go on a date with someone! Why are you making it into this huge, serious thing? Are you crazy?!”
“Well, you know, if this is an adult date … Just having fun, eating, then saying ‘later’ doesn’t really feel like enough. Like there’s some, um, unfinished business…”
“It’s finished! It’s over! All the way! So stop! Seriously, stop!”
“Oh? …Did I look that serious to you?”
“You sure as hell did!”
“Oh. Well…maybe you’re right,” Yessica said, shooting her a mischievous wink.
“Huh? Really…?” Earnest turned to face her, looking startled.
“…Hey, Blade. Did you think I was serious?”
Blade shrugged at this sudden question. He had no idea what she meant. Serious about what? What was she being serious (or not serious) about?
“…Anyway!” Earnest cleared her throat. “It’s time, people! Let’s go home!”
“Ow. Ow. Hey, that hurts! You’re gonna tear my ear off!” Blade rightfully protested this treatment from the Empress.
“If I do, I’ll have Claire fix it later! Okay? Let’s go! We’re going back! No breaks! No rest stops on the way!”
And so, Blade was dragged away, Earnest pulling him relentlessly. And as she dragged him along, she looked all around, including above.
“That applies to all of you, too! Let’s go!”
The only ones openly following the couple were Earnest, Claire, Sophie, Iona, and Lunaria. Now a few others, who had been following them much more stealthily, popped up from behind buildings and other cover, grouping together as they left.
Once she saw them all go, Earnest turned toward Yessica. “…Ah! And Yessica! Thanks a lot for today! Sorry to ask so much of you! I learned a whole lot!”
“You’re quite welcome.”
Yessica beamed, but there was something more than a little inscrutable to her smile.