We stand embracing under the magnolia for a few more minutes.

"It's time for you to go home and get some sleep too, Sato-sama!" I realize how selfish I am, not letting her go. She works much harder than anyone I know.

"No," she laughs, teasingly imitating me.

We both laugh, gently wish each other a good night, and I reluctantly turn towards the house.

"Suzuka-sensei," she softly calls me. I turn, thinking she forgot something in her car. She quickly approaches me and hugs me tightly again, "Thank you for everything!"

I feel really good. I'm like a helium-filled balloon ready to soar. Slowly and quietly, so as not to wake the household, I climb to my room and, without turning on the light, look out the window. Sato-sama hasn't left yet. She sits thoughtfully on the trunk of her black car, smoking a second cigarette. The little flame flickers, then dims. She exhales smoke rings like a dragon. I lean my elbows on the windowsill, placing my chin in my hands. I feel like I can watch her endlessly. I lean back on the bed, stifling a scream of delight with a pillow so as not to wake my sister in the next room. How lucky I am; my girlfriend is not only smart, cool, and successful but also resembles any popular idol.

Just one more peek at her! I secretly glance out the window and see that she has already extinguished the cigarette and turned her back to my house, ready to get into her Toyota.

The golden moonlight seems even brighter, flooding the road, the magnolia, neighboring houses, and Sato-sama. Suddenly, I notice that the light becomes gray, olive-silver, and then disappears altogether. Fog creeps out of all the cracks, licking and embracing everything in its path. Where did it come from? The weather hasn't changed, cold air hasn't collided with warm, yet here's the fog. I check the weather app on my phone: clear, no precipitation, cloudless... Strange. How uncomfortable she must be outside; I'll go down and give her my sweater. While I quickly contemplate whether I should call out to her or if I can run fast enough to reach her before she leaves and give her my soft sweater, the fog completely engulfs the neighboring houses, envelops the magnolia and other trees and shrubs, but not Sato-sama's figure. She stretches like a flexible cat, arching her back as if lying in one uncomfortable position for a long time and... spreads enormous dragon wings. I could swear I see sharp horns piercing through her beautiful black hair.

Neighboring houses vanish, swallowed by the fog, replaced by a wall of giant trees. No doubt, it's the Forest of Gray Spirits! Sato-sama flaps her wings several times, slicing and repelling the encroaching fog from all sides. The moonlight gilds the street again, the fog disappears as if at the snap of fingers. The Thousand-Year Forest is gone. Sato-sama's wings and horns disappear. She looks around discreetly and gets into the car, quickly starting it and turning around the corner of the house.

I hear my phone softly vibrating in silent mode on the windowsill. It's a message from Sato-sama!

Can't wait for our date tomorrow. Kisses! Your Dragon Princess 🐉 💋💋💋

❣️❣️❣️

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Nota bene: some chapters feature mature content!

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