"…How would you introduce me to them?"
A pause.
"…As an observation subject?"
Another pause, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"…Or as your secret boyfriend?"
Sora's entire body froze mid-breath.
"…S-s-secret?!"
Her face flushed bright red in an instant—crimson spreading across her porcelain cheeks like spilled wine.
"…Geez, Null-san!"
She swatted at his arm, though the motion lacked any real force.
"…Don't get ahead of yourself!"
She turned away slightly, crossing her arms in a huff.
"…I am not that type of woman!"
Null tilted his head, utterly unrepentant.
"…Oh?"
A beat of deliberate silence.
"…So that means you'd introduce me openly as your boyfriend?"
Sora's brain immediately short-circuited.
Her mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.
"…I—I—"
Words failed entirely.
Instead—
Her white-haired head slowly, almost unconsciously, rested against his shoulder.
Her face burned redder than any sunset.
Completely silent.
Null chuckled softly, the sound warm and low.
"…Hehe."
"…If you actually did that…"
"…I'm sure your master and Illiana would tease you to no end."
Sora groaned softly, burying her face further against him.
Null continued with exaggerated seriousness, adopting the tone of a martyr.
"…But don't worry."
"…To protect your sacred dignity…"
"…I'm willing to suffer in silence, Sora."
Sora's hand found his waist.
Pinched.
Hard.
"…Sacred dignity?"
Her voice dripped with mock disbelief.
"…Do not make it sound so dramatic."
She squinted up at him suspiciously.
"…And why does your tone make it sound like you are sacrificing half your life instead of simply staying quiet?"
Null winced slightly, rubbing the offended area.
"…Ow."
Sora folded her arms, though the gesture lacked any real irritation.
"…Besides."
"…I am perfectly capable of enduring a little teasing."
Then, in the privacy of her mind, she added quietly—
Probably.
Null glanced at her sideways, one eyebrow raised.
"…Are you sure?"
"…Rascal." Her cheeks puffed slightly in indignation. "…You doubt me?"
"…Noooo." Null looked away with exaggerated innocence, his gaze fixed on some distant, fascinating point in the garden.
Inside his mind, however—
Well… she's only a half-tsundere.
Maybe it's possible for her to survive their teasing.
Maybe.
Sora sighed softly, the sound carrying a weight that shifted the atmosphere.
"…Actually…"
"…I am more worried about something else."
Null blinked, turning back to her. "…What?"
"…The vultures."
Her voice dropped, losing its playful edge.
"…People who would target you if they discovered a relationship between us."
The moonlight caught the seriousness in her eyes.
"…Because the difference in our status is… significant."
Null sighed quietly, the sound acknowledging truths he couldn't deny.
"…Yeah."
"…I know."
He twirled one of his white bangs absently, a habit that surfaced when his thoughts turned inward.
"…Sorry for being weak."
"…But I'll catch up."
His gaze met hers, steady and certain.
"…Eventually."
"…I promise."
Sora nodded, something in her expression softening.
"…Good."
"…Until then…"
She hesitated, then pressed forward.
"…we will keep it concealed."
Then, almost too quickly—
"Not because I am afraid of my master or Illiana teasing me!"
"…O-okay?!"
Null nodded with the solemnity of a knight accepting a sacred quest.
"…Okay."
Inwardly, though—
You're not convincing anyone, Miss Saintess.
Not even yourself.
A moment passed, filled with the gentle rustle of silver leaves.
Then Null blinked.
"…Wait."
"…Didn't we derail completely from the topic of your home?"
Sora blinked back, startled. "…R-right?"
Null laughed softly, the sound breaking the tension like morning light through fog.
"…You finished telling me about the city."
"…Now what about your parents?"
His voice gentled.
"…What kind of people are they?"
Sora's expression shifted—warmth blooming behind her eyes like flowers opening to the sun.
"…My father is a very responsible and caring man."
"…His name is Siegfried von Luminous."
"…He is the Duke of the Luminous Duchy."
Null nodded slowly. "…That sounds like a lot of responsibility."
"…It is."
Her voice carried quiet pride.
"…But even so…"
"…He never forgets to spend time with his family."
A soft smile curved her lips.
"…Although I am his only child."
"…Most of my time is spent training at the Divine Sanctum or studying at Eden Academy."
"…So it is usually just him and my mother."
Null smiled, warmth threading through his words.
"…So basically…"
"…he's a good father."
Sora nodded immediately, her voice carrying absolute certainty.
"…Yes."
Then her expression softened further, like ice melting into spring water.
"…As for my mother…"
"…Her name is Luna."
"…She is beautiful, gentle, and incredibly kind."
Sora laughed a little, the sound bright and fond.
"…But she will cry like a baby if I fail to call her at least once a day."
Null laughed along with her. "…That sounds adorable."
"…She is also the most overprotective mother in the world."
Sora's smile widened, impossibly warm.
"…But her overprotectiveness is also very endearing."
"…So I can say with all my heart…"
"…she is the best mother I could have asked for."
Null listened quietly, absorbing every word, every emotion beneath them.
Then he smiled—a small, almost vulnerable curve of his lips.
"…That sounds warm."
A small longing entered his voice, subtle but unmistakable.
"…Now I really want to meet them."
But then he hesitated, the vulnerability deepening.
"…Although…"
"…I don't know if they'd accept someone like me."
Sora shook her head firmly, her hair catching the moonlight.
"…Do not worry."
"…My parents are kind people."
A playful smile appeared, chasing away the shadows.
"…And they are not against love."
"…After all, they themselves had a love marriage."
Null blinked, genuine surprise flickering across his face. "…Really?"
"…However…"
Her tone shifted, turning mock-serious.
"…My father will probably test you."
"…Quite thoroughly."
She giggled softly, the sound like wind chimes.
"…My mother, on the other hand…"
"…will accept you immediately as long as she sees that I am happy."
Null straightened slightly, a new determination settling into his shoulders.
"…That's reassuring."
Then his expression grew focused, almost fierce.
"…You just gave me another reason to become stronger quickly."
Sora smiled, radiant and warm.
"…Hehe."
Then she nudged him lightly.
"…Now it is your turn, Null-san."
"…Huh?"
"…What do you mean 'huh?'"
She looked at him expectantly, sky-blue eyes bright with curiosity.
"…You just learned about my personal life."
"…Won't you tell me about yours?"
Null scratched his cheek, suddenly uncomfortable.
"…Well…"
Sora pouted slightly, though her eyes remained soft.
"…No complaints."
"…I also want to get to know you better."
Her voice softened, losing its teasing edge.
"…So tell me about yourself."
"…Your homeland."
A pause.
"…And especially your parents."
Null froze.
The small, almost imperceptible stiffening of his shoulders.
The way his dark-red eyes dimmed.
"…About that…"
His voice faltered, the confidence draining away.
"…My parents…"
A shadow passed through his dark-red eyes—quick, painful, and quickly hidden.
But not quickly enough.
Sora immediately fell silent.
Because she suddenly realized—with the terrible clarity of hindsight—
She might have touched something that still bled.
And the next words confirmed it.
"…My parents passed away when I was young."
Sora's heart tightened painfully in her chest.
Null continued quietly, his voice steady but hollow.
"…They left me with a decent amount of wealth."
"…And a loyal butler who helped raise me."
His gaze lowered, fixed on some distant point only he could see.
"…But he passed away last year."
A small breath escaped him—not quite a sigh, not quite a shudder.
"…Thankfully, I had a childhood friend and a few good friends who helped me through it."
"…Currently, I am sixteen."
"…First year of high school."
"…Before the summoning happened."
Sora looked down, guilt pooling in her chest.
"…Null-san…"
"…I'm sorry."
Null blinked, genuine confusion replacing the distant look.
"…Why?"
"…For insisting."
Her voice was small.
"…Without knowing it would make you remember sad memories."
Null chuckled softly—a gentle, comforting sound.
"…Sora."
"…Don't worry about it."
He smiled warmly, the shadows retreating from his eyes.
"…If my girlfriend wants to know more about me…"
"…why would I blame her?"
Sora blinked, momentarily speechless.
"…You are very understanding, Null-san."
Null shook his head slowly.
"…I think you're the more understanding one between us."
Sora giggled softly, the tension finally breaking.
Then after a moment of comfortable silence—
She tilted her head, a new thought forming.
"…By the way, Null-san."
"…Hmm?"
"…I have been meaning to ask something."
"…Since our date started…"
Her cheeks puffed slightly in playful indignation.
"…you stopped using the '-san' suffix with my name."
"…That's very unfair."
Null blinked.
"…Eh?"
"…Why?"
"…I thought we were close enough to drop honorifics."
He put on a slightly worried expression, though his eyes betrayed his amusement.
"…Do you not like me calling you just 'Sora'?"
"…If that's the case I can go back to—"
"…NO!"
Sora panicked instantly, her hands flying up.
"…That is not what I meant!"
She looked away, her profile silhouetted against the moonlight.
"…You can call me however you like."
"…It's just…"
"…Just?"
Her face grew red, the color spreading down her neck.
"…I also want to call you without honorifics."
"…That's why it's unfair."
Null blinked again.
Then smiled—warm and genuine.
"…Oh."
"…That's all?"
"…I'm completely fine with it."
Sora brightened immediately, the tension melting from her shoulders.
"…Really?"
"…Thanks!"
Null leaned slightly closer, his eyes dancing with gentle mischief.
"…So?"
"…Huh?"
"…Why don't you start right now?"
Sora froze.
She had expected this.
She had known it was coming.
Still—
Her heart raced like a caged bird against her ribs.
He won't let it go until I say it…
She took a breath.
Then another.
"…Nu…"
"…Nu…"
Her voice barely worked, trembling on the edge of audibility.
"…Nu-Null."
She managed it.
Barely.
Null chuckled with unmistakable amusement.
"…Hehe."
"…That was delightful."
Sora snorted softly, though her lips twitched upward.
"…Hmph."
"…Silly."
But despite the protest—
Despite the mock indignation—
Her white-haired head slowly rested against his shoulder again.
The moonlight settled gently around them, wrapping them in silver.
And the night—
Quiet.
Gentle.
Welcoming.
The garden remained peaceful.
As two familiar souls who once swore eternal companionship continued learning how to belong beside each other again.