A Date

"Boss, you should've seen it this morning. Kevin actually scolded Cosmo until he cried! And then, after Cosmo cried, Kevin got even fiercer. Wow, I couldn't bear to watch that." During lunch, Pardo chattered away to Yoshikage Kira about what she had seen during training that morning.

"And then?"

"Then I went to find Aili. Kevin gets way too serious when he trains people. I wouldn't dare go up and stop him."

"Kevin's constitution is indeed much stronger than that of ordinary soldiers. It's perfectly normal for Cosmo not to be able to handle Kevin's training methods." Yoshikage Kira nodded in agreement.

"And also..."

Pardo kept talking while Yoshikage Kira chimed in now and then.

Sunlight streamed into the living room, spilling over Canned Food as he slept soundly on the sofa.

All Yoshikage Kira could hear was the girl's voice and the cicadas chirping in the distance.

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate. Shakespeare's verse surfaced in his mind, and Yoshikage Kira's lips curled faintly.

"Would you like to go out this afternoon?"

"Huh? Sure, sure! Come to think of it, it's been a long time since I went out with you, Boss." The girl smiled and answered happily.

"Get ready, then. We'll leave soon."

"Yay! We're going out! Hehe."

"Boss, how do I look in this outfit?"

A cartoon cat head was printed on her white short-sleeved shirt. Light blue jeans hugged the girl's thighs, while a thigh strap around her pale leg accentuated its soft fullness. Ordinary clothes looked unusually adorable on her.

"Mm, it suits your style."

"Hehe, your outfit fits you really well too, Boss. I remember this brand is called... called..."

"Gianfranco Ferré."

"Right, right, that one. You really like this brand, Boss. I remember you wore it before too."

"Enough. Let's go."

"Yeah! Let's go!" Pardo raised her right hand and said excitedly.

On the street, Pardo looked at the rows of shops, gazing around in wonder.

"Wow! There are so many things Twilight Town doesn't have." Pardo exclaimed in surprise.

"Oh, it's a milk tea shop."

"Want some?"

"Can I?"

"Of course." Yoshikage Kira led Pardo over and ordered her a pearl milk tea, while he ordered a lemonade.

"Mmm~" Pardo took a huge sip, her face full of satisfaction.

"Come to think of it, the first time we met was at a milk tea shop, wasn't it?"

"More precisely, it was in front of that school."

"Ah, close enough. I was scared to death back then. I thought that bad guy had found me."

"Good thing I ran into you, Boss. Hehe." Pardo smiled foolishly.

"I'm very happy I met you too." Seeing the girl's smile, Yoshikage Kira found himself affected by it as well and smiled.

"Ugh..." Pardo lowered her head and drank her milk tea, afraid Yoshikage Kira would see her blushing face.

Th-this... does this count as a confession?

"Let's go see a movie, Pardo." Yoshikage Kira stood up. When the girl did not react, he called her again.

"Pardo?"

"Wah! Here!" Pardo sprang to her feet and answered in a fluster.

"Are you alright? Why is your face so red?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine. It's just too hot. Then let's go watch a movie, Boss."

"Mm, let's go."

Inside the cinema, The Remains of the Day was playing. It was Yoshikage Kira's favorite movie.

Yoshikage Kira watched the movie attentively, but Pardo's mind was nowhere near the screen.

Boss actually brought me to see a romance movie. Could it be that he really...

She secretly glanced at Yoshikage Kira, then looked at the hand he had placed on the armrest.

It's just holding hands. It should be fine, right? Thinking that, Pardo placed her hand over Yoshikage Kira's.

Feeling the warmth on his hand, Yoshikage Kira glanced at Pardo and quietly said, "Focus on the movie."

"Okay..." Pardo answered, but she had no intention of pulling her hand away. Seeing this, Yoshikage Kira said nothing. Pardo did not make any more moves either and began watching the movie properly.

Pigeons flew into the distance as the camera pulled back, revealing the full view of Darlington Hall.

With that, the movie ended. Until the very end, the male lead Stevens never confessed his love to the female lead and could only watch her become another man's wife.

"Boss, why didn't the male lead tell the female lead how he felt? They clearly loved each other."

"He was restraining himself."

"Restraining himself?"

"Yes. He was so self-disciplined that he would rather sacrifice his feelings to preserve a gentleman's dignity and follow the rules set by society."

"Ugh, I don't get it." Pardo scratched her head, still unable to understand.

"It's only a movie. There's no need to dwell on it." Yoshikage Kira shook his head.

Afterward, Yoshikage Kira spotted a custom suit shop. Thinking that not many of his old suits were still wearable, he went inside, with Pardo following close behind.

"Good afternoon, sir. How may I help you?" the clerk asked politely.

"Do you have Gianfranco Ferré suits?"

"Yes, sir. Please come this way. I'll take your measurements."

"Then I'll wait outside, Boss." Perhaps unused to being in a luxury store, Pardo suggested it.

Yoshikage Kira nodded to show that he understood.

"Thank you for your patronage. We look forward to seeing you again."

Carrying the bag, Yoshikage Kira walked out of the suit shop, only to find Pardo nowhere in sight.

"Hey, do you know how expensive this suit is?"

"What are you talking about? Didn't you run into me?"

"Little miss, you've put me in a difficult position. How about you..."

"What's going on?" Hearing the voices, Yoshikage Kira rushed over and cut the man off.

"Boss, it was too hot outside, so I wanted to buy an ice cream. He suddenly ran into me, then demanded that I pay him." When Pardo saw Yoshikage Kira, she immediately ran to his side and complained to him aggrievedly.

What kind of cliché plot is this? How did I run into it? Even Yoshikage Kira could not help complaining inwardly.

The extra continued, "You're her boyfriend? Perfect. Look at my suit. How are you going to compensate me?"

"This kind of cheap suit only needs washing." Yoshikage Kira answered calmly.

"Huh? Cheap? Do you even know my suit—"

"The suit shop is right across the street. Want to ask them how much your suit is worth?" Yoshikage Kira narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at the man.

"I..." The extra met Yoshikage Kira's gaze and felt as though he could barely breathe, as if another word would get him killed.

Yoshikage Kira did not waste any words. He handed the man one hundred and left. Knowing he was in the wrong—and even more intimidated by Yoshikage Kira's gaze—the extra said nothing and departed.

"Hehe." On the way back, Pardo giggled foolishly.

"You nearly got scammed, and you're still laughing?"

"Hehe, it's nothing, it's nothing." Pardo waved her hand with a smile.

That man said Boss was my boyfriend. Do we really look that much like a couple? Thinking that, Pardo giggled again.

"I like you the most, Boss!" Pardo suddenly said to Yoshikage Kira.

"Mm, I know." Yoshikage Kira replied, his voice as calm as ever.

Pardo did not lose heart. She stepped forward, grabbed Yoshikage Kira's hand, and said with a smile, "Boss, I want fried chicken nuggets for dinner!"

"Mm, I know."

As he spoke, Yoshikage Kira gently squeezed the girl's small hand.

The setting sun shone on the two of them, stretching their shadows long, long behind them.

Meanwhile, Vill-V, unaware that her home had been robbed, was still developing the Third Divine Key.

Today's winner: Pardo

Killer Queen

"Holy shit, why did my money explode?!"