The plaza was so loud that Sylvia didn't hear Firefly calling her. What she did catch was the flash of Firefly's long hair as the girl bounced up and down twice above the crowd.
Once Sylvia pushed through the throng and reached her, she said nothing. She simply reached out and pinched Firefly's cheek.
"Mmph... What's wrong?"
"Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"
Sylvia looked Firefly straight in the eyes as she asked. Firefly blinked, then realized what she meant.
She'd only wanted to keep Sylvia from worrying. Yet when Sylvia showed her concern so openly, Firefly couldn't stop the sudden rush of joy in her chest, and a bright smile spread across her face.
"Because I didn't want you to worry too much. The script already says what happens afterward, so that means nothing could've gone wrong when I entered the dream, right?"
"...That's not the same thing."
Sylvia sighed. She didn't even know what to say.
"All right, all right. Could you walk around with me for a while first?"
Firefly was happy, but she didn't want the mood to stay so heavy. She took Sylvia's hand and led her away from the crowded plaza.
"Let's find somewhere quiet, okay?"
It wasn't that Firefly hated crowds. She'd only just arrived on Penacony, and what she wanted most was to wander around in peace with Sylvia. Put more plainly, she wanted to cling to Sylvia a little, and she'd be too embarrassed to do that with other people watching.
"Whatever you want."
What objection could Sylvia have? She hadn't even explored all Twelve Hours herself yet.
"Would you mind meeting a few of my friends, though? Or would it be better for you to act alone?"
Sylvia meant Robin and Mei, along with the Astral Express Crew they'd meet later. Firefly would be joining them as herself, not as SAM of the Stellaron Hunters.
Sylvia didn't mind traveling together, but she didn't know whether Firefly's script required her to operate alone.
Walking ahead, Firefly gave a small shake of her head. "Let's not. You're getting ready for the auction next, aren't you? I'll work alone for now."
The Stellaron Hunters weren't planning to take part in the auction, and they didn't want to appear too close to Sylvia's group in public. Still, Sylvia's goal involved a Stellaron, so even without joining the auction, they'd be involved in what happened behind the scenes. In the end, they'd simply be splitting into two teams.
Besides, there were enemies Firefly would need to handle while Sylvia carried out her own part of the plan. Firefly tilted her head and glanced at Sylvia from the corner of her eye, saying nothing.
"All right."
She'd already made up her mind, so what else could Sylvia say? She'd heard the same rebuke from Silver Wolf before: Firefly might look sweet and fragile, but she couldn't be treated like an ordinary girl. When it came to sheer will and conviction, Firefly was far stronger than Sylvia.
"Sylvia, what's that over there?"
She'd spotted several strange vehicles parked nearby. One of them resembled a huge wheel.
"Transportation. Want to try one? I've got a rental membership."
The vehicles could be bought or rented, but Sylvia only wanted to try one for fun. She didn't intend to buy one.
She pulled Firefly over to an empty vehicle, climbed aboard, swiped her card, and guided it onto the road. The wind rushed past them as they picked up speed.
"Want to get some cake? They've got all kinds here that can only exist inside a dream."
"Sure, sure~"
"After that, we could visit a museum in Moment of Sol, sunbathe in Moment of Oasis, and—oh, right—Moment of Dusk's a huge shopping paradise..."
Sylvia wanted to show Firefly as much of Penacony as she could. She also wanted to take her to Blue Hour and dance with her, though she didn't know whether Firefly knew how.
"Hehe~ That's too many places. How long would it take to visit all of them?"
Firefly wrapped one arm around Sylvia's waist and rested her chin on Sylvia's shoulder, laughing softly. Sylvia was still as easy to read as ever.
More than any of those places, however, Firefly was looking forward to the deal Sylvia once made with the Stellaron Hunters—the relationship contract that would make them partners.
A quiet, ordinary happiness like this once lay far beyond anything Firefly dared hope for, but Sylvia's arrival somehow turned that impossible wish into something real.
Firefly knew it was only part of a transaction. Kafka's registration on The Blue hadn't changed anything between them, and Silver Wolf was much the same. Silver Wolf hadn't crossed any boundaries with Sylvia either.
Even so, Firefly couldn't help looking forward to her own turn. Even if it was only a beautiful dream, she still wanted the moment when she'd finally step onto the stage.
She just couldn't bring herself to say it outright. Silver Wolf would tease her about it for an entire Amber Era.
--+--
Sylvia found a café and sat down with Firefly for afternoon tea. As Firefly happily placed their order, Sylvia wondered when she should take her somewhere on Penacony to register their marriage contract.
Penacony naturally offered such services, with the Family issuing the official certificates. Since everything took place in a dream, the Nightingale Family could recreate almost any wild wedding a person could imagine. Plenty of wealthy visitors spent fortunes just to hold the perfect ceremony on Penacony.
With Kafka and Silver Wolf, they'd all treated the arrangement as a simple transaction, making it easier to accept. But Firefly was different.
While ordering, Firefly looked up, leaned close against Sylvia's shoulder, and asked what flavors she liked. Sylvia answered while turning to look at Firefly's smile.
Maybe appearances really did change how things felt. Firefly looked far more innocent and well-behaved than Kafka or Silver Wolf, and every smile she gave Sylvia seemed so open and sincere that Sylvia suddenly felt too embarrassed to bring up the contract.
"All right, let's start with these~ Ah, sorry. I might've ordered a little too much."
Firefly checked the order and gave an embarrassed smile. Since she couldn't get full inside a dream, she'd gotten carried away.
"It's not that much. Here, food's mostly about enjoying the taste anyway. Most people do the same thing the first time they enter a dream." Sylvia smiled to reassure her, then asked, "Where would you like to go after we finish?"
Golden Hour was perfect for revelry, but it wasn't a good place for a quiet stroll. Firefly thought for a moment, then tapped her fingertips together with a shy look.
"Um, I'd like to visit Moment of Dusk first. Kafka asked me to buy her a few coats and some jewelry."
"Sure! I might as well pick out gifts for everyone while we're there."
Sylvia hadn't spent much time in Moment of Dusk. She'd only looked around once when she first arrived, so she decided she'd buy small gifts for all her friends and hand them out once the trouble on Penacony was over.
--+--
On the way to Moment of Dusk, Sylvia asked how much money Firefly had. After all, buying even a few small cakes had been a struggle for her in the game, and Sylvia couldn't help worrying.
"Um, Kafka gave me her credit card. That should be enough, right?"
Firefly wasn't sure. She rarely bought things for herself, since Kafka usually handled her clothes, and she didn't know much about prices.
"That should be plenty. I'll cover the rest if it's not."
With Silver Wolf around, Sylvia couldn't imagine the Stellaron Hunters ever running short on Credits. She still couldn't understand why Firefly seemed so broke in the game.
Once Sylvia knew Firefly could afford to shop, she stopped worrying and led her through the stores with abandon. They started by buying the coat Kafka wanted, then picked out gifts for Sylvia's friends along the way.
Despite the fun, Firefly couldn't stop a mix of disappointment and hope from creeping into her heart.
Sylvia still hadn't mentioned their earlier deal. Had she forgotten, or were Kafka and Silver Wolf enough, leaving no need for Firefly to complete the third contract?
Either possibility made Firefly feel a little hurt—and, though she barely admitted it to herself, envious. 'Should I take the initiative? Sylvia probably wouldn't mind something this small.'
Firefly could set the seas ablaze without a flicker of fear, but private matters like this still made her shy. 'What if Sylvia turns me down?' Just imagining it made her chest ache.
She kept smiling despite the knot in her heart, and the two of them wandered from shop to shop until they passed a massive billboard while walking hand in hand.
It advertised formal wedding attire, and its shifting display showed around a dozen styles, some beautiful and some downright strange.
Sylvia slowed to a stop as she watched. One of the designs looked familiar: a spotless white bridal gown. Another was a deep red wedding dress.
Without meaning to, she pictured the people closest to her wearing them. Her ceremony with Mei was simple, and now she wanted to see Mei in a formal red-and-gold wedding dress at least once. Mei's hair and eyes were already so dark, and with her East Asian features, the style would suit her perfectly.
The white gown, meanwhile, would look wonderful on Robin. She was already as pure as a white dove. Sylvia could imagine her in that flawless dress, holding a bouquet and waiting for Sylvia to take her hand.
It was a beautiful thought. Then Sylvia remembered Firefly, who was standing right beside her.
Still, Sylvia's arrangement with the Stellaron Hunters was a transaction. Even her registration with Silver Wolf was casual. They'd grown much closer since then, and Sylvia could sometimes steal a hug or ruffle her hair, but she didn't think Silver Wolf felt that way about her.
Sylvia wanted to see Firefly in a wedding dress too, but she didn't know whether Firefly wanted anything beyond friendship.
If she didn't, there was no reason to push her toward clothing with such strong meaning. A beautiful outfit she could wear every day might be a better gift.
They could always do what she'd done with Kafka: dress up nicely, register the contract, and leave it at that. Sylvia considered it, but she didn't plan to bring it up right away.
She'd only just arrived on Penacony, and the process of entering the dream had hurt. It was only right to help her relax and rest for a couple of days before mentioning the deal. Even if it was a transaction, they were still friends, and Sylvia wouldn't rush Firefly through it like a task that needed checking off.
--+--
Firefly noticed Sylvia stop and followed her gaze. The moment she read the slogan on the billboard, her cheeks turned red.
'Why's Sylvia staring at that ad? Is she trying to hint at something? Why be so roundabout, though? Is she embarrassed? Still... she remembered after all.'
Firefly lowered her head, a contented smile curling across her lips. Their time to investigate Penacony was tight, and she'd rather not delay if she could help it. If they kept putting it off, they might lose the chance entirely.
No one knew whether tomorrow or disaster would arrive first. Since she'd stopped here of her own accord, wasn't this the perfect moment?
Firefly was still shy, but she gathered her courage. Then she called out, "Sylvia—"
"Hm? Oh, sorry. I stopped so suddenly that I must've confused you."
Sylvia snapped back to herself and scratched her head. Stopping in the middle of the street without a word really was strange, and the thoughts she'd just been having weren't the sort she could share with Firefly.
She was about to laugh it off when Firefly raised a hand and pointed toward the huge billboard.
"Do you like the clothes in that shop? I-I'd like to try one on and see how it looks..."
Firefly still couldn't bring herself to say, 'I'll buy that one, so you can marry me.' But a blushing girl was tugging Sylvia by the hand, pointing at wedding dresses, and asking Sylvia to come watch her try one on. The scene wasn't much different from such a bold confession.
"Ah... okay."
Sylvia couldn't deny that Firefly's move struck her like a critical hit. Dazed, she nodded before she even knew what she was agreeing to.
A phantom chime rang in her ears, followed by the familiar system display.
--+--
[Target: Firefly]
[Affinity: 72 (Touched and Expectant)]
[Relationship: Friend]
--+--
Firefly's affinity rose by one, and the sudden system message left Sylvia baffled. After that critical hit, shouldn't Sylvia's affinity for Firefly have gone up instead?
She'd been so dazed that Firefly could've swept her into the bridal shop and married her on the spot before she caught up. Yet all Sylvia did was nod, and somehow Firefly's affinity rose instead.
'Haven't you mixed up the count?'
Sylvia watched Firefly pull her forward with eager steps.
She'd looked happy before, but now her excitement seemed to have climbed even higher. She looked as though she might start skipping at any moment.
'Could Firefly actually love wedding dresses?'
--+--
T/N: If you want advance chapters, you can find it at [email protected]/AspenTL