This was one of the reasons Otto had come to St. Freya.
His words were simple.
But a current of warmth rose in Kiana's heart, spreading through her entire body.
A brilliant smile bloomed on her face.
With her playful, cheerful voice, Kiana said, "Thank you for the gift."
"I'll treasure it."
However, Otto slowly shook his head.
"No. This isn't the gift I intended for you."
As he spoke, he took a few steps forward to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with her.
Then, instead of looking at Kiana, he gazed up at the night sky, where the stars were hidden.
Puzzled, Kiana followed his line of sight to the night sky.
But aside from the crescent moon, she saw nothing else.
In an instant, a streak of light cut across the sky.
It was immediately followed by more.
They were fireworks. Countless fireworks.
Countless fireworks bloomed with wild abandon in the pitch-black night sky.
Specks of light streaked across the heavens like shooting stars.
Purple, cyan, red, gold, and white intertwined, as if the stars themselves were exploding in the sky. The splendid star-flowers painted the sky in the colors of day.
It was so beautiful.
Her heart pounded in her chest. Kiana stared at the night sky, the magnificent light filling her entire vision. She had never seen anything so beautiful.
No words could possibly describe it.
These splendid star-flowers were the gift Otto intended for Kiana.
But…
Her attention was no longer on them.
She turned her head to gaze at Otto beside her, at his extraordinarily handsome profile.
Even with the sky ablaze in splendor, she did not look away from him.
"Otto."
Kiana called his name softly.
Hearing her voice, Otto turned his head, his eyes meeting hers.
She stood on her tiptoes, tilted her head back, and leaned forward.
The girl's face was flushed red.
But she didn't look away.
Her soft, pink lips pressed against Otto's.
It was just as they had promised.
When they met again, Kiana would be the one to initiate the kiss.
The star-flowers continued to bloom, their light scattering down, spilling onto the two as they kissed beneath the night sky.