Then after a short while, Yuri's mood suddenly changed. The bright, sparkling joy that had filled her starry red eyes while savoring the sweet, creamy ice cream slowly dimmed.
Her spoon paused halfway to her mouth, the colorful dessert beginning to melt into a soft puddle in the bowl. A subtle shift came over her entire expression — her shoulders tensed slightly, her playful smile faded into a more serious, worried impression, and a small crease formed between her brows.
The cozy warmth of the Moonlit Petals restaurant, with its soft lantern lighting and gentle murmurs of other customers, seemed to grow heavier around their quiet corner table.
Yuri's black chokers moved subtly as she swallowed, her gothic boyish outfit suddenly appearing more somber as the carefree vacation-like excitement she had been feeling moments ago gave way to something deeper and more troubling.
