The warm sun rises high, approaching noon, as crowds of people course through the streets.
The streets and shops bustle with extraordinary energy as couples excitedly experience their Amour Concerto Vouchers. Sweet nothings fill the air everywhere, and the pink Valentine's Day mood grows increasingly vibrant throughout Constellia.
And yet, amidst the couples, there is a particular someone who seems utterly out of place.
This is how things went in the morning when you ran into Alpha...
Want to look around together?
Shut up and follow me.
You remember feeling a little happy that Alpha is actually enjoying what Valentine's Day has to offer...
Except she never took part in any of the activities, and she kept her distance the entire time from the activities accessible with the Amour Concerto Vouchers.
In a secluded, quiet building, Alpha leans against the wall and casts you a glance.
Be my guest if you want to do those things. I'm not stopping you.
Judging from the way Alpha has been acting, you believe that she's not entirely uninterested in the activities. It's just that she's not interested enough to get involved.
To get her to truly embrace the holiday spirit, someone needs to guide her along.
You pull out an Amour Concerto Voucher from your pocket that got shoved into your hand earlier when a staff member recognized you.
You mean truth or Dare, huh...
Whatever you want to ask or whatever you want me to do, just say it. You don't need to make things up. Mind you, though, you'll have to face whatever consequences there are.
At least she didn't refuse... With it, you open the Amour Concerto Voucher. There's a line written in eye-catching colors that says...
"DARE! Give your partner a heart-racing 'kabedon'!"
Apparently knowing that "kabedon" is no common knowledge, whoever came up with this daring challenge has added a... rather bold illustration below the text showing how it's done.
Having noticed your silence, Alpha faces you with interest.
Looks like you've drawn an "interesting" daring challenge.
She chuckles without saying much, except it feels like she's said plenty.
...That's when it hits you that you're in this too deep to call it quits now.
Wait—
As you approach her, Alpha tries to say something, but it's too late. Two steps later, you find looking Alpha in the eye.
...
Her sharp, piercing gaze meets yours directly.
Alpha stares at you without moving... nor evading or stopping you...
Alpha's gaze follows your hand to the side, then immediately returns to you.
Locking firmly onto your eyes, Alpha's gaze seems unusually serious, apparently searching for something or trying to dig up some hidden truth.
...
The two of you are so physically close now that you seem able to see every subtle emotion in Alpha through her eyes. Her heterochromatic eyes appear cold as usual at first glance, but upon closer look...
There seems to be a subtle ripple of emotion that doesn't quite match her usual composure.
A mood beyond description starts forming between the two of you when your gazes intertwine. Seconds tick by, and just as your poker face reaches its limit, Alpha's eyes begin to show a hint of suspicion at your prolonged silence.
It's over?
According to the illustration from earlier, these are the only actions required.
Huff...
When you see her let out a sigh, you can't tell whether it's a sigh of disappointment or relief.
Let me see that voucher you have.
Says Bianca as she grabs your other hand. Before you know it, she's already taken the voucher you were holding and is now reading what it says.
So that's what it is, huh?
Made me curious what you were gonna do when I saw that look on your face just now...
Well, do you plan on doing this forever?
Alpha presses the back of her hand against the underside of your arm and quickly pushes it upward, breaking free from your kabedon without breaking a sweat.
She takes two steps away. As she faces the alleyway, her expression becomes impossible to read in the interplay of light and shadow.
This game was every bit as lame as I thought it'd be.
You were hoping this would help Alpha enjoy the holiday...
But it seems like it backfired on you.
But...
Alpha turns around. The slanting sunlight now hangs from the corner of her mouth and paints a barely noticeable smile.
It was quite the test of endurance, though.
Right then, a rush of air hits your face. Out of instinct, you step back until you're right up against the wall. Before you know it, Alpha is right up against you, her palm slamming against the wall with a loud thud.
The two of you find yourselves in a kabedon once again, except your roles are now reversed, and Alpha is now closer to you than you were to her.
We can draw a few more vouchers later.
I'll be the one in charge, though, if we end up drawing something like this again.
Better be ready to pay for what you did...
There is no running away.
