Makeup is a girls’ best friend as it can be used to hide all kinds of flaws, but Asuna wore none but the bare minimum, which was a light lipstick, barely a touch of blush and a hardly noticeable eyeliner.

Why? Because once she heard Alex say,

‘I am scared of girls with too much makeup, makes you wonder what else they’re hiding.’

*Pretty sure he meant it as a joke*, but from that moment on, Asuna wore no makeup and had to work really hard to bring up and maintain her natural beauty. *Notice her already, Alex!!!*

Also, it’s the guys’ job to wait for the lady, not the other way around, *I think.* But to Alex, this was a friend’s hangout, not a date.

‘Sorry, I’m late. I hope I didn’t make you wait for too long.’

‘No, I only just got here.’

‘Then shall we go?’

‘Yes’

Asuna had hoped that Alex would say something about her dress. Like how she looked and complimented her. She certainly looked stunning, but Alex was clearly not reading the atmosphere. *Seriously, what is wrong with him?*

‘Asuna, about your dress…’

Asuna was ecstatic that Alex finally noticed her dress.

‘Yes, Alex’

‘Isn’t it a little cold to wear these kinds of things? I noticed that you’re shivering.’

Asuna was silent. She didn’t know what to say, she didn’t expect that question. Of course, it was freezing out there, and she was feeling cold, but she endured it all for him, but she couldn’t just say that.

‘Here, take my jacket, it’ll warm you up.’

‘Eh…You don’t need to-’

Alex took off his jacket and gave it to her. Asuna wore the jacket bashfully, but she instantly felt warm and stopped shivering.

Okay, so maybe Alex was reading the atmosphere, in his own way. Even if he didn’t compliment her dress, he still showed that he at least observed what she wore.

The concert was to be held in a large open ground. Several stalls were also opened near the stage, and business was in full bloom.

A lot of people came to the concert, Asuna envied the couples that came.

They were thoroughly enjoying their youth, but to Asuna, just being near Alex was enough.

Asuna had never confessed her feelings to Alex, and she knew she probably wouldn’t ever be able to, but the fact that Alex isn’t dating anyone gave her heart relief.

Countless times Alex had received confession letters, and he rejected every one of them.

It wasn’t that he rejected them coldly and harshly, he gave respect to those feelings, not once had Alex refused to go where the sender of the letter and requested but always turned them down.

Asuna also adored this side of Alex, that even if he can’t reciprocate those feelings, he still responded and respected them.

‘Asuna…Asuna, you okay?’

Asuna snapped back into reality from her vivid memories.

‘Y-Yes’

‘You seem to be lost somewhere, is something bothering you?’

‘No, no, nothing at all.’

‘Hmm…’

Alex carefully looked at Asuna to see if there was something wrong. Asuna couldn’t handle Alex’s intense stare, and her heart started to beat loudly.

‘It seems you’re fine, anyway I was asking if you wanted a candy apple.’

‘Sure’

Asuna took a breath of ease. The concert began shortly after.

Asuna barely paid attention to the excellent play.

Each and every one of them had put their heart and soul into their performance. But Asuna only looked at Alex’s face as he gave such an awe expression.

After two hours of play or so, there was a short break. This was for the members and the audience to get refreshed.

‘Hey Asuna, want to get something to eat or drink?’

‘Okay’

Alex and Asuna were making their way to the stalls.

‘Stay close to me, Asuna. I wouldn’t want you to get separated.’

But before they knew it due to the enormous crowd, they got separated. Asuna tried calling out Alex’s name but no luck.

But someone else heard her call and found her.

‘Asuna?’

‘Hikaru?’

Hikaru couldn’t believe his. He already saw her as a beautiful kind-hearted angel but seeing her like this he couldn’t help but say,

‘Wow, you look… really beautiful’

‘Thanks, Hikaru’

Hikaru quickly gathered his thoughts.

‘I didn’t know you were going to the concert too, what a coincidence.’

*Like hell, it was a coincidence.* Hikaru had already spent too much money to win the competition. He didn’t have enough money to buy the concert ticket, but since he couldn’t leave Alex alone with Asuna, he sold some of his possessions to buy the ticket.

He had been looking for Asuna ever since the concert started and finally found her.

‘I was looking for Alex. We were together just a moment ago, but got separated by the crowd.’

--So that bastard is not here right now, Lucky!!

‘That’s too bad, let me help you look for him.’

‘Thank you very much.’

A perfect excuse to spend time with Asuna. It was Hikaru’s time to shine like a gentleman.

‘But first I am really hungry, can we go to eat a little first, please?’

‘Umm…sure.’

And so, Hikaru miniature fanciful date with Asuna began. They ate, they drank and shared a few laughs as Hikaru was supposedly looking for Alex.

All that fun time was unfortunately cut short and took a horrific turn.