Ciel Evans pushed open the glass door of Cafe Cozy with his shoulder.

  Clink...

  The small bell above the door rang crisply, welcoming the arrival of freedom.

  Ciel took a deep breath, inhaling the aroma of roasted coffee beans and vanilla wafting in the air. The scent of paradise.

  Done, he thought triumphantly.

  Early college assignments were indeed tough. The final paper on Structural Analysis had been submitted ten minutes ago with mixed feelings of confidence and resignation. Did it exceed the deadline? But who cared?

  Fixed. Forget it! he cheered internally.

  His footsteps felt light, as if earth's gravity had halved. His main target now was only one: His Throne.

  A small round table in the corner, near a large window facing the street, hidden behind a pot of fake monstera. That was Ciel’s strategic spot to daydream, play games, or simply people-watch in this always busy southern port city of Bent.

  His eyes instantly beamed to that corner like a targeting laser.

  However, his steps halted. His brow furrowed beneath his hoodie.

  "Huh?"

  Someone occupied it.

  His sacred throne was taken by someone else.

  Ciel was about to snort in annoyance—who was the presumptuous person daring to take Ciel Evans' favorite spot?—but the snort caught in his throat.

  He squinted.

  The figure sitting there was a girl.

  She sat backing the golden afternoon window light, creating a mesmerizing silhouette.

  Her hair...

  Black. Straight. Long.

  Strands of hair fell simply on her back, glistening healthily under the port city's afternoon sun, like a dark silk curtain wrapping her slender shoulders.

  In front of her, on the wooden table, lay a white ceramic cup. Thin steam still curled from it, dancing slowly. Beside the cup, the girl’s slender fingers were tapping the table surface with a slow rhythm, as if waiting for someone.

  Ciel’s heart stopped beating for a moment. He recognized that back. He recognized that gesture. It was the same gesture he often saw in class during high school back in Crownbelt.

  Suddenly, the girl turned toward the door, as if sensing Ciel’s presence.

  ZOOM.

  Ciel’s visual focus locked.

  His pupils dilated instantly, responding to the visual stimulus he missed most since the girl graduated and left this city for college. Fresh blood pumped up to his neck and face, making his cheeks feel hot and flushed in an instant.

  "Elsie..." he hissed soundlessly.

  His brain didn't need to command his legs. His body moved on its own.

  Ciel walked fast, almost half-running, ignoring the waiter about to greet him. He sliced through the cafe room in three wide strides.

  Without permission, without the pleasantry "may I sit here?", Ciel immediately pulled the chair opposite the girl and slammed his butt there.

  Thud.

  His breath hunted slightly, not from running, but from heart shock.

  He stared straight ahead.

  Before him, Elsie smiled.

  Not a polite perfunctory smile. It was a sincere sweet smile, one that made her eyes smile too. The same smile that made Ciel fall in love when the girl became a transfer student in his 11th grade class back then.

  And those eyes...

  Round eyes, clear and lucid. Eyes that could always see through Ciel’s mischief and introverted nature. Those eyes looked at him with a mischievous twinkle, as if saying: You took so long.

  Thump... Thump... Thump...

  Ciel’s heart beat faster than when he opened the exam paper earlier. Love adrenaline turned out to be far stronger than academic adrenaline.

  "You..." Ciel stuttered, his voice swallowed by the girl’s smile.

  "Surprise..."

  One word spoken.

  The voice was so smooth, melodious, and lilting beautifully amidst the cacophony of coffee machines and other customers' chatter. To Ciel, that voice was like a cello melody calming the post-exam storm in his head.

  Ciel blinked, staring at the face in front of him which still felt unreal.

  "Elsieee... why didn't you say you were coming home to Bent?" Ciel protested, tone half-whining, half-happy. "I could have picked you up at the station or airport."

  Elsie tilted her head slightly, her black hair moving with it.

  "If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise, Ciel. I arrived here this afternoon," she answered casually.

  "Ah... yeah yeah..." Ciel scratched his non-itchy nape. This girl's logic was always simple and deadly. He lost completely.

  Suddenly, a hand extended between them, placing a black ceramic cup steaming hot. The scent of strong Americano wafted instantly.

  "Black coffee no sugar. Auto order," a heavy male voice sounded.

  Ciel turned. It was Sant, the cafe waiter and his hangout buddy who knew Ciel’s taste exactly.

  "Thanks, Sant," Ciel mumbled quickly, hand reaching for the cup handle to cover his nervousness.

  However, Sant didn't leave immediately.

  The man stood tall with tray in hand, eyes glancing mischievously at Elsie, then back to Ciel with a meaningful smile.

  "Does Mrs. Evans want another drink?" Sant asked with deliberate volume to be heard clearly. "Or want a sweet snack to accompany the Young Master?"

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  GULP.

  Ciel choked on his own spit.

  His heart felt like falling out hearing that "Mrs. Evans" address.

  He glanced panic at Elsie, afraid the girl would be offended or turned off by the old man jokes.

  However, Elsie’s reaction was unexpected.

  The girl wasn't angry. She instead showed her rows of white teeth.

  "Hehe..." she chuckled softly.

  Both her eyes closed forming crescents—a deadly eye smile—and she smiled sweetly responding to the call. She didn't reject the title.

  Seeing that, Ciel’s blood boiled up to his face.

  His face turned crimson, red as a ripe tomato. The heat spread to his ears.

  "Hey! Nonsense!"

  Ciel waved his hand frantically at Sant, shooing his friend away like shooing a fly.

  "You're noisy! Go work!"

  Sant laughed satisfied seeing Ciel’s awkward reaction.

  "Yes, Boss! Carry on!"

  He turned on his heel and walked away back to the bar counter. His steps looked light and happy, whistling softly, feeling huge success pranking the young couple. Ciel stared at Sant’s back with a wait-for-it look, while his own heart still beat irregularly due to the "Mrs. Evans" smile in front of him.

  Elsie’s smile subsided slightly, replaced by a more serious polite expression. She put down her cup slowly.

  "By the way, how are folks at home?" she asked gently, eyes looking at Ciel full of attention. "How is Uncle Hannes?"

  Hearing that sacred name mentioned, Ciel’s face previously flushed red from shame, now changed drastically.

  His forehead furrowed deep. Lips pressed tight.

  Ciel frowned.

  A bead of cold sweat dripped from his temple, sliding down past his cheek.

  Ciel hurriedly wiped it with the back of his hand, hoping Elsie didn't see his nervousness.

  "Hehe... healthy. Dad is healthy," Ciel answered briefly, accompanied by a discordant laugh sounding like a rusty door hinge.

  Inside his head, Ciel’s brain spun fast looking for the right words.

  Healthy? Yes, Dad physically healthy. But he hasn't come home for months, lied on the phone with a robot voice, and might be involved in a conspiracy making the whole city stoned, Ciel thought horrified.

  Ciel swallowed. If he told the truth—"My Dad seems to be preparing for war or a secret coup"—Elsie would surely think his family crazy and regret ever moving to Crownbelt back then.

  "Yaa... well," Ciel added finally, choosing the safe path. "He's fine. Just... usual, very busy at the Ministry of Defense. Standard Evans stuff."

  He smiled stiffly, trying to convince the girl in front of him that his family was a normal happy family, not a military family preparing to face doomsday behind the scenes.

  Ciel was still talking. Since earlier, his mouth hadn't stopped moving for a second. He spilled everything: from the nonsensical concrete structure quiz questions, the behavior of the invigilator lecturer sleeping in class, to how annoying Sant was giving wrong change last week.

  He couldn't sit still. Post-task adrenaline suddenly mixed with the euphoria of this unexpected meeting made him hyperactive, like a little kid who just finished three chocolate bars and was given espresso.

  Ciel’s right hand snatched the air, imitating an angry lecturer's movement. His left hand hit the table softly to emphasize his story's plot twist. His shoulders rose and fell, body leaning forward then thrown back against the chair rest.

  However, amidst his long monologue, Ciel’s eyes never left the figure before him.

  Elsie propped her chin on one hand, listening. She didn't interrupt. She didn't cut in. She just smiled.

  A small lasting smile, etched on her lips. A smile that made Ciel feel heard, feel existing. There was warmth spreading in Ciel’s chest seeing that reaction. He missed being listened to like this.

  Slowly, Elsie’s slender finger moved.

  With a graceful and slow movement, the girl combed a strand of long black hair falling over her cheek, then tucked it behind her ear.

  That simple movement exposed her slender neck slightly.

  Ciel’s sentence about "Bald Lecturer" stopped midway. His story focus scattered instantly. His brain blanked for a moment, distracted by that unintentional elegance.

  Elsie then slid her phone on the wooden table, bringing it closer to Ciel. The screen lit up bright, displaying a digital poster graphic design exploding with neon colors.

  "Ciel, let's watch fireworks," Elsie invited, her voice containing a bit of subtle persuasion hard to refuse. "Says tonight there is a big parade in the sky. Seems fun, right?"

  Her index finger pointed at the large writing on the screen: CARTA SKY FESTIVAL.

  Below it, written a bombastic caption: Held simultaneously across all Carta skies. Offering of Light for the People.

  "Great right? National scale," Elsie added, eyes sparkling looking at Ciel. "Rarely an event this big outside new year."

  Ciel saw the sparkle in the girl's eyes. Sincere innocent sparkle.

  For a moment, Ciel remembered Julian’s warning and his father’s oddity. This festival was suspicious. It was a mass drug.

  But, seeing Elsie smiling full of hope like this... Ciel felt his defenses crumble. He didn't want to ruin this reunion moment with dark conspiracy theories. Let him be stupid tonight for Elsie.

  Ciel nodded fast. His head moved up and down repeatedly, exactly like a bobblehead doll. Elsie’s enthusiasm infected him, though for different reasons.

  "Gas! Let's go!" Ciel exclaimed spiritedly, trying to sound convincing. "Denes also said yesterday there really are fireworks. That kid really has connections everywhere... Always knows A1 info like this before official release."

  Elsie smiled small hearing that name. Ciel was grateful the topic shifted to Denes, his college best friend whom Elsie also knew when the girl still lived in Crownbelt.

  Seems they get along just fine, Ciel thought, seeing the relieved expression on Elsie’s face. He knew Elsie often worried he would become a loner on campus.

  "Okay, then it's fixed," Elsie decided cheerfully.

  She pulled her phone back, then looked at the vintage style cafe wall clock. Seven PM.

  "We watch at West Square okay..." Elsie proposed. "Event starts at ten PM. Meaning... three more hours, Cielll."

  Elsie looked at him with a mischievous gaze.

  Twenty minutes passed like a snail crawling lazily.

  The distance from the cafe to West Square was actually close, but they deliberately slowed their steps. Enjoying every second of shoe friction on the sidewalk, letting small talk fill the cold air between their shoulders occasionally touching.

  When they arrived, Ciel was greeted by a cacophony of life.

  West Square had turned into a giant organism pulsating with light and sound. Thousands of people spilled over there, faces illuminated by night market spotlights, flying lanterns, and toy light sticks.

  Seeing the crowd, something inside Ciel awoke. Not fear, but sudden hunger. Maybe post-exam relief effect, or just wanting to busy his mouth so as not to slip talking about conspiracy.

  Ciel turned into a hungry monster.

  He maneuvered nimbly from one food cart to another. In his left hand was already a large paper bag of caramel popcorn. Under his armpit tucked two bottles of cold soda. And now, he stood enthusiastic in front of a hotdog stall billowing roasted meat smoke.

  "One more, Sir! Give lots of cheese sauce and mustard! Don't be stingy!" Ciel shouted to the seller.

  A small pinch landed on his jacket sleeve.

  "Ciel! Goodness, not too much!" Elsie protested with feigned annoyance tone. Her eyes bulged cutely at the pile of food in Ciel’s hands. "I'll get fat, you know! Who's gonna finish all this if not me?"

  Ciel turned, face illuminated by the yellow hotdog stall light. He laughed freely. A laugh that, strangely, felt real this time. With Elsie, this crazy world felt a bit more sensible.

  "Hahahaha! Relax! This is called nutritional investment. Winter needs extra fat layer!" he joked innocently, accepting two jumbo hotdogs with sausages almost exploding out of the buns.

  Elsie just snorted amused, surrendering. Her hand accepted one warm hotdog offered by Ciel.

  "Come on, there," Elsie invited, pulling Ciel’s shirt sleeve away from the dense crowd.

  Her index finger pointed to a grassy mound on the north side of the square. A small artificial hill under the shade of a single oak tree. Perfect spot.

  They climbed the small hill slightly panting. Arriving at the top, Ciel had to admit, Elsie’s choice was brilliant. From this height, he could see the sea of human heads down there without needing to jostle. The sky above opened wide.

  "Best place," Elsie murmured satisfied. She sat on an iron park bench, pulling her coat tighter, then bit the end of her hotdog.

  Ciel sat next to her, sighing in relief. For a moment, he almost forgot the city's oddity.

  However, the warmth was disturbed.

  Not by night wind, but a shocked exclamation from the bench next to them.

  "My God! Honey, look at this!"

  The man’s voice was loud, shrill with disbelief. Ciel turned reflexively.

  On the next bench, a young couple sat stiffly. The man’s face illuminated by harsh blue light from his phone. His eyes bulged wide.

  "Crazy! Almost all cities in the Empire are holding simultaneous fireworks parades!" the man exclaimed.

  Ciel froze. All cities?

  The man shoved his phone screen into his partner’s face. "Look! Number one hashtag on Twitter: #FireworksParade!"

  The girl next to him snatched the phone. "Huh?! Seriously?!" she shrieked. "I thought this was just local end of harvest season festival in this capital, Crownbelt! Let me see!"

  Ciel’s eyes narrowed, observing their reaction. He didn't need to see the phone screen to know the content.

  "Gion City... Walle City... South Coast Region... Highlands..." the girl murmured with held breath. "Crazy, for real! Everything! Tonight! Same hour!"

  They were confused. Of course they were confused. No precedent for a continent-scale party like this without clear reason.

  "Wait... this..." The girl bit her lip, voice lowering doubtful. "Did Ironseat just win a war? Is today the King’s birthday?"

  That innocent question slammed Ciel’s ears.

  Ironseat won a war?

  Ciel turned slowly toward Elsie. The girl was also staring at the couple next to them with furrowed brow. Then Elsie turned to Ciel, eyes implying same confusion.

  "Weird huh, El?" Elsie whispered softly.

  Ciel forced a thin smile, though his stomach churned again. "Maybe... the King is just happy distributing tax money."

  But in his heart, Ciel knew the answer wasn't the King’s birthday.

  If the entire empire partied simultaneously without reason, it meant they were celebrating something that hadn't happened yet... or trying hard to forget something that was about to happen.