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The atmosphere in the Xianzhou Luofu was lively as all sorts of banners and lanterns hung everywhere as one of their traditional holidays, the Moonlight Festival, was finally here. It was a yearly tradition they used to hold in the middle of Autumn back when they had a planet with actual seasons, and in an effort to keep their identity and culture intact, the people of the Xianzhou elected to continue celebrating this holiday. Legends say that it was during this time that the moon would be at its brightest and most beautiful.
Excitedly looking around and soaking in the festive atmosphere, March 7th laughed as she took pictures of people already in celebratory spirits. Foxians, humans and Vidyadharas alike laugh and smile together, having survived recent events. It was hard to believe that the whole thing with Phantylia happened only a couple weeks ago. The details were kept secret, but the general public knew that it was serious, and they were more than happy when General Jing Yuan announced that the crisis had passed.
“Come on, Caelus, keep up!” March shouted excitedly as she pointed the camera at the man walking behind her. “I’m gonna leave you behind at this rate,” she said with a pout.
Caelus shuddered as she pouted cutely at him. His head was still reeling over how the morning went, and how everything did not go according to plan, and yet by some miracle said plan still progressed. After venting to Dan Heng about it for what felt like the billionth time, he eventually got sick of his whining and told him to just ask the damn girl out already. Kind as he was, Dan Heng even helped him plan for the date and everything. Who would’ve thought the quiet and aloof Dan Heng would have game?
‘Of course I nearly messed it up on the first step,’ Caelus thought dejectedly.
His mind went back to this morning when he had asked her out.
For the last thirty minutes or so, Caelus had been standing in front of March’s door, trying to build up the courage to knock on it. He thought back to all the times he would knock on her door just to annoy her. He could do that easily, why couldn’t he do this? It was as simple as moving his hand back and forth and having a conversation with his best friend. Yet his nerves wouldn’t let him, wouldn’t allow him to make the simplest movement of the wrist. Why?
Caelus sighed. He knew why. The person behind this door wasn’t just his best friend. Not anymore, at least. At some point in their adventures together, Caelus had started to see her as… more than that. It was the way her eyes glittered when she smiled in the morning and greeted him. Her laugh when he made one of his dumb jokes. Her cute little pouts when he teased her. It was all the small things that eventually broke the dam and made him realize what a goddamn beauty she was.
And when she wore that dress to go to the Solwarm Festival with him… Let’s just say he still held a bit of a grudge against Topaz.
Letting out a breath that he’d been holding, he finally found the courage to knock on her door and waited for her to answer.
March opened the door with her usual smile, eager to see who wanted to see her. Despite spending the last 30 minutes preparing, Caelus immediately forgot how to breathe. Even fresh out of bed with her hair all over the place she was beautiful. Upon seeing him, however, March’s smile dropped as she immediately slammed the door on him.
*SLAM*
That was enough to shake Caelus out of his stupor. Perplexed, Caelus shouted, “Dude, what the fuck?”
“I don’t have time for your dumb pranks today, Caelus, I’m doing pretty girl shit,” her deadpan voice responded from the other side of the door.
Caelus groaned. There it was. All his previous shenanigans were going to ruin everything for him.
“I’m not pranking you, March, I promise,” Caelus said. Of course, the last time he said that he had a water balloon taped on top of her door, primed to be dropped on her head just as she opened it. It was therefore quite understandable that she wasn’t the most trusting of him, but he did his damn best to sound as sincere as possible.
“Nuh uh, I’m not going out there,” March said. He could picture her shaking her head while saying it. God, she’s cute. He couldn’t even see her and she’s cute.
“March, I promise, I really really promise there’s nothing this time. I swear on my life.”
A period of silence followed. After a while, he could hear an exasperated sigh come from her on the other side of the door.
“If there’s a water balloon up there-”
“There’s no water balloon,” he said.
“Or anything else-”
“There’s nothing, I promise,” Caelus interrupted her. “I just… I wanted to ask you something. Please open the door?” Caelus asked her, clasping his hands together as if in prayer.
Slowly, and perhaps against her better judgment, the door opened. Caelus breathed a sigh of relief as he saw a bit of pink hair and a single pink-and-blue eye peeking out, squinting with distrust.
“Promise?” March asked.
“Yes, I promise,” Caelus said reassuringly.
March stared for a while, and she opened the door slowly. Caelus sighed in relief and smiled. The plan might be able continue, after all. Before he started to speak, however, a loud noise startled him.
*BANG!!!*
“HOLY XIPE, WOMAN!!!” cursed Caelus as he stumbled back, as March blew a party popper in his face with a smirk, and she laughed out loud as confetti blew all around him.
“BAHAHAHAHAHA”
Caelus had a hand on his chest, his heart beating rapidly as he’s bent over trying to catch his breath. Annoyed, he looked up and saw March still doubled over in laughter. He rolled his eyes and laughed softly himself.
“Alright, alright, smartass, I guess I deserved that,” Caelus said with a good-natured smirk as he stood up straight again. March was still giggling softly, wiping a tear from her eye.
“Sorry, Caelus, I just couldn’t resist,” March said as she tried to settle down. “So? What did you want to ask?” March looked up at him, her face red due to how hard she laughed. Her eyes sparkled with the usual joy she had whenever she made eye contact with him, and Caelus, once again, forgot how to breathe. This was getting ridiculous, if she keeps stun-locking him every time she just looks at him, he would need an actual defibrillator sooner or later.
“Uh, right, I nearly forgot,” Caelus said, clearing his throat and ignoring the heat forming on his cheeks. He steeled himself before asking, “Do you know what the Moonlight Festival is? From the Xianzhou Luofu?”
March’s face scrunched in concentration as she tried to recall. “That’s one of their festivals, right?”
“Yeah, yeah, the yearly festival,” he smiled as he responded. Alright, so far so good. Now onto the next step.
“I just wanted to uh…” he faltered.
‘Shit,’ he thought. He cleared his throat.
“What I meant to say is… I would like to ask you…” he faltered again.
‘Out. On. A. Date. Say it, man,’ Caelus thought. He thought hard.
“I just wanted to see…” he started.
‘Good, keep going.’
“…if you wanted to uh…” he continued.
‘Come on, you can do this.’
“…come… hang out… with me… at the festival…” he finished, like a pussy.
Within the archives of the Astral Express, Dan Heng felt a strange and sudden desire to maim, or perhaps kill, a dumbass cowardly raccoon.
Despite his lackluster attempt, March’s eyes brightened as she gasped, and she excitedly responded, “Oh sure, Caelus! It’s been a while since we got to do something fun together!”
Caelus smiled weakly at her excitement.
‘Akivili give me strength… Your follower is a damn coward…’
“When is it?” she asked.
“O-oh, it’s today.”
March stared at him.
“HUH???” March screamed in surprise. “Today? You couldn’t have given me a couple days to prepare???”
Caelus shrugged in panic, “W-well, I saw an ad just now and I wanted to get out anyway, so this is kinda spontaneous and I thought, well, we haven’t hung out in a while, so… why not?” Caelus lied through his teeth as if he didn’t spend the last two weeks preparing for this.
“GO! GET OUT! LET ME PREPARE!” March said as she shoved him out of her doorway. “Go get Dan Heng while I powder up!”
Caelus thought back to what Dan Heng told him while he was helping him plan out this date.
“And Lan almighty, please don’t get me involved in this. I do not want to be third-wheeling for you,” Dan Heng had told him.
Caelus chuckled nervously, “Ah, I already asked him earlier. You know Dan Heng, he loves his archive!”
Caelus is a really good liar, turns out.
March rolled her eyes with an amused smile. “Classic Dan Heng…” she muttered. “Alright then, you wait for me in the parlor and I’ll be there in like… 30 minutes.”
“Got it!”
Caelus waved as he walked away, and as she closed her door, he dropped his hand and smacked his forehead.
‘Man…’
And now, here they were. Hanging out. As friends.
Caelus sighed.
‘Well, maybe if things go well enough…’ he mused in his head.
“Hellooooo, earth to Caelus?” March snapped her fingers in front of his face. “You alright?” March asked slightly concerned. Apparently, she’s been trying to get his attention for a while.
Caelus shook his head. This was not the time to wallow in regret. This was the time to lock the fuck in.
“I’m okay, sorry. I was just thinking about the last time we were here together,” Caelus said. “Remember when we were participating in the Aetherium Wars?”
“Oh yeah, that was fun!” March responded, her smile returning. “I wonder what happened to Mr. Giovanni…”
“I saw him again in Penacony… He was making some sort of baseball raccoon game this time. Feels like he’s just throwing things at the wall, to be honest…” Caelus frowned as he remembered.
March laughed after he said that. “A baseball… raccoon game?”
“Yeah… what’s so funny about that?”
“…you don’t realize it?” March said with a teasing smirk.
“What?”
March looked at him like he was an idiot. “It’s based on you, dummy,” March said as she giggled.
“…what? I’m not a… hey!” Caelus said as he realized what she was implying, prompting her to laugh again. “What do you mean by that?” Caelus said as a small amused smile formed on his face, knowing full well what she meant.
“Sorry, sorry,” March waved her hand in front of her face. Before long, though, her eyes lit up again as something in the distance caught her attention. “Hey, look! There’s a performance going on! Let’s watch!”
March grabbed Caelus’ arm and dragged him towards a crowd of people that was just forming, shoving through them as she tried to get as close to the front as possible. They were all watching an armored gentleman standing on the stage, walking around and riling up the crowd in preparation for the show.
“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN!” he announced. Very inclusive of him, actually. “YOU HAVE ALL BEEN INVITED TO WITNESS... THE LEGENDARY SWORDMASTER… ME! MASTER FENG!!!!” he shouted to the cheers of the people.
“Did he call himself a Legendary Swordmaster?” Caelus asked skeptically.
“WHOOOOOOOO!!!!” March cheered alongside the people.
“And she’s sucked in. Great.”
The Legendary Swordmaster (as he called himself) was a tall, muscular man clad in fancy Xianzhou armor, clearly made more to look good rather than actual protective gear. Two swords were strapped and sheathed on his hips, swaying around as he paces around the stage, encouraging the loud claps and cheers of the people all around him. On the stage itself, several catapults were placed and aimed towards him, manned by what seemed to be his assistants, as they were wearing similar armor slightly less extravagant than his own. Carts of various fruits and vegetables were being dragged to the catapults, and the assistants were busy at work loading them.
Caelus watched as he dramatically unsheathed his dual blades, practiced pride and bravado oozing out of him as he addressed the crowd once more.
“WITNESS THE MAJESTY OF ONE WHO HAS TRAINED UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE TRUE MASTER, BARTHOLOMEW THE GREAT, WITHIN THE MOUNTAINS OF THE LAVA-INFESTED PLANET OF BAKOOL JA, AGAINST THE DANGERS OF ITS WILD, FIERY BEASTS!”
‘Alright, he has to be making these up,’ Caelus thought.
The assistants then let loose some of the fruits upon him, and the man expertly twisted and turned, just barely dodging the flying objects while managing to slice them in half on the way.
“STAND BACK, CITIZENS OF THE LUOFU, AND ENJOY THE SHOW!!!”
“YEAHHHHHHHHH!!!” March cheered with the crowd. Caelus smiled. Maybe he’s just being a bit of a stick-in-the-mud.
Looking over at his close friend, enraptured by the skills on display, his heart squeezed. Her smile was so bright and beautiful he could mistake it for the sun, a sharp contrast to her icy powers. Her joy was infectious. It was impossible not to get excited along with her.
This was the reason he fell for her. Her boundless optimism and joy even through the hardest of times, her perseverance and stubborn disposition against despair.
As he was too busy being mesmerized, Caelus didn’t notice that March caught him staring a while ago. Not wanting to ruin the moment, however, she didn’t comment. Or perhaps she simply enjoyed the attention. Either way, her heart skipped a beat too, and she couldn’t help getting slightly flustered.
As the performance of the so-called Legendary Swordmaster progressed on stage, they both found themselves cheering and clapping with the crowd.
“That was so cool!” March said excitedly, scrolling through her camera and looking at all the pictures she took of the performance as they were walking away from the performance. “Oh man I got so many good pics of that…”
Caelus laughed, “That was impressive. Some really close calls though,” he said as he remembered some of the fruits, one pineapple in particular, nearly beheaded the performer.
“I’m sure it was just part of the show,” March said dismissively. “But man, I wish I could do that… That’d be so cool…”
Caelus chuckled, “Legendary Swordmaster March 7th?”
“Has a nice ring to it, right?” March giggled.
“I’m sure you can get someone to teach you. Try asking Dan Heng,” Caelus suggested.
“…nah, he’s just gonna make me do laundry for 10 hours or something. Mr. Miyagi style,” March said hesitantly as she shook her head.
Caelus laughed. “It worked, though, didn’t it?”
“I’m not washing your stanky-ass clothes, man.”
“Dude I barely dumpster dive anymore… It was literally just in Belobog,” Caelus’ eye twitched as he frowned with an annoyed, crooked smile.
“Barely doesn’t mean you stopped,” March said as she pointed an accusing finger at him.
Caelus scoffed, “Well, at least I’ve grown since then, you know. Man, this is gonna follow me to the grave…” Caelus groaned as he put a hand on his face.
“Shouldn’t have done it in the first place, then, should you???” March teased with a grin.
Mercifully, as a distraction, a loud rumble came out of March’s stomach. Her eyes widened as she blushed, and Caelus gained a devilish grin. This was his chance.
“Oh, is the Legendary Swordmaster hungy?” he said with an annoying look, tilting his head as if he was addressing a cute puppy. He wasn’t far off, to be fair.
March rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, sorry I’m a normal human being or whatever…” She huffed as she said that. Caelus could’ve died due to how cute she was being.
“It’s getting dark soon anyway. We should find something to eat,” Caelus said as he pulled out his phone.
“Got any ideas?” March asked as she leaned over at him. Leaning in quite close. Very close. So close that he could smell her perfume. It smelled really nice, a pleasant fruity scent. He wouldn’t mind if she stayed there a bit longer, actually. Even though his heart is beating a mile a minute, he quite enjoyed having her so close to him.
“You ever been to Aurum Alley?” he said with perfect nonchalance. He was stiff as a board, but he had to give himself credit for not stuttering.
“No, but I heard you were something of a hero there,” March smiled as she looked over at him.
Oh.
She did not realize how close she was.
“WHOA!” she blushed as she stumbled back with a nervous laugh. She cleared her throat to try and calm herself down. “I – I mean, yeah, sure, Aurum Alley sounds great!”
Caelus could only blink as he stared at her. Was he really crushing on this idiot?
“W-what!?” March said, failing to hide her panic.
The sky was dark when they reached the famous night market. Aurum Alley was a beautiful sight tonight, as lanterns hung all around and banners of all kinds decorated the rooftops of various stores and stands. Xianzhou locals were dressed up in their beautiful traditional garments, chatting and complimenting each other. A good vibe permeated the air, an enjoyable atmosphere that Caelus and March took in in all its glory.
Well, Caelus did. March was still trying to get her composure under control. When she realized how close they were, their noses practically touching, the feeling of his breath on her lips… She shook her head quickly. These were devilish thoughts and she should not think them. Not about Caelus, her best friend. The last thing she needed was for him to think she was an obsessed freak.
And yet…
March looked in front of her at the man she had grown such strong feelings for. She thought back to all the times they hung out and fought and played together. She couldn’t deny it anymore, no matter how much she tried.
While it was wishful thinking, she couldn’t help but wish today was more than merely hanging out.
“What do you think?” Caelus asked the pink-haired girl, distracting her from her thoughts.
March shook her head for what seemed like the twentieth time and looked around, taking a deep breath. Various scents entered her nostrils from all kinds of food items from deep fried to boiled to steamed. She let out a noise as she drooled a little, unable to decide where to even start looking.
“Wow…” March said. “So much to choose from…”
She wasn’t wrong. The place was already bustling outside of major holiday events. As one of the people that had to manage the business in and out of the Aurum Alley, Caelus would know. With the Moonlight Festival happening, this place was somehow livelier than usual, and the amount of food to choose from was staggering.
“Why don’t we get something exclusive to the festival?” Caelus suggested. He was looking around at all the stalls that usually weren’t around, taking note of anything that caught his attention. “Anything caught your interest? Those seem new,” Caelus nodded towards a stall selling round colorful cakes.
“Ooh, looks nice,” March hopped over to the stall and looked at all the options.
The person manning the stall smiled cheerfully as they approached his stall. He eagerly waved them over and immediately started selling his product, “Come on over, fellas, and have yourselves a half dozen of my granny’s special mooncakes, half price at this time only!”
“Mooncakes? What’s it made of?” March asked inquisitively.
“It’s one of our traditional foods here in the Xianzhou! It’s red bean paste wrapped in pastry. We have some with egg yolks in it too. Here, have a taste!” He offered them two slices of mooncake on a toothpick.
March eagerly took one of the slices offered to her and ate it, and her expression brightened immediately.
“Mmm! I’ll take a couple!” she said cheerfully, looking at Caelus to see what he thinks.
Caelus popped his sample in his mouth and nodded alongside her. It was a delicious, sweet treat. “Yeah, we’ll take a box!”
The man smiled as he packed a box of six for them and handed it over to them. “Here you go, you two. Enjoy it, it’s on the house!”
Both of their eyes widened as he said that, and as they both started to object, he raised his hand and stopped them before they could get a sentence out.
“I won’t hear it! From what I heard, you two helped General Jing Yuan save the Luofu, and this one,” he said as he pointed at Caelus, “saved all of Aurum Alley. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. So, you’ll take your free mooncakes and you’ll enjoy them, alright?” He asked, practically shoving the box into March’s arms.
“O-okay…” March said, dumbfounded. She looked at Caelus quizzically, and he had a similar expression on his face. He just shook his head and shrugged.
“Guess we’re getting free mooncakes…” Caelus said, slightly amused.
March chuckled incredulously looking at Caelus, the supposed hero of Aurum Alley. This guy… how does he find the time to do everything he does?
The man smiled proudly as they took the box without complaint. “There you go! Now go and enjoy your date!” he said as he shooed them away.
Their eyes widened again as they both stammered to say something, but the guy just laughed as he moved on to the next customer.
“Ahh, seriously? Why did he even say that…” March said as she fanned herself, trying to get rid of the bright red blush now covering her face.
‘What is going on today?’ March thought. ‘It’s one thing after another…’
“Come on, let’s find a place to sit down,” Caelus said, shaking his head as he took the box from her arms to carry it for her. Just because he’s a dumpster diving raccoon doesn’t make him not a gentleman. They walked together in silence, trying to forget about what the man said.
“So um… what exactly did you do here?” March said, trying to distract herself. “What sort of evil calamities did the Galactic Baseballer stop in the Aurum Alley to get us free mooncakes?” March asked curiously.
“Capitalism,” Caelus deadpanned.
“H-huh?” March raised an eyebrow in confusion. Caelus just chuckled as he explained further.
“The IPC wanted to take over the Aurum Alley and develop it into one of their premium commercial areas. It would’ve brought in lots of profit, sure, but…” Caelus looked around fondly at the Alley, “All of this would’ve been lost. It’d just be another commercial district.”
March stared as he smiled fondly. It was a rare look on the Trailblazer, the warmth evident on his face as his eyes traveled across the Alley. She found herself lost in his brightly colored eyes, wanting to see more of that look, and another, deeper part of her wished to have it be aimed at her too.
“You care a lot for this place, huh?” March asked.
Caelus thought back to the time when he was the acting manager of the Aurum Alley. It wasn’t what he would describe as a fun time. In fact, some days it was extremely stressful. Sushang and Mingxi were there to help, but as one would expect, managing an entire shopping district is a hell of an undertaking. However, looking at how this place bustles and how the people are enjoying the fruits of his labor, he knew for a fact that he’d do it all over again.
“Yeah…” Caelus said. They sat down on a bench near the docks. As fun as the lively atmosphere of the Alley can be, a quieter place like this is a good place to just sit down, relax and eat their food. Funny, when he was working here, the docks never seemed to have a quiet moment. Perhaps everyone is busy enjoying the festival. Opening the box, Caelus handed one of the mooncakes to her and chowed down on some of the sweet treat himself.
“Why?” March asked after a while.
“Hm?”
“What’s so special about this place?” March asked curiously, tilting her head at him. “What drew you into helping them?”
Caelus thought about the answer to that. What was it that drew him to helping out in the Aurum Alley in the first place? Is it because of an altruistic heart? Ego? Promises of great reward?
“I think…” he started before stopping. March stared at him, waiting for him to continue.
“You remember when I woke up for the first time?” Caelus put down his food, looking out the edge of the docks.
March nodded.
Caelus spoke slowly as he tried to think of a way to convey his thoughts. “I think… that was one of the scariest moments in my life, March. The one I remember, at least.”
She frowned upon hearing that, leaning forward to encourage him to continue.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been so… so confused. Waking up in a strange place being invaded by monsters, with no idea who I am or where I was…”
Caelus leaned back and crossed his arms, deep in thought. He turned to face her.
“Nothing but my name… and Kafka.”
March lowered her head. She knew what it was like to wake up remembering nothing, knowing no one, and the kind of fear that gives you. She was lucky that she woke up in a safe environment within the Express. She didn’t think about how scary it would be to wake up an amnesiac in the middle of a battlefield.
“I mean, I managed just fine!” Caelus said quickly as he noticed her getting a bit down. “It’s just... even after all that, I still don’t know who I was. What was my life before all of this? I have no connections, or family, there’s just… nothing. When I got the chance to finally learn something from someone I know… or knew…” Caelus sighed and stopped there. The less he thought of Kafka, the better. She confused him.
“I know what that’s like…” March said quietly, because she does. She had no idea who she was before being trapped in that ice. At the very least they can deduce that Caelus had some connection with the Stellaron Hunters… what did she have? Nothing.
“That’s why you take pictures… right?” Caelus asked, smiling at her.
March stopped her train of thoughts and smiled again. “Yeah! I wanna make sure I capture everything… Every little moment… Every new memory I make… I never want to lose them ever again” she stated as she looked fondly at her camera.
“It grounds you,” Caelus said. “It reassures you that you lived.”
“Yeah…” March agreed.
“This,” Caelus said as he stood up and gestured at all of Aurum Alley. “This grounds me, March,” he said with a proud smile. “We save entire worlds from disaster, we go on big, bombastic adventures throughout the universe on a mythical train run by something called Trailblazing energy… Did you ever stop to think about how insane that is?”
March giggled slightly as Caelus started getting a bit more passionate. “I mean, is it really any crazier than the things we see every day?”
Caelus smiled widely as he spoke in front of her. “That’s my point! It’s so easy to forget who or what we’re fighting for… Every few weeks we go to a completely new planet and go through the craziest shit you could think of…” he trailed off as he stopped. He looked down at his hand, and then looked past March, once more towards the Alley. He held his hand on his chest, where he can feel the unnatural warmth and hum radiating from the ticking time bomb shoved inside of him.
“Being here, among the people, seeing them enjoy their life and their food and their culture… This is my way of staying grounded. My memories,” Caelus stated with determination. “One day… if I ever forget again… if something were to happen to my memories…” Caelus said and then looked at March with fire in his eyes, and smirked.
“Fuli be damned, I can look at places like this and learn something about who I used to be. I won’t have to be lost ever again.”
Butterflies flew around in March’s stomach as she looked back into his bright yellow eyes. For a moment, she lost sight of Caelus, her friend, silly and chaotic as can be, and saw what was undoubtedly the hero that saved countless lives on Belobog, the Xianzhou Luofu and Penacony, brimming with confidence and determination. A sight she had seen before when he jumped in front of the Doomsday Beast to take a fatal attack that was aimed at her. Her cheeks warmed and her gaze softened, and she said to him, “Well, if it’s any comfort to you… When you woke up, I couldn’t tell that you were scared at all.”
Caelus let out a small sound in surprise before he chuckled and crossed his arms, “Well, of course you couldn’t, I’m a master at acting.”
“Shut the fuck up, Caelus, I’m trying to be genuine,” March laughed. “You were brave. I think the fact that you were actually afraid… well, I think that just makes you even braver,” she said with a smile.
“Brave, huh…” Caelus laughed softly and looked down at the floor, before going back to sit next to her.
“Who else would jump in front of a death beam to save a girl they just met?” March giggled.
‘Brave…’ Caelus thought as he looked at the girl sitting next to him, thinking back to what happened in the morning. How he stood in front of her door for who knows how long, trying to build up the nerve to ask her out on a date. How when he eventually found the courage, he failed to actually ask her out. His gaze turned downwards to his feet; his hands clasped together in between his thighs.
“Maybe in a fight…” Caelus muttered.
March frowned. What did he mean by that?
“I’m a coward when it comes to a lot of things, March.”
She snickered slightly, “Like what?”
Caelus smiled a little. ‘Like asking you out, damn it,’ he thought. He wanted to say it. Wanted to tell her what today was supposed to be. But he can’t. Because he was afraid.
“Like what, Caelus?” March asked again, looking at him expectantly. Caelus looked back. Aeons, she’s beautiful. How can he say what he wanted to say? When every time he looked at her, his heart accelerates and his brain stops functioning? It’s too much risk. It’s too much to lose. He had in front of him one of his best friends, why did he have to start growing feelings for her?
“Caelus?”
“March, I…” he turned to face her, and again he stopped. The familiar knot in his throat won’t let the words out, the nerves barring his thoughts from his mouth. Where was the ‘brave hero’ she was talking about when he needed him?
March saw the conflict in his eyes. He wanted to say something. Something important that he was too afraid to say.
Once more, it was wishful thinking, but…
‘C-could it be…’ March thought. She took a deep breath. She could be wrong. So wrong. But…
He felt a warm weight fall on his hands, still clasped between his thighs. Looking down, he saw that March had placed her hand on his, perhaps in an attempt to comfort him. He looked back up at March, and he noticed that she was blushing.
She was blushing.
‘I see…’ Caelus thought.
It was at that moment that Caelus realized that she too was pushing herself. She was pushing herself to do this. She was waiting for him. Waiting for him to be ready.
Caelus took a deep breath to compose himself.
‘Come on, Caelus, you took a spear to the heart. You can do this,’ he thought.
“March, this morning…” he started, looking back up into her eyes. “I might not have been… entirely forward with you.”
March’s heart started beating faster. Now she’s nervous.
“I uh…” he tried to say again. He faltered again. “This morning… I intended to ask you…”
Silence. March looked into his eyes, expectant, waiting. Pink and blue met his bright translucent yellow, breaths held indefinitely. Caelus looked away, breaking contact.
“This was meant to be a date,” Caelus said quietly.
March’s eyes widened as she did a double take, a small sound escaping out of her mouth.
“Oh…”
Caelus chuckled. “Yeah…”
March was silent for a while before she let out a giggle. Caelus, confused, smirked and turned her way.
“What’s so funny?” he asked with a laugh.
“Nothing, nothing… it’s just… I didn’t expect you’d be so nervous asking a girl out,” she laughed softly. That wasn’t the reason she was laughing. She was laughing because she was relieved. And happy. The happiest she’s been in a long time.
Caelus looked at her in disbelief. Here he was saying something he thought would ruin their friendship, and she’s making fun of him.
All he could do was laugh.
“Yeah??? I’m not the one blushing up a storm!” Caelus said, blushing up a storm.
March couldn’t hold it back anymore and laughed out loud with him.
This felt right. This is why they were best friends.
All the tension and nerves suddenly dissipated and all it took was for March to make a single joke at his expense. Suddenly, he found himself questioning why he was nervous in the first place. With such a friend, was there any reason to be afraid?
Caelus’ laugh died down as he felt her hand squeeze on his. They looked at each other and smiled. It felt good to have it out in the open. A weight had been lifted off his chest, and he felt like he could breathe again.
“So…” March started.
“…so?”
“Are you gonna… try again?” March asked hesitantly.
Caelus stared at her for a bit. “H-huh? What do you mean try again?”
“I-I mean… it could… still be a date, you know…” she said quietly, looking away and slightly embarrassed.
Caelus’ eyes widened in shock. “Y-you mean… You want me to…?”
March only looked at him with a small, shy smile. Caelus cleared his throat. That’s right, Caelus. She’s handing it to you on a silver platter. Lock the fuck in.
“March… W-would you like to go on a date with me?” Caelus asked confidently. March smiled again, her blush only getting worse. Gripping on his hand, she nodded.
“I’d love to,” she responded.
It was as if the night suddenly got brighter, and the colors got more saturated. Although there were no fireworks of any kind, Caelus could swear he could hear them. Looking at the girl in front of him, beautifully illuminated by the lights like an angel, only confirmed it. Yeah, there had to have been fireworks.
The atmosphere was pleasant as they walked out of Aurum Alley, hand in hand.
Hand in hand.
He never thought this would ever happen. And yet here they were, walking together, holding hands.
Were they still stuck in Ena’s dream?
“What are you thinking?” he heard March ask.
Caelus shook his head in amusement. “I was just wondering… what if today was just a dream? You know, considering Penacony…”
March’s face fell as he said that. “Ugh, don’t remind me… This better be real or I swear I’ll kill Sunday myself.”
Caelus laughed. “I’m just sayin’… crazier things have happened.”
“Yes, exactly, so please let this be a nice, mundane night so I can enjoy our date. Is that so much to ask?”
Caelus’ heart flipped over in excitement as she referred to the night as a date. If Dan Heng was here, he would’ve given him the crispest dap in the universe.
‘Thank you, Dan Heng, I really owe you one,’ he thought.
“I only wish it could’ve been longer. I always enjoy spending time with you,” Caelus said. March giggled and leaned on his shoulder. She’s very touchy, he found out. Not that he minded.
“Well, next time if you can just ask me out from the start, we can actually have a proper date,” she said teasingly. Caelus rolled his eyes. Now that the romance of the moment has passed, he knew she would use that to tease him endlessly. It was inevitable. Despite everything, they were still best friends, and in a way, he was glad she didn’t start treating him differently just because they shared feelings for one another.
He needed to find new material on her, though. She has way too much dirt on him.
They slowed their pace as a Space Anchor came into view. Stopping in front of it, they hesitantly set it up so that it would take them back to the Astral Express. The teleporter hummed, ready to transport them back home. But they both stood still, waiting for the other to make a move.
‘It’s too soon…,’ they both thought.
Caelus turned to look at March, a small smile on his face. March looked back. He could see it in her face. Just like him, she wanted to do more. With him. But time was running out, shops were closing, lights were dimmed, and the festival was over. It was unfortunate, but it was time to go.
Caelus gripped her hand, and March ran her thumb along his knuckles. She sighed, and with a bittersweet smile, she nodded at him. Caelus activated the Anchor, and a blinding light enveloped them as they were transported into the mythical train they call home.
“Next time,” Caelus said as they arrived in the parlor car of the Astral Express, “Next time we’ll do more. We can go to Belobog,” he smiled at her. “There are things we can see there. I can show you these beautiful lights in the Snow Plains.”
March smiled and nodded eagerly. “I’ll hold you to that! You better ask me out again, hero.”
Caelus chuckled. He walked her to her room, and, ever the gentleman, opened the door for her. March smiled gratefully and entered her room. It was the same as before, her plushies and dolls strewn about haphazardly, the screens mounted on her wall displaying all the pictures she’s taken during her adventures… but for some reason, it felt more welcoming. Everything is just… brighter now.
Caelus watched as she walked into her room, stretching and turning around to see him off one last time.
“Well… I had fun with you today, March. Thanks for going out with me,” he said.
“Thanks for inviting me. Have a good night’s sleep, okay? Sleeping in the parlor must be tough on your back,” she giggled.
“Well, Pom-Pom keeps me company. They know how to entertain,” he chuckled.
Silence again as they both just stared at each other’s eyes. Caelus cleared his throat.
“I better get going. Night, March,” he said quietly.
March watched as he let go of her door, watched as it quietly slid closed, as Caelus started to walk away. Before she could second-guess herself, she stopped the door with her hand and grabbed onto Caelus’ jacket, preventing him from leaving.
“W-wait!” she exclaimed.
Caelus turned around, “What is it? Did you leave something?”
March gulped as he looked at her, his face full of concern. Man. He’s handsome.
“I uh… I just wanted to…” she stammered.
“…what’s up, March?” he asked quietly.
March couldn’t hear him over the sound of her heart thundering within her chest. A small sense of déjà vu hit her from the morning, only this time, she was the stuttering mess.
“Um… c-could you come closer for me?” March asked, red as a tomato. Caelus blinked before complying, leaning down so that he’s closer to her.
Before she started questioning her thoughts, March willed herself to plant a small, lingering kiss on his cheek. Caelus’ eyes widened in shock as his face started to match hers, and he continued to stare as March pulled back, looking anywhere but at the man in front of her.
“That was for the date…” she muttered as she finally looked him in the eye. With a smile, she stepped back into her room. “Good night, Caelus,” she said, before sliding the door closed.
“Night…” he said, dumbfounded.
It might have started rough, but that surely was an amazing end to the day.