Outside, among the tall trees swaying in the wind, Aria lay sprawled on the ground — her wavy hair tangled, her once-neat dress covered in dirt, eyes glimmering with tears.
She blinked up at the sky, her voice trembling:
"I… I'm aliiiive…?"
Lifting her shaky hand in front of her face, she wiggled her fingers — and gasped.
"Yes!! I'm alive!! I didn't die!! Wooooaaah!!" 😭🎉
But just as relief started to wash over her…
she heard a sip.
That calm, unmistakable sound of someone enjoying tea. 🍵
Aria slowly turned her head —
and there he was.
Shin Miyazaki, sitting *peacefully on a small wooden chair in the middle of the garden (no one knew where he even got it), holding a fine porcelain teacup in one hand and fanning himself with an elegant Japanese fan in the other.
With the calmest, most dramatic sigh imaginable, he said:
"And thus ends our grand drama — with a tragic twist. *The heir pushes the girl out the window… truly, a legendary scene." 😌🎭
Aria's eyes widened in pure awe.
"Shin-san!!! You jumped from that height?! That's incredible!!"
He raised his teacup proudly, flashing a smug smile.
"This, my dear, is called survival under pressure."
Another slow sip.
"I've worked in the Amakagura estate since my lord— ahem, His Highness — used to kick me out of windows as a child. I've grown… quite accustomed to falling."
Aria stared at him, even more impressed.
"That's amazing! Can you teach me how to do that?!"
Shin arched an eyebrow, chuckling lightly.
"Teaching people to jump out of windows isn't exactly in my job description, my lady." 😏
She pouted, then leaned closer, whispering anxiously:
"Then… why did you run away so fast? He looked a little scary, but still! You left me behind!"
He froze mid-sip, opened his paper fan again, and covered half his face with a mysterious smile.
"There are… things better left unsaid. Secrets of the manor, you might call them. But I'll give you one tiny hint."
Leaning toward her, his voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper:
"When my master gets angry… even demons ask for permission to flee." 👹💨
Aria trembled, her voice shrinking to a whisper:
"G-good thing I jumped, then…"
Shin closed his fan with a sharp flick, standing up gracefully.
"Good thing you're *still alive*, Miss Disaster."
Shin sat quietly on the grass, a cup of steaming jasmine tea resting between his hands.
The wind brushed gently through his black hair, carrying the soft scent of flowers and the calm hum of evening.
Then…
He spoke — his voice calm, unusually gentle, carrying a warmth that didn't quite belong to his usual teasing tone.
A faint, sad smile touched his lips.
"My lord has always been like this… ever since he was little.
He never really understood himself.
And no one else could, either.
That's why… he never had friends — not even one real connection."
Aria lifted her head, her golden eyes shimmering with genuine curiosity as the breeze played with her soft curls.
"Is he… really that moody?"
Shin nodded slowly, his eyes reflecting a flicker of quiet sorrow.
"More than you can imagine.
One day, he's the warmest person you could ever meet…
and the next, he's a storm you can't stand near.
So he chose silence.
It's easier than explaining the chaos inside."
A still silence fell between them — only the rustle of leaves and the whisper of wind filled the air.
Then Aria murmured softly, almost to herself:
"But… he's so popular at school! Everyone likes him! He's the vice president of the student council, and the girls scream his name every morning!" 😳
Shin took a quiet sip of tea, then leaned slightly toward her with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
His voice dropped to a low, secretive whisper:
"Do you want to know the real reason?"
Aria's eyes lit up. She leaned closer eagerly.
"Of course!!"
He covered half his face with his fan, lowering his voice dramatically:
"Because… he's illegally handsome." 😏✨
Aria froze for a second — then shouted,
"THAT'S IT?!" 😤💢
Shin burst into laughter, then winked at her.
"Well, that's the official reason… but there's more to it."
Her expression softened, curiosity sparkling again.
"More?"
He nodded, lowering his voice until it became a tender murmur:
"He doesn't smile for anyone… but he saves people without realizing it.
He never joins clubs, but he secretly funds half of them.
He never attends the festivals, but he's the one who writes the speeches Student Council President gives."
Then, with a wistful little smile, he whispered:
"Everyone sees him as a star… but he lives in his own shadow." 🌌
Aria went silent — her face softened, eyes wide, something shifting in her expression.
For the first time, she saw the boy beyond the cold mask.
But then she frowned, folding her arms.
"That still doesn't excuse him for throwing me out the window!!" 😤
Shin burst into laughter, clutching his knee.
"Hahaha! You're absolutely right! But hey… that's what keeps the *drama* alive in our story!" 🎭✨
Then Shin's expression slowly changed.
His smile faded, and his voice softened into something more honest—like he had set aside his usual playful mask.
"You know, Aria-san… I'll be honest with you this time."
Aria lifted her head, eyes widening slightly.
Shin turned away, his gaze drifting into the distance as if recalling something far away.
"When I first heard that Lord Kai believed you were his fiancée… I didn't believe it. But…"
A faint smile crossed his lips—warm yet tinged with pain.
"Deep down… I felt strangely happy. Because I thought, *maybe… maybe he finally found someone who could understand him. Someone who could reach out to him without fear.*"
Aria blinked in surprise, then asked softly:
"And… why were you afraid too?"
Shin let out a quiet sigh, his voice trembling like a fragile whisper.
"Because I know him better than anyone. When he's scared, that fear turns into anger. When he's afraid of losing someone, he pushes them away as hard as he can.
That's what he's done to everyone… even his own family."
Aria's eyes widened, her chest tightening.
He continued, his tone now filled with quiet pleading.
"Aria-san… that's why I want to ask you for just one thing.
Please… don't leave him alone.
Even if his words hurt you, even if he seems cold—he doesn't know how to love yet… but he's trying.
Just stay by his side… until he learns how to be human again."
Aria fell silent, staring into his clear, sincere eyes as the breeze drifted gently between them.
She placed a hand over her heart, feeling something warm and trembling inside—fear, empathy, and tenderness all at once.
Then she whispered, with a small, wavering smile:
"I… can't promise that."
Shin finally smiled again—softly, reassuringly, like an older brother easing a child's worries.
"Heh… looks like I went a little overboard with the deep talk. That's not really my usual style."
Aria giggled, quickly wiping away a tear.
"True! You totally sounded like one of those wise side characters in dramas!"
Shin dramatically raised his hand toward the sky, like a stage magician, and said with a confident grin:
"Then I'll leave the rest to you, Miss Duck! Legendary Ninja Vanish!"
Suddenly—POOOF! 💨
He actually disappeared in a puff of glowing gray dust.
Aria froze, her hair flying into her face from the wind as she stared at the spot where he'd been.
"H–HUUUUUH?!!" she shouted in shock.
She spun around, yelling at the trees:
"Shin!! Get out here! Don't leave me alone in the forest!"
Her voice echoed between the trunks… no answer.
Then, faintly—like a whisper carried by the breeze—came his voice:
"It's training… for teenage ducks!!"
"WHAAAAAAAAT?!" Aria screamed, flailing her arms in outrage 😤💢.
She puffed her cheeks, grumbling,
"Idiot! Who leaves someone alone with a stupid excuse like that?! What kind of assistant is he?!"
Still, she began walking cautiously through the forest, lifting the hem of her short dress to keep it clean.
Her wavy rose-brown hair shimmered softly under the moonlight.
The woods were strangely peaceful—only the hoot of an owl and the rustle of leaves accompanied her steps.
After a few minutes, the trees suddenly opened up to reveal a breathtaking scene—a wide, silent lake reflecting the silver moon like a mirror.
Aria stopped, eyes wide, a small smile blooming on her lips.
"Wow… it's beautiful."
She sat down on the grass by the water, taking a slow breath as she rested her hands on her knees.
Her reflection in the lake looked as lost as she felt.
She whispered softly:
"What's happening to me? Everything's changed since I met Kai…"
Her eyes lowered as memories flickered in her mind—
his quiet smile, his cold gaze, the sound of his voice when he apologized…
and the warmth of his hand when he saved her earlier.
"My heart… always races when I look at him.
But he scares me too. Why am I feeling all this at once?"
She picked up a small stone and tossed it gently into the lake,
watching the ripples widen across the surface.
"You're so strange, Kai Rehito… or Kai Amakagura… whatever your real name is."
She let out a soft laugh, wiping away a small tear she hadn't realized had fallen.
"But… you're not a bad person, are you?"
The world around her fell completely still.
For the first time in a long while, Aria felt a calm settle over her heart.
Lifting her gaze toward the starry sky, she whispered, almost as if making a quiet promise:
> "Maybe… I should believe in you again."
Aria lowered her head, her voice cool and quiet.
"But…"
Then, she began to mutter under her breath, her brows furrowing in quiet frustration:
"I don't want to be his fiancée! This is completely ridiculous!"
She raised her small fist, punching the air in random fury.
"I'm only 16 ! A fiancée?! That makes me sound like… some old lady!!" 😤💢
With a tired sigh, she rested her chin on her knees, her tone softening into sadness.
"And to top it off… I'm engaged to that arrogant guy half the girls at school worship? Why me…?"
Her eyes shimmered with a mix of anger and confusion.
"Every single day, someone screams his name, hangs up his pictures, or dreams about him! They even bring him sweets—like he's some kind of prince or god!"
She exhaled sharply, kicking at the grass.
"Why didn't he just choose one of them? They're all so pretty, graceful, and smart…Especially, Arakadaki Sina-san…"
Her voice trailed off. She lowered her head even more, her words trembling softly:
"And me… I'm just a clumsy, clueless girl who doesn't even know how she ended up falling on him in the first place."
A faint, teary smile crossed her face as she wiped her cheek with her sleeve.
"Maybe if I were like the other girls… I wouldn't be stuck in this mess right now."
The only sound left was the gentle ripple of the lake beside her.
She gazed at her reflection in the water—her childish features, her small frown, and the quiet sadness in her eyes.
Then she whispered with a faint, shaky smile:
"But… even if I am a little stupid… I won't let anyone decide my life for me."
---
After a while...
Aria was staring at her reflection in the water when she heard a quiet voice behind her — calm, low, but unmistakably familiar.
"I Found you."
She froze.
Her hand trembled as she quickly wiped away her tears and turned around.
There he was — Kai.
His silver hair was slightly tousled, his breathing uneven as if he had run all the way there.
A long black coat draped over his dark kimono, and his cold blue eyes shimmered under the moonlight.
He walked over slowly and sat beside her without saying a word.
The silence between them was heavy… broken only by the soft sound of rippling water and the wind brushing through the trees.
Kai picked up a small handful of pebbles and tossed them gently into the lake.
The water rippled in perfect circles, sparkling under the moonlight.
Aria glanced at him nervously, her heart beating fast, before giving a shy little smile.
"Aha… The moon's beautiful tonight, isn't it?" ☺️🌕
Kai turned his head toward her, one brow slightly raised, his tone calm as ever.
"What does that mean?"
Aria froze, her cheeks instantly burning red as she waved her hands in panic.
"N-no! I didn't mean anything! I just meant—the moon! The actual moon!!" 😳
Kai blinked slowly, then looked back at the sky. His voice dropped, calm and teasing.
"Hmm… Usually, people only say that when they want to confess their feelings… right?"
Aria's eyes went wide.
"Y-you knew what it meant?! Then why did you even ask?!" 😖💥
He turned back to her, his usual cold face softening just enough for a faint smile to appear — barely there.
"I just wanted to see… if you knew."
Aria went completely silent, clutching the edge of her dress nervously as her face turned even redder.
Kai tossed another pebble into the lake and said quietly, almost like a whisper carried by the night air:
"The moon really is… beautiful."
But this time, his voice was deeper — warmer — than ever before.
Silence fell once again—
only the gentle sound of water and the soft breeze remained.
Aria's cheeks were still red as she stared at the moon's reflection,
trying to escape Kai's gaze.
But this time, he was the one who broke the silence,
his voice low—stripped of its usual cold tone.
"You can… go home now."
Aria looked up at him, startled.
He continued without meeting her eyes.
"I think I've scared you enough… I shouldn't have acted that way.
Forget about being my fiancée.
It seems… I messed up again."
The last words came out heavy—
as if each one took a piece of him with it.
He looked out at the lake,
his deep blue eyes glimmering with a faint sadness,
the moon's reflection trembling inside them.
Aria's heart trembled as she watched him.
Something inside her cracked.
That cold, emotionless face of his…
looked so fragile now.
His words echoed in her mind—
along with what Shin had once told her:
"My lord has always been like this, since he was little.
He doesn't know how to express himself,
so he ends up pushing people away.
He's moody, but he's not a bad person…
He's just—afraid of being alone."
Memories flashed through her mind—
his awkward smile at school,
his flustered apology in the mansion,
and now…
that broken look in his eyes that didn't feel like him at all.
Aria stared at the surface of the water,
the moon reflected upon it like a delicate mirror.
Then, she whispered inside her mind—
a fragile voice that only her heart could hear:
"Being alone… really hurts.
No one deserves to be alone."
Her fingers tightened around her dress,
her gaze falling to the ground before she slowly lifted her head,
meeting his eyes with trembling honesty.
"Kai…" she called softly.
He turned slightly toward her,
his blue eyes gleaming faintly under the moonlight.
After a brief pause, she spoke again—her words painfully sincere.
"Shin… told me about you.
He said you've been lonely since you were little…
and that you don't really know how to express yourself."
His expression froze—
as if her honesty had quietly struck him.
She looked down shyly, then continued, her voice trembling:
"I… I don't want to be your fiancée.
Or your lover.
Or anything like that."
She smiled faintly—
a small, sad smile that wavered on her lips.
"But… I just don't want you to be alone anymore.
Because loneliness… it hurts, doesn't it?"
For a few seconds, everything went silent—
only the whisper of the breeze and the gentle ripples of water surrounded them.
Then Kai lifted his gaze toward her,
his half-lidded eyes cold and unreadable,
and spoke in a voice barely above a whisper:
"You talk as if you understand loneliness better than I do."
Aria froze where she stood,
watching him quietly.
He looked back up at the moon and said softly:
"Loneliness doesn't kill me, Mizuha…
I've just grown used to it."
His voice was calm—
yet carried a sorrow deeper than any scream.
but...
Something inside Aria's heart cracked.
She bit her lower lip, her hands trembling as she clutched the edge of her skirt.
Then suddenly—she jumped to her feet and shouted, waving her arms in frustration:
"What kind of nonsense is that?! Who in the world gets used to being lonely?!"
Kai turned toward her slowly, his cold blue eyes glowing faintly under the moonlight.
His voice was calm, distant—typical of him.
"I do."
Aria's face flushed red with anger.
She pointed her small finger at him, yelling:
"You're stupid! And weird! And arrogant! And infuriating!"
Kai blinked once, completely unfazed.
"That's four insults at once…
Should I applaud your accuracy?"
"Noooooooo!" Aria screamed, flailing her arms around.
"I'm being serious! Loneliness isn't something you just *get used to!* It's painful! And scary! And… annoying!"
She stomped toward him without realizing, stopping right in front of him—
her eyes glimmering with unshed tears, her voice trembling with emotion.
"Even if you're quiet, and cold, and scary sometimes…
you're still human, Kai! You're not a robot!"
Kai stayed silent, his expression unreadable. Then he murmured softly:
"You don't know much about me…"
"Maybe not!" — Aria cut him off quickly, planting her hands on her hips in stubborn defiance —
"But I'm not letting you stay alone anymore! Even if I don't want to be your fiancée, then… then just consider me your friend!"
The night went quiet.
Kai stared at her blankly, while Aria stood there panting, pointing at him with fiery determination.
"...My friend?" he repeated quietly.
Aria blushed, scratching her cheek and laughing awkwardly.
"Ahaha… yeah! Your friend! That's the least I can do!"
Kai let out a slow sigh, covering his face with one hand.
"You fall on me from the second floor…
and end up declaring friendship under the moonlight.
You really are… a walking disaster."
"Whaaaaaaaat?!" Aria screamed again, her face burning red.
Then—her foot slipped on the wet grass.
SPLASH!! 💦
Kai blinked, completely expressionless, as he stared at the water.
"...And that's your second disaster for today."
He stared at her blankly, her wet hair clinging to her cheeks,
and her golden eyes trembling under the moonlight.
His voice came out low, sharp as a blade:
"Mizuha… drop it. Forget everything that happened today.
Forget that I touched you, or that you ever saw me like this.
I don't want any kind of connection with you. Got it?"
She was shivering from the cold, yet she bit her lip and lifted her head stubbornly, her voice trembling but filled with determination:
"I don't want to forget!"
Kai froze in place.
"Even if you want to run away from me… even if you don't care…
I—I don't want to forget this day! Because…"
Her voice broke, yet a fragile smile curved on her lips as tears slid down her face.
"Because it's the first time in my life…
that I've ever made a boy feel something.
Even if it was a mistake, even if it was a lie, even if you didn't mean any of it…
it still felt beautiful."
She laughed softly through her tears, the droplets mixing with the lake water on her cheeks.
Kai stared at her for a long, silent moment — his expression unreadable — before finally muttering, his tone cold and tense:
"What kind of ridiculous contradiction are you even saying…?"
"I mean it!" she shot back, splashing the water angrily —
sending tiny drops right onto his face.
"Even if you're harsh, and cold, and… even more confusing than me!
At least you're real!
And I… I want to remember that!"
Then she gasped softly and clenched her teeth.
Her voice trembled, sharp but emotional.
"I don't care what you say! I won't forget! Even if you're angry— even if you're scary— I won't forget!"
Kai raised an eyebrow, his voice low and icy, like he was holding back a storm.
"Mizuha… you really don't know when to quit, do you?"
She said nothing—just lifted her chin, defiant. That tiny spark made his lips curl into a faint, dangerous smile.
Without warning, he reached out, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her toward him—out of the water in one smooth motion.
She stumbled, struggling to keep her balance as droplets fell from her hair onto his kimono. He stared down at her with that calm, terrifying composure of his.
"If you insist on staying," he said slowly, his deep voice rumbling through the silence, "then be ready for what comes next."
Her eyes widened for a second, but she shot back with childlike stubbornness,
"Fine! I'll endure whatever it takes!"
A second later— slip!
"W-Waaah!"
Her foot slid on the wet grass—
—and she fell right on top of him.
Time froze.
Her hands were planted on either side of his face, her hair dripping onto his skin. Their faces were way too close. One wrong breath, and—
yeah, that was definitely his heartbeat she was hearing.
A strip of his kimono had slipped off his shoulder, the pale skin beneath glowing faintly under the moonlight.
"Ah—! I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to—"
Before she could finish, his voice cut in, smooth and cool as ever.
"You're the one who asked for this… remember?"
Her brain just… stopped.
Her cheeks felt like they were on fire. The lake suddenly seemed a lot colder than *her*.
He leaned closer—so close she could see her own reflection in his calm, blue eyes. His hand rose, fingers brushing her cheek, thumb tracing a droplet that slid down her skin.
And then—without any warning—
He pressed his lips against hers.
he kissed her.
Her eyes widened, and her heart almost leapt out of her chest. The kiss was brief, yet enough to make her mind come to a complete halt. He leaned in for just a moment longer, then pulled away slowly, resting his head on the grass, a cold, sly smile spreading across his face.
"Now," he murmured, eyes half-closed, "you can't take that promise back… can you?"
The air was still.
The only sound was the gentle drip of water falling from Aria's soaked hair.
She was still on top of him, her tense body trembling slightly—while Kai lay motionless beneath her, his cold blue eyes locked on her wide golden ones.
She wanted to move, but…
her legs wouldn't budge.
Aria glanced down—
only to realize Kai had **tangled his legs with hers** without her noticing!
Her face flushed bright red.
"H-Hey! K-Kai! Wh-Why are you doing that?!"
He didn't even open his eyes. His voice came out soft, almost like the night breeze:
"If I let you go… you'll just run away again, won't you?"
His silver-tinted hair clung to his face, wet and glimmering under the moonlight.
A single drop slid down his pale neck, and Aria found herself staring—dazed, heart pounding, eyes sparkling.
She finally looked up at him, her voice barely a whisper:
"W-Why… did you kiss me?"
He didn't answer.
Instead, he slowly closed his eyes, as though ending a silent argument within himself.
Then, in a sudden calm tone, he said—
"I know you're there, Shin."
Aria froze.
From behind the trees came a muffled laugh:
"Haha! As expected of you, Master Kai—your instincts never fail! What a fantastic drama today!"
Shin emerged from the shadows, holding a teacup, eyes sparkling with excitement.
He looked at the scene before him… and froze.
Aria was still on top of Kai, her wet hair dripping over him, her cheeks burning red.
Shin cleared his throat dramatically:
"Aria-san… this is blatant harassment. To be on top of my master, in public? Such boldness!"
"IT'S NOT HARASSMENT!!" Aria screamed, jumping off him so fast she nearly slipped again, her face red as a tomato .
Kai sat up calmly, adjusted his kimono, and said in a dead-flat tone:
"She's harassed me four times today.
…That's concerning."
"F-FOUR TIMES?!" Aria shouted, waving her arms in disbelief.
"You're the one who started it!"
Shin sipped his tea with a huge grin:
"Ah, young love under the moonlight~ what a beautiful sight." 💞☕
Aria's breath was still uneven, her heart pounding wildly.
Kai, on the other hand, stood up slowly—calm and composed as ever, as if nothing had happened at all.
He adjusted his dark kimono neatly, wet hair clinging to his neck, his face terrifyingly serene.
His voice came out low and cold:
"Shin, take her home. My time with her is over."
Aria stared at him in shock, stepping forward in disbelief.
"W-Wait, what?! You can't just—"
But Shin cut her off with an airy wave of his hand and a teasing smile.
"Oh, Aria-san, don't. When my master says 'my time is over,' it means only one thing…"
Her brows furrowed as she stammered,
"W-What does it mean?!"
Shin lowered his voice slightly, glancing toward Kai, who was already walking away with steady steps down the path. Then he said, in a tone that was suddenly more serious:
"It means… he's nervous. He's running away from his feelings."
Aria froze in place.
"N-Nervous? Him? Kai?! Impossible!"
Shin snapped his little folding fan shut and smirked as he watched Kai's shadow fade into the trees.
"When Master Kai gets nervous, he does something really stupid. Like that kiss just now."
Aria's face turned scarlet.
"S-Stupid?! How is that stu—"
Shin interrupted dreamily, his tone half-teasing, half-serious:
"Actually… that was his first kiss."
Aria froze.
Didn't move.
Even the wind seemed to stop blowing.
Her golden eyes went wide, her entire face red as a boiled strawberry 🍓, and her whole body locked up.
She had literally turned into a human statue.
Shin raised an eyebrow, watching her with amusement.
"Oh no… she's entered statue mode again. Good grief, Aria-san's completely frozen."
He waved a hand in front of her face.
"Aria-san? Aria-san? Are you still with us?"
No response.
Just that stunned look, that bright red face, and one single echoing thought inside her head:
F-First… kiss… His first… kiss…!!
Shin sighed, chuckling under his breath as he rubbed his temple.
"What a night… The drama's already at season-two level and season one hasn't even aired yet."
____________________________________________________________________
Aria sat in the back seat of the car, her eyes completely glassy, droplets of water dripping from her wet hair onto the seat.
Her wide eyes, tomato-red face 🍅, and frozen body made her look like a statue.
Shin — who was cheerfully driving — hummed along to a calm song on the radio, completely unbothered.
Then he glanced at her through the rearview mirror and smiled softly.
"Aria-san… you're still in statue mode, aren't you?"
No words.
No breath.
Just a tiny twitch in her eye at the mention of Kai's name.
Shin chuckled quietly.
"Oh, don't worry. My master didn't plan that kiss… he just had a minor emotional breakdown.
Happens all the time when he meets a cute idiot like you."
Aria's lips moved slightly, her voice faint as a whisper.
"…First…"
Shin: "Huh?"
A bit louder now, her eyes still unfocused—
"H-his first… kiss…"
Shin went silent for a second—then burst out laughing so hard the car nearly swerved off the road 😂
"HAHAHAHA!!! I can't believe you're still stuck on that! Oh, if Master Kai finds out I told you, I'm so dead!"
__________________________________________________________________________
The car stopped by the gate, and Aria stepped out slowly, like a ghost.
The night had fully settled, the wind playing gently with her damp hair, as she stood motionless by the door.
Shin rolled down the window and called out lightly:
"Aria-san! Don't forget to dry your hair…
or you'll catch a fever — but, like, in a romantically tragic way!"
He waved cheerfully and drove off, leaving the stunned girl standing at her doorstep.
---
🚪 Inside the house
Aria opened the door quietly and stepped in.
Her mother was in the kitchen humming as she cooked dinner, but when she saw her daughter — she froze.
"Aria?! What is this?! Your face is red, your clothes are soaked— you look like you just walked out of a drama scene!"
Aria opened her mouth to speak… but no sound came out.
Finally, she whispered weakly:
"N-nothing… I just… fell again…"
Her mother quickly placed a hand on her forehead.
"You're burning up!! Oh no— don't tell me you… fell in lo—oove?* 😳💖"
Aria screamed in panic:
"I DID NOT!!!"