Serena pulled away from our embrace, her face glowing with a warm smile. I couldn't help but smile back at her.
"Thank you for today, Naoki. I'll never forget it… and thank you for this beautiful necklace. I'll protect it with my life," she said, her eyes burning with determination.
"Don't say things like that. If something happened to you, I'd be devastated. Just promise me you'll come back safely, Serena," I replied, gently brushing my fingers against her cheek.
She placed her hand over mine, our eyes meeting in silence. Then she closed her eyes.
I froze, unsure of what was happening. Her face leaned closer, and I could feel her breath against my skin.
My mind went blank, my cheeks burning as beads of sweat formed on my brow.
"What's the big deal? Just kiss her already, you hopeless virgin!" Envi's voice rang in my head, dripping with exasperation.
