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Chapter 97

The night sky above Fontaine glittered with stars, serene and quiet, as if the heavens themselves held their breath in anticipation of what was to come. The city lights reflected off the water's surface, dancing like fireflies, casting the capital in a dreamlike glow.

Yoshika stood at the edge of a balcony in the Palais Mermonia, the cool breeze brushing against her pink hair. From up here, the chaos of war preparations felt distant. Almost unreal.

Behind her, quiet footsteps echoed-delicate, measured, familiar.

"You're still awake." Furina's voice was soft. Not accusing, not dramatic. Just... present.

Yoshika didn't turn to look. "Couldn't sleep."

Furina joined her at the railing, arms folded across the marble edge. "Same."

They stood like that for a moment, side by side, watching the stars shimmer over Fontaine's grand rivers.

"...Do you remember the first time we met?" Furina asked suddenly.

Yoshika raised an eyebrow. "You mean when you called me a suspicious outsider with 'an air too dramatic even for Fontaine'?"

Furina groaned. "You do remember..."

Yoshika laughed, a low, teasing sound. "It was hard to forget. You looked ready to sentence me before I even said a word."

"Well, you were suspicious! I mean, showing up like that, dancing on a rooftop like the drama queen you are."

"You loved it."

Furina paused, then smiled faintly. "...Maybe I did."

Another silence fell-comfortable, but heavy with something unspoken.

"I never really trusted anyone before," Furina said quietly. "Not really. Being a god... or pretending to be one... It changes how people look at you. But you? You always looked me in the eyes. Like I was just me."

Yoshika didn't speak. She didn't need to. Her gaze remained on the stars, but her presence, unwavering and calm, said everything.

Furina turned her head, watching her.

"You're warm," she said out of nowhere.

Yoshika blinked, startled. "...What?"

"I mean-not physically! Well, maybe you are, but that's not what I meant! I meant-" Furina stumbled over her words, face flushed. "You're like... warmth. When you're around, I don't feel as cold. Not just from the weather, but... you know... everything."

Yoshika turned slowly, meeting Furina's eyes.

And in that moment, everything was quiet. Just the two of them.

Furina looked away quickly, eyes wide. "W-What?! Why are you looking at me like that?!"

"I was just wondering when you'd finally say something honest," Yoshika said with a small, amused smile.

"I am always honest!"

Yoshika raised an eyebrow.

"...Okay, sometimes honest."

The two laughed, softly, in a way that felt more precious than any declaration.

Still, neither of them said it. Not yet.

Not "I like you."

They didn't have to.

Not yet.

For now, the stars above were enough. The wind between them. The silence filled with meaning.

And two girls on a balcony, standing just close enough to feel each other's warmth.

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𝖠𝖭 𝖭𝖮𝖳𝖤: 𝖳𝖧𝖨𝖲 𝖡𝖮𝖮𝖪 𝖠𝖫𝖲𝖯 𝖱𝖤𝖠𝖢𝖧𝖤𝖣 1.2𝖪??? 𝖧𝖤𝖫𝖫𝖮?? 𝖮𝖬𝖦 𝖳𝖸𝖲𝖬 𝖳𝖮 𝖤𝖵𝖤𝖱𝖮𝖭𝖤‼️‼️🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏💗💗💗💗