Back in the present, looking into Noel’s gray eyes up close, her hand gently caressing his cheek, Serah could still see it — that valiant figure who had walked out of the Trial Dimension.
She had thought he would die afterward.
That she’d never see him again.
But here he was... right in front of her eyes.
Meeting him again — through this strange twist of fate and the presence of another dimension — had been a true surprise.
And yet... what made her heart beat louder was something else entirely:
Despite the loss of his memory.
Despite his current weakness.
He still had that pride — that same arrogant gaze in his eyes.
And so... she wouldn’t back away this time.
She had been a child back then.
She hadn’t yet learned that what you want, you take — regardless of the consequences.
Her voice dropped, sultry and low.
"Don’t leave me hanging. Answer me... do you want to take my virginity?"
She said it clearly now. Explicitly. Without shame.
And hearing her... feeling her soft body pressing against him — Noel’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of something passing through them.
"Don’t you feel like we’re skipping a few steps?" he said, his smile faint.
"I believe these kinds of things should only happen between people who have feelings for each other."
"And... I already have a girlfriend."
Serah’s smile didn’t fade.
She pressed her lips together, feeling the weight of his sharp gaze.
She could tell — he was barely holding himself back. Probably because of their difference in strength.
And strangely... that provoked something inside her.
Her eyes gleamed, more intensely now. Seductive. Fierce.
"Didn’t I already say I was head over heels for you?" Serah said, her voice sweet like poison.
"Then there’s no problem~"
She drew even closer, their noses nearly touching, her breath brushing against his lips.
"As for your girlfriend..." she purred, "doesn’t that make it even more thrilling? Playing with an innocent girl younger than her, behind her back... just the thought of that should make your heart race, right?"
Noel stared at her in silence, his expression unreadable.
His eyes, sharp and steady, didn’t blink.
He seemed to be weighing his next response, when suddenly... the air around them stirred.
And then, a beat later — two voices, overlapping in fury, cut through the stillness.
Selena and Lilith appeared, their auras already flaring, warping the atmosphere around them.
They had been stopped by Elysia, who was trying — and failing — to melt into the air. But that didn’t stop them from turning their eyes elsewhere.
Their gazes locked on Serah.
On the way she leaned into Noel.
On the way she smirked without a trace of shame.
And their anger surged with every second... especially for Selena.
Noel turned his head slightly to look at them.
He raised an eyebrow at the dramatic entrance.
And somehow... his sour mood lifted a little.
But Serah — Serah didn’t even acknowledge their presence.
Instead, she made her move.
With a grin, she turned Noel fully toward her.
Her hands came up to cradle his face — soft, firm, claiming.
And then, without hesitation, she leaned in and kissed him.
No — she took his lips for a few seconds.
And then she pulled away.
A heartbeat of silence followed.
"What the fuck do you think you’re doing to my man?!"
Selena’s voice erupted — louder, angrier, more unhinged than anything Noel had ever heard from her.
With her shout, everyone in the vicinity who had been murmuring and taking pictures of the unfolding drama was knocked back, unconscious. Some even started bleeding from the nose or ears.
But no one spared them a glance. No one cared.
And the confrontation continued.
Serah finally turned to face the intruding guests, her voice light and lazy, as if nothing unusual had happened.
"I’m kissing the man I love~"
"What kind of bullshit y—" Selena started to shout back, but Serah cut her off effortlessly.
"And who said Noel is yours?"
After those words, she turned back to Noel. Her gaze lingered, subtly pressing him — silently saying, Your input is appreciated now. So impress us.
Everyone leaned in, watching. Waiting.
Noel stood between them, unmoving.
But inside Noel’s head... there was only one thought.
How the fuck did things get to this point?
They were just talking about dimensions, witches, and whatnot.
So how the hell did it jump to this?
Noel stood still for a few seconds, letting the confusion swirl. But then... he simply stopped caring.
Instead, he took in the scene around him — the chaos, the tension, the absurdity.
And finally, his gaze landed on Serah, whose expression shimmered with anticipation.
Instead, he reached up, his hand slipping behind her head, fingers tangling in her hair — and pulled her in.
But it wasn’t just a kiss.
He devoured her lips.
Broke them open with his tongue.
Tasted her, explored her, drank her in like she was wine and poison and something maddening in between.
When he finally pulled back, a string of saliva still connected them.
His voice came out low, smooth, and sharp.
"That’s how a kiss should be."
The world seemed to fall silent.
Serah, lips parted and breath caught, stared up at him — dazed, almost stunned.
Then, slowly, she wiped her mouth with her forearm, and let out a small, uneven chuckle.
There was something in her eyes — a flicker of vulnerability... soft, strange, almost fragile.
Something even she didn’t understand.
But she pushed it down.
"Seems like you like being on top," she teased, trying to reclaim the upper hand — even if her voice still trembled just a little.
Noel didn’t rise to the bait.
Instead, he pulled out his phone, screen already lit.
"How about you give me your number?" he said calmly.
"Looks like our meeting ends here... and I plan to see you again. If you want to, of course."
She didn’t reply — at least not with words.
But, with her cheeks already flushed, she gently took the phone and entered her number, fingers quick but careful.
He called it immediately, waiting for the ring.
A soft chime echoed from her pocket.
Only then did he nod.
And then, without another word, he turned.
Walked past the silence that had swallowed the clearing.
He reached out, took Selena’s hand in one, Lilith’s in the other.