"Ouch!" Selene hissed, pulling her hand away from my face.
My eyes widened. "Oh—what happened?" I asked quickly, my words tumbling out in panic.
But instead of explaining, she leaned in again, placing her hand back against my cheek. A second later, she yanked it away. Then back again. Then away. Over and over, like some bizarre routine.
I blinked at her, my lips parting in disbelief. "…What are you doing?"
She didn't answer right away. Her silver eyes stayed locked on me as she repeated the strange touch-pull-touch thing until I sighed and caught her wrist.
"Stop it," I said calmly, though my voice was edged with confusion.
Finally, she stilled, her hand trembling just slightly in my hold. Her gaze was sharp, unreadable, the kind of stare that made me feel like she was peeling away every secret layer inside me.
"Your body…" she murmured, her tone strangely serious. "It's experiencing a different kind of aura. I mean, you don't have powers, but—I felt a spark when I touched you."
I tilted my head, unimpressed, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere. "Sparrkk," I repeated slowly, dragging the word out. "Are you trying to come up with some cheesy flirting lines or something?"
Her face didn't change. Not even a twitch.
"No, Kisaragi," Selene said flatly. "Your body is producing some kind of lightning."
"…Lightning?" My brain stuttered.
Wait.
Lightning?!
My mind instantly jumped back to earlier today. Mai. That shock she had given me at the Maiden's Club. It had jolted me so hard I thought my teeth would pop out. But… why was the energy still lingering inside me now?
Curious, I rubbed my two fingers together. Fast. Faster.
A faint crackle hissed in the air. A flash. Sparks.
"Whoa," I whispered, my heart jumping. I did it again, pressing harder, faster. Another sting leapt between my fingertips, tiny and electric.
My heart thudded harder, louder, pounding in my ears.
"Earlier today I was zapped by Mai at the Maiden's Club," I explained quickly, my words rushing like I was trying to outrun Selene's glare. "So maybe that's what's causing this."
I rubbed my fingers again—another spark. "Whoa! Does this mean… I have superpowers?"
The thought slammed into me like pure candy-rush.
My brain exploded with fireworks.
Me. Kisaragi. Wielding lightning.
Finally—FINALLY—I could be someone with actual power. Not some ricarnated character. No, no, no. I could be special.
Maybe… maybe I could be Thunder Girl, or Lightning Girl.
No. Thunder Girl feels good.
Oh, I loved the sound of that.
I laughed to myself, sparks snapping and dancing at my fingertips like tiny fireflies with attitude. "Hahaha… I'm finally getting powers. This is so cool!"
"Kisaragi!"
Selene's voice cracked sharp, snapping me out of my imagination spiral like ice water down my spine.
I froze. My grin melted. Slowly, I looked at her.
Her eyes had narrowed, cold and sharp like daggers.
"What happened in the Maiden's Club? Why were you zapped in the first place?" Her tone was low, dangerous, and her gaze flicked upward toward my hair. "And… is that why your hair looks like that?"
Automatically, my hand shot up to touch the strands. They were still a little frizzy, still carrying the faint scent of static. "…Yes. That's why my hair is a mess," I admitted, forcing a sheepish smile.
But Selene's expression only darkened further. Her icy aura prickled around us, like invisible frost crawling up my skin.
"But why would she zap you?" Her voice lowered, hard as ice cracking underfoot. "No one is allowed to harm my fiancé."
Panic shot through me. My stomach twisted. Oh no. Oh no no no no. The last thing I needed right now was Selene going into jealous queen mode and freezing the entire world solid.
"No, no, no, no!" I waved my hands quickly, shaking my head like a maniac. "She didn't try to harm me. We— we were just playing a game. And I lost. The penalty was for her to zap me. That's all."
The lie slid off my tongue before I could stop it.
But… this was better, right? Better than letting Selene think Mai had actually tried to hurt me—or worse, the actual truth, that I had tried to kiss someone else who wasn't her.
The truth might spark something ugly. Something dangerous.
And honestly, the very last thing I needed right now was a jealous queen.
So I smiled. Nervously. "See? Just a game. Nothing serious."
Her eyes narrowed further, her suspicion crackling in the air heavier than my tiny sparks. "But why do you have her power?" she asked slowly. Her voice was sharp, accusing, slicing into me like glass. "Impossible things keep happening to you, Kisaragi."
I laughed awkwardly, scratching at my cheek. "Em… let's not change the mood of this night, okay? What do you plan on doing tonight, Kurosuki?" I asked quickly, throwing my words like a shield to block her glare.
Without thinking, I reached for her hand.
Her fingers were cool, delicate, like ice polished smooth. But then I realized—her whole hand was trembling.
"You're… vibrating," I muttered, half worried, half amazed.
Selene shook her head softly, her lips curving in the faintest smile. "Don't worry, Kisaragi. It doesn't hurt. You holding my hand… it's much better."
Her words struck something in me. My chest tightened, my throat felt strangely warm.
Still, I swallowed hard and gently let go. "Okay, but maybe I should let go for safety reasons," I said, pulling back.
I quickly looked away, desperate to shift the moment. My eyes roamed the walls of her castle. The walls glimmered faintly, ice carved into towering structures that caught and reflected light in soft blue hues.
"So… your castle looks nice," I said, my voice a little too quick.
"Yes, it does," she replied without hesitation. Her tone was light but proud. "I built it myself. Amazing, right?"
I couldn't help it—I smiled back. "Yeah. Amazing."
A silence settled. A short one. But it wasn't empty. It was the kind of silence that pressed gently against you, making you hyper-aware of every breath you took. Even the icy walls seemed to be listening.
And then—before I could stop myself—I blurted out:
"So… what are you planning on doing for our second date?"
Her cheeks lifted just slightly, but her words were hesitant. "Umm… nothing much," she answered softly.
"Nothing much?" I tilted my head, narrowing my eyes in mock suspicion. "But what exactly do you want to do? Why did you invite me over?" The questions tumbled out fast, almost like I was interrogating her.
Selene tilted her head in return, her long silver hair sliding over her shoulder like silk. Slowly, her expression shifted—calmer, smoother, almost teasing.
"Okay then, Kisaragi," she said, her lips curving into a little smile. Her voice was honey-smooth, but with a playful edge. "Are you hungry?"
I froze. My body stiffened. "…Em… maybe," I answered cautiously, unsure where this was heading.
"Good." She straightened her posture, her confidence blooming again like frost patterns racing across glass. "Then I will cook food for you."
My brain short-circuited.
I blinked. Once. Twice. Three times.
"Wait… you can cook?!" I blurted out, my voice shooting far louder than I intended.
The words shot out louder than I intended, echoing across the icy hall.