Morning sunlight filtered gently into the kitchen, turning the quiet room a soft shade of gold.
The house still felt empty.
Too empty.
Serena sat at the small dining table, calmly eating breakfast. Her posture was straight, composed as always, but her eyes occasionally drifted toward the window as if measuring the passing time.
Across from her, Yuma sat hunched over his plate.
He had been staring at the same piece of toast for the past minute.
Neither of them spoke.
The quiet between them wasn't exactly uncomfortable… but it was heavy.
Eventually, Serena broke the silence.
"…You slept well."
Yuma stiffened immediately.
"Y-Yeah."
His answer came out a little too quickly.
Serena took a slow sip of tea, watching him over the rim of the cup.
"That's good."
Silence returned.
For about five seconds.
Then Serena added casually,
"…Because I remember waking up with someone hugging me."
Yuma froze.
Completely.
"…Please don't."
Serena ignored him.
"Arms around my waist."
"I WAS ASLEEP!"
"Face buried in my shoulder."
Yuma dropped his forehead onto the table with a dull thud.
"…I'm begging you."
Serena calmly buttered her toast.
"I don't remember saying I would marry you."
Yuma groaned into the table.
"And yet," Serena continued, her voice perfectly level, "here you are getting handsy because we had a good conversation last night."
"I WAS UNCONSCIOUS!"
Serena tilted her head slightly as if analyzing a curious phenomenon.
"So this is how men operate."
Yuma lifted his head just enough to look at her.
"…What?"
"Taking advantage of defenseless young ladies."
"I DIDN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANYONE!"
Serena stared at him for a long moment.
Then she shrugged.
"If I was actually mad, you wouldn't have woken up this morning."
Yuma blinked.
"…What does that mean?"
Serena answered as if stating the weather.
"I would have stabbed you with one of my daggers."
Yuma froze.
"…You sleep with daggers?"
"Obviously."
"That's terrifying."
Serena finished the last of her tea and stood, bringing the cup to the sink.
"You're lucky I was in a good mood."
Yuma leaned back in his chair with a deep sigh.
"…I said I was sorry."
"I know."
Serena rinsed the cup quietly.
"That's why you're still alive."
Yuma slumped forward again.
"…Great. I feel very reassured."
The room grew quiet again.
But this time it felt different.
Not tense.
Just thoughtful.
Yuma rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"…About yesterday."
Serena paused.
"…What about it?"
"You really don't have to do this," he said quietly.
Serena didn't turn around.
"If you say no, I'll go back home. It's not like—"
"You talk too much."
Yuma stopped.
Serena turned slowly.
Her expression was calm.
But her eyes were serious.
"I already decided."
Yuma blinked.
"…When?"
"Last night."
Her gaze drifted slightly, remembering the long conversation they had in the garden. The quiet hours beneath the trees. The strange comfort she had felt just sitting beside him.
She exhaled softly.
"You said you'd become a Geist for me."
Yuma scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"…Yeah."
Serena folded her arms.
"Someone who had no reason to be here… someone who barely even knew me…"
Her voice softened slightly.
"…still chose to stay."
Yuma didn't know what to say.
Serena looked away for a moment.
"If you leave," she continued quietly, "everything goes back to the way it was."
"A normal life."
But the words sounded strange even as she said them.
Because she had realized something last night.
A life without becoming a Geist…
A life without chasing the dream she'd carried for years…
That wasn't really living.
That was giving up.
Serena looked back at him.
"So I'll accept it."
Yuma blinked.
"…Accept what?"
"The engagement."
Before he could react—
The sound of a car pulling into the driveway echoed outside.
Both of them turned toward the window.
Serena exhaled slowly.
"…They're back."
Yuma immediately straightened in his chair.
"Already?!"
Serena crossed her arms.
"Which means it's time."
Yuma swallowed nervously.
"…Your decision."
Serena nodded once.
Then she walked toward the living room.
A moment later, the front door opened.
Reige stepped inside first, followed by Erika, Melda, and Alumna.
The moment they entered, the atmosphere shifted.
The house no longer felt quiet.
It felt expectant.
Reige's gaze immediately found Serena.
"…Have you made your decision?"
Serena stood straight.
"Yes."
Yuma stood beside her, suddenly feeling like he was standing in front of a firing squad.
Serena spoke clearly.
"I'll accept the engagement."
The room fell silent.
Melda was the first to react.
"Well that was quicker than expected."
Erika visibly relaxed.
Reige studied his daughter carefully.
"You understand what this means?"
"I do."
Serena glanced briefly at Yuma.
Her voice remained calm.
"I won't treat him like an enemy anymore."
Yuma blinked in surprise.
Serena crossed her arms.
"I'll treat him as a partner."
She hesitated for just a second.
Then added quietly,
"…And a friend."
Melda grinned immediately.
Erika giggled softly.
"You two will make such a lovely couple."
Alumna nodded approvingly.
"Yes. I can already imagine it."
Serena's eye twitched.
"For your information…"
She pointed directly at Yuma.
"We are still just friends."
Yuma nodded rapidly.
"Yes! Friends!"
Serena folded her arms firmly.
"So don't expect any grandchildren."
The adults exchanged looks.
Then—
Melda burst out laughing.
Alumna smirked.
"You won't last four years."
Serena frowned.
"…Four years?"
Alumna shrugged.
"Four years before you prove yourselves wrong."
Melda chuckled.
"Oh I'm taking that bet."
Erika smiled warmly.
"They really would be a nice couple."
Serena scoffed.
"Not happening."
Yuma slowly raised his hand like a confused student.
"…Do I get a say in this?"
Nobody answered him.
And just like that—
What had started as a political arrangement…
What had begun as an unwanted engagement…
Had somehow turned into something else entirely.
Not love.
Not yet.
But perhaps…
The beginning of something real.