The street remained silent.
The flow of the event was still concentrated in the arena, and that left us in an isolated space, far from any interference. The late afternoon light was beginning to fall, stretching the shadows and softening the atmosphere.
Scarlett was still in front of me.
Closer than before.
More steady too.
But there was something different.
A decision.
I noticed it even before she spoke.
She took a deep breath.
Once.
Then again.
As if she were organizing everything internally.
"Takumi…"
Her voice came out lower than usual.
Not weak.
But weighted.
I kept my eyes on her.
Without interrupting.
Without pressuring.
She tried to continue.
"I…"
She stopped.
Frowning slightly, as if irritated with herself.
"This is harder than I thought."
"Then don't force it."
She let out a small, humorless laugh.
"I know."
A brief silence.
She took a step forward.
Now the distance between us was minimal.
I could see the slight tension in her eyes, mixed with something more direct.
Something that hadn't been there before.
"You said it depends on what I want."
"Yes."
She nodded.
"I thought about it."
"Now?"
"Now."
Another pause.
But this time it wasn't hesitation.
It was choice.
She lifted her gaze completely.
Without looking away.
"I don't want it to be small."
The words came out clean.
Without circling.
Without protection.
The wind passed again, light, almost imperceptible.
I didn't say anything.
She continued.
"I don't want to stay only in that moment."
The reference was clear.
It didn't need to be explained.
"Nor pretend it means nothing."
Her breathing became a little deeper.
But her gaze didn't break.
"I tried to ignore it."
"It didn't work."
"No."
Simple.
Direct.
True.
She took another step.
Now there was no space left between us.
"I'm not good at this."
"I know."
"But I'm not going to run away either."
The statement came with firmness.
Without doubt.
Without retreat.
"So I'm going to say it my way."
I waited.
Without interfering.
Without completing.
She held her breath for a second.
And then…
she didn't speak.
Instead…
she leaned in.
And kissed me.
It wasn't hesitant.
But it wasn't aggressive either.
It was direct.
Decisive.
Without asking permission.
Without leaving room for doubt.
Her hand lightly gripped my clothes, as if she needed something physical to keep control.
Time didn't stop.
But it slowed down.
There was no noise around.
No distraction.
Only the moment.
When she pulled away, she didn't step back completely.
She stayed there.
Close.
Breathing still uneven.
But her gaze…
was steady.
"That's my way."
Her voice came out low.
But firm.
I observed.
Without hurry.
Without the need for an immediate response.
She held her position.
Without running.
Without trying to soften what she had done.
"I like you."
Now it came in words.
Without protection.
Without diversion.
"It's not small."
Silence.
But not empty.
Loaded.
I raised my hand.
Lightly touched her face.
Without force.
Just contact.
She didn't pull away.
On the contrary.
She stayed there.
"I already knew."
She let out a small sigh.
"Of course you did."
"You made it clear."
"I needed to make it clear."
"You didn't need that much."
She almost smiled.
"I needed it for myself."
We stayed silent for a moment.
But now it was different.
There was no tension.
There was clarity.
"This changes things."
I said.
She nodded.
"It does."
"Are you ready for that?"
The question was direct.
Without softening.
Without romanticizing.
She didn't answer immediately.
But she didn't look away either.
She thought.
For real.
Not on impulse.
"I'm ready not to run away."
"It's not the same thing."
"I know."
She took a deep breath.
"But it's what I can guarantee right now."
Honest.
Without exaggeration.
Without empty promise.
I accepted.
"That's enough."
She relaxed slightly.
As if that answer had taken a weight off.
"So…"
She began.
But stopped.
Not out of doubt.
But because she didn't know how to continue.
I completed it.
"So we see how far this goes."
She nodded.
Slowly.
"Without pretending."
"Without hiding."
"Without running."
"Without running."
She repeated.
Almost like an agreement.
The wind passed once more.
But now there was no tension in the air.
The city continued alive in the distance.
But there…
everything was defined.
Scarlett looked at me for one more second.
Calmer.
More secure.
"I'm going back."
"To where?"
"To sort some things out."
"With the group?"
"Yes."
It made sense.
"After that I'll talk to you."
"I'll be at the mansion."
She nodded.
"I know."
She took a step back.
But didn't break eye contact immediately.
As if she wanted to register that moment.
Before leaving.
"Takumi."
"Go on."
She hesitated for a second.
But said it.
"I don't regret it."
"Neither do I."
That was enough.
She turned.
And started walking.
Without hurry.
Without looking back.
I stayed still.
Watching until she disappeared around the corner of the street.
And at that moment…
it became clear.
It wasn't impulse.
It wasn't a reaction to the event.
It was a choice.
And that…
made everything more real.
What comes next wasn't defined yet.
But one thing was certain.
Nothing would be the same as before.