Shade was already wearing the scarf. Somewhat embarrassed, he said:
"I'd originally planned to give you your gift tomorrow. I collected Sun Fire for more than half a month. I thought you'd like it."
"Mm, that's a nice gift."
Iluna nodded, and then the two fell into an odd silence. Shade found the atmosphere a little awkward, since he had no idea what to say next, while getting up and leaving immediately would not have been very polite either.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that the gas lamp was very bright. The laughter in his heart was probably "her" mocking Shade for not understanding the mood.
No, I merely wanted to remind you, dear Outlander, that her own hair had been woven into the scarf and gloves.
In the end, Iluna spoke first:
"Can I ask for another Year-End Festival gift?"
"Of course."
Shade nodded. Iluna looked as though she had gathered her courage and was about to fight the Pantanal Evil again:
"I... I..."
Her hands resting on her lap were nearly twisted together. After a long while, she stammered:
"Can you kiss me?"
"Of course. Though that can't really count as a gift."
Blushing, Iluna summoned all her courage:
"Not in a friendly way. I mean... the way you kiss Luvia, and that dr—drifting Princess."
Shade looked at her, making the seventeen-year-old girl blush even more deeply. Yet she still held her long, smooth neck straight:
"I think that, considering our relationship, th-that... there's n-no problem with it."
"Have you been reading those unhealthy books again?"
Shade hesitated slightly. For an instant, Iluna nearly felt herself turn into an ant and hide in the cracks between the floor tiles. But she still gathered her courage and, clumsily following the method described in the books,