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Inside the café.
Max said warmly, "Honestly, being friends with you, Moka, feels like a huge win for me. I'm really happy about it."
"Really…?"
Hearing that, Moka Akashiya's heart lifted in delight. Her eyes curved with her smile, sweet and bright.
She laughed softly. "Actually, being friends with you makes me super happy too."
The thought of going back to the Demon Realm? Gone.
Before, she'd only wanted to return because she was all alone.
But that was then. Things had changed.
Now she'd met Max.
She wasn't alone anymore, so why would she leave?
Their eyes met, and both smiled.
Max's gaze drifted down to the silver cross resting outside her collar. Acting curious, he asked, "By the way, Moka, your necklace seems… unusual. It's not just jewelry, is it?"
"Oh, this?"
Moka lowered her head, fingers brushing the cross. Looking back up, her face lit with an easy smile.
"Actually, this necklace seals away my powers. What you see right now isn't my true self. If I take it off, I'll return to my real form… a powerful vampire."
She hadn't even thought about hiding it.
When it came to Max, her trust went beyond reason—despite having only met him yesterday.
"So it's a seal."
Max nodded, suddenly understanding. Then, curious again, he asked, "If it's removed by accident, would that hurt you?"
Moka chuckled and shook her head lightly.
"No, it just makes me revert to who I really am. Besides, it's nearly impossible to take off."
"I see."
Max nodded again, smiling faintly. "Honestly, I'd kind of like to see your true self someday."
"Excuse me, sorry to interrupt."
A waiter approached with a polite smile, placing a cappuccino in front of Moka. "Here's what you ordered. Please enjoy."
"Thank you."
Moka gave a quick nod of thanks.
When the server left, Max leaned in slightly, smiling. "So, Moka, where do you want to go today?"
For him, it didn't matter.
All he wanted was to spend more time with her. Since she'd been the one to suggest hanging out, he figured they'd do whatever she liked.
"How about the amusement park?"
Moka blinked at him, waiting for his reaction.
"Sure," he said with a grin.
Her face lit up instantly.
The two of them sipped their coffee, chatting casually about nothing in particular.
But Moka's thoughts drifted back to what Max had said earlier:
"Honestly, I'd kind of like to see your true self…"
Her true self.
Moka felt a flicker of unease.
She'd worn the cross for as long as she could remember—never once taken it off.
When she was younger, curiosity drove her to try.
But she couldn't.
It was as if the cross refused to come off.
So even she didn't know what her real self looked like.
Not even her adoptive parents knew.
…
Half an hour later.
Max and Moka arrived at their first stop of the day:
The amusement park—classic dating spot.
After buying tickets, Moka took the lead, slipping her hand into his and pulling him along excitedly.
"What should we try first?"
She glanced around, then turned to him. "Max, what do you want to ride?"
"Me, huh…"
He glanced at the list of attractions in his hand. After a moment, he smiled. "How about the roller coaster?"
"Perfect! Let's go!"
Moka nodded eagerly and tugged him toward the line.
Max let her pull him along, watching her laugh like a carefree kid. A gentle smile tugged at his lips, his eyes softening.
Since they'd met, she hadn't stopped smiling.
He could feel it clearly—her trust, her closeness. It was simple, pure, and real.
At the roller coaster queue, Moka's gaze lingered on the roaring cars rushing past, then she looked up at Max curiously.
"Max, I've heard roller coasters are super intense. Some people even cry, is that true?"
"It's true," he chuckled. "The sudden shocks can overwhelm some people."
"I see…"
A flicker of nerves crossed her eyes, like she was worried about embarrassing herself.
Max noticed. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair, smiling down at her.
Their eyes met, his gaze calm and reassuring—like he was silently saying, "Don't worry, I'm here."
Her cheeks warmed. The nervousness melted away, replaced with a bright smile.
Shy, yes—but mostly happy.
Okay, okay, we get it, stop being so sweet already, we're drowning in sugar here.
That was the silent complaint on the faces of the people in line behind them.
Some shot them looks of envy.
The guys envied Max.
A girlfriend that gorgeous? Unreal.
The girls envied Moka.
A boyfriend that handsome? Totally unfair.
But no one was jealous.
Their looks were so far beyond average that it wasn't even in the realm of competition anymore. People could only sigh and wish they were in the other's shoes.
Twenty minutes later, they finally got on the ride.
Side by side, their hands found each other and laced together tight.
The coaster started off slow, clicking upward bit by bit toward the first big drop.
Moka's heart climbed with it. Her grip on Max's hand tightened.
When the train suddenly plunged, she gasped, pupils shrinking, her face flushing pink.
Her breath caught, her heartbeat racing.
"Ahhh~~~!"
Screams erupted from the rows behind them.
At the second drop, Max whooped, letting himself enjoy the rush like any normal rider.
No restraint, no holding back.
Moka blinked, surprised by his reaction.
"Ahhh!!!"
By the third drop, she couldn't hold it in either—her own cry burst free.
The coaster tore through one dive after another, and both of them laughed and shouted their way through the ride.
Finally, it slowed to a stop at the platform.
The two stumbled off, finding an empty bench nearby to catch their breath.
"Hold still."
Max reached over, and under her puzzled gaze, gently smoothed out her slightly messy pink hair.
"All better," he said with a grin, pulling his hand back.
"Thanks, Max," she murmured, cheeks red, her smile glowing.
Her eyes softened, warm and tender, but carrying something a little hotter underneath.
"....."