S-2878 • L3 Sintoluna • D15 Irrasi
"Sintoluna reaches its peak of light. Irrasi ignites fullness in the sky. Gaia celebrates the tide in a wide chorus. The narrative anchors light into form."
Fatigue weighed on my body.
Physical. Psychological. Emotional.
Everything inside me overflowing like blood.
Still, I gathered my kit and aligned myself with my Inner Elder—
Maia was waiting.
Maybe her presence would ease what I carried.
I stepped off the bus.
Her piercing eyes landed on me.
That searching gaze—
as if it could see straight through my soul.
We walked in silence through the lit streets.
My body remembered how light it felt to move.
We entered a robot shop—Gearhead.
Lasers pulsed in erratic rhythms.
Flashes burst like scattered sparks.
Adware danced in frantic patterns.
Neon blue—vivid. Hypnotic.
We crossed a room packed with heavy safes.
Climbed a staircase.
Reached an empty bar.
Soft, cheerful music in the background.
At the center—a table.
Two plates of pasta.
"Maybe you're hungry."
Maia's voice, slightly teasing.
"I'm not sure about your drinking tolerance."
I ignored the provocation.
Breathed in the delicious aroma.
"You made this?"
She gave a crooked smile.
Raised brow. Suggestive.
Picked up her utensils and started eating.
"It was very good."
I brought my hands together in thanks, bowing slightly.
"Gochisousama."
"Osomatsu."
My eyes widened.
"You speak Japanese?"
She shrugged, like it meant nothing.
"Here and there."
She stood and walked to the bar.
"Come."
I leaned on the counter, curious.
"What'll you have?"
"Hmm… it's been a while since I had sake."
Maia smirked.
A hint of sarcasm.
"Alright."
She poured it—
then added strawberries.
Sliding the glass toward me.
"All set."
I took a sip.
Smiled.
"Ah… delicious.
It's been a while since something this good touched my lips.
What about you?"
She lifted a bottle of IcyNova vodka.
Opened it.
Took a long drink.
We moved to a sofa nearby.
The night found its rhythm.
Maia drank generously—
while preparing more drinks for me.
Strawberries.
Sake.
Alcohol and laughter.
Soon, my head started to spin.
The cramps dulled.
"D-do you… get drunk?"
My words slurred.
She laughed.
That rough, warm sound stirred something inside me.
"I think I do?"
There was something ethereal about her.
A faint glow—
or maybe just my blurred vision.
But watching her drink—
I realized the vodka wasn't just a drink.
It was a shield.
Something in Maia was running from itself.
"I told you…"
I bit my lip.
She noticed.
Of course she did.
Found it amusing.
I looked away.
"That's your second bottle.
If it were me… I'd already be collapsing."
I muttered, frustrated with how easily I gave in.
She took another sip.
Exhaled.
"Well… vodka makes certain things in life more tolerable."
I bit into a strawberry.
Curious.
"What kind of things?"
She shook her head, smiling faintly.
"You know… when you are…"
She hesitated.
"…yeah. I probably need more vodka for that."
Another sip.
"What?! Tell me."
I pouted—
something I would never do sober.
I already knew I'd regret this.
"Nah. Nothing to say."
I stood up suddenly—
losing balance.
Maia moved fast to catch me—
but I steadied myself first.
She paused.
Still watching me.
I pointed at her—
trying to look serious.
Failing completely.
"Why?!
You… never say anything…
You know what?
I'm tired of wanting to know!"
I covered my ears, dramatic.
"I won't listen anymore!"
She burst out laughing.
The sound echoed through the empty bar—
and completely disarmed me.
I stumbled—
fell right onto her.
My drink spilled over her clothes.
She didn't care.
My cheeks burned.
I buried my face against her stomach—
unable to move.
Or look at her.
My mind spun with embarrassment.
She stopped laughing.
Gently stroked my head.
"Hey."
"N-no…"
My voice muffled.
"I'm not leaving…"
"Look at me."
Reluctantly, I lifted my eyes.
"W-what?"
"I like this song.
Want to dance?"
That playful smile.
I grumbled.
Lowered my head.
"I'll take that as a yes."
I forced myself to stand.
Maia got up—
took off her soaked shirt.
A dark gray top underneath.
"I'm terrible at dancing…"
"Put your hands here."
She guided them to her shoulders—
her hands settling at my waist.
A melancholic rhythm filled the space.
A woman's voice wrapped around us like a dream.
I looked at Maia.
My face burned.
I hid it in her shoulder.
My body moved with her laughter.
She rested her head against mine.
Silence settled between us—
warm. Alive.
Maia inhaled slowly—
pulling me closer.
Her scent—
wood and vodka.
I hesitated.
My hand slid to her neck.
Rough scars under my fingers.
She shivered.
Barely—
but I felt it.
I closed my eyes.
Trying to escape the overwhelming awareness of her closeness.
My blood surged—
mirroring something deeper.
The song ended.
Our heads drifted apart—
just slightly.
Still holding each other.
Her face so close.
My eyes traced her cheeks.
Were they flushed?
No.
Just the alcohol.
Of course.
"Ah…"
She clicked her tongue.
Bit her lip—teasing.
"You…
looking at me…
like that…"
I frowned.
Like what?
My heart pounded.
I covered my face.
Completely undone.
She laughed softly.
"Come on. Let's sit."
The music filled the silence.
I wanted to disappear into myself.
She took another drink.
Only half the bottle left.
She lifted it.
"I need to finish this, or…"
"O-or what…?"
My voice thick.
The room spun.
"Or I won't be able to sleep."
She walked to the bar—
pointed at me.
"Anyway. From now on—just water for you."
She handed me a bottle.
"What do you mean?!"
I protested—
spilling some.
"You'll be able to sleep."
"How can you be so sure…
when you'll be this close?"
Maia leaned in.
Breath against my ear.
Half-lidded eyes—
dangerous. Magnetic.
A predator—
ready to move.
I choked on the water.
"W-what are you saying?!"
She leaned closer.
"You really think you're going home alone like this?
Drunk?"
My breath caught.
"There's a bed we can share…"
Her presence surrounded me.
My thoughts tangled.
I buried my face in my knees—
hiding the heat in my cheeks.
She laughed.
She knew exactly what she was doing.
Minutes later, I lifted my head.
Drowsy.
"I think I'll sleep here…
this couch is so soft…"
Everything blurred.
My last memory—
Maia finishing the vodka.
Staring at the floor.
Then—
a subtle rocking motion—
carrying me into unconsciousness.
Middle of the night
I woke up.
Everything spinning.
My head pounding.
Heat flooded my body.
I turned—
Maia was beside me.
Sleeping.
Soft hair falling over her face.
Calm breathing.
A peaceful expression—
so different from her waking intensity.
Am I dreaming?
I rubbed my forehead.
Trying to ease the pain.
"Hey… are you okay?" she whispered.
I flinched.
I hadn't noticed she was awake.
"N-no… but I'll be."
She shifted closer.
"No sleep?"
She took my hand.
Her fingers tracing mine—
gently.
I nodded.
Unable to hide the tension.
She picked up something—
a pill.
"Take this.
It'll help you sleep.
You'll dream."
I swallowed it too quickly.
Trusted her—
more than I should.
Soon—
my thoughts softened.
A warm drowsiness wrapped around me.
I was fading.
"Unlike me…"
Her voice cut through the quiet.
Low. Intimate.
"No sleeping pill in this world
could make me sleep with you right next to me."
Her words disappeared into the dark—
but left a mark.
Lingering.
Morning
I woke up refreshed.
We had breakfast together.
A comfortable silence.
I avoided looking at her too long.
The embarrassment still lingered.
I wanted to go home.
Process everything—
away from her.
She amplified everything I felt.
I called a taxi.
It arrived.
Maia walked me to the door.
"See you, Akiko."
Her voice calm—
yet disarming in its depth.
I got in.
Exhaled.
The engine hummed softly.
I looked back.
She was already gone.
For a moment—
I thought I had imagined everything.
The car glided through the airways.
Then—
a thought struck me like lightning.
My heart stumbled.
My body warmed.
There was no denying it anymore:
I was falling in love with Maia.
And my soul—
as still trying to understand what to do with that.
All I knew was—
from now on, everything would change.