It was now nighttime. A night to remember for all Coelestians. Everyone ignited fireworks throughout the city, and each explosion created a massive web-like chain reaction, enveloping the whole sky.

Citizens also shot up fireworks that moved around as if sentient; designs varied from angels, demons, knights in shining armor, whales, etc. They even interacted with each other.

Airships filled with partying passengers flew everywhere, firing their celebrations via special flare guns.

The Fools’ Theater was lowered and moved into another location. It changed shape into a line, now appearing like very long rows of seats. Moving platforms helped citizens enter the floating structure. Participation was now free, with an employee asking them to place their bets. The main spectacle was seen from afar by a park.

Two mechanical robots fought each other; they were as large as kaiju. One was gold and silver wielding two swords, while the other was a bare-fisted red one. The latter won by a landslide and raised its arms in victory. The crowd went wild.

In one of the estates of the archmages, Feuer looked up, mesmerized by the flashing colors. He was called in by Danielle, telling him to get ready.

A nearby Aria looked down at the city and pouted. “No matter how I look at it… it is very disgusting and degenerate. This holiday is just an excuse for the walking trash to crawl out of their holes….”

Danielle turned around. “Oh, can it, will ya? You hog over the hors-d’oeuvres and do the Riverdance every time we’re at the ball. How is that normal?” she raised an eyebrow.

Aria bent her back forty-five degrees, staring blankly at nothing in the sky. “The Gods themselves permitted me, trash. Above all heaven and earth, I alone am the human being. The fact you chide me so shows just how beastly and uncivilized you all are.”

“Uh-huh… Yeah, sure. Just wear your outfit already, man. You’re weirding me out.” Danielle walked away and stepped unto the runic circle leading to Harald’s home.

In another hand statue, the king’s imperial mage guards Richard, Rosado, and Sakusei got greeted by two comrades of the same position. They informed them that Hagel would not be participating.

Hatsune and Dainishi Kizoku (貴族 初子・貴族 第二子), identical twin sisters. Fifteen-year-olds from the isolated nation of Mikadzukihantō. Their fair-skinned appearance was expected just from their names alone, with their black hair even cropped traditionally.

Hatsune wore a fiery orange kimono with black rims showcasing the sun and its fiery rays. Dainishi wore an inverted design, showcasing the moon and stars; her expression of love and rivalry.

Sakusei walked in front. “So… Hagel’s still ain’t in the mood, huh? How about we tell him schnitzels’ on the house?” he gestured his hand.

“No good, sir! I tried telling him already. He wouldn’t budge! But as long as Brother Kakunō is coming, I am happy!” The sisters looked at each other in annoyance. “Hey! Stop copying me!” they said in unison. They bickered with each other for a whole minute until Sakusei stepped in to break it up.

In the Coelestis representative estate, the fully-dressed Minagawa couple sat together on the index finger of the hand statue. Seeing the fireworks light up the sky, Tokino rested her head on her husband’s shoulder. They reminisced the first time they met each other—and noted in their minds that the explosions were now bigger.

An idea popped inside Tokino and turned to her husband. “Do you want to do it again?” she held his hand.

Haruto smiled. “Why not? We’re now forever till the end….” He held her shoulders and moved closer. Just as their lips almost touched, they got interrupted again by their comrade’s excited shouting. Hokori stood at the middle fingertip and fired the illegal products he bought with an elaborate flare gun.

The fireworks that came out were quite a sight to behold. They appeared as gigantic Eastern dragons attacking the other “sentient” fireworks. Momentarily, one of the dragons exploded into bright, white flashes. Citizens from afar shielded their eyes.

Hokori laughed at the top of his lungs throughout his fun. However, on the pinky fingertip, Kakunō fired his firework designs with a cannon. Ancient Japanese soldiers on horseback attacked the dragons. The unexpected scene only made Hokori grin. “Hahahahahaha! Das some neat shit ya got goin’ there, bro.” he pointed.

Inside the house, a tuxedoed Kenkō helped her gowned little sister get ready for the ball by the dressing room. She cropped her hair into a formal style. Yukino grabbed hold of a lipstick, but Kenkō told her to let it go. “No need for makeup, Yukichi… Your natural beauty alone would swoon even the most troubled little boys….” She fastened the last hairclip.

The two exited the house. Tokino immediately hugged her daughter and thanked Kenkō for making her shine brighter. Haruto smiled and patted Yukino’s head, making her giggle.

Hokori called for their attention from afar. “The party’s boutta start, fam!” He walked unto the runic circle.

In an alleyway far away, a man swiftly defeated three drunkards who harrassed just a moment ago. Even though he was uninvited, he wore a gray blazer with dollar signs on its upper sleeves. He even went so far to slick back his hair with gel.

At the ballroom, Aria immediately gatekept the hors-d’oeuvre section. She argued with Hokori, telling him to run along to a pigsty, and called him the “Worm Emperor.” He corrected her that it should be “God” in the title and called her the “Headstrong Airhead.”

In another area, the Minagawa couple conversed with Feuer. Haruto became embarrassed when the former pointed out how he reacted toward him back in the day. He performed dogeza before Feuer. “A million apologies… All I can hope is that we are now dear friends….”

Feuer sighed and insisted he stand up. Tokino giggled at her husband.

In yet another area, Kakunō was greeted by the Kizoku twins, calling him brother. A curious Yukino stepped in from behind, which startled the twins. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did I scare you?” she looked up at them.

The twins shook their heads in unison. They called her sister and expressed their happiness for finally meeting her. Yukino gasped with a smile and hugged them in pure joy. She loudly declared how much she loved and cherished all her sisters.

As the three played with each other from afar, Kenkō stood near Kakunō. “Yukichi’s a sibling to die for, isn’t she? And I’m not kidding about that. Do you feel the same?”

He drank a glass of orange juice. “Damn straight! Yuki will always have a special place in my heart….”

Moments later, Harald, the king, called for everyone’s attention; the ball would be starting. He gave a lengthy speech about his pure gratitude for his subjects, who stood tall beside him no matter the sacrifices. He lastly talked about the cultural importance of ballroom dancing—and respecting those who do not wish to participate. “And now, my dear comrades… I ask for a request. To play appropriate music for the dance!” he smiled widely.

“Ooh, ooh! I got just the one for ya, my man! It’s a total banger!” Hokori raised his hand.

Harald chuckled. “Well, then… come in front, our champion. We shall synchronize our hearts to the music of tranquility….”

Doing what he set out to do, Hokori pulled up The Every Hub. Kenkō immediately became concerned by this. “Oh, shit… this ain’t good. He’ll probably play ‘I Wanna Fuck You’ by Akon. Last time, he played Eminem’s ‘Shake That’!” Running as she tried, it was now all but too late. Hokori’s longtime comrades also knew what to expect and moved to stop him.

However, suddenly, they stood in complete shock over Hokori’s choice for the night. It was a very fitting song: “I’m Kissing You” by Des’ree.

Hokori chuckled at his perplexed comrades. “What? Ya think I don’t know how to read the air? I’m not that savage!” He chuckled again and walked past them. When the king asked if he would dance, he refused and went to the dessert section to meet with his partners.

Haruto knew of this song. It was from one of his mother’s favorite movies. He instantly encouraged Tokino to dance with him. She giggled and jogged his memory that she was the one who taught him basic lessons in the first place. Tokino smiled and held his hand. “Break a leg, honey… Try to keep up….” her eyes drooped down.

Other mages danced as well. They stood in shock again when they saw Feuer with Aria. Even though she perpetually called him “walking trash,” she demanded not to stop at any moment.

As the Minagawa couple waltzed, Haruto was given directions by his wife. “That’s it, honey. Move your feet right here. Relax. Take it slow….”

Everyone who did not dance was in awe of Tokino’s elegant, flawless coordination. Unfortunately, they heard a nearby Hokori talk about vulgar and risque topics—eating key lime pie momentarily. At one point, in a loud tone, he thoroughly explained in great detail how doggy-style was better than missionary.

As the dance went on, Haruto got the hang of it. He was mesmerized by his wife’s gorgeous smile and took a deep breath. “Th-The exchange of thy love’s f-faithful vow for mine. I-I would be satisfied i-if we made each other t-true promises of love. I-I gave thee mine before thou didst request it—”

Tokino giggled at his incomprehensible jargon. “What are you saying? Didn’t we already love each other?”

Haruto sighed with his eyes closed. “Sorry… I was trying to be more romantic….”

She giggled again. “Oh, come on… You don’t need to recite an entire play for me. Besides—I have a better idea….” Tokino pulled his hand, walking him to the grand staircase and onto the second floor.

Tokino stopped in her tracks and stood before a confused Haruto. Suddenly, she was gone from his sight. It dawned on him immediately that their “fight” had now commenced. “Oh, no….” Haruto sighed internally.

Tokino reappeared behind her husband and walked around him slowly, “If you want your woman’s heart for the night, you have to earn her, Hopeless Haruto. So, so hopeless….” Just as she was right in front, Haruto tried to catch her with both arms. All thanks to her ability, he failed time and time again.

He had to resort to using his innate ability to stand a chance.

At tremendous speeds, they chased each other all around the second room; many guests screamed because of the strong gusts of wind. Sprinting down back to the first floor, they weaved through everyone in the ballroom. Once again, no one noticed them.

For both of them, the world slowed down dramatically. Haruto sweated bullets and nearly reached for Tokino’s hand, who turned around smiling at him. She effortlessly shoved it away and giggled. Some winds created by their chase were so powerful they broke goblets. Unbeknownst to Hokori, he took a mouthful of his pie.

The couple ended up sprinting to the guest rooms. Haruto noticed Tokino was gone from his sight again—until she announced herself on a nearby balcony. “And now… the Triumphant Tokino shall claim her prize once more…! Have at thee!”

Haruto sweated bullets and ran inside one of the rooms. What was thrust upon him there was the absolute effortlessness of his wife’s methods to catch him. His innate ability never helped him from the beginning. Holding both wrists, Tokino made him fall on his back in bed.

Tokino slicked her hair behind her right ear. “You see that? You didn’t win my heart. I won yours. I’ve earned you. You’re mine, forever till the end….” She made the first move.

Feeling his heart raise, Haruto closed his eyes and pulled down her gown’s back zipper. The heat of their lips and body intensified, and their moans became louder. All the while, the love song’s last verses played.

Luckily, Haruto locked the door during their chase, so they expressed their naked passion for hours. A “do not disturb” tag hung on the knob outside.