Kaguya bent forward in a flawless bow, and when she straightened, her cheeks were completely flushed and her breath came out uneven, still carrying the dizziness from the roller coaster.
"Today, truly… thank you so much, Damian-kun."
Her eyes now shone with an intense glow. "I am… really looking forward… to having fun with you again someday."
"…"
At his side, Yukino remained motionless, her hands properly clasped in front of her as if trying to regain the composure she had lost. But the stiffness of her posture couldn't hide the blush lingering on her cheeks or the nearly imperceptible spark of emotion in her icy blue eyes.
"Sigh…"
Damian let out a brief exhale, not from exhaustion but from something close to tenderness.
He looked at them both, so different and yet equally disarmed after today, and a quiet smile curved his mouth.
Without ceremony, he gently tousled Kaguya's lively ponytail, making a few loose strands dance.
"Good," he said simply, in a tone that sounded more like a promise than an answer. And he added, "Next time we'll go on a picnic."
!
Kaguya's eyes lit up.
"Picnic?" she asked, almost breathless.
"Yes, picnic." Damian calmly withdrew his hand and glanced sideways at Yukino, who remained silent. "If Yukino is free, she can come too."
Yukino didn't lift her gaze right away, her long lashes barely trembled and, after a brief pause, she let out a very soft "Mm."
It wasn't a yes or a no, but it was enough to make Damian's smile deepen.
While they spoke, his mind drifted back for a moment, to when the roller coaster first took off.
He had seen Kaguya's perfectly tied ponytail come undone instantly, her hair flying like a flag as she, eyes shut and screaming, clung to his arm like a little koala:
"We're going to fall! Damian-kun!"
And Yukino… Yukino, the same one who had criticized the amusement park, had surprised him even more at the first 360-degree spin. Her hand had grabbed his all of a sudden, warm and trembling, her nails digging into his palm.
Even when the car stopped, both of them still hadn't let go. Kaguya was laughing excitedly, still clinging on, and Yukino, though slowly regaining her composure, kept her fingers interlaced with his, as if taking a while to realize she was still holding his hand.
Damian had looked at that silent gesture and, unable to resist, had lifted his other hand to gently pat Yukino's head.
Her hair, surprisingly soft, slid through his fingers, leaving behind a rich scent he couldn't quite define but found pleasant.
"It's okay, Yukino," he had said then, mimicking with a half-smile the formal and serious tone she always used. "Next time I'll go with you to see that kitten, what do you say?"
Yukino had twisted her lips, as if wanting to protest, but the corner of her mouth lifted in a tiny gesture that almost went unnoticed.
She nodded softly, without looking directly, and a warm gleam lit up her eyes.
That image before him brought back a memory, almost as if it had happened yesterday.
He thought of the first time he saw Yukino in middle school.
Back then, everyone called her "the ice beauty," an untouchable girl whom few even dared to greet. But that day, after classes ended, he "found" her crouched by the path, her uniform immaculate but her knees bent carelessly as she petted a stray kitten.
The afternoon sun streamed through the trees in shafts of light, illuminating her dark hair and lowered face.
And unexpectedly, she was smiling… a smile so warm, so different from the distant Yukino everyone thought they knew, that Damian stood frozen for a few seconds before deciding to speak.
"Meow~" the little kitten rubbed its tiny head against Yukino's slender fingers.
"You like cats too?" Damian asked, breaking the silence.
!
She startled like a frightened rabbit. Her head shot up and her expression turned into the cold mask everyone knew, a "don't come closer" carved into every feature. But the faint blush on her ears betrayed her, as did the clumsy way she tried to hide the small carton of milk she held.
Damian had smiled then, amused, and from that day on he started to "coincidentally" run into Yukino at that same spot. Sometimes she pretended to be surprised, other times she only murmured a "just passing by," but both of them knew that every Wednesday she changed her route to feed that little kitten.
Over time, they stopped being mere strangers and became silent companions, sharing gentle pets and bits of food with that tiny animal.
Yukino's present voice broke through the tide of memories.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked in her calm tone, though her eyes still held a trace of the softness from back then.
Damian blinked, returning to the present, and smiled.
Kaguya, walking nearby, tilted her head in curiosity.
"What kitten?"
"Secret." Damian winked at Yukino, making her look at him with quiet resignation and slight discomfort.
At that moment, he thought that maybe being a "bad boy" wasn't so terrible if it meant breaking down a little of the walls around girls like them and seeing that vulnerable, real side almost no one got to touch.
Although of course… Marin would probably tease him later with something like, "flirting again, huh?" The thought alone made him smile.
"Let's go," he said at last, with a relaxed wave of his hand, turning on his heels to continue walking without hesitation.
…
The sun slanted between the campus trees, casting long shadows that followed their steps.
Damian pulled his phone out of his pocket as he walked, and the screen lit up with several notifications.
Marin, as expected, had already sent three messages:
"Damian-kun, where are you?"
"I checked a store and they have promos these days."
"Hurryyyy~~~"
Damian couldn't help but smile.
He pictured her bouncing impatiently in front of the university gate, checking her phone every two minutes.
He remembered that last night, even while tangled in his arms, she kept looking up car specifications as if solving a vital matter. Every time she focused too much on the screen, he distracted her with a deep kiss until the phone ended up lost under the bed…
While he was thinking, the phone buzzed again.
This time it was a selfie from Marin: bright eyes, making a "V" sign at the camera, with a backpack and a coat ready behind her.
"I'm waiting for you at the gate~"
He smiled to himself and typed: "On my way. PS: your smile is cute."
He had barely sent the message when another notification arrived.
It was Kaguya.
A picture of her and Yukino together under the classroom building, both holding cotton candy they had bought at the amusement park.
"Damian-kun, we're eagerly waiting for you to tell us the time for the picnic."
Damian was writing a reply when another notification popped up.
Yukino, with her usual sobriety, sent a single photo of the stray kitten and the word: "Wednesday."
As he turned the last corner, he saw her.
In front of the gate, Marin was on tiptoe, looking from side to side as if searching for someone among the people coming and going.
The moment her eyes found him, they lit up instantly; the girl started waving excitedly and bouncing in place.
Damian smiled without realizing it, set his phone to silent, and put it away.
Now, all his attention was on her.
Marin ran toward him like a projectile and crashed into his chest, wrapping her arms around him before looking up.
"You're late!" she complained, though her curved, shining eyes gave her away; there was no real anger there. Her blonde hair slipped under Damian's chin and brushed softly against his skin.
Damian didn't say anything, he simply lowered a hand and placed it gently and firmly on the back of her head, stroking her hair until she calmed down a little.
Marin shifted restlessly in his arms and then lifted her face again. "But it's fine. Before it was always you waiting for me… today it's my turn."
"All right, all right." Damian let out a low chuckle and poked her puffed cheek with his finger. "Thanks for waiting."
"Hehe." She smiled right away and, without letting go, laced her fingers with his. Then she tugged at his hand eagerly.
"Come on! Quick, quick. I already set up the meeting with the guy at the store and we've got the test drive, if we're late he'll kill me."
Damian let himself be pulled along as she kept talking non-stop. Marin walked lightly, almost skipping, and her voice danced between laughter and facts.
"That red sports car we saw, the seller said there's a special deal today. Imagine! If it runs well, it'll be our first car together."
They left the campus and she flagged down a taxi. As soon as they got in, Marin curled up against him without thinking, her head resting on Damian's shoulder while their hands stayed intertwined.
"..."
The taxi started moving and, for a moment, only the engine and the distant hum of the street could be heard. Marin, with her face resting against him, unconsciously sniffed, and suddenly frowned.
!
Her nose twitched again, now more insistently. Something was off.
That scent… sweet, soft, and with a touch that wasn't hers.
In her mind, alarms went off: "Kaguya!"
She instantly pictured the cunning, quiet Kaguya leaning close to Damian, maybe too close, too confidently. Her stomach gave a small, uneasy flip.
Without saying a word, she hugged Damian's arm tighter, as if marking her territory, and pressed herself a little closer to his side.
…
The taxi stopped in front of the dealership.
The moment they stepped onto the sidewalk, the glass door swung open and a bald man, not very old and dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, came out to greet them with quick steps.
His smile was wide, perfectly rehearsed but warm.
"Miss Kitagawa! I've been expecting you!" he greeted with a respectful bow.
Then he turned his gaze to Damian, inclining his head a little lower.
"And you must be Mr. Damian, correct? It's a pleasure. Please, come in. The sports car you reserved is already ready for the test drive."
The sparkle in Marin's eyes exploded, and any trace of jealousy vanished instantly. She grabbed Damian's hand tightly and pulled him along, almost bouncing in place. "Come on, come on! I can't wait to see my little red!"
The salesman smiled and led them inside. They crossed a spacious lobby filled with natural light, polished floors reflecting the display cars, and a soft scent of new leather floating in the air.
"Please have a seat here for a moment." He directed them to a modern, neat waiting area. After serving them fresh water, he bowed once more before leaving. "I'll go get the keys."
As soon as the door closed, silence filled the space, leaving only the distant murmur of other conversations in the sales hall.
Damian didn't let go of Marin's hand; instead, he pulled her a little closer until she was just one step away. She kept looking around with shining eyes, like a child in a toy store.
Damian tilted his head. "Why so excited? Do you even have a driver's license?"
Marin let out a nervous little laugh and waved her hand as if to dismiss the question. With the other, she pretended to hold a steering wheel in front of her chest.
"I don't! But you do. And this will be our first car together. Of course I'm excited!"
Her voice was pure joy, not even trying to hide it.
Damian couldn't help but laugh, amused and touched at the same time. Without warning, he slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her fully against his chest.
His warm breath brushed her forehead, making her shiver.
"I have a license, but you don't." His tone turned gentle as his fingers traced slow circles on her back. "That can't be… If you really like this car, you'd better get your license fast."
Marin tensed slightly, surprised by the closeness, while her ears turned bright red in an instant.
Damian lowered his head more, brushing his chin over the crown of her golden hair before saying in a conspiratorial murmur, "After all, this car will be yours."
!
Marin's head shot up, her eyes wide as if all the lights in the room had turned on, and then they filled with sparkling excitement.
"Re… really? For me?!" Her voice rose with disbelief and pure happiness. The smile that spread across her face was so immense it felt like it lit up the whole place.
Unable to hold back, she threw herself completely against him, burying her face in his chest while laughing softly, "Damian-kun! You're the best, the best in the world!"
The thought of the license disappeared, leaving only her overflowing joy.
Damian felt his heart melt at how she nestled against him and couldn't resist gently pinching her cheeks, puffed with excitement. "Yes, it's settled."
The salesman returned soon with the keys, grinning from ear to ear.
"All set, Miss Kitagawa, Mr. Damian. Please follow me."
He led them outside the dealership, and a flash of red blinded them for a moment.
There it was: an Audi R8 Spyder 2018 model, gleaming under the sun like a fiery jewel.
!
Marin let go of Damian's hand without realizing it and ran forward until she was just inches away from the gleaming body.
"My little red!" she exclaimed, practically pressing her face against the glass to look inside. Her red eyes seemed to light up like neon signs. "It's gorgeous! And the interior is amazing too!"
Damian took the keys and signaled to the salesman that there was no need for him to come along.
The man bowed respectfully and stepped back a few paces, giving them space.
Damian slid behind the wheel first.
He adjusted the seat, started the engine, and a deep roar filled the air. With calm but confident movements, he drove through the nearby streets, testing the steering, acceleration, and braking. Marin, at his side, squirmed with excitement, studying every detail of the dashboard, carefully touching the buttons, and enthusiastically commenting on every sound the engine made.
Not even the seatbelt could contain her energy.
After a few minutes, Damian parked smoothly in front of the dealership and turned off the engine. He looked over at her, who was still practically holding her breath.
"Your turn."
Marin's eyes went wide. "Really? I can?"
"Of course." Damian got out and walked around the car, opening the driver's door so she could take his place.
Marin climbed in almost jumping, but once she was behind the wheel she froze, taking a deep breath. She gripped the steering wheel with both hands, her face glowing and her eyes sparkling.
She didn't even start the car; she just stayed there for a moment, savoring the feeling of being in that seat.
Damian leaned slightly toward her from the passenger side, watching her with amusement and a touch of tenderness.
"Do you like it?"
"I love it!" she said, nodding vigorously.
Nodding, Damian lowered the window and called to the salesman who was waiting attentively a few meters away.
"We're taking this one."
The man's face lit up instantly. "Perfect, Mr. Damian! Please follow me, we'll handle the paperwork right away."
…
Inside the contracts office, the air smelled of new paper and freshly brewed coffee.
Damian reviewed the documents, then spun the pen between his fingers and handed it to Marin.
"Sign here."
She took it with trembling fingers. Her gaze swept over the paper, pausing for a moment on her own name. Suddenly, a strange warmth rose in her chest, a mix of pride and something that felt like a dream coming true.
She took a deep breath, holding back the urge to cry, and signed decisively.
"Done!" she exclaimed with a huge smile that lit up the entire table.
The salesman carefully gathered the papers.
With all the paperwork finished, Damian pulled out his black card with strange golden swirls engraved on it and paid with a single motion. The dealership would arrange to deliver a brand-new identical car since, of course, the test vehicle couldn't be sold as new.
The way back was different from the noisy trip there. Marin, who before hadn't stopped talking, was surprisingly quiet.
She stayed close to Damian, clinging to his arm as if she were afraid everything had been a dream, and from time to time let out a silly laugh.
Damian ruffled her hair. "You're back to the world."
"Mm…" Marin made a small sound and rubbed against his shoulder without lifting her face. "Damian-kun…"
"Mm?"
"Nothing…" She just shook her head, hiding even more. Though inside she was screaming. 'Tonight I have to reward him well…'
When they finally entered the house, the familiar smell and warmth made her sigh with relief. She slipped off her shoes right away, leaving them to the side with a soft thump, and walked barefoot across the cool floor, almost feeling like she was floating.
"I really… have a car?" she asked suddenly, turning wide-eyed toward Damian, who had just changed into his slippers.
She needed confirmation to believe it.
Damian smiled mischievously. "Didn't you sign the contract yourself?"
"Do you want me to call the dealership and tell them to cancel?"
"NO!" Marin reacted instantly, jumping at him and hugging him tightly around the waist, burying her face against him. "It's mine! My little red is mine!"
Damian let out a low laugh and wrapped one arm around her, pulling her closer.
"Then get used to the idea, future owner Marin."
He leaned down slightly, brushing her head with his chin.
"By the way, are you going to give it a name? Calling it 'little red' all the time sounds like it's a puppy."
Marin lifted her head suddenly.
"Mm!" she nodded hard, unable to hide the smile breaking out. "I'm going to think of the best name. Promise!"
With a burst of impulse, she rose on tiptoe and planted a quick kiss on his lips before pulling away red as a tomato.
"I'm going to look up how to get a license as fast as possible!" she announced and ran off, full of excitement.
Damian watched her bouncing away and could only smile, shaking his head before walking into the kitchen.
Once inside, he slipped on a Luffy apron and began taking some ingredients out of the fridge. He was just getting everything ready when a blonde head peeked timidly through the door.
"Boyfriend-kun!" Marin's voice came cheerful but a little shy.
"Mm?" Damian paused the knife he was holding and turned his head. "What is it? Already finished looking up how to get the license?"
Marin slid in like a fish, and before he could react, she pressed herself to his back, wrapping her arms around his waist.
She rested her face against him. "Hehe, not done yet… but I wanted to ask you something, can I?"
Damian set the knife aside and quickly dried his hands.
"Mmm." He nodded.
"Tomorrow… can you go pick someone up for me?"
"Pick someone up?" Damian raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
"She's a distant cousin of mine." Marin lifted her face, and in her expression there was a mix of excitement and a faint trace of worry. "She's coming back to the country and her flight arrives tomorrow afternoon."
"Oh…" Damian understood immediately. "Alright. You can't in the morning?"
Marin let out an exaggerated sigh. "Don't even mention it! Tomorrow I have class with the demon professor… he takes attendance so strictly, there's no way to skip." Just thinking about it made her shiver and hide her face against his back again.
Damian nodded understandingly; he had already heard rumors about that feared professor. "Okay. Then send me a picture of who I have to pick up and warn her beforehand so she doesn't get scared."
"Yes, yes, yes!" Marin nodded quickly, her face lighting up with a huge smile. "You're the best!" Saying this, she ran off.
"Wait." Damian stopped her before she crossed the door. "You didn't tell me your cousin's name."
!
Marin stopped so abruptly she almost slipped, spun on her heels, and tapped her forehead.
"Ah! Right, right! I forgot the most important thing."
"Her name's Rin Tohsaka. She just came back from an exchange program at the 'Clock Tower' in England."
"Rin Tohsaka…?" Damian repeated, savoring the name to remember it.
"Got it. Go on, go."
"Mm!"
Damian watched her disappear, smiled with resignation, and went back to the knife and the ingredients.
Tack Tack
The knife came down on the carrot a couple more times… until his hands suddenly froze.
He stayed bent over the cutting board, frowning, while repeating to himself:
"Rin Tohsaka…?"
"…Fate…?"
________
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