She wished she had even a fraction of that confidence. When people looked at her, she always felt the need to apologize for taking up space. She spent her life trying to make herself smaller, less noticeable, to avoid becoming a target. But Satori seemed to invite the attention, to revel in it—or perhaps he simply didn't consider it worth acknowledging.

"Here we are," Satori said, gesturing to a small, elegant café tucked between a bookstore and a uniform shop. The sign read "Doré Griffon" in flowing golden script, the letters seeming to shimmer in the morning light. Through the windows, Emi could see polished cherry wood tables and plush velvet chairs in deep shades of burgundy and forest green. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting prismatic reflections across the gleaming wood floors.

It looked expensive. Prohibitively expensive. The kind of place Emi would normally walk past with longing glances, mentally calculating how many weeks of allowance it would take to afford even a simple coffee there.

"Are you sure? It seems fancy," she whispered as he pulled open the door, a small bell tinkling melodiously above them to announce their arrival. "I mean, I don't even know if I have enough—"

"Only the best for my healer," Satori replied with a wink that made her heart flutter traitorously in her chest. "And don't worry about the cost. This is my treat."

The interior was even more charming than it had appeared from outside. The café smelled of fresh pastry and rich coffee, with undertones of vanilla and cinnamon that made Emi's mouth water instantly. Soft classical music played in the background—a piano sonata that floated through the air like gossamer. A handful of students and faculty members sat at tables, engaged in quiet conversation, their voices creating a gentle murmur that blended with the music.

Satori guided her to a secluded table by the window, half-hidden behind a lush potted fern that offered them a sense of privacy while still allowing a view of the plaza outside. He pulled out her chair with unexpected gentlemanly grace, waiting for her to sit before taking his own seat opposite her. A server appeared almost instantly, dressed in a crisp black uniform with gold accents that matched the café's decor.

"Two coffees," Satori began, his tone casual yet authoritative, as if he ordered here every day.

"Actually," Emi interjected, twisting the hem of her skirt nervously beneath the table, "could I have hot chocolate instead? With whipped cream, if that's okay?"

"Of course. One coffee, one hot chocolate, and—" Satori scanned the display case across the room, his eyes lingering on the array of pastries arranged like jewels behind glass "—a strawberry cream puff for the lady. The one with the fresh berries on top."

The server nodded respectfully and withdrew, leaving them alone in their peaceful corner. Emi blinked at Satori in surprise, her head tilting slightly as she studied him.

"How did you know strawberry is my favorite?"

Satori leaned back in his chair, the morning light filtering through the window behind him, casting half his face in gold and the other half in mysterious shadow. The contrast made him look almost otherworldly, like a character from one of the fantasy novels Emi loved to read. "You mentioned it once. During our first study session, when you brought those strawberry candies. You said they reminded you of your childhood."

"You remembered that?" Warmth spread through Emi's chest that had nothing to do with embarrassment—a pleasant, glowing feeling that expanded with each heartbeat. Such a small detail, mentioned so long ago, and he'd tucked it away in his memory, saving it for just the right moment. She couldn't remember the last time anyone had paid such close attention to her casual words.

"Your Aspect runs on caloric energy, doesn't it?" he continued, leaning forward slightly, his elbows resting on the table. His eyes were focused entirely on her, making her feel both exposed and treasured at the same time. "You need the sugar after healing me. Your body literally burns through glucose when you use your power. That's why healers often crash afterward."

Their order arrived quickly—a delicate porcelain cup of coffee for Satori, black and steaming; a steaming mug of hot chocolate topped with a mountain of whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon for Emi; and an enormous, glistening strawberry cream puff that made her mouth water just looking at it. The pastry was a work of art—golden choux pastry filled with clouds of vanilla cream and fresh strawberries, topped with a glaze that caught the light like polished rubies.

"Thank you," she said, staring at the pastry with undisguised delight, her eyes wide with childlike wonder. "This looks amazing. But you really didn't have to—"

"I wanted to," Satori cut her off gently, his voice firm but kind. "Consider it my thanks for being my personal healer today. Without you, I'd probably still be in that bed with Tessany using me as her newest test subject."

A tiny shudder ran through Emi at the mention of the unsettling nurse. "She's terrifying. The way she looked at you was like... like she was mentally dissecting you."

"She probably was," Satori chuckled, the sound warm and rich.

Emi picked up her fork and sliced into the cream puff, the silver tines gliding through the delicate pastry with satisfying ease, releasing a cloud of sweet-smelling steam. She took a bite and closed her eyes in bliss as the perfect balance of tart strawberry and sweet vanilla cream filled her mouth, the textures contrasting beautifully—crisp pastry, silky cream, juicy berries.

"So good," she mumbled around her mouthful, forgetting to be self-conscious for a moment as pure pleasure overtook her. She took another bite immediately, unable to resist.

When she opened her eyes, she found Satori watching her with undisguised amusement, his coffee untouched before him. There was something different about his expression—softer, more genuine than the calculated charm he normally projected. The corners of his eyes crinkled slightly, and something warm and appreciative lingered in his gaze as it followed her movements.

"Your family owns a ramen shop, so you have to be a good cook too right?" Satori propped his chin on his hand, looking genuinely interested.

"I try," Emi laughed, the sound light and musical in the quiet café.

"But I'm terrible! Ask Natalia—I nearly burned down her kitchen trying to make tamagoyaki once. The fire alarm went off, and her parents thought we were being attacked by Gate monsters."

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