Kentaro and Rin had made their way into another antique shop. The place was on the smaller side, but it was packed wall-to-wall with shelves, trinkets, and old books. Calling it "tight" was an understatement.

"It's so tight… Why don't they move some of this stuff?" Kentaro muttered, trying to squeeze past a couple browsing the aisle.

"That's what she said~" Rin giggled at her own dirty joke.

Kentaro shot her a flat look. "Wow. Good joke." His voice dripped with sarcasm, but Rin only giggled harder.

They wandered deeper toward the back, where there were fewer people. Kentaro wasn't much of an antique guy; most of this stuff looked like junk to him. But Rin? She was absolutely captivated. She lingered at every shelf, her pink eyes dancing across the displays, from obscure mythological texts to cracked and broken trinkets that looked like things you'd find tossed in the gutter.

Kentaro leaned over her shoulder, eyeing the current object in her hand: a broken glass bottle with a tiny, crumpled piece of paper inside. A sailor's message-in-a-bottle type thing, from the looks of it.

"Why do you like that one? It's broken. Surely you'd want a nicer version," Kentaro asked.

Rin didn't flinch at his closeness; she just kept gazing at the bottle. "Because the broken ones… Have more stories. They've lived through more than the pristine ones."

Kentaro tilted his head, thinking it over. And he couldn't argue. There was something about Rin's perspective; it told him she wasn't just fascinated by antiques, but by the lives and stories hidden in them. He found himself staring at her, realising she appreciated history and lore in a way he never had.

After browsing a little longer, they finally left the shop and wandered into a nearby park. Since most kids were still in school, the swings were empty, and so the two of them sat side by side.

Kentaro kicked at the dirt lazily. "Rin… Do you remember the first time we met? Why did you save me?"

She smiled faintly, rocking herself back and forth on the swing. "Honestly? At first, I thought you were just like the Mecha-Mecha Squad, you'd want me dead. I had every intention of killing you. But… After that cute little speech of yours, I couldn't bring myself to do it. You were just too cute, dear Kentaro."

Kentaro's face flushed red. "H-Hey! Sure, it was a little on the cringe side, but I meant every word of it!"

Rin stopped swinging, stood, and walked over to him. Without warning, she sat on his lap, her warm thighs pressing down on him. Her fingers traced along his cheek in slow circles.

Kentaro froze. This wasn't bad because he feared she'd hurt him, no, it was worse. His "friend downstairs" wasn't going to stay calm much longer.

"R-RIN! PLEASE!" He cried out.

As she got comfortable moving her slender, soft thighs a bit to find the right seating position on Kentaro's lap, she leaned closer, her voice low and teasing, but serious at the same time. "Let me ask you this, Kentaro. If I killed someone close to you, say, Serica… Would you still want to save me?"

Kentaro swallowed hard, searching for the right words. Finally, he looked her dead in the eyes. "That's a silly question. I wouldn't let you kill Serica… And I'd still save you."

Rin stared at him for a long moment, then sighed as she stood. "Honestly, that was such a boring answer. A dreamer's answer. I can't say I'm not a little disappointed." She stretched, her grin returning.

Kentaro smiled to himself. Even if she teased, she'd heard his resolve.

He decided to ask a question of his own. "So, Rin… What were you doing at my college the day we met? I doubt it was just because you wanted to experience school life."

Rin froze, her back to him. For the first time all day, she seemed caught off guard. She turned slowly, lips parting as if to answer.

"KENTARO!!!"

The scream cut through the sky above them. Both Kentaro and Rin looked up just in time to see three silhouettes diving down, light shimmering around them.

"Serica, Yura, Aria?!" Kentaro shouted. His heart skipped. Halcyon's team had finally found him.

Rin stepped back, summoning her pistol into her hand as her grin widened. "Well, I suppose this is it for our date, Kentaro. I truly had fun with you. Please, do take me out again."

"Wait, Rin, but answer my ques-" He didn't get the chance. In the blink of an eye, she phase-stepped away, vanishing into thin air.

Kentaro clenched his jaw but turned as the three Alberline girls landed gracefully, their sublimation frames glowing faintly, Serica's blue, Yura's purple, Aria's red. Their eyes widened the second they saw him.

"Where have you been!?" they all shouted in unison, voices overlapping.

Kentaro scratched the back of his head, laughing nervously. "Sorry, guys… long story. I was out with Rin."

"….."

"…."

"HUH?!" The three of them shouted, eyes wide.

"When you say 'out,' you mean date, don't you!?" Serica snapped, her jealousy obvious.

"Did she force you?" Aria asked, her voice sharp but tinged with worry.

"Indeed, Kentaro. Why go out with her? Are we not enough?" Yura added.

Kentaro waved his hands frantically. "No, no, of course you girls are enough! She just popped out of nowhere while I was getting your suitcases. I tried to contact Tenka, but she broke my earpiece!"

Yura blinked, then suddenly reached into her pocket. "Ah! Here, take this." She handed him a spare earpiece.

Kentaro slipped it on gratefully.

"YOU JACKASS, WHERE WERE YOU?!" Tenka's voice exploded in his ear.

"Long story," Kentaro said sheepishly, explaining everything about Rin and their date. The girls listened, Serica and Yura pouting with jealousy while Aria kept her expression stoic, though her silence was telling.

"I see…" Aria finally said. "Strange. Why now? I thought she'd be exhausted after fighting with Spire. And this dream world she mentioned… Interesting."

Kentaro blinked. "Do you know about it, Tenka?"

There was a pause. "…No. This plan, this world, I don't know. But we'll be looking into it. Also, once you're back on the ship, we have good news for you."

Kentaro frowned at the way she paused, but decided not to push it. "Alright. Can't wait. We'll head back now."

"Good. Door crossing is still active at the hotel. Return with the girls."

"Got it."

He turned to Serica and Yura, giving them both head pats as a wordless apology. They flushed, smiling despite themselves.

Then he felt a tug at his sleeve. Aria. Her expression was quietly jealous. Kentaro chuckled softly and patted her as well, which made her break into a bright smile. She clung to him as they walked behind the other two.

"Kentaro… I hope you'll let me stay with you forever. I know I won't always be the best person to help you, but I hope you can accept me anyway."

Kentaro looked down at her, stroking her hair with a gentle smile. "Of course, Aria. I don't expect you to always help me. All I want is for you to be happy."

Her eyes shone as she nodded. "That's okay with me!" she said brightly.

Kentaro smiled as the four of them walked together. Ahead lay the hotel, the crossing gate, and then… Home.

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