Chapter Text
The fish swam around the reefs, swaying gently from side to side, their movement graceful. They continued their elegant dance below the aquarium’s highlights, oblivious to the turmoil in the spectator’s heart.
Kiana sighed as she watched the colorful fish swimming about. She envied their simplicity, their ability to swim through life without the weight of complicated emotions.
"What am I supposed to do?" she whispered to herself; the words barely audible in the quiet of her room.
Still laying on her bed, Kiana’s thoughts were swirling all over the place. She gazed at the colorful fish darting back and forth, their movements hypnotic yet calming. But her mind was anything but calm.
Her thoughts kept circling back to one person: the Captain Hyperion, the one they all called “Captain.” Her feelings for him were like a tangled web, confusing and contradictory.
Lately, her feelings had always been like this. At times, she found herself drawn to him in a way that she couldn't fully comprehend. But amidst the chaos of her emotions, one question persisted: what did he mean to her? What was he to her? A leader, a friend, or something more? Kiana couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at her from within.
She shifted restlessly, her eyes wandering from the aquarium to the ceiling above. Her mind was preoccupied by the events that she experienced earlier. Where earlier this morning, Kiana and her Captain were doing errands around AE’s main building.
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It was a bright 7 am in the morning. Kiana strolled through the sleek corridors of the Anti-Entropy building, her footsteps echoing lightly against the polished floors. She was not alone of course, accompanied by her closest friend, the Captain of Hyperion, whose presence always brought her comfort and assurance. Today was like any other day—or so she thought—until something peculiar began to unfold.
As they rounded a corner, Kiana saw a group of girls stopping in their tracks as they walk. Some of them whispered amongst themselves before shyly approaching the Captain, giggling nervously as they approached him one by one, each holding out a small well-decorated box. Confusion flickered across Kiana's face as she watched the scene unfold.
Eventually, one of the girls paused in front of them, her eyes sparkling. "This is for you, Captain!" she chirped, presenting a heart-shaped box of chocolates.
“Captain, please accept this chocolate as a token of our admiration!" Another girl from the group exclaimed, holding out a beautifully wrapped box.
The Captain blinked in surprise, accepting the gift with a confused smile. Kiana glanced at him; eyebrows raised in confusion. What was all this about? She simply thought.
"Uh, thank you," He replied, clearly caught off guard.
“With pleasure!” The girls replied.
“But you can stop with the formalities, just call me by my name,” He chimed in.
“Alright Captain Shirou! Hope you enjoy our homemade chocolates!”
“Uh… without the Captain, please.”
Kiana furrowed her brow, feeling a slightly weird sensation prickling in the depths of her chest.
“What's going on?” Kiana muttered, her voice barely audible above the chatter.
At first, Kiana didn’t even feel bothered by it at all. In fact, she joked about it with him. On how famous he was with everyone, and both of them laughed it off. But eventually, more girls began to gather around, their offerings of chocolates and affectionate gestures becoming persistent. Over time, Kiana felt a strange feeling growing inside her. It was as if something was stirring in her heart, something she couldn't quite put into words.
Feeling even more puzzled, Kiana furrowed her brows, exchanging a bewildered glance with her Captain. What was going on? Why were these girls giving chocolates to him? She thought.
Kiana couldn’t help but to notice her Captain’s grin as they walked. He had been putting up this awkward-looking smile ever since he received those gifts from them. And it made her itch for a bit.
“Hey, blockhead. What’s with that stupid grin of yours?” Kiana asked, pouting.
“Huh? Sh-shut up… it’s not often I get stuff like these, you know…” He answered, blushing.
Still feeling slightly disturbed, she placed her hands to her hips, still pouting at her Captain.
“So, what’s the big idea? do you even know why these girls are giving you these?” She asked, voice latched with curiosity.
He shrugged, equally puzzled by the sudden attention. “To be honest, not really sure myself. Maybe they're showing their appreciation for the work we do? I mean we did kick Herrscher of Dominance’s ass the other day.”
Kiana nodded, though the explanation didn't quite satisfy her. Something about the scene felt… off.
As they continued walking, more girls approached Shirou, offering him chocolates and shy smiles. Kiana couldn't shake the growing unease in her chest. Why were they singling him out like this? And why did it bother her so much?
Then, one of the girls spoke up, breaking the tension that hung in the air. “Happy Valentine's Day, Captain!”
Valentine’s Day. The words echoed in Kiana’s mind, triggering a sudden realization. Today was indeed Valentine's Day—a day celebrated by many as a time to express affection and gratitude toward loved ones.
They continued walking in silence, until Shirou broke that off. “So apparently these are for Valentine’s Day, huh? I didn’t even realize that it was today.”
His words shook Kiana out of her thoughts. “Huh? Oh yeah, same here.”
“I knew you didn’t realize it either. I guess we were so preoccupied by missions and Durandal’s egregiously strict training regimen that we forgot to have a small fun day like this.”
“Yeah… I guess you’re right.”
The two of them then sat on a nearby bench to rest for a couple of minutes. Instinctively, Shirou opened one of the small paper bags to reveal an assortment of chocolates, each with different shapes and sizes.
Not waiting any longer, he took a bite, and from this, his eyes widened.
“Oh wow, these taste really good. You want some, Kiana?” He said, handing the bag of chocolates to Kiana.
With her mind still preoccupied with the events from earlier, she hesitantly took a bite. It did taste good for her, as she nodded in agreement, but due to her mind currently being a scrambled mess, she couldn’t quite appreciate the taste.
“They must’ve done their best in making these. I can feel their emotions poured into each chocolate.” He said in-between bites.
“Yeah… I guess so.” Kiana replied, simply.
“And I guess, some of them may have feelings for me if they went this far.” He stated.
Hearing this, made Kiana’s eyes widened in surprise, her eyes locked onto him.
“Making a chocolate treat isn’t that hard, but making something as good as this, isn’t an easy task. If they do have feelings for me… well I’m not really into romance stuff at the moment, but I really appreciate their hard work.” He said, as he continued to take some bites.
Kiana nodded slowly, her mind struggling to process the situation. Then, as she remembered her Captain’s smile from receiving their gifts, the strange sensation in her chest heightened. It was a fluttering in her chest, a tightening of her throat. She frowned, trying to identify the unfamiliar feeling.
“You alright, Kiana?” Shirou asked, noticing her discomfort.
Kiana shook her head quickly, dismissing the question with a wave of her hand. “No, it's nothing. Just… surprised, I guess.”
Why am I feeling like this?
She wondered, her gaze following her Captain as he kept chewing on the chocolate treats, with a bright smile decorating his face.
Trying to brush off the sensation, Kiana forced a smile and nodded politely as she saw another group of girls gushed over Shirou. But deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling of discomfort gnawing at her.
As the day progressed, Kiana found herself growing increasingly restless. Her mind preoccupied with the sight of girls flocking to her Captain with chocolates earlier only intensified her unease. She couldn't understand why she felt this way. After all, Shirou wasn't her lover or anything close to it. So why did it bother her so much to see him receiving attention from other girls?
Lost in her thoughts, Kiana barely registered the concerned look in her Captain's eyes as he glanced at her. “Hey Kiana, is everything alright? You’ve been acting strange these few hours.”
Startled out of her reverie, Kiana tried to come up with a reply, but she was unsure of how to respond. How could she explain the weird feeling raging within her when she didn't even understand it herself?
“Yeah, Shirou, I'm fine. Just… lost in thought, I guess.” she murmured, forcing a weak smile, hands behind her head.
But even as she spoke those words, Kiana couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that something had shifted within her.
Is it jealousy?
Kiana mused silently, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. But no, that couldn't be it. She had no claim over him, no right to feel possessive of his attention.
But as they parted ways and Kiana made her way back to her own quarters, the question still lingered, haunting her every step.
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“I… I don't understand what's happening to me. Every time I see him with the other girls, receiving chocolates and gifts… I don't know why, but it makes me feel… weird. It's like this weird feeling in me, and I can't explain it. Why do I feel this way? It's not like Captain and I are… you know…”
Theresa listened to everything Kiana said with patience; her expression unreadable as she absorbed every word. Her office was dimly lit, with bookshelves lining the walls and a desk cluttered with paperwork. Theresa sat behind the desk, her expression calm and composed as always.
Kiana went on and on with her story while walking from side to side in Theresa’s office, hands moving incoherently; her movements erratic. While doing so, Theresa regarded her with a knowing look, her gentle demeanor encouraging Kiana to continue.
Taking a deep breath, Kiana settled into the chair opposite Theresa’s desk, her hands fidgeting nervously in her lap.
“And also… lately every time I'm around him, I feel this strange sensation. It's like… like my heart skips a beat, and I can't focus on anything else.”
Theresa continued to listen and nodded along with her explanation.
“Aunt Theresa, I… I don't know what’s wrong with me,” Kiana confessed, her voice tinged with uncertainty as she recounted her inexplicable feelings around her Captain.
Theresa continued to listen; her piercing gaze unwavering as her ears listened to every word that spilled from Kiana's lips.
“It’s just ridiculous, I don’t understand why it bothered me so much. There’s no reason for me to feel like this.” Kiana continued.
When Kiana finished speaking, Theresa took a deep breath and ended it with a sigh. There was a thoughtful pause before Theresa spoke, her eyes filled with understanding.
“Kiana, have you considered that perhaps your feelings for Shirou run deeper than you realize?” Theresa’s voice was gentle, but her words struck Kiana like a bolt of lightning.
Kiana’s eyes widened, her cheeks flushing red like a tomato from hearing Theresa's words. “What?! No, that can't be… I have… I mean, he's just… him. And… and I don't see him that way! We're friends, that's all.”
Theresa’s smile widened knowingly. “Sometimes, Kiana, our feelings surprise us. It’s possible that you've developed feelings for him without even realizing it.”
Kiana’s cheeks flushed even redder, and she sputtered in protest. “But… but that's ridiculous! I-I can’t have feelings for him! After all, I have-”
But even as she protested, Kiana couldn't exactly deny the truth in Theresa's words. The twinge of jealousy she felt seeing him with other girls—it all pointed to something deeper, something she had been too blind to see.
Theresa stood up from her chair and walked towards Kiana. She then offered her a knowing smile, and placed a reassuring hand on Kiana's shoulder.
“Look, I understand that your heart is conflicted, between him or her. Take some time to reflect on your feelings, Kiana. Only then will you understand the true nature of your heart.”
Kiana bit her lip, her mind racing with conflicting emotions. Could it be possible that what Theresa said was true? She had always admired him, respected him, but something more than that? It seemed too surreal, too absurd even.
But as Kiana looked into Theresa's eyes, she took her words deep into her heart, and maybe, just maybe, Theresa had a point.
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Kiana sighed, her gaze drifting from the aquarium to the ceiling above. She traced the patterns of the cracks on the ceiling, her mind drifting into the events she experienced earlier. From the Valentine’s gift her Captain received, to Theresa’s advices.
Just like earlier, maybe, just maybe… Theresa did have a point.
Still gazing at the aquarium, her mind drifting into memories of their shared battles, their victories, their losses, their darkest and happy times. Her Captain was always there for her, a steady presence in her life, guiding, protecting, and inspiring her.
But was that all there was to it?
She couldn't deny the flutter of her heart whenever he smiled at her, the warmth that spread through her whenever he praised her skills in combat, the way her heartbeat quickened whenever their eyes met. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to admit what those feelings truly meant.
Do I really have… No, I still wanna be reunited with Mei-senpai…
She’s everything to me, but…
…So is he.
What should I do…
With a frustrated sigh, Kiana rolled onto her side, burying her face in her pillow. She wished she could silence the weird feeling that plagued her mind. She wished she could unravel the tangled mess of emotions that consumed her.
But amidst the confusion, amidst the uncertainty, one thing remained clear.
For Kiana, her Captain means a lot to her.
“Hnghh~ regardless of what I truly feel of him, he’s still someone special for me. I should’ve made something for him today! On Valentine’s Day! I’m so stupid! Stupid! Stupid!” Kiana screamed multiple times into her pillow.
She checked her alarm clock on her nightstand to find that it was still 12 am noon. There was still time.
Kiana paced back and forth in her living quarters; her brow furrowed in concentration. She wanted to surprise her beloved Captain with a special gift, something heartfelt and delicious.
After some contemplation, she settled on the idea of baking a chocolate cake. But there was one small problem – she couldn't bake to save her life. The last time she did, she set the kitchen on fire.
Knowing how her culinary skills were well below average, Kiana opened her phone and scrolled through her mobile chatting app. Her thumb flawlessly scrolling through her contact list, hoping that her eyes caught someone that might be able to help.
After a whole minute of scrolling up and down, her eyes finally caught someone. Someone that might actually be capable of solving her concerns.
Full of hopes and wishes, Kiana’s thumb clicked on the call button.
Please pick up, please pick up, please pick up!
Eventually, the voice on the other end answered, much to Kiana’s relief.
“…Yes? May I help you, Miss Kiana?”
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“Thank you so much, Rita!” Kiana said, bowing down to her.
“Please, Miss Kiana. Raise your head, no need to be so formal.”
Exactly an hour ago, Kiana had called Rita on her phone to ask for help. After all, she wasn't exactly known for her culinary skills, and since Rita was a master in the culinary department, Kiana asked her to teach her on how to make a chocolate cake for her Captain for Valentine's Day.
The bright afternoon sun shone brightly through Rita’s living quarters kitchen. Both Rita and Durandal were currently on a visit to AE. Schicksal and AE were on a ceasefire and good terms that day, ever since their collaborative efforts in defeating The Herrscher of Dominance. Hence Rita and Durandal’s ability to freely visit the building anytime they want under Welt’s approval, despite dr. Tesla’s constant complaints.
Kiana was fidgeting her fingers for a while and hesitated for a moment before blurting out, “S-so just like what I said earlier on phone, I want to make a chocolate cake for Shirou, but I have no idea how to bake! Can you teach me?”
Rita couldn't help but chuckle at Kiana’s earnestness. “Ara~ for the dear Mister Captain? What’s the occasion I wonder?”
Kiana blushed profusely, “N-nothing! It’s just that- it’s just he’s a-”
Rita raised her eyebrow.
“My feelings for him have nothing to do with it, okay!” Kiana exclaimed.
“…Miss Kiana, I never once talked about your feelings for him.”
“…E-eh?”
Kiana looked down, hiding her face, blushing redder even more.
“But anywho…” Rita continued, “As you wish, I'd be happy to help. Still however, a chocolate cake, Miss Kiana? That's quite ambitious for someone with your… culinary prowess.”
Undeterred by Rita's teasing, Kiana puffed out her chest. “Hey! I'll have you know, I'm a quick learner! Besides, it's the thought that counts, right?”
Rita chuckled, shaking her head. “Very well, Miss Kiana. let’s get started then, shall we? But remember, baking is a precise art. No room for your usual… improvisations.”
Kiana could only nod to her terms and conditions.
As Rita slowly took out the ingredients one by one out of her kitchen cabinet, Kiana's eyes widened at the array of ingredients and utensils laid out before her. Fortunately for Rita, the ingredients and utensils required were all available in her living quarters. Unfortunately for Kiana, she felt quite nervous. She gulped at the sight of everything, feeling a bit overwhelmed.
“Alright, first things first,” Rita began, gesturing towards the recipe book in Kiana's hands. “Let's go over the recipe together.”
Kiana nodded eagerly, trying her best to focus as Rita explained each step. They began assorting the ingredients and preheating the oven. As they were doing so, Kiana eagerly followed Rita's instructions, from measuring flour, sugar, and cocoa powder, to adjusting the oven temperature and calculating the baking duration.
Along the way, Kiana eagerly grabbed a bag of flour from the pantry, only for her to nearly spilled it all over the floor in her haste.
“Miss Kiana, I advise to work slowly and calmly,” Rita said with a chuckle, gently taking the bag from Kiana's hands. “As I have said before, baking is all about precision and patience.”
“But we don’t have time! We have to finish this before the day ends or-”
“Miss Kiana, if I may interject, if you rush the process and the end result of the cake turned out to be below your expectations, would your dear Captain enjoy it?” Rita interrupted her.
“H-huh? Hmm… you got a point there, Rita… sorry…” Kiana apologized to her.
Rita simply chuckled.
“It’s alright, let’s continue, shall we? One step at a time.”
For the next hour, Rita patiently guided Kiana through the process of making chocolate cake batter. Kiana began to gather the ingredients and follow the recipe step by step. However, as they worked, it became apparent that Kiana's culinary skills left much to be desired. She spilled her measuring cups, accidentally added salt instead of sugar, and narrowly avoided setting her hair on fire when she leaned too close to the oven.
Each mishap only seemed to fuel Rita's amusement, though she did her best to offer helpful advice along the way.
Despite her best efforts, Kiana continued to mess up there and there at every turn. She fumbled with the mixing bowl, sending flour flying everywhere. Rita had to dodge out of the way, narrowly avoiding being coated in a white dusting. She even let eggshells fall to the mixture, and even managed to burn herself on the hot oven.
“Ouch!” Kiana yelped, sucking on her burnt finger as she pulled it away from the scorching hot oven.
But it didn’t stop there. Kiana managed to burn herself on the hot oven not once, but twice, earning herself a pair of makeshift bandages courtesy of Rita's first aid kit.
Rita shook her head in amusement as she treated her burnt wounds. “Miss Kiana, I advise to be more careful.”
“Yeah, I know, I know,” Kiana muttered, feeling slightly embarrassed by her clumsiness.
Despite the number of mishaps, Kiana was undeterred. With determination blazing in her eyes, she soldiered on, determined to make the perfect cake for her Captain.
After what felt like an eternity of mixing, baking, and a few more accidents along the way, Kiana finally pulled her creation from the oven—a lopsided, slightly charred mess of chocolate and frosting. Rita raised an eyebrow as she took a cautious glance at Kiana’s creation from afar.
“Ta-da!” Kiana exclaimed proudly, presenting the cake to Rita.
Rita raised an eyebrow skeptically. “Well, let's see how it tastes.”
With bated breath, Kiana watched as Rita took a small bite of the cake. Her heart pounded in her chest as she awaited Rita's verdict.
“Well, it’s certainly… unique…” Rita remarked, trying not to grimace at the taste.
Kiana deflated slightly at Rita’s less-than-enthusiastic response, but her spirits lifted when she saw the genuine smile on Rita's face.
“However, Miss Kiana. Despite everything, you put your heart and soul into making this cake. And that’s what really matters. It’s not that bad either, a little rough around the edges, but definitely edible. And that’s a start.” Rita said, placing a comforting hand on Kiana’s shoulder.
Heartened by Rita’s words, Kiana felt a surge of determination. “You’re right. I’ll keep trying until I get it right.”
Kiana continued her attempts despite the setbacks. She preserved and determined to make the perfect cake for Shirou. Each attempt brought its own set of difficulties, from lopsided layers to chocolate that refused to melt properly.
And through each attempt, Rita tasted each one of them, her critiques both constructive and merciless.
“Too dry,” she declared after one particularly disastrous attempt.
“Too sweet,” she remarked after another.
“Too… salty.”
But Kiana refused to be discouraged. With each failure, she learned something new, adjusting her technique and tweaking the recipe on her notebook until finally, on the evening of Valentine's Day, she presented Rita with her current best creation.
Rita took a bite, her expression unreadable as she savored the flavor. And then, to Kiana's relief and delight, a smile tugged at the corners of Rita's lips.
“Congratulations, Miss Kiana,” she said, her voice soft with approval.
“REALLY, RITA?!” Kiana raised her voice out of excitement.
Rita calmly nodded. “Correct, I’d say your dear Mister Captain is in for quite the treat.”
Kiana let out a whoop of joy, her face breaking into a wide grin, and without hesitation, she hugged Rita tightly. Despite all the mishaps and setbacks, she had managed to bake a delicious chocolate cake – a Valentine's Day gift fit for her Captain.
“Oh, thank you! Thank you so much Rita!” Kiana said, still hugging her.
Rita simply smiled warmly from this, and patted her back in return.
“Of course, Miss Kiana. Anything for Master Durandal’s-” Rita cut her words immediately.
“Huh? What was that, Rita?”
“…Nevermind. Nothing at all.”
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“Come on, Kiana, you can do this. It’s just a small gift, how hard could it be?” She muttered to herself, pacing back and forth in her room. In her hands, she held a neatly wrapped box containing a homemade chocolate cake.
It was 8 pm at night. With one hand holding the cake box, she fidgeted with the edge of the shirt she was wearing with her other free hand, her cheeks flushed with a mix of anticipation and embarrassment.
But despite her best efforts to lift her own spirits, doubt gnawed at her. What if he didn't like it? What if it his taste buds are different from hers and Rita’s? Memories of her past culinary mishaps flooded her mind, particularly the disastrous cake she had once made that ended up overly salty. She winced at the recollection.
Shaking off her apprehension, Kiana took a deep breath and steeled herself. “Okay, here goes nothing.”
With determination fueling her steps, she made her way to the common room, where her Captain, Shirou was there, relaxing and nonchalantly watching their favorite anime on the couch.
Summoning her courage, Kiana called out to him. Shirou looked up from his anime, surprise flickering across his face at the sight of Kiana holding the neatly packed box in her hands.
“Kiana? I thought you’re resting in your room, what’s up? And uh… watcha got there?” he asked, curiosity evident in his tone, and eyeing the wrapped package in her hands.
“It’s… uh… it’s for you, I made you something… a chocolate cake,” Kiana stammered, holding out the box, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
Shirou’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Hmm For me? You didn't have to do that, Kiana.”
Kiana felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. “I know, but I wanted to.”
“Huh? What do you-”
“Happy Valentine's Day, Shirou.”
His eyes widened, clearly taken aback by Kiana’s unexpected gesture. For him, Kiana was someone he held dearly, but no more than a friend. Hence his surprise when Kiana gave him a Valentine’s Day cake.
But still, despite Kiana’s very obvious gestures, he was completely oblivious to her feelings. For him, this was just Kiana being Kiana. A kind and caring girl who treated her friends lovingly, hence the cake.
Shirou accepted the box with a warm smile, though there was a hint of skepticism in his eyes. Probably due to his past experiences with Kiana’s atrocious culinary creations back then.
However, he couldn't help but notice the band-aids adorning Kiana’s fingers, the signs of her passion and determination in her efforts. God know how many hours she spent toiling away in the kitchen to perfect this chocolate cake. A pang of guilt tugged at his heart as he realized just how much effort she had put into making this Valentine's gift special.
From this, his skepticism slowly dissipated.
Kiana held her breath as he opened the box slowly and carefully. He then peered inside the box.
“Chocolate cake, huh? Well, it certainly looks edible this time.” He said, pulling out the cake.
Kiana chewed on her lip nervously as Shirou took a hesitant bite. She watched him anxiously, her heart pounding in her chest.
To her relief, her Captain’s face lit up with surprise and delight.
“Oh wow! Kiana, this is amazing! I can't believe you made this.”
Kiana's eyes widened in disbelief.
“Huh? R-really? You like it?”
He nodded enthusiastically, taking another bite. “I’m not kidding, it’s delicious! You're quite the baker, Kiana. You’ve improved a lot!”
A warm feeling spread through Kiana’s chest at his praise, her earlier doubts melting away. She couldn't help but smile as she watched him enjoy her cake.
“Thanks, Shirou,” she said softly, feeling a surge of happiness. “I’m glad you like it.”
He smiled warmly in-between bites, “Maybe you’ve finally found your passion for baking, huh?”
“Well, among other things, yeah!” Kiana replied enthusiastically.
Shirou chuckled a bit, “Among other things?”
“I’m serious! After all this Honkai fighting is over, I kinda wanna settle down somewhere, opening a bakery and a pastry shop, or maybe opening a gelato shop! Or even becoming a barista at a café somewhere, or even a teacher! So many things I wanna do…”
“Whoa, slow down there, can’t have too many things at once, Kiana. Haha~” He chuckled.
“Sigh… you’re right. If only I got more lives, I can experience all of them throughout different lifetimes…” Kiana sighed in disappointment.
“Don’t we all?” Shirou said, as he munched up more of Kiana’s creation.
As Shirou continued to savor the cake and laughing with over stories from past missions, a rush of warmth flooded through Kiana's veins, her heart swelling with pride.
But despite her happiness and pride, by the end of the day, Kiana couldn’t quite figure out what she truly felt for him. She did however, felt a spark ignited within her, and hopefully maybe, just maybe, there was something more between them than just friendship.