"I'm sorry..." Addai shyly said in a croaky and tired voice.

“Huh? For what?” Mine asked, giving his friend a glass of water.

Addai’s cheeks started blushing, and he fiddled with the glass of water before sipping it. He munched some words, syllables, and phrases, only to gather enough letters to form something that could translate his emotions.

“For… that embarrassing behavior,” Addai muttered.

Mine sat beside him on the stool next to the counter. He placed his glass of water in front of him, then looked at Addai. He lifted his chin with his finger, locking his rosé eyes with Addai’s blue and golden gems.

“It’s completely fine to cry,” Mine chuckled. “My sister once told me that crying is normal. So, if you feel it coming, just go for it. No shame, no shame,” he ruffled Addai’s black hair, messing it.

Addai was still looking down, but a faint smile was sketched on his face as he nodded. The gloomy clouds were persistent, so Mine had to be even more. That’s when an idea sprouted in his mind: Why didn’t he lift his friend’s spirits?

—But how?

Addai stood up, took both empty glasses, and cleaned them in the sink. Still, his eyes weren’t as glimmering as earlier. Mine followed his steps with his eyes until they landed on two birds by the window. The tiny, peeping birds jumped from one spot to another, always chirping. When Addai came closer by chance, they flew away, dispersing a few feathers and enchanting the sky with their dance in the wind and air.

A dance! It will be fun! Mine decided.

And he still had time before evening rehearsals at the Pub, so why not? He had no better things to do.

Mine jumped from the stool and clung onto Addai’s sleeves while his hair faintly glowed yellow. “Ah! Addai! Do you want to dance with me a little—ah, don’t be a tomato!” He frowned.

“I can’t just control when I blush!” Addai grumbled.

“Then dance with me, but now properly,” Mine grinned shamelessly.

Addai averted his eyes, looking away as his cheeks burned. “I don’t know...”

“Pretty please?” Mine asked, shamelessly smiling.

“... Seriously?” Addai slightly frowned.

“Very seriously,” Mine nodded.

Addai sighed, looked at Mine, then looked away. He took exactly three seconds before taking Mine’s hand. Mine looked at him expectantly, not minding how his feet felt lighter and the golden patterns filled his skin.

“Then... follow me,” Addai cleared his throat.

“Taking me to dance in private, Mr. Prince?” Mine couldn’t help but tease, his hair glowing even stronger as he chuckled.

Addai blushed furiously and huffed, dragging a cheerful Mine behind him.

As they walked, Mine began to ponder that Addai's humble residence was, in fact, a mansion due to how much space there was in that backyard. Would it be Mine, the poor part of the duo? Thinking about that, Mine fitted the shipp poor X rich/ CEO x poor once he filled all stereotypes... and Addai also filled a couple of-

Mine gave his head a little shake, scattering the last fragments of his wandering thoughts. Enough of fantasies. The vivid colors of his imagination began to fade, replaced by the quiet hum of reality—and their footsteps on the grass. He had been so lost in the audacity of his own daydreams that the world had slipped past unnoticed—until his bare feet stood on dirt. When he finally paid attention to their surroundings, he found themselves surrounded by an enchanting myriad of fall colors: flowers bursting in untamed clusters and trees stretching high, their leaves whispering among them and the wind.

He found it a shame because the garden was fabulous, and he wasted the view and the VIP guide. Speaking of his guide... Addai seemed... nervous?

“Here,” Addai voiced, slowing down his steps.

“Wow…” Mine said in awe.

They were under a large, leafy maple tree. Its leaves were falling to the ground elegantly as if they danced in the air that permeated their dry surface. On the ground, several reddish leaves from the tree covered the previously green grass, and it was so beautiful that way.

Nearby was a large rock garden, and the sand on the ground was well-swept, with diverse and harmonious designs. On the other side, a tea table next to another pond, considerably bigger than the koi pond near the sanctuary.

Addai... my friend, how do you afford all these things? Mine feebly thought.

“So, which music will it be?” Addai asked, a bit shy.

"Ah," Mine interrupted his pondering about his feeble friend's expenses and grinned. "I'll set it randomly, so we can have real fun!" He quickly made a mana ball and inserted the cellphone in it, transforming the whole set into a portable (and useful) soundbox.

“Oh, that’s smart,” Addai pondered, poking the ball.

“Now, come here,” Mine chuckled, taking Addai's hands and making him twirl like a ballerina.

The gremlin inside Mine started talking to him, and oh... Mine agreed he could tease his friend a little bit. It wouldn't trigger the beast inside him, right? Just a little bit of teasing...

Mine leaned forward, very close to Addai's, and said, "No kissy kiss this time, hm?" he teased.

“-----!” Addai found no words, so all he could do was turn redder and redder.

And their music started!

The random selection hit right into something spicy, and Mine surely knew how to guide his lost friend, whose eyes widened in horror because he had no idea how to take the lead. Mine chuckled and—first things first—placed Addai's hands where they should be. Then, he straightened his friend's posture and patted his hips.

“Release, you’ll use them,” Mine grinned.

“…? Are they locked?” Addai was so confused that the song was no longer reaching his ears.

“Yes! This way, you won't hurt yourself and…” Mine made the first step, the step in, and he was very close to Addai, “… don’t miss my guidance.”

Addai nodded, of course.

Ears adjusting to the song, Addai noticed why Mine asked him to release his hips. There were Latin spices, and the beat was very, very catchy.

Mine was a natural at that. His whole body seemed to be adjusted to the song very quickly, and damn… Addai had to focus on the song entirely to not be left behind!

Bold and untamed, their steps swirled over the carpet of fallen leaves, each movement rippling in rhythm with the song’s heartbeat. The dance wasn’t rehearsed—it was born in the moment, carried by laughter, breath, and instinct. Their bodies loosened with every turn, muscles melting into the melody. Mine led with the easy confidence of someone who trusted the music, and Addai followed without question, drawn into the current they created together.

Mine twirled his fingers in the air, and he materialized a mana chair to place Addai on it as the beat progressed, and poor man, once loosened up, turned as tense as a stick. Of course, that little Chronos chuckled leisurely, enchanting the person on the chair, and... oh… he loved doing that.

For a moment, he felt Star kicking his butt, trying to take the stage’s lead, but Mine wanted to be “Addai safe.” So, when the music was about to end, Mine gently kicked the chair and took Addai’s hand before he fell, yanking him closer.

Their breathing was fast. Those new steps were hasty and demanded a lot from their bodies (and hearts). Mine chuckled at Addai's dazed eyes, and he found a new risky hobby: teasing.

Shoving intrusive thoughts away, Mine widely grinned, and, when Addai started approaching his face, he poked his friend’s nose.

“No kissy kiss, remember?” Mine chuckled. “What? Aren’t we friends? Friends don’t kiss,” he carelessly said, wandering away from Addai.

Regretting every word he had said, Mine started feeling his body itch from embarrassment. Maybe he was a little too much, and Addai's silence was mortifying!!!

"… you're right," Addai broke the silence, and something in his voice conveyed that he turned the 'forbidden switch' (Mine himself named it). "But…" he took Mine's hand, yanking him closer.

Oh~ the subject they were both avoiding~ showing up that carelessly~ as chaotic as they always were! Let the chaos begin!

"I told you that I'm stubborn," Addai looked at Mine right into his soul, and Mine started screaming inside as his friend approached. "Don't tease me too much," he said, very close to Mine's mouth.

“Noted,” Mine quickly replied, his cheeks all flushed and heart running wild. But the grip wasn't loosened, and Mine started feeling his legs trembling, eager to run anyway!

“You don’t need to make this face,” Addai chuckled leisurely, releasing the grip, and Mine almost fell on the leaves.

“You… you sly fox!” Mine fumed, regaining his posture.

“Cat, fox, dog…” Addai’s grin turned slow and daring. “I can be whatever you want me to be.”

A counterattack?! Mine needed to be bolder, and he knew the perfect song and performance.

He couldn’t lose this teasing contest!

“You act so bold, but…” Mine huffed, fixing his posture. “Can you endure this choreography?” he grabbed Addai’s hands and made him sit on the same mana chair.

“Oh… will you make a private show for me?” Addai teased, forgetting all his shyness – of course, he had to win the teasing contest.

Mine huffed and snapped his fingers once again, but nothing happened.

“Just wait and watch,” Mine huffed again and dramatically turned his back.

The music was sorted, and Mine knew it by heart. Of course, he knew it. It was his solo performance song!

When he snapped his fingers, the world around them suddenly changed. A wooden stage rose from the thin mist, red velvet curtains swayed, and Addai sat alone in the front row – the sole witness.

Mine faintly chuckled and arched his back. His body’s glowing scriptures gradually became light, drawing his silhouette. They glowed through the clothing fabrics, so his whole body was visible, even though he was wearing something.

The look on Addai's face was priceless, and Mine couldn't help but chuckle with a bit of spice in his sly smile. He approached his friend’s face and cupped his cheeks, still following the lyrics and rhythm, and he made his illusions boost the teasing contest.

As the music played, Mine followed the rhythm of the honeyed lyrics, and he made sure to cast illusions on the stage, only to make him even more enchanted in that VIP performance. Fog, lights, perfumes, and co-dancers made of mana boosted the experience.

His hips were as loose as his arms and shoulders, which followed every word the female singer honeyed. He was made of sugar, that was sure, but oh… Salty, Spicy, and hectic, he wasn't tired of adding more matching ingredients, only to sweeten the person sitting on the mana chair's experience.

He approached, then backed away with a silly grin every time Addai smiled and tried to touch him. Oh, he loved the smile on his friend's face and was glad to see him all shiny again.

Unfortunately, the song had finished, and Mine, panting, felt the sweat dripping from his cheeks and chin when his friend's voice filled his ears.

"You were amazing!" Addai cheered, his eyes filled with such fondness that made Mine's heart flutter sincerely.

Addai threw a red rose at him. It spun once in the air before landing softly in Mine’s hand — velvet petals still trembling from the throw. For a second, the whole stage fell silent – only Mine’s heartbeat beating in his ears. The cheers blurred into a hum; the lights softened to gold.

Since when was he hiding that beauty? And where?

"A stunning rose to the stunning performer," Addai said, bowing with that wide, unguarded smile that reached his eyes. His dimples, always hidden, were carelessly showing as well as his fangsy smile.

Mine dearly took the flower, feeling its velvety and fragile texture of its petals. He smiled – sweat still glimmering on his cheeks and forehead – and in that single heartbeat, he looked at the one who threw him the gift. His hair, glowing under the lights and shadows, couldn’t express how much his heart was beaming.

Still, more roses were thrown at him, but they weren’t from Addai. The black roses fell on the stage, but they didn’t glow as much as the one he was holding so dearly against his chest.

That one red rose outshone the sea of black roses scattered across the stage. Addai’s voice lingered longer than the applause, sweeter than the shouts calling for Star. His gaze was tender while the crowds’ were hungry. He saw through him, not only his flesh and skin.

And as the curtains closed, Mine bowed to the roaring crowd — but his heart bowed only to the one who’d given him the rose.

“This was Star's performance!! Incredible, isn't it?! Now, we'll move to the next solo performance. Hold tight!" the ceremonial crew announced to the roaring crowd.

Mine walked past backstage with the invisible red rose in his hands and with Addai's smile in his mind. It was enough for him.

And, with that, it was Star’s last show.