The two walked out of the Golden Theater, an awkward silence descending between the two. It wasn't like them to be so quiet, the nature of the two was brash and loud, and the silence felt out of place.

Seele's gaze would drift over Caelus for a moment, and Caelus would do the same, neither of them made a sound, simply standing in front of the steps that led to the theater in silence.

Seele put her pride aside and spoke up first, her voice strangely filled with an unfamiliar nervousness.

"Where do you want to go next?"

She'd ask, in which Caelus would fidget around for a moment, fumbling over his own words as he spat out a response.

"W- Why don't we just look around for now? I didn't get the opportunity to explore much during my time here before, maybe you could show me a few places?"

He'd say, he sounded unconfident and looked like he'd explode at any moment.

Seele would sigh, chuckling at his demeanor before smiling and beginning to walk back towards the Central Plaza.

"Sure."

Was all she said as she would walk just a little closer to him this time, their hands occasionally brushing up against each other, both would blush, but neither would comment on it.

The two chatted for a while as they simply walked around, catching up with one another, Seele talking about her newfound interests and duties, while Caelus spoke of the trailblaze expeditions he'd embarked on ever since he left Belobog.

"-Yeah! This big tree sprouted, and we had to fight this deer."

Caelus would ramble about his adventures on the Xianzhou, though he made it sound much less complicated than it truly was.

Seele would nod, listening intently to him, but her mind drifted elsewhere as she found herself distracted, she found herself immersed in his eyes as he spoke, such emotion surging through them as he spoke.

She smiled, her lips curving upwards as she simply soaked in his presence. She loved listening to him talk, he could blab on and on and she wouldn't mind, but she noticed his rambling slow to a halt as he simply stared back at her.

Though she had been caught, she didn't even bother to stop, her eyes still glued to his own.

"You okay?"

Caelus would ask, a nervous smile forming on his face as he was unsure exactly why Seele was looking at him so intently.

Seele would snap out of it, her eyes widening as she quickly looked in the opposite direction, her face a gleaming red.

"Ah, sorry. I got distracted."

She'd say, not helping her case much.

Caelus would just chuckle, seemingly unbothered by it.

"Don't worry about it, I got distracted towards the end too."

He'd admit, and silence would drape over the two once more, but the silence was filled with a longing neither of them could quite identify yet, Caelus felt a strange joy surge through him when Seele admitted she got distracted, which was something unlike him. He'd been asked about relationships before, but he had always chosen to deny such affection.

When his gaze slowly drifted back towards Seele, who was still looking away from him, but she wouldn't move away from him, in fact, she seemed to have gotten closer.

Caelus had the sudden realization, that he had always disliked being physically close to others, but he didn't mind being so close to Seele like this, in public, walking beside one another. Caelus had always noticed her before, he admired her for her combat skills and goals, and he even noticed this before they went to the Golden Theater, but now he realized.

He had harbored such emotions for her.

Caelus didn't sputter anything out, but he felt more confident now that he'd realized his emotions.

He'd put a hand on her shoulder, and she'd stop walking.

"Don't be so timid, it's fine."

He'd say, and Seele slowly turned to look at him, her face still burning red, but she would just nod.

He'd chuckle, before retracting his hand and continuing to walk, Seele following beside him.

As the two walked, Caelus would notice a splurge of colors in the corner of his vision, and he turned his head and saw the Eversummer Florist. He'd been there once, but he hadn't taken the time to look at what they had.

"Seele, do you mind if we go there?"

He'd say, pointing at the flower store in the distance, the assortments of flowers displayed in front of the store making it stand out in Belobog's monochromatic landscape.

Seele turned her attention that way and would remain silent for a moment, her gaze locked onto the store.

Her thoughts would wander, why would Caelus want to take her to a flower shop? Maybe she was overthinking it, she was only accompanying him. But he could ask her to leave if he wanted to, right? Maybe he did want to spend time with her, Seele was still unsure of how to display her feelings to the trailblazer, she was sure they were one-sided, but she felt the need to express them.

She saw this as a good opportunity to try and get closer to him, so she turned his attention to him and nodded.

"I don't mind, let's go."

She'd say, beginning to walk across the plaza and towards the shop as Caelus walked beside her.

The two would arrive at the entrance to the store, Seele would walk up to the many flower arrangements that sat near the entrance, a soft smile on her lips as she admired the many colors and options they had to choose from.

Caelus would watch as Seele would lean over, sniffing the flowers and exhaling with a pleasant sigh.

"I never knew you liked flowers."

He'd comment, chuckling as Seele would turn her head to look at him.

"Who doesn't like flowers?"

She'd retort, and he'd just shrug, seemingly satisfied with her answer as he remained silent.

Seele would stand upright again, smiling as she looked to Caelus.

"Are you going to buy anything here?"

She'd ask, and Caelus would shrug.

"Depends..."

He'd look at her with a small grin, shrugging.

"Do you want anything?"

Seele would be taken aback, her eyes widening slightly as she momentarily sputtered out, but she'd regain her voice and nervously laughed.

"Are you sure? You don't need to."

Seele would say, not wanting to make Caelus feel obligated to buy her anything.

Caelus would shake his head, his amber eyes stern as they met her violet.

"I will. Consider it a gift from me."

He'd say, his voice insistent, and he seemed firm with his response.

Seele would nod slowly, before walking up the steps leading to the florist, pushing the door open.

...

As the two stepped inside, they were hit with a wave of cool air.

The florist behind the counter would smile and wave at them, the two doing the same back, before beginning to look around.

The two looked around separately, admiring the many flowers the shop had to offer, even if it was rather small.

Caelus found himself admiring a selection of violet and red flowers, for no particular reason.

He'd look at the labels that sat beside them, the labels featured both their names and a small excerpt that he assumed was what they symbolized.

'Lavenders, crocus, hibiscus...'

He'd grab a select few of each, making sure to add some splashes of green and white using carnations.

He'd place his custom arrangement in a plastic bag, before walking over to Seele, who was simply admiring the flowers on her side of the shop.

"Seele."

Caelus would say, surprising Seele as she jumped a little and looked at him before her gaze drifted downwards towards the flowers in his hands.

"Caelus! Oh, what are these?"

She'd say, leaning in closer as she gently brushed her fingertips over the flowers Caelus held.

"An arrangement I made. It reminds me of you, don't you think?"

Caelus would state proudly, a grin present on his face.

Seele would blush slightly, but she'd keep her composure, nodding as she admired the colors that matched her own.

Though she found herself fixated on not just the colors, but the symbolism behind each flower Caelus chose. Lavenders represented purity and love. Crocus flowers symbolize the never-ending cycle of life. Hibiscus symbolized beauty and femininity.

She'd remain in her trace for another moment before her eyes drifted back to Caelus's face.

"You do know what each of these flowers represents, right?"

She'd ask, and Caelus would chuckle.

"Does it matter? They look great to me."

Indeed, they did, she'd think. Caelus didn't come off as the type of guy who would do something like that intentionally, maybe it was an accident?

Though she was unaware that they did in fact, matter.

"Do you want them?"

He'd say, holding out the arrangement for her to take, smiling.

Seele sighed, reaching out to take them from him, how could she say no? A boy was buying her flowers, not just a boy, someone she adored. That's all that mattered to her.

She would take them from his hands without saying a word, a giant smile making its way onto her face.

Caelus would see her smile and feel himself relax, his shoulders slumping as he felt good about himself. She was smiling because of him, that was for sure.

He walked towards the florist behind the counter, waving as Seele placed the arrangement of flowers on the counter.

As Caelus paid, the lady would place the flowers in a sheet of brown paper, wrapping it around the stems of the flowers delicately before handing them to Seele.

The two thought the interaction was done, but as they were about to turn around and leave, the lady pulled out a singular red flower. A rose.

"We're giving these out free with any purchase."

She'd say, waving the two off.

The two would walk out of the shop in silence.

...

Now standing in front of the shop, the two stood in silence, Caelus held the rose, while Seele held the flower arrangement Caelus had made for her.

Seele smiled, pointing towards the flower in Caelus's hand.

"That's cool, they gave you a free flower, how much were the flowers, anyway?"

She'd ask, admiring the flowers in her hands with a soft smile.

Caelus didn't reply though, he would look to the rose in his right hand, unsure of what he should do with it. Though, an idea formed in his mind. One that would change the two's relationship.

Caelus would hold out the rose, his head lowered, but he'd quickly raise his hand and look at Seele with a determined expression.

"Do you want it?"

He'd ask, or more silently shout as he was extremely stiff.

Seele's mouth would hang slightly agape for a moment. Roses symbolize a romantic type of love. The transaction of roses between people usually was those of people in relationships, so why was he giving her one? Was this a sign?

Seele would remain unsure, but she'd get her answer without even asking the question.

"Seele, I've enjoyed our time together so far..."

He'd begin, but he'd be cut off at Seele took a step towards him, raising herself onto her toes and planting a gentle kiss on his lips. She didn't know what propelled her to do such an action, maybe it was the heat of the moment?

As she pulled back, Caelus would stand there, eyes wide and frozen.

Seele would chuckle, her face a scarlet red.

"I've enjoyed our time together, too. So, you were saying?"

She'd say, grinning as she looked between the flowers in her hands, and then back to Caelus.

"I was going to say, can we do this more often? Like, dates?"

He'd say, his expression still one of pure shock and surprise.

"This is a date, or at least it is now."

She'd say, taking his free hand and intertwining it with her own, her grip strong, firm.

"It is?"

Caelus would say, dumbfounded.

Seele would sigh, shaking her head before looking up at Caelus and asking.

"So, where to now?"