It had been a week since the Day of Thanks. Ling, Lewis, Xuan, and Yuuhime were sitting on the roof of the Esper Union HQ, watching the sun set.

"You can see lots from up here!" Yuuhime commented.

"Mhm," Xuan said, "We all love to come up here. Some more than others."

He gave a smug glance at Ling and Lewis, knowing they'd probably been up here holding hands many a times.

"Has Xuan ever told you about the time he jumped off the side of the building with Drew?" Ling asked.

"Why would you do that, Xuan?" Yuuhime asked Xuan, "It sounds dangerous."

"E-eh?! No, no! I was fine, I swear! So was Drew, Ahem."

Yuuhime giggled lightly. She loved to tease him, to see his hands come up to defend his case.

It became silent, but that was ok. The sunset rapidly grew to darkness, stars peeping out to form a beautiful glow. The beauty of it all left them quiet, all too mesmerized to say anything.

Finally, after a while, Lewis yawned. "'Bout time for me to head home, got a lotta work tomorrow."

"I'll walk with you." Ling quickly said, smiling at Lewis. The other nodded, standing up.

"See you later." Lewis gave a short wave and walked off.

"Bye!" Ling waved as sprinted to catch up with Lewis.

Xuan waved back, "See you guys tomorrow!"

He slumped back into his position, looking at Yuuhime. "So, what have you been up to?"

"Not much," She replied, "I watched the new episode of The Sunflower Warrior just yesterday, but that's about it."

"Sounds fun," He said, "what's it about?"

"It's a mecha show," She explained, "It came out around when I was little, but it got a reboot just recently."

"Interesting!" He couldn't really say it sounded interesting to him, but the way Yuuhime sounded excited whenever she talked about it would make him gladly watch it.

"How are your burns? Last time I saw you, they were...not great."

"Ye Suhua says I've gotta be more careful." He said. "They hinder me when I'm under stress, but it's no biggie."

She slowly blinked, then puffed. "'No biggie'? It sounds serious, you're in one of them most stressful professions."

Xuan waved a hand, "I'll be totally fine, I swear."

"How about when I had to save your behind from those miramon?"

"That was different! Stumbling upon a never before discovered miracle under the ground, then getting ambushed by five massive miramon? I think that's an exception."

"Yeah, but won't the researcher people wanna go in? So they'll need protection?"

"Yeah, but what's the chances it's gonna be me?"

She pursed her lips, "I might just apply to join the Union just to make sure you stop getting into trouble."

"Oh yeah?"

"Don't make that face at me."

He laughed so hard she made him lay down so he "wouldn't hurt himself again." Eventually, he got her to lay down with him.

Now, they both stared up at the stars. Their fingers had snuck into each others hands, Xuan lightly squeezing Yuuhime's hand.

"Man, your hair is soft." He commented, fingering her silky black hair.

"T-thanks." She responded. She really hated it when people touched her hair, except for special exceptions, like Li Guang, who was just as passionate about hair as she was and her best girl friend.

She paused before deciding Xuan was the specialist exception.

"Can I play with your hair?" She asked, "I'll let you play with mine."

"Of course!" He sprang up, sitting criss cross.

She smiled and examined his orange hair. She realized that though it appeared orange, hints of copper and even a tiny bit of gold shone through. The pearls that lined his braid were yellowed, not because that's how they were made like she initially thought, but because they were quite old. The very tips of his hair were frayed and split, causing his hair to have the controlled messy look that she admired about him.

"May I...?" She asked, pulling at the tie keeping his hair together.

"Sure!" He nodded, then added, "But maybe we should go somewhere with more light?"

"Oh, yes please!" She hopped up. He followed, thinking.

"Maybe...your apartment?" She asked hopefully.

"Sure!" He gave a thumbs up. She smiled and they went off.

***

His apartment was...different from before. He told her to not use his bathroom unless she really needed to go and refused to elaborate. His counter was messy with papers and notes, which he told her to just ignore. His couch had a sleeping set up, which he told her was because of super busy nights when he could hardly make it to bed, which she didn't believe one bit, but didn't pry further.

He threw the blankets and pillows to the floor and sat on the couch, looking at her expectingly. She slid beside him and took his braid out.

"Any hair styles you want?"

"Nah, go crazy."

"Are you sure? I can go super, super crazy."

"I'm serious, make me look ridiculous for all I care."

She smiled and cracked her knuckles. This should provide to be fun.

"Guess what the medical section called the burns."

"I'm guessing something like Esper...uhhh..."

"Take your time."

"Esper burns?"

"Nope."

"Esper...cuts?"

"Nuh uh."

"Tell me then."

"Esper cancer."

"What? Are you gonna die?"

"No, no! It just acts similar to cancer...I think...?"

"Just so we're on the same page, you aren't dying."

"No, I'm not gonna die because I got burnt. Hang on, let me pull up exactly what Ye Suhua said."

She admired a clump of copper strands from his head as he read aloud.

"In her exact words, 'Esper Cancer is caused by one Esper inflicting their power in such a concentrated way that burns appear on the skin. The cells in the burns act like cancerous cells, so the burn stays permanently, only they stay in the burnt area. This means the burns cannot spread, only get worse in the burnt areas.' Pretty crazy, huh?"

"Yeah...sooo, that means you have to stop being so reckless."

"It was one time, my dear Yuuhime."

"Well, my Xuan, you scared the living hell out of me that one time."

He stuck out his tongue and smiled. "I promise I won't do it again."

She peered at him, eyebrow raised. He sighed and looked at her.

"The only way I'll accept that promise," She stuck out her pinky, "is if you make another promise."

He blinked a little. Her smallest finger stayed sticking out, her eyes fierce. He gave small chuckle and wrapped his pinky around hers.

"I promise not to get into trouble, and to not die." He announced.

"I promise the same." She said, giving a small nod.

Nothing ever goes right; Everything goes wrong at some point.

That moment, their fingers still intertwined, they finally knew what love truly meant.

"I'm done with your hair. Here, look."

The moment he saw his hair, he burst out laughing, not because it was funny but because he couldn't convey how much he loved the stupid hair style any other way. His hair was in a braided bun.

"Let me do your hair now!" He said, and she obliged.

"Be just as crazy as me."

"Of course. Shall I do a..."

"Don't say it, let it be a surprise!" She chirped. He chuckled and nodded.

He hummed as he styled her hair. His careful and gentile fingers felt nice against her head.

"So, do you wanna go to the arcade some time?" He asked.

"Yeah," she said, "I've never been to one before, though."

"Oh, you'd like it, I'm sure of it. I saw this old Sunflower Warrior game there, it's new to this particular arcade this year."

"I think I saw that in the news."

"Mhm. It was a big deal in the gaming community, Mona couldn't stop talking about it when it first appeared at the arcade."

"I've wanted to play it for so so long." She smiled dreamily. "It's based off my favorite season of the show."

"Really? That's awesome!"

"Mhm! The season was about the main character, Sunflower Warrior, falling in love then having to save the love interest from the villain."

"Sounds tense."

"It was! Our hero thought he might have to let go of love when the love interest bought a suit that could help her fight villains with her lover, so the Sunflower Warrior learnt to trust people more."

"Sounds super cool."

"It was! I love to rewatch it. Hey, you should watch it with me! It's an early season, so not much plot happened yet. Only the first season's stuff."

"Sometime, definitely. Alright, done!"

She looked at her hair and smiled. Her hair was bubble braided, with tiny braids intertwined.

"Oh my stars!" She gasped, "I love it!"

"Yesss!" Xuan sang, "I really liked the way it turned out."

She giggled and brushed hair out of his face, making his hair more neat.

"By the way, you've got lots of split ends."

"I know, but it's like, basically impossible to cut my hair. One thing about my Esper transformation I despise..."

She gave a pitiful smile. She peered at his clocked and pouted.

"I've gotta go, it's already 11."

"Alright, want me to walk you to the bus stop?"

"I'll be alright." She sat up, and he followed.

"Thanks for having me," she said, "it was lots of fun."

"Yeah, any time!" He smiled. He wished she could stay longer, no, forever. Unfortunately, life went on, and never stopped for even the biggest hearts.

She walked to the door and opened it, and stepped out. She had to stop, though. Life would continue on. So, what was stopping her? Nothing but herself. She turned and said, "One more thing."

Yuuhime's hand was on Xuan's chest, her other hand lightly tucking itself on his cheek. She had to tip toe to reach his level, but when her lips and his were level, the deed had been done.

Her sweet cherry chapstick lips was against his chapped lips. Her lips that she took much time making sure they were always smooth, and his lips that he casually put Vaseline on one a month.

She hoped that her chapstick would rub off on his lips so they could heal. He could only stand shocked, until he leaned closer to her and returned her kiss.

She slowly peeled herself away. They stared at each other for a long time, trying to figure out what had happened.

"I'll...I'm going." She gave a lopsided smile and turned. He grabbed her hand and gave her a quick peck on the cheek, his face now completely red.

When she looked at him once again, he said quietly, "Just-Just returning it-the k-kiss, I mean."

She grinned and chuckled, "Maybe I'll return it next time."

"Y...yeah." He grinned back. She forced herself to leave the door, for real this time, and skipped off. Xuan watched her leave, and once she was out of sight, pumped his arms and jumped up and down.

'Best. Night. Ever.'

***

"What does this even mean?!" Heng Yue growled at the test results from "Esper Cancer" samples, which she now called "Divine Weakening" simply because it sounded cooler.

The readings from the samples were all over the place, from no divine power to an inconceivable amount, all within one cell. Now times that with millions upon millions of cells, and you've got results that not even a toddler with a marker could make up.

Staring at the results and her notes that she wrote, then erased, then wrote again, she slumped down in her chair.

If this was how small burns were like, who knows what consequences larger burns could entail.

A knock sounded from her door.

"Come in." she called, slightly annoyed.

Emma came in, looking worried, "Dr. Heng, I'm sorry to bother at this hour, but..."

"What? Your voice is trembling, spit it out."

"Someone attacked Ethan, and he's in the medical wing now, but the person who attacked...he might be connected to your research into this now Divine Weakening you've been studying."

"How do you know?" Yue sat up, quickly placing the results aside.

"Whoever attacked him burnt him bad, but the burns look like the ones the other two Espers got! Not only that, but he also thinks he knows who attacked him."

"Is he still awake?"

"He should be, he's been wailing for the past hour and a half."

"Please take me to him, then."

Emma nodded and led the way.

This could be the breakthrough Yue was looking for. For the last month, she'd been trying to recreate Divine Weakening on willing volunteers, convicted criminals, and animals, but to no success. The closest she got was when Gaius attempted it, only to find it was just a normal lighting bolt scar.

Perhaps she had been thinking about this all wrong. Maybe only one person could create the results she was looking for.

'Only one way to find out.' She told herself as Emma opened the door to Ethan's room.

"You're finally back!" Ethan sniffed, "I've been in so much pain! I'm lucky I'm still awake!"

"Dr. Heng is here to look at you," Emma said, then turned to Yue, "he got burnt on his stomach and shoulders."

She helped Ethan up and showed Yue what she was talking about. Finally, Yue could see fresh burns. They weren't swollen like she thought they'd be, but instead lightly glowing red and covered in a weird dust. She collected the dust in a container and noticed after doing that, the burns glowed less.

"You remember what your attacker looked like, right?" She asked as she pulled out a note pad.

"Yeah," Ethan said, "It was the guy who interviewed me about Esper Union super stars!"

"What?"

"Yeah, I was playing with the animals in the park when he came up and started asking me about the Esper Union as 'an outside perspective' or something like that."

"Why?"

"He said it might be in the news as a little side story, but it never made even the paper!"

"Where were you when he attacked?"

"Uh, the investigator people already asked me this stuff."

Emma tapped her feet, "This is for science to try and heal you!"

Ethan grunted and started, "I was takin' up a case near the outskirts of the Utgard forest, like the part farthest from the actual city, when I found a hidden mansion. Didn't think too much of it, so I kept goin' around when the reporter guy came out of nowhere. I says, 'Oh, it's you! Didn't think I'd see you again.' And he says 'I could say the same for you.' Then I says, 'I've got a job to do right now, so I can't talk.' But then he says, 'I'm afraid I can't let you off so easy.' When I ask why, he points to the mansion and says, 'That's my house, but you've found it. I can't have you telling people about it, now can I?' And I says, 'Why would I tell people about a rando's mansion in Old Utgard?' He didn't like that answer, so he pointed at me and then I felt a pain I've never felt before in my stomach. The mother trucker shocked me! When I was hunched over, he pushed me down by my shoulders, and oooh, could I feel the heat now. That's when I blacked out."

"Hm...why could he be hiding that mansion..." Emma thought aloud, "I've been trying to figure that out all day."

"Where did you find him, Emma?" Yue asked.

"In a hospital in the city, out cold."

"Can you tell me what he looked like?" Yue turned back to Ethan after taking her notes.

"Yeah. He was pretty pale, with black and red hair."

"Black and red?"

"Mhm, like half and half, DeVilla Cruelle style. His eyes were really red and he was holding what I'm pretty sure was a music box."

"What was he wearing?"

"Some fancy pants red jacket. It wasn't even doing anything, he had it unbuttoned, and his pants and shirt weren't really covering him very well either."

"And where did you say this all happened?"

"Somewhere near the edge of the forest, southern from Utgard."

"Thank you for your help, Ethan." Yue tucked her notes into her pocket.

"Of course! I wanna see that punk get what he deserves!" Ethan yelled as he was pushed down by Emma.

"You need to go to bed." Emma commanded.

"I'll be on my way," Yue said, turning for the door, "If anything else happens, get me as fast as possible."

"Roger!" Emma nodded.

"Goodnight." As she shut the door, Yue let the disturbance fill her face. The description Ethan gave was almost identical to the one Mona gave of her captor.

She had a lead now. Somewhere in the forest surrounding Utgard, was a mansion that this "reporter" wanted to keep secret.

Now the only thing she needed to do before she went to find this mansion was talk to Tang Xuan.

...which was much easier said than done. The young man had been really jumpy lately and always telling her he was "too busy to talk," so Yue and Suhua would have to corner him just so they could give him a check up.

Yue had a hunch that perhaps, he knew something the others didn't.

And if he wouldn't...couldn't?...tell her, she'd force the answers her way.