Despite having said it to himself countless times... Mine was at the Herbology Center accompanied by his “walking question mark," who seemed very happy that day – unlike his usual frown. Addai even showed off his dimples amidst the occasional laughs and smiles.

The sky was discouraging, the clouds were beginning to gather, and the cold and somewhat anxious wind blew their clothes. That day, Mine had kept his umbrella in the room of the Heavenly Spells department and left it there, forgotten. So, with his coat in hand, he was already preparing to make it his newest makeshift umbrella.

His lunch and walking companion were delighted with the fresh flowers in the Herbology Center gardens. Their sweet perfumes dispersed in the air along with the dew of splashes that had already begun to fall from the already grouped clouds.

Mine more than quickly made his improvised umbrella while Addai laughed at his desperation at not getting wet for anything.

"Not even Umbra fears the rain as you do," Addai laughed, holding his umbrella.

“It’s because this one here doesn’t want to be Ill anymore! Now move and gimme a space under your umbrella,” and Mine shoved Addai away to take a spot under the borrowed umbrella.

"But this umbrella is too small for two. Move aside and savor the rain a little bit," Addai nudged Mine, who nudged him back.

“Too small my ass! You want me to be drenched!” Mine protested, and Addai wheezed, lending him a space under the umbrella. "Thank you very much," he huffed, storing the (already) wet coat in his bag.

What were just a few splashes soon intensified into a full-blown storm. Addai had to carry Mine on his shoulders so that they didn't get more mud than they should or get any wetter than they already were.

“Hey! You two! Don’t get drenched!” Lydia waved and opened her office door for them to enter.

Addai placed Mine back on the floor and sighed with relief, placing his completely soaked umbrella against the wall - remarkably close to the door next to his coat (also wet). He no longer wore the same brown turtleneck blouse, as it became so ragged he decided to throw it away. Replacing the former “warrior shirt,” Addai now wore a simple black blouse and a black bracelet that Mine had never seen in his life or never noticed him wearing on one of his wrists.

“Since when do you wear those?” Mine asked, touching the bracelet.

"Ah, it's been a while," and Addai showed the item for Mine to see. "It's a family memento, just like my necklace.”

The bracelet was interesting. It was made of leather and had linen details and a well-made finish. One symbol was impossible to identify, but Mine knew it could be the coat of arms of Addai's family, which he was very curious to know.

“Oh,” Mine voiced, making an ‘o’ with his mouth. “A family-”

“Heeey~ Lydia is here too~” Lydia smiled, and the duo blushed. “Hehe~ now that I have your attention… follow me! I have your requests with me,” she grinned joyfully and guided them through the corridors of her office.

Lydia's office only seemed small from the outside because inside... it was huge!

The long corridors led to several rooms, each with its own function of caring for plant seedlings - special or not - like the simple daisies used in concentrated happiness potions. Other specimens were on display. The most dangerous ones were covered with bands imbued with neutralizing spells, and the doors that gave access to them had several warning signs.

Walking happily, Lydia greeted each specimen that looked at her, and (curiously) the specimens also greeted her back – which made Mine and Addai do the same.

The last room they arrived in seemed to be a spacious archive.

Among boxes and different papers, Lydia was looking for what she had promised while the duo watched her in absolute silence.

"You two seem to be pretty close, hm?" Lydia voiced, moving the shelves and boxes.

The question took them both by surprise, and what had previously been absolute silence – only being able to hear the old air conditioning working hard along with the splashes of rain outside – turned into agitated murmurs.

"W-we? Close?" Mine recovered his speech ability, while Addai observed and seemed to be carefully choosing his words.

“Yeah,” and, with a wave of her hands, a flower appeared inside the box. "Argh… those pests…" she grumbled, plucking the flower and turning it into a ribbon. "Ah, you two seem to be… a good duo,” her eyes laid on Mine’s fidgeting hands.

“LYDIA.” Mine hissed. “And you stay quiet?! Where’s your inconvenient words?!” he slapped Addai’s arm.

“If I say anything, it’ll get worse,” Addai said, then fancily bowed while Mine watched him in disbelief.

“Oho!” a naughty grin crossed her face. "I heard some stuff that happened between you two… hm… the plants always gossip things for me…" she nudged Addai’s ribs.

“LYDIA," Mine hissed again.

Before Lydia could continue pestering them, a box trembled, and she quickly slapped it. Then, two flowerpots appeared inside it.

"Those gnomes love messing my deliveries…" she rubbed her nose bridge. "Ah! Here are your requests!" she gave them the flowerpots.

Mine's eyes began to slowly widen. Once bitter, sweet, and colorful nuances now painted his gaze like vibrant watercolors sliding on a damp grey sheet. At first, it all seems weird at the sudden addition. Soon, all colors turn harmonic and pleasant, forming a beautiful abstract painting.

A nameless masterpiece.

Beautiful. Addai named the masterpiece in his mind.

Mine reached for the small potted plant, dark in color, just like the petals of its flower. With delicacy, he felt the texture - sometimes suede, sometimes smooth and furry. The stem was thick and rude, contrasting with dark petals and long golden stamens.

A smile sketched on his face as he opened his mouth to speak. "It's... a Satan's Will!" Mine grinned happily. “How did you get one of these, Lydia?”

"I had a friend's help," she nudged Addai's rib again, and he grumbled. “Right, Addai?”

Mine followed him with his eyes and beamed before Addai could say anything.

“… yes. I helped Lydia with it,” Addai confessed, lowering his eyes to not look at Mine.

Lydia nudged his ribs again and once more until Addai looked at Mine. When his eyes laid on Mine, oh...

... he perfectly witnessed that nameless-now-named painting from a few seconds earlier.

Mine's cheeks were slightly dusted with peach colors... his eyes followed his mouth's sketching, smiling as well… his hands held the flowerpot with such happiness and treasure… and his hair had rosé tips and strands, forming a harmonic color mix.

Addai didn't notice earlier, but Mine's smile was unique. His front teeth were slightly bigger than the rest, resembling a bunny's smile. Also, his nose always frowned when he smiled too much.

The painting's name was perfect.

Lydia touched Addai’s back and slowly made him take only two steps forward.

The botanist smiled and pinched her friend's cheek. "I see you liked it," Lydia chuckled.

"Yes!" Mine beamed, and his eyes closed as he smiled widely. "Thank you, both of you!" he smiled.

Hug him.

Addai's heart thumped once, twice, three times, begging him to do what the brain told him to.

Hug him.

Again, his brain told him to do that, but his arms were frozen like the rest of his body.

Lydia slowly pressed Addai's back with the palm of her hand, making him take two more steps forward. Then, two more... two more... until Mine's smile was the only thing he saw.

And, by the Lord's blessing, Mine didn't move away.

"What?" Mine asked, his smile slightly fading.

Addai's trance faded. "N-Nothing. I-I'm just seeing the flower closer," and he came up with something fast.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" he grinned again.

Lydia chuckled and took two steps back, then two more... then two more. Until she wasn't visible for both - ninja Lydia move~

"Y-Yes," Addai nodded, not paying attention to the flower and feeling his vision blur and twist.

Mine looked for Lydia in the background, but she wasn't there. Maybe she went to look for more samples or something very "Lydia-like?" Like... soft jelly buds or even a grown ass mandragora. It didn't matter. She would be back soon.

Although he was happy to have that sample in his hands, it didn't feel right...

Don't get too attached.

Yeah, the same advice he gave to the sleeping Addai the other day.

It was harsh and cruel, but the right thing to do. Maybe killing some butterflies and sweet flowers wasn't too bad. Sometimes, you need to be the villain before being a hero.

"You didn't need to look for it..." and Mine's smile dropped on the cold floor.

"But I wanted to," Addai said, as slimple as that. "Didn't you like it?"

"No!" he quickly said. "I liked very much. It's just... it's nothing," Mine lied.

Addai caressed Mine's cheek. Slowly feeling its texture and softness, lifting his chin. Somehow, Addai's eyes were... different?

"Hm..." Addai hummed, and released Mine's cheek.

The flowers' petals swayed even though there was no wind.

Don't get attached.

Mine placed the flowerpot on the nearest table. "Thank you for the flower, and sorry for the trouble," he bowed respectfully.

"I don't get why you always do it," Addai crossed arms. "To push me, avoid me, but I won't be begging for your attention anymore."

...

What?

Did Mine miss a few chapters? That didn’t make any sense.

Wait, where was Lydia? Why was she so silent? She would at least tell both to shut up and make up.

"...? Why do you say that?" Mine asked, confused. "You're acting weird. I said nothing that could cause such commotion."

Addai's face twitched.

Mine got alert.

"Ah..." Addai sighed... before starting to laugh.

His face contorted, and he couldn't stop laughing. It was like the Joker's laugh, somehow. Mine took three steps back and then three more.

There was something wrong with whatever it was with Addai.

"What is so funny?" Mine inquired

Addai then chuckled, "You wouldn't get it," resting his hand on his face.

Mine's nerves tensed.

Danger crept on his skin.

"Who are you?" Mine asked.

That "Addai" then looked at him, and his face wasn't actually Addai's. The room suddenly turned cold and dim.

The sound of metal being dragged across the floor began to make the hairs on the back of Mine's neck stand up, and his Chronos scriptures instantly lit up. From the back of his hand to his face, all glowing in the dim room.

"What's that behind you?" Mine urged.

"I found him. Take notes," that person in front of him said through a spy device on their ear. "So... I came to attest if you're a legit Chronos."

A damn shiny sword appeared behind that person.

The petals of Satan's Will emitted an alluring scent. The fragrance was a unique combination of sandalwood and jasmine but with a more distinct musky undertone. The petals, velvety to the touch, seemed to emanate the aroma.

Pleasant, yet intoxicating scent...

... once there was something else mixed in the fragrances.

"Do you need my ID, you psycho?!" Mine fretted, avoiding a sword thrust. "Hey, what do you want to do? Play Fruit Ninja? This sword of yours looks damn sharp," he laughed nervously.

"I'm not very good with acting. This boyfriend of yours is not my style," the person made 'Addai's skin' melt and soon revealed a whole new person under that mess of flesh. "I thought that a good teenager drama would fit, but I was deeply wrong."

"I knew it wasn't Addai! He's sweet not-" Mine chugged down those cringe words and gagged. Wait. "YO, HE'S NOT MY-"

SLASH.