Austin's breath caught in his throat as he stared at Maki. His heart thundered in his chest, and the sweat trickling down his face blurred the edges of his vision.
"Prez… what are you doing? Is this… what I think it is?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Maki's face remained flushed, but her crimson eyes held a quiet determination. The poised, composed student council president seemed almost like a different person now—vulnerable, yet brave in her honesty.
"Will you be… my Valentine?" she said, voice trembling slightly. "I've been thinking about how to say it. But I figured… maybe it's best to just go with the moment. So… please?"
For a few long seconds, Austin could only stare. But then, as if moved by instinct, his hands reached out and held her gently by the waist. Maki's hand rested on his chest, and their faces were close—closer than either expected.
Austin took a steady breath.
"Prez—No… Maki. This is sudden, yeah, but…" He glanced at the chocolate box between them. "I accept it. Thank you. I don't have anything to give you right now… but can I make it up to you? Friday, after school. Just the two of us?"
Maki's face deepened to a fierce red, but she nodded silently, lips parting slightly as if to speak—but before either could act on the moment, the door slammed open.
"Yoooo Austin! What's taking you so long—oh."
Sellzen froze mid-step, eyes wide, taking in the scene.
Maki quickly stepped back, composed herself with practiced grace, though a flush still painted her cheeks.
"Very well," she said, adjusting her uniform slightly. "Friday it is. Don't keep me waiting." Her tone was cool, but there was a playful undercurrent beneath the words.
Sellzen opened his mouth, but Austin grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out of the room, the door sliding shut behind them.
As they walked down the street, Sellzen pouted. "Dude, I didn't even get a single comment in. You're cruel."
Austin sighed. "Why the hell did you barge in like that? For someone with priest blood, you're more devil than saint."
Sellzen laughed, unfazed. "Hey, leave my priesthood out of this. Besides, I just witnessed a love confession from the Ice Princess herself. That's gotta be worth something. The loser society at school's gonna riot, and I'm cashing in on that. Love's a battlefield—and a goldmine."
Austin grunted, uninterested in his friend's antics. The two reached Austin's new apartment on the western side of Tokyo. It was a modern penthouse overlooking the city skyline.
"Penthouse, huh?" Sellzen whistled, gazing out the window. "What happened to your old place?"
Austin glared. "Truck. After I left that sarcastic comment on an isekai forum, the damn thing dove through my house like an eagle diving for prey. Defied every law of physics."
He paused, leveling a look at Sellzen. "And don't think I forgot about your bet on whether the prez likes me."
Sellzen raised his hands in mock surrender. "Bet? Nah. I prefer to call it… an investment. You're a rising stock, my friend. And hey, I'll cut you ten percent of the profits. Win-win."
He chuckled, then added more seriously, "But for real—Maki liking you? That's not just high school drama, man. That's the Shogun Clan's heiress letting her guard down. That girl's been a fortress since we got here. Cold, distant… until you."
Austin's gaze drifted to the floor, a shadow crossing his expression. "Don't. I don't want to talk about the past. It's buried."
Sellzen sat across from him, still smiling but softer now. "You and her… you're more alike than you think. She lost her parents too, in a tragedy before we ever moved here. Been living with her grandmother and little sister ever since."
He leaned back. "So yeah, it makes sense she doesn't let people in. But you? Somehow, you got through. Maybe you reminded her what it's like to feel something again."
Austin was quiet for a long moment.
Then he picked up a book from the table and tossed it at Sellzen's head.
"For someone wanted in half of Japan, you sure know a lot you shouldn't."
Sellzen ducked, laughing as he dodged. "That hurts, asshole!"
—
Meanwhile, at the river-side Shogun estate, Maki sat alone beneath the setting sun. The breeze carried the scent of spring, and the gentle ripples of the water below mirrored the quiet smile on her face.
She looked up at the sky, her silver hair catching the light.
"Mother… I finally did it," she whispered. "I found him again."