Morning sunlight poured through the tall glass windows of the mansion.
The atmosphere felt different today.
Everyone knew why.
It was date day.
In the kitchen, Luna was sitting on the counter eating cereal when Tara walked in.
"Morning," Tara said.
Luna immediately leaned forward.
"So."
Tara sighed.
"You're going to ask."
"You picked Minho."
"Yes."
"That was obvious."
Tara smiled.
"He started celebrating before I even finished my sentence."
Right then, Minho walked in.
"Did someone mention my name?"
Luna pointed at him.
"You look very proud today."
Minho grabbed an apple.
"I have a date."
"That explains everything."
Meanwhile in the living room, Jisoo stood near the window adjusting his jacket.
Merlin came downstairs a moment later.
Luna immediately noticed.
"Ooo."
Merlin sighed.
"Please don't start."
Minho leaned over the couch.
"First official date."
"Why is everyone announcing it like a sports match?"
"Because it kind of is."
Jisoo turned toward her.
"Ready?"
Merlin nodded.
"As ready as someone can be with eight people staring."
Minho raised a finger.
"Ten if you count the cameras."
Outside, a sleek black van waited at the gate.
A staff member handed them an envelope.
Merlin opened it first.
"A riverside café."
Jisoo checked the second card.
"And a pottery studio."
Merlin blinked.
"Pottery?"
Minho laughed from the doorway.
"Okay, that's actually a great date."
Luna clapped.
"Whoever planned this did a good job."
The van drove away.
Inside the mansion, the remaining contestants gathered in the living room.
The large television screen turned on.
Luna leaned forward immediately.
"Oh my god."
"They're letting us watch the date."
Minho grinned.
"This is amazing."
Kiara crossed her arms.
"Now this is interesting."
Meanwhile the van stopped near a quiet riverside street.
Tall trees lined the walkway.
The water reflected the bright morning sunlight.
Merlin stepped out first.
"This place is beautiful."
Jisoo looked around.
"It's peaceful."
They began walking along the river.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Then Merlin smiled.
"This feels surprisingly normal."
Jisoo nodded.
"Yeah."
"No challenges. No missions."
Merlin laughed.
"Just two people walking like regular humans."
Back at the mansion, Luna pointed at the screen.
"They look like they're filming a drama."
Minho shook his head.
"This is too calm."
Kiara raised an eyebrow.
"You prefer chaos."
"Yes."
At the café, a small table had been prepared near the water.
Two iced coffees waited.
Merlin sat down.
"So."
Jisoo sat across from her.
"So."
Merlin looked around.
"Okay, serious question."
Jisoo raised an eyebrow.
"I'm listening."
She gestured around the café.
"Do you think this is a real date or a very expensive social experiment?"
Jisoo glanced at the camera above them.
"…Both."
Merlin laughed.
"Fair."
She took a sip of her drink.
"I still can't believe everyone watched the ranking results."
Jisoo nodded.
"That part was brutal."
Merlin leaned back in her chair.
"Getting judged by nine idols before breakfast."
"My confidence was doing great until that moment."
Jisoo smiled slightly.
"You handled it well."
"I laughed because I didn't know what else to do."
Back at the mansion, Minho pointed at the screen.
"See?"
"I told you she's funny."
Luna nodded.
"She really is."
Kaito smiled quietly.
"She makes everything sound dramatic."
After finishing their drinks, Merlin and Jisoo walked to the next location.
The pottery studio was warm and filled with wooden tables.
Rows of pottery wheels lined the walls.
Merlin looked around.
"This looks complicated."
Jisoo rolled up his sleeves.
"We'll figure it out."
The instructor explained the basics and placed clay in front of them.
Merlin pressed her hands into the clay.
The entire shape collapsed instantly.
She stared at it.
"Well."
"That went well."
Jisoo laughed.
"You're pressing too hard."
He moved closer and adjusted the clay.
"Try this."
Merlin tried again.
The clay slowly formed a bowl shape.
"Oh."
"That actually worked."
Back at the mansion, Luna grabbed Minho's arm.
"He helped her."
Minho nodded.
"That's a classic move."
Kiara watched quietly.
Back in the studio, Merlin glanced at Jisoo.
"You're suspiciously good at this."
"I listened to the instructor."
"That feels unfair."
"It's called paying attention."
Merlin leaned over to inspect his pottery.
His bowl looked much smoother.
"That's definitely unfair."
"You rushed yours."
"I was enthusiastic."
Jisoo laughed.
"That explains it."
A moment later Merlin tried adjusting the rim of her bowl.
Clay splattered across the table.
She froze.
"I'm pretending that didn't happen."
Jisoo dipped his finger into the clay.
Then lightly placed a small dot on her cheek.
Merlin stared at him.
"Did you just—"
"Yes."
She grabbed a piece of clay and flicked it toward him.
Now his sleeve had a gray stain.
Jisoo looked down.
Merlin crossed her arms proudly.
"Fair."
Back at the mansion, Luna burst out laughing.
"This is the best episode."
Minho clapped.
"Now the date is getting good."
At the pottery wheel, Merlin wiped clay from her cheek.
"You started that."
"You escalated it."
She laughed.
"That's accurate."
After nearly an hour, their pottery pieces were finished.
Merlin held hers up.
"It's slightly crooked."
Jisoo examined it.
"It has character."
"That's a polite insult."
"It's honest."
As they washed their hands, Merlin leaned against the table.
"You know something?"
"What?"
"This date feels surprisingly normal."
Jisoo nodded.
"That's rare here."
She smiled.
"Maybe that's why I like it."
Inside the mansion, the living room had grown quiet.
Everyone watched the screen.
Aria noticed something first.
She glanced toward the window.
Leon was watching now.
Fully.
He hadn't been sitting with the others.
But now his attention was clearly on the screen.
Back at the pottery studio, Merlin picked up her small bowl.
"I'm keeping this."
Jisoo looked at it.
"Even though it's crooked?"
"Especially because it's crooked."
She smiled.
"It reminds me of today."
Jisoo looked at her.
"And what does today remind you of?"
Merlin thought for a moment.
Then answered softly.
"That maybe this whole experience isn't as ridiculous as I first thought."
Back at the mansion, Minho leaned back.
"Well."
"That was a good date."
Luna nodded.
"Yeah."
Then she glanced toward the window again.
Leon was still watching the screen.
Silent.
And somehow…
That reaction said more than anything else.