They walked hand in hand back to Aura's dormitory. Unable to help herself, Aura asked,
"…How long have you liked me?"
Fenix tapped his chin thoughtfully.
"Well, actually… I love you," he corrected.
Aura blushed and looked down.
"I started loving you right after I realized you liked me."
Aura jerked away from him. Fenix stopped walking, turned toward her, and smirked.
"But… I wasn't even sure I liked you until you kissed me…" Aura mumbled.
Fenix took a step forward, forcing her to back into the corner of the hallway.
"That's one of my talents," he said. "I always know what others are feeling—even if they don't."
For a brief moment, something in his expression shifted—something almost sad.
Aura couldn't stand it.
She threw aside her embarrassment and hugged him tightly.
Fenix froze for half a second… then wrapped his arms around her just as tightly.
"Hah… you fell for my façade," he murmured. "Now I'm never letting you go."
Aura's heart pounded.
Right then, Mirror stepped out of Aura's room and approached them.
Within seconds, Fenix released her.
"I was worried when you didn't come back, so I waited," Mirror said with a smirk.
Aura, still blushing, couldn't respond. Fenix, however, slipped effortlessly back into a calm expression.
"We got tired after helping with festival preparations and sat down for a while," he said.
Mirror sighed, rubbing her temples.
"There are, like, five thousand kids at this school. You wouldn't be tired if you did as little work as possible like a normal person."
Then she gestured toward the door.
"Come on, Aura. Let's go inside."
Aura stepped toward her sister. Fenix followed.
Mirror paused, eyeing him.
"…It's a little late for you to be hanging out in her room."
"Same to you," Fenix replied.
Mirror gave him a flat look, one hand settling on her hip.
"I'm her sister."
Fenix brushed his hair back, revealing a golden eye he usually kept hidden—his other one still red.
"I am her fiancé."
Both Aura and Mirror froze.
"Fiancé?" Mirror repeated.
Fenix reached into his pocket and pulled out a platinum ring set with a large red stone. He tossed it lightly toward Aura.
She caught it on instinct.
"I wanted to give that to you while we were alone," he said casually. "But since that won't happen tonight… I'll give it to you now. Wear it every day."
Aura stared at the ring. Even in the dim hallway, the stone sparkled brilliantly.
Mirror's jaw dropped.
Fenix gave a small wave as he stepped backward toward the exit.
"See you tomorrow."
Then he turned and walked out.
"When did this happen?!" Mirror demanded, eyes wide.
Aura slipped the ring onto her finger.
It fit perfectly.
"Aura!"
"…Just now. You were here—you saw it," Aura replied, forcing a neutral tone.
"I mean when did you become a couple?" Mirror pressed.
"…Today."
Mirror gasped dramatically.
"But he just called himself your fiancé!"
Aura lowered her hand, her gaze lingering on the ring.
"It all happened today," she repeated, sounding almost bored.
"Was he planning this? Why would he carry a ring if you hadn't even dated before?!" Mirror asked, baffled.
"…Because he's an oddball," Aura said, a faint smile forming.
Then, softer—
"A crazy oddball that I love."
She turned away.
"Any more questions?"
Mirror shook her head.
Aura walked into her room, leaving the door open behind her.
Once inside, despite her growing embarrassment, Aura began explaining everything to Mirror—what had happened, how she'd been trying to build resistance to heat… and how it might have been because she wanted to be closer to him. To touch him freely.
By the time she finished, her face was completely red.
Tears had started forming from sheer embarrassment.
"I'm going to take a shower!" she blurted, bolting for the bathroom.
She didn't come out for three hours.
By then, Mirror had fallen asleep.
The next morning, Aura stepped out of her room to find Fenix and Mirror sitting together in the living area, talking.
Fenix looked up first.
He smiled—and waved.
Aura froze.
Her eyes dropped to the ring still on her finger.
Then she turned around and walked straight back into her room.
"…Fenix saw me dressed like this…"
For the first time, she became painfully aware of her appearance—despite the fact that her usual uniform was far worse than her current state of pajamas and messy hair.
It took her fifteen more minutes to gather herself before coming back out.
"G-good morning," she said shyly, sitting beside Fenix.
"Indeed," he replied, immediately pulling her closer.
"We were playing Aura trivia while you were sleeping," Mirror announced.
Aura blinked.
"Trivia… about me?"
Fenix laughed softly at her expression.
"Yeah," Mirror confirmed. "I just asked him what your favorite food is."
Fenix answered without hesitation.
"Aura doesn't have a single favorite food. She has many. She likes most things equally, though she prefers sweets slightly. She enjoys anything sweet, really. It would be faster to list what she doesn't like."
Aura looked down—unable to deny it.
"When she eats something she doesn't like, she still finishes it because she hates wasting food. But she eats slower, takes smaller bites. She also dislikes tough or chewy textures—she prefers softer foods."
Mirror clapped.
"You've been paying attention…"
She glanced at Aura, who sat with her hands clasped in her lap, staring downward. Unlike usual, she was neatly put together.
"What's Aura's favorite color?" Mirror asked.
"Silver or gray," Fenix replied. "Whenever she sees it, she stares at it for a second… then looks away."
Aura stared at him from the side, stunned.
Mirror grinned mischievously.
"…What color are the panties she's wearing today?"
"Dark green."
Aura shrieked and jumped to her feet.
"What's wrong?" Mirror asked, barely holding back laughter.
"H-he's… he's right!"
Fenix just sat there, smiling innocently.
While Aura panicked over how he could possibly know that.