Kiana played with her fingers nervously as she got nearer to the Crozzo estate. She was prepared and she got ready already. Damn it legs, work peoperly!

The young girl was alone. She wanted to hide, to escape.

Okay Kiana, all you have to do is to reconcile with your childhood friend.

Raising her hand, she was about to knock on the door when it opened to reveal her former childhood friend, Rex Crozzo.

Kiana stared and bit her cheek to stop her blush. Rex looked good on that suit. It was just a simple pair of black pants and a white button-up shirt.

"... Ki... Kaslana." He said.

'No... don't call me that. Use my name.' Kiana thiught as she felt her hewrt crack a bit.

"Hey, Rex..." She said with a smile. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just have to go to the mall to buy some drinks." He told her.

"Oh... Can I go with you?"

"... Why?"

'quick, think quickly,' "Well, I'm bored and have nothing to do." 'damn it!'

"..."

"Well, I guess you also need a hand!" She said before slapping a hand on her mouth.

"... Fine." He told her and she felt happy. She finally got to hang out with Rex again.

"Hey I'm heading out!" Ren called out and to Kiana's surprise, Bianka canr out and narrowed her eyes at them.

"Not dressed like that." She said and in speeds deserving of an S-rank, both her and Rita dragged the one-armed Crozzo and  dragged him back in. He was still wearing his pants but was now on a white long-sleeved shirt with a necklace on it, a pair of headphones on his head.

"Better?" Rex asked as he looked at them.

"Yas, Bitch! Slay!" Both Rita and Bianka said while a passing by Rin smiled and gave him a thumbs up.

Seeing Rin, Kiana humphed with a pout. No, She was not jealous of that girl. No, she was not.

"Let's go." He told her as he walked ahewd of her. Kiana looked at his back.

'Was his back always that big?' She thought as she tried her best to think of what would have happened if she did not break off their friendship...

And she was totally not looking at his butt. Nope! Not at all!

"Rex, do you wanna go on a detour and bie some Meat pastries with me?" Kiana asked as she tugged on his sleeve.

Dark eyes met with Blue as Rex looked at her.

"..."

"Well, we can just-"

"I guess we can..." Rex cut her off, stunning Kiana as they waitdd for the greenlight. A small yet very bright smile appeared on her face.

"Really?! Thanks Rex!" She was so happy that she jumped up and hugged him tight.

"Okay... Let go..." He said as he calmly pushed her off, a bit uncomfortable from the physical contact. .

"Sorry." She said sheepishly as they walked.

Off to the side, away from them, some of their classmates fron St. Freya academy saw them.

One of them took a photo of Kianna hugging Rex and sent it to a group chat with a caption that said Kiana and Mystery Student on a date.

Rex sighed as he and Kiana waited in line for the shop. They were heading to a well-ventilated and air-conditioned store later so it will be  cooler for Kiana. For him, he was more resistant to higher temperatures now.

"Here." He said as he dug into his pockets and pulled out spare hankerchief for her to use.

"Thanks." Kiana said as she wiped herself before having an idea, Letting her hair loose, she tied her hair up on a ponytail using it as a ribbon.

Rex looked at her and could not help the words that came out of his kouth. "Cute..." He whispered before looking away, missing the way Kiana reacted.

Kiana's heart beates loudly as she remembered his reaction. Damn it! It was like she was with Mei again! Her heart was beating so loudly and it got hotter!

Damn it! She likes mei! Not Rex! Maybe... she can wear her hair like this whenever they are alone?

After buying their snacks. Kiana faced a dillemma. Rex only had one arm. And while she was eating her own meat pastry, a plan formed on her mind.

"Rex," Kiana called out and when the young man turned around, she fed her own bitten meat pastry to him.

Taking a bit out of it, the young man chewed on it before swallowing as they walked again.

"Thanks." He said as he reached in and took the meat pastry from her hand and finished it.

---
With Reinhardt
---

Rein just sighed as he fixed himself up. They only had two hours left before the party and Elysia was already getting dressed.

They have been at it for a while now. From 9 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon.

It did release some of his pent-up stress so it was fine and worth it.

"Rein~, Spoil me later again, okay?" she asked with a smile as she fixed her pink hair.

"Fine. But why do ai feel like something bad is going to happen?"

---
With Reve.
---

The dreaming Crozzo sighed as he finally got ready to receive their guests. He was dressed in simple yet elegant clothes while Rita was helping Bianka get ready on his room. Well, Since Bianka has been a regular at the estate and the smaller houses, she has her own room in the estate and shared his room at the smaller house.

Right now, he was just wondering...

Why did it feel like a storm was approaching?

---
With Rex
---

Rex was carrying the groceries effortlessly beside Kiana andlistened to her rants.

Right now, he was just listening to her. it hurt a lot when she basucally abandoned him on junior high but right now, she was trying her best...

But it seems like his crush to her never went away. She had always been so cute and kind.

"Rex... do you... do you want to go with me to the amusement part this sunday?" Kiana asked him.

"Huh?"

"Well, its been a long time since we last hung out... so I was just curious if you want to go with me."

"... Well, Im not sure if I can make it this sunday." He said and saw how Kiana immediately deflated.

"Oh..."

"I have a meeting with Haxxxor Bunny." He told her.

"Wait... that sounds familiar. It's fine! Really!" Kiana shouted as she tried to hide her disappointmebt and jealousy.

"Oh? Well, I am free on Saturday-"

"Saturday! You and me! Hang out!" Kiana suddenly shouted as she grabbed him.

"Okay... But where?"

"We can go on a joint patrol!"

"I guess so." He said as he looked at the tuna.

"Also, Rex."

"Yeah?"

"Do you... do you wanna be... friends again?" Kiana asked as she played with her thumbs as she looked down, a sure sign of her nervousness.

"Well, that's up to you." Rex answered as he walked away and Kiana just smiled brightly and followed behind him.

Kiana just tared fondly at where his left arm used to be and remembered the way they used to wander around when they were younger. With her holding his hand as they explored as much as they could.

Rex just looked back at her with a smile as her eyes widened when a taxi passed by with a familiar green-haired Snake-themed woman as its passenger. He would never forget that woman ever

"Kiana! We need to go! Now."