You leave me speechless
When you talk to me
You leave me breathless
The way you look at me

At the Beach, there had been bustling activity for several days, making the already lively place feel even more restless. Everywhere, people whispered excitedly about costume ideas and potential dance partners as if the masquerade ball was the ultimate event since we'd been trapped in this dark world. And perhaps it truly was. It offered us an illusion of deceptive normality, a normality we all secretly yearned for.

Community rooms and the large lobby suddenly overflowed with fabric remnants, sewing kits, and makeshift accessories. Everyone seemed to be pursuing some crazy idea, regardless of whether they had to create it from old hotel curtains or a few splashes of color from collected spray cans. Even Hatter wandered enthusiastically among the crowd, praising every absurd idea and constantly emphasizing that the Beach was a place of freedom and joy-perfect for a night filled with dance and costumes.

It gradually seemed to me that I was the only one who had no clue what to wear that evening. Lacking any sewing talent, I almost enviously watched the other women skillfully stitching together stunning dresses from fabric remnants. Even Kuina had hinted she was working on something, though she maintained an air of mysterious silence.

Sometimes, as I watched others planning their costumes, that one dress kept haunting my mind-the one displayed in the shop window of the Izumi Garden Tower. It would have been perfect: elegant and stylish in red and black, ideal for a ball. But the distance was considerable, and even if I could somehow reach it, who knew if it was still there...

That night, I had a dream. I found myself in a grand ballroom surrounded by people laughing and dancing, yet I barely noticed them. Everything felt strangely blurred, as if I'd drunk too much. But when I looked down, I discovered the red dress on my body. The fabric danced around my legs, and as I turned, I felt it gently sway with me, as if joining my every step. A feeling of weightlessness overtook me, a strange, free floating sensation, the noise around me fading into a distant echo. For a moment, I forgot where I was, spinning further and further, everything passing me by like a trance. But suddenly, someone grabbed my hand. The touch was firm and confident, and as I looked up in surprise, I saw a pair of familiar, penetrating eyes.

"Chishiya," I whispered, my voice slightly rough.

A small, arrogant smile crept onto his lips. Without a word, he pulled me closer, his hand resting on my waist, and began to guide me gracefully across the dance floor. His steps were sure, his movements effortless, as if he'd done nothing else his whole life. Warmth spread through my entire body as we danced. The steady steps, slow circling movements, and the intense look in his dark eyes were almost hypnotic. It felt as if it were just the two of us, the silence so complete that I could hear the pounding of my own heart.

Eventually, we slowed, and I felt his hand gently cup my cheek. He leaned towards me, his face drawing closer. My cheeks flamed expectantly, his lips nearly touching mine. My heartbeat dramatically intensified, like an unstoppable drumroll, and I closed my eyes, ready to lose myself in his kiss-but a loud knocking abruptly shattered the silence. The warmth drained from my body as I was roughly jolted from my imagination.

"Tsuki? Are you awake yet?"

I recognized Makoto's voice drifting towards me from afar.

"No, I'm not," I mumbled half-conscious into my pillow, eyes still tightly shut, desperately trying to cling to the image and continue the dream-but I already felt it slipping away. Reality had caught up with me. I growled softly, "Damn it..."

Makoto was beaming when I opened the door, still half-asleep.

"I have good news," he announced, stepping inside without an invitation. "I found someone who can tailor a costume for you. He has great skills and offered his help. You can go see him right away, he just needs your measurements and-"

I stared at him, still caught in a twilight state as Makoto cheerfully continued talking. The scene from my dream lingered vividly. Chishiya, who had danced with me and nearly kissed me. I was slightly annoyed with Makoto for the unwanted interruption, as if he knew I'd dreamed about Chishiya-though that was absurd. Yet, couldn't he have knocked two minutes later?

"A costume?" I eventually murmured, still not fully present.

"Yeah, he can create the dress you want. Just hurry so he has enough time. Only a few days left," Makoto smiled, clearly expecting praise.

"That sounds...great," I genuinely tried to sound enthusiastic, though I feared failing. "Thanks, Makoto. But it wasn't necessary."

He noticed my hesitation.

"I mean, it was just an offer. Thought you'd be happy."

The disappointment in his voice was unmistakable.

"No, it's fine, really," I assured hastily, running my hand through my tangled hair. "But I don't want someone burdened because of me. I'd feel guilty."

Makoto just shook his head and gave me a gentle smile.

"Don't worry about it, Tsu. He likes doing this, and I thought... it'd be nice to see you really shine."

His words touched me, bringing guilt rushing back. Eventually, I nodded, forcing a smile and replying, "Alright. I'll think about it."

Makoto seemed relieved, bidding farewell with a cheerful "See you later!" and a little wave.

As the door closed behind him, I leaned against it, briefly closing my eyes and trying to reclaim the dream, but the tingling warmth had vanished completely.

When I arrived at the infirmary, everyone seemed to be waiting for me. Ann had called a brief morning meeting, and apparently, I was the last to join. Hastily, I muttered an apology, closing the door quietly behind me.

My gaze scanned the room, freezing when it met Chishiya's eyes. Heat rushed to my cheeks. He seemed amused by my half-awake state, casually leaning in his chair, legs crossed, hands deep in his coat pockets.

"Well-rested?" he commented dryly, a hint of amusement in his voice.

I narrowed my eyes.

"Yes, thanks for asking," I retorted sharply, taking the last free seat, determined not to let his presence unsettle me.

Ann cleared her throat and started running through the agenda, but I couldn't help noticing Chishiya's occasional sideways glance, clearly entertained by whatever game we were playing.

Ann discussed the new duty roster, informing us that our shifts would now rotate weekly to ensure fairness. Chishiya and I had already taken the morning shift this week, primarily responsible for the aftercare of injured players from the previous night. During these shifts, we also had to handle patients with everyday ailments-whether someone had a cold and needed nasal spray or complained about stomach pains.

"Alright," Ann concluded. "One final thing: the costume ball. There won't be any games that evening, so an early shift should suffice unless we still have inpatient cases. Since Fujita and I are on early shifts that week, we can handle that. However, if necessary, we might rotate later so everyone can attend the celebration. One person on duty should be enough."

She glanced around expectantly.

"Not necessary," Chishiya interjected, immediately raising a hand without hesitation. "I'll take the evening shift."

I bit my lip, noticing Ann raising an eyebrow in surprise.

"Alright, if you're sure. But you know you're not obligated, Chishiya. The evening is meant to offer everyone a chance to relax."

Chishiya just shrugged, seeming indifferent about the matter.

"I'll leave the dance floor to others."

My heart sank slightly, although I wasn't entirely sure why. The thought that he wouldn't be attending the ball was somewhat disheartening. I didn't miss the tiny, self-satisfied grin that formed on his lips when he noticed my disappointed look.

"Very well," Ann eventually said, addressing everyone again. "That's settled then. Chishiya will take the evening shift. The rest of you are free from duty."

As we stood up, Chishiya's eyes met mine briefly. I thought I detected a hint of amusement in his expression, as if he had precisely known I'd been hoping to see him there.

Although I tried to focus on my tasks, my thoughts continued to swirl around the fact that Chishiya wouldn't attend the ball. Since I'd imagined dancing with him, I'd felt an inner anticipation for the event. Naturally, I'd never seriously expected him to ask me to dance. But just knowing he might be there, that we might run into each other in the crowd-this possibility had sparked excitement I couldn't explain. Now, however, that faint hope had shattered as abruptly as my dream this morning.

Why did it even matter so much that he was there? I'd already agreed to attend with Makoto. If he saw Chishiya there, the evening would probably be ruined anyway. The last thing I needed was drama complicating things further.

I internally shook my head, trying to dismiss those thoughts.

"It's just a silly ball," I muttered softly to myself, grabbing the patient files again.

Yet somehow, I felt this evening had gained more significance for me than I wanted to admit.

The next morning, I sat alone with my breakfast tray in the restaurant, idly poking at my rice. Suddenly, a tray appeared in my view. I raised my head to see Kuina sitting down opposite me, visibly cheerful.

"What's with the gloomy stare into your food?" she teased with a playful grimace. "Bad night's sleep?"

I offered a weak grin and shrugged.

"Maybe a bit."

Kuina gave me a skeptical look.

"Come on, that's not all, is it? I know you." She took a large sip of her tea, watching me closely. "Let me guess-you've been thinking about the ball, right?"

I sighed softly, pushing food around my plate.

"Sort of. Honestly, I don't even know if I want to go, especially since I don't have anything to wear," I confessed glumly.

Of course, I'd forgotten to visit the person Makoto so enthusiastically recommended. Well, perhaps "forgotten" wasn't quite accurate. I'd simply chosen not to go. Maybe because my enthusiasm for this stupid celebration had completely evaporated after Chishiya's announcement yesterday.

Kuina's eyes widened in surprise.

"Really, why didn't you just ask me?" she asked, sounding genuinely indignant, nearly making me laugh. "We'll figure something out for you. I'm great at improvising, you know? How about you come to my room after your shift today? I'll gather some things, and we'll have a little fashion show. I'll get some snacks and proper drinks, and we'll have a real girls' night. To top it off, we'll even do karaoke afterward. What do you think?"

She beamed enthusiastically, and I couldn't help giggling at her excitement. Immediately, my inner tension eased, swept up in her energy.

"That sounds perfect. Real karaoke, though? How?"

Kuina smirked.

"I found an old console with a karaoke game recently. It's going to be amazing, Izzy. Maybe you could even invite the girl from your recent game. What was her name? Kikyou?"

"Kiko," I corrected, nodding enthusiastically. "I'll ask her. The more, the merrier, right?"

Kuina laughed heartily, nodding.

"Absolutely, and feel free to invite anyone else. It'll be a fantastic evening. I can't wait."

"Neither can I," I replied, feeling some weight lift off my shoulders.

The prospect of a relaxing girls' night significantly improved my mood. With newfound energy, I headed to the infirmary, determined not to let Chishiya's usual jabs spoil my day.

Yet as soon as the hectic routine of the infirmary caught up with me, tension set in again. The day passed swiftly with the influx of patients, and I tried hard to avoid mistakes. Deep down, I hoped Chishiya wouldn't criticize my work this time. Praise was probably too much to ask, but no criticism would be a decent start.

Still, he couldn't resist his usual remarks, albeit fewer and less sharp. Occasionally, he corrected my actions-"Watch your angle here," or a brief adjustment. My optimism faded slightly, but I told myself fewer critiques were progress. Small victories, I thought, gritting my teeth.

Eventually, the shift quieted down. Chishiya glanced at me from the corner of his eye.

"Not bad today-by your standarts," he remarked, almost satisfied, a faint smile tugging his lips.

"What does 'by your standarts' mean?" I snapped irritably.

He shrugged casually, unconcerned by my irritation.

"Just surprised you didn't cause a bloodbath today," he quipped, eyes gleaming mischievously.

"Is a simple 'well done' too much to ask?" I retorted.

Chishiya smirked briefly.

"Maybe someday-when you actually earn it."

I snorted and turned away, hiding my irritation.

Why had I ever expected a compliment from him?

Just as I was about to fire back with a sharp retort, I noticed him walking over to the locker where we usually kept our work uniforms, pulling out a paper bag.

"Here, before you complain any further," he said.

Before I could react, he'd tossed the bag toward me with an easy flick of his wrist. I was so caught off guard that I nearly dropped it, barely catching it in time.

"What... is this?" I asked, bewildered, cautiously peering inside but unable to see much beyond the brown paper.

"You'll find out once you open it," he replied casually, sipping his coffee nonchalantly.

I eyed him skeptically, trying to decipher his unreadable expression. Slowly, but with rising curiosity, I reached inside the bag and carefully unfolded the paper-wrapped object. As I gently tore the thin paper away and unfolded its contents, a vibrant flash of red and delicate black lace appeared. My fingers brushed reverently over the smooth fabric, blinking in disbelief. It was the red dress we'd seen in the shop window-the dress I'd been unable to get out of my mind.

Confused, I looked up at Chishiya.

"But where did you... and why?" I asked, overwhelmed, my gaze darting between him and the dress.

I couldn't believe he'd gone back there just to get it for me.

A slight smile curved his lips, as if he enjoyed seeing me at a loss for words.

He simply shrugged, as if it was no big deal, while it meant everything to me.

"You kept staring at it, didn't you? Thought you might want to wear it to the ball."

"But... that's no explanation. You-why would you do this for me?" I stammered.

Chishiya raised an eyebrow.

"Why not? Think of it as motivation."

Confused and slightly overwhelmed, I struggled to find the right words, clutching the dress tightly and feeling my cheeks warm.

"Thank you," I finally whispered, my voice barely audible. "I... don't know what else to say."

Chishiya merely nodded, as if he'd anticipated my reaction.

"Then better not say anything," he replied calmly, offering a fleeting, enigmatic smile before turning to leave the room.

Left alone, holding the dress, my thoughts raced. Countless questions spun through my mind, but one stood out above all others-the one I found hardest to answer:

Why did he have to make it so difficult for me not to like him?