Aurora walked in the streets of the Pala capital with Varian, arms linked together.
"Hu hm hmm~" She hummed a melody, pressing herself closer to him as she surveyed the stalls on either side, seemingly lost in shopping like a teenage girl.
But she's actually glancing at the stiff Varian from the corner of her eye.
He looked like a frozen potato. Even when he was fighting formidable enemies, he looked better than this…funny face.
Aurora covered her face to hide the smile as she dragged him to a clothing store.
It was morning and the store just opened.
'A date with my one day boyfriend. Of course, it starts with picking matching clothes!'
The store lady glanced at their clothes.
Varian was in a black and white dress, hand sewn by Sia, with some assistance from Hazel.
Aurora was in a white dress, with a dignified feel.
The store lady couldn't identify the brand of Varian's clothes, just that it's a very high end material. But she did identify Aurora's.
'Rich! Super Rich! Ultra Rich!'
"What would yo—"
"Couple set!" Aurora declared and soon, she was furiously picking a set.
Meanwhile, Varian was sharing the whole experience via origin.
Far away in Hortus, Sia narrowed her eyes for a moment before muttering. "Can you still save her?"
'There is a chance.'
"How big?" Isadora asked, eager. She didn't mind the whole date thing as much as Sia.
'If she survives 23 more hours and that is a big if, then there is a 5% chance the shards will save her. If I have a few more days, I can make it 90%, but this is my first time trying this.' Varian explained.
Isadora closed her eyes and sighed weakly.
Sarah remained the calmest of the four. From the beginning, she accepted Aurora's death.
"Give her the day. You can…go all the way. Send her away without any regrets." She hesitated for a moment but said in the end.
"What?!" Sia yelled in reflex and turned to the others for support.
Isadora was nodding lightly. Enigma bit her lip but gave a small nod with a helpless sigh.
"Three to one." Sarah shrugged. "Aurora was ready to kill herself. And she…she's family."
"Don't force him. Not for a day. Not for an hour!" Sia stood up, glaring at the three.
Sarah frowned. "Sia, she is going to die in a few hours. And no one is renting him away. If he didn't care about her, would he risk his life to fight Hades?"
Sia bit her lip. "Varian…if you really want to…then fine. But remember, you don't owe her anything. Don't force yourself."
Varian sighed.
'Sia, thanks for worrying about me. I'm not doing this because I have favors to repay. I genuinely wish her to live.
And don't worry, I won't cross the line today, even if she wants to. It's not proper to anyone.'
Sia nodded in satisfaction.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Varian was shaken violently by a pouting Aurora. "Today is my day! Focus on me! Me! Meeee~"
"Alright, alright. Did you pick the dresses?"
Miss Calamity nodded. With a snap of her fingers, they changed into a black and white set.
Varian looked handsome and youthful in all black. Less like a college student and more like a dashing young man.
Aurora looked elegant in all whites, like the young miss of a noble family.
The store lady wanted to bless the couple and took out a gift from her home town.
"Brother-in-law, let's goo~"
'W-What?!'
Weren't they a couple?
A few moments later, Varian was feeding the lazy Aurora a dessert. She took a bite before feeding him back.
The cafe had plenty of couples, but few displayed their affections like this.
Aurora didn't care.
"So this is how they feel…" She muttered as she looked at Varian's gentle gaze and opened her mouth again. "Aaan~"
Then, she fed him the same dessert.
Once out of the cafe, Aurora relaxed considerably. Leaning on his shoulder, she giggled.
"I'm very clever, aren't I? If it's any other time, Sia would've killed me first. Then, my senior sister along with Sarah. Now, they not only accept it, they also gave us a full day of private time."
Varian looked at her little smirk and shook his head. "I didn't think you'd ask for this."
Aurora pouted and shook his arm back and forth, deliberately making physical contact. "This is the best I can think of."
"…I'm flattered." Varian said, trying to maintain that gentle expression.
He's really trying to treat her like a girlfriend. It's hard, but he's quickly getting the hang of it.
"You know…" Aurora looked at the sky. "I always knew my future was doomed. I never thought I'd be saved."
Varian lowered his head, his eyes gloomy. He muttered his breath. "I'm sorry."
"What are you saying?" Aurora skipped in front of him and turned around. Raising her hands, she jumped into his arms.
Hugging him with a smile, she said. "If you didn't save me, who is hugging you now?"
Her warmth soothed his stressed mind. Varian prayed for things to go alright.
She must survive nearly a day, a very difficult feat. And then, the 5% treatment chance.
'If not…'
"Aurora." Varian wrapped his arms around her as his hoarse voice whispered into her ear.
"Hm!" Aurora stiffened in his embrace, like a bolt of current passed through her. Then, she softened and hugged him very tight.
There was no more distance in the hug. Not physically. Not mentally. Aurora wanted to melt into his arms and hear him call her name again and again.
"B-Brother-in-law…" She whispered, surprised that she was feeling so emotional with just a hug.
"I want you to spend every minute of this day with me. Please don't leave midway." Varian said gently, hoping she'd survive to the end.
"I…" Aurora's eyes were watering when she realized it. Breaking from the embrace, she gently pushed him away and said with a confident smile. "That is the gift! Of course, I'm not leaving even a second early."
Grabbing his hand and interlocking fingers, she led him forward.