Chapter Text
“Master Tighnari, I found the– Huh? What’s going on here?”
Several crates of fresh green limes lined the table that was typically used for their dinners together. Collei knew that Cyno had invited you to join them today in celebration for finally getting through his tough case, but where was their usual food? You were going to be here any minute. Collei wasn't responsible for preparing the food today, but what if you thought it was her fault you didn't get a proper meal.
She looked at Tighnari for answers, but he simply shook his head and sighed.
“That should be enough,” Cyno said after he placed one more crate on the table.
“This is way too much,” replied Tighnari. “What is she even going to do with all of these limes?”
“Make 'lime'-onade of course,” said Cyno without missing a beat
Collei narrowed her eyes at him, wondering how you put up with his jokes in the first place. She heard you were head-over-heels for him, but was that really enough to make you indulge in his terrible jokes?
“No, seriously, why are you even doing this?” asked Tighnari. “She’s going to be here any minute now.”
“Exactly,” Cyno replied. “I need to make sure this goes as smoothly as possible.”
Collei knew he had been working non-stop ever since he met with you last at the tavern. The dark circles under his eyes caused her to wonder if he had looked like that during his Akademiya days. He didn’t look this tired even when his own life on the line, so what exactly had he been so preoccupied with?
“Am I at the right place?” you said, pushing open the leaf doors and peeking through them.
“You’re just in time,” said Cyno.
Your face formed a huge grin when you saw Cyno. “Did you miss me, sweetheart?” you said as you grabbed onto his arm. You called him by a nickname so easily that it baffled Collei to see someone being this sweet with Cyno. The two of you weren't even going out.
“No,” he replied, pushing your hand away. "Don't do this yet."
“Aww… Why not?” you asked. “I've missed you so much! You just left without explaining anything to me back at the tavern,” you said, crossing your arms.
“I just need to finish something first.”
"That's what you said last time too. You've kept me waiting."
"Don't worry," he answered. "I'll finish this swiftly."
He picked up the first crate of limes from the long line on the table.
And dropped it.
Several limes bounced out of the crate and rolled along the floor, a few reaching Tighnari's feet. He raised his brow and Collei gaped at Cyno's sudden action.
“Uh… What are you doing, Cyno?” asked Collei.
“Just watch,” he replied.
He picked up the fruit, inspected it, and placed it back on the floor. He picked up another one, shook his head as if it weren’t good enough, and dropped that one on the floor as well.
At this point, you were confused too.
“Weren’t we supposed to have dinner with Tighnari and Collei?” you asked.
“That was just an excuse for the real reason I asked you to come,” he said.
“So what’s the real reason?”
He took another lime from the floor and deemed it worthy before handing it to you. You took it from him, still with no clue what was going on.
"I don't get it," you said. "What do you want me to do with this?"
“Nothing," said Cyno. "I was simply looking for the best pick-up lime to officially ask you out.”
A bird crowed in the distance.
"Pick-up lime. Get it?"
"Are you trying to get rid of her?" asked Tighnari. "That joke was horrible."
"I thought it was great," he replied.
"Seriously?" asked Collei. "You lost sleep over setting up this–"
Your laughter burst through their ears. "Oh no. I couldn't hold it in again," you said between laughs. "I didn't even get to hear Cyno fully explain the joke."
"Huh. So this one worked," he said, taking out a notebook.
"No, stop writing," you told him, grabbing the pen from his hand. "Please explain the joke to me."
"But you already got it."
"I want to hear it anyway."
'Wow,' thought Collei. 'They really are perfect for each other. It's just like what Master Tighnari said, even if there was a hint of sarcasm in his tone. They look so happy together.'
Cyno explained the joke as you wore a huge grin on your face. You must really like him.
"Aren't you two forgetting something?" Tighnari asked.
You and Cyno paused and exchanged glances.
"Don't tell me you completely missed the underlying message of the joke," Tighnari said with a hand to this forehead
Your eyes widened and you stumble over your words. "Oh…"
Collei giggled to herself. She didn't think she'd find the two of you to be very adorable.
"Well?" asked Cyno. "Do you have an answer?"
"But you already know how I feel about you."
"I'm officially asking you now," said Cyno. "Will you go out with me?"
You wrapped your arms around his neck. "My answer has always been yes!"