Bridget leans back in the twilight, her shadow elongated and polished by the warm glow.
Back where I came from, we call this time the "witching hour." It's when spirits are most likely to appear, and when humans and ghosts can exist in the same space.
Why are you being so quiet? Are you scared? Don't worry, I'm right here with you.
Rest assured, though, that I'm gonna give people a real piece of my mind today if they show up and mess with us.
Bridget gives her nose bridge a suave brush, grinning as she wraps an arm around your shoulder.
Taking a bite of the cotton candy Bridget has offered you, you end up with white sugar all over your face.
Hahaha, you look ridiculous when you eat. So, mind telling me what we're doing here today?
Trying to stay composed, Yata keeps her hands behind her back while rubbing her running shoes against the ground.
You hand her the voucher you've been holding and explain that it's part of a special holiday event WGAA has organized.
They... are gonna make you do three laps around the city...?
A piece of cake that is.
Yata focuses her attention on the voucher and reads out what it says.
Challenge... Hold Hands... Around the City... And Run Three Laps.
Wait... seriously?
Not at all. It's just holding hands. Not gonna back down at all.
Feel free to choose from all the mechanical hands I have.
I mean I could just carry you and do the laps? That's not against the rules, technically speaking...
I could throw you and have you land with centrifugal force like a parabolic trajectory...
Well, if you don't mind all the eyes on us... then fine.
Yata is usually fine with physical contact, but she now looks awkwardly bashful as she gives you her hand. The moment you take her hand, she starts running without saying a word.
[player name], things are gonna be real bad if you don't keep up! I'm gonna drag you and...
As she runs, Yata seems to grow more comfortable under her skin. She's now feeling comfortable enough to turn around every now and then to check on you.
One more lap to go, [player name]! Come on, you can do it!
Keeping up with a Construct's speed without exoskeleton assistance is practically impossible, but thankfully Yata is deliberately holding back a bit.
Yata half-drags you the whole way and still blazes through the three-lap run. You only manage to endure it thanks to sheer military resolve and discipline.
Congratulations on completing the challenge! Please claim your prize! Good job, guys!
I saw it all! You two held your hands the whole time, which says a lot!
Thankfully, no one saw it when Yata was dragging you so fast that you were practically flying.
The staff member from WGAA hands over your prize with a motherly warm smile. It's an elegantly packaged chocolate.
After the run, your stomach is growling with hunger. Just as you're about to tear open the packaging, Yata stops you.
Hold your horses there.
Here, take this instead. Take it.
You take the small bag of treats Yata tosses to you and catch a sweet aroma you know by heart.
I see. This is chocolate, and it's handmade, too.
I mean... Valentine's Day is all about showing your appreciation to people you care about, right?
Whether you see it as just a friendly gesture or something more... that's up to you. J-just so you know, I only made these for you.
Be warned, though, that I'm not great at this kind of thing. I tried several times, but they still look pretty average and nowhere near as nice as what you'd find in shops...
...But I'm sure they taste great.
But, woah, what a day! Guess I should have trained myself a little harder!
Says Yata as she lets out a little whine while ruffling her short hair.
You take a piece of her handmade chocolate from the bag and, very ceremoniously, place it in your mouth.
Yata watches your every move intently while holding her hands together in anticipation of your verdict.
Yata's face looks red... and you can't be sure if it's because of the sunset, or if you're just seeing things.
Sweeter than marshmallows?
Better than takoyaki?
Hah... that's good to hear. Why does this feel like more of a cardio workout than actual running...
Yata is smiling again as the two of you stroll together through the city. She fidgets with the chocolate in her hands, her thoughts drifting slightly.
Back in the day at Misono High, students put their hearts into making homemade sweets for their crushes before holidays. Everyone was so into it... but I never had the chance to join in.
But I finally got a chance to do this myself, and now I know exactly how they felt when they pulled all-nighters making sweets for people they cared about.
There are countless moments in my life I wish I could redo...
And once again, it's you who helps fill those gaps in my life, [player name].
But crying over spilled milk doesn't help, I guess.
She refreshes herself with a quick rub of her face, then turns to you with another invitation.
We still have some time left. Want to go somewhere special? Just the two of us, where no one will disturb us?
