"Asa, there are two cheek kisses."
That was the message displayed in the custom fireworks Cael had arranged.
If it were a typical confession, it would have read something cliché like, "I love you" or "I like you." But Cael had avoided the obvious. "Two cheek kisses" sounded strange at first, not like something anyone would put in a confession, yet it held a private meaning only he and Asa shared. It symbolized the very beginning of their relationship.
Asa gazed up at the night sky above the school, mesmerized by the colors. "It's beautiful. Did Cael do this for me?"
"Of course it's for you. Is there another Asa in the world who's given me a cheek kiss?" he replied, smiling to calm his own nerves.
A faint blush spread across Asa's cheeks. Fireworks, crafted just for her. He really loved her.
Cael's thoughts briefly flickered. The scene was romantic, but he hadn't actually set off the fireworks himself. There was only one possible culprit: Reze.
He discreetly checked his phone. A string of messages filled the chat box:
Reze: Sorry! I'm so sorry! I accidentally hit the firework switch! How much did it cost? I can pay you back! (Hands pressed together x3!)
As expected… Yet sometimes, unintentional acts create unexpectedly perfect outcomes.
Cael shoved his phone back into his pocket and typed a blind reply: "It's fine."
Asa noticed his movements. "Are you busy with work right now?"
"No, I just told the person who helped with the fireworks to rest," Cael explained, then openly showed her the chat with Reze. There was no need for unnecessary suspicion.
"Oh," Asa murmured, glancing briefly at the screen before returning her gaze to him. "I don't need to check on you. As long as I know you truly love me, I'm happy."
"Mm-hmm." Cael smiled, running a hand gently through her hair. "My girl is the most understanding."
He set his phone to airplane mode. "No more messages to distract us now."
The custom fireworks faded, and at the edges of the sky, streaks of brilliant iridescent light traced the path of Starlink debris falling silently.
Asa touched her right cheek with her finger. "There were two cheek kisses… That only counted as one just now."
From the school rooftop, Reze lowered her binoculars. There wasn't much to see with the two of them huddled together, sharing kisses. She tapped rapidly on her phone.
"I'm really sorry, Cael. Come to Erdao Coffee Shop another day, and I'll treat you to coffee again~"
After sending the message, she gazed blankly at the interstellar debris streaking across the skyline.
"This model… it's the Soviet Union's Starlink…"
Its trajectory: east to west. A signal from the KGB, intended to accelerate the operation.
Reze smirked bitterly, sticking out her tongue and flipping her middle finger at the sky. "What a cheapskate. Why the rush? Why not let someone enjoy a good relationship? Doesn't a prisoner get a last meal before execution?"
In truth, she had intentionally set off the fireworks. Seeing Cael and Asa reunited, she had added a touch to heighten the romantic atmosphere.
She yawned, staring at a Paper Bell in her hand. "The cat-eating mouse… still won't beat humans…"
In a high-end apartment, Makima sat quietly on the sofa. The room was brightly lit, yet her gaze had drifted. Seeing Cael and Asa together again stirred something subtle in her chest—a mix of longing and curiosity.
She glanced at Pochita, asleep in its basket. "Pochita, are you awake?"
"Woof?" Pochita opened its bleary eyes. Almost accustomed to Makima's habits, it slept lightly, deep sleep only coming once she rested.
"Good, I want to ask you something," she said, taking a slice of ham sausage from the fridge and offering it to Pochita.
"Woof? (Ask away.)"
Sighing softly, Makima said, "I saw Cael and the War Devil reunited. Is love really… this good? Why are they so obsessed with it?"
Pochita tilted its head. "Woof woof. (Maybe it's like how Makima enjoys delicious food. Love brings joy, too.)"
Makima nodded, seeing sense in the comparison. Without joy, life feels empty.
Pochita chewed the sausage and nodded. "Woof. (If you want to date Cael, take initiative like the War Devil.)"
"Me? I'm not sure I even want to date Cael…"
Pochita shook its head solemnly. "Woof woof! (You watch him so closely because you like him.)"
Makima's eyes widened. "Ah… so that's why I observe him every day."
Pochita nodded again. "Woof. (Face your feelings.)"
Even a genius with a 152 IQ can get caught in Pochita's logic.
Realizing this, Makima had a subtle change of heart. "I see. I like Cael. That's why I feel conflicted. I need to personally crush that mouse who covets him—Pomu!"