Chapter 4: Something Truly Special

"Yeah, that sounds... lovely," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. "I’d like that a lot. I’m really bad with directions, so if it’s not a problem, can I occupy one of those booths and wait?"

"I only have another hour, so my manager shouldn’t care. Just don’t go starting any more fights," she said with a wink.

"Hey!" I laughed, lightly pushing her shoulder. "That guy asked for it. And I’d do it again in a heartbeat," I proclaimed.

"I’m only kidding. Go have a seat and I’ll bring you something to drink." She pointed to the back corner. "There would be best."

I quickly made my way to the booth she had pointed to. A few moments passed, and I remembered that I had been given more Favor. I called up my system, excitement building. It appeared without hesitation. I navigated to the advertisement for the cellphone. The clearance timer was nearly over.

Not wanting to lose the chance, I spent the thousand Favor without a second thought. Immediately, a box with large lettering covering it popped into existence with a flash. Opening it, I powered it on. A short jingle played as THE HAREM SYSTEM scrolled across the screen before I was met with the home screen.

Somehow, I wasn’t surprised to find Celestia as my wallpaper.

"That Goddess is truly full of herself," I huffed.

The phone functioned like my cellphone back on Earth. Scrolling to the left revealed a list of apps. One of them was the Celestial Market. I clicked on it. Once open, I was met with multiple ads for different items, ranging from a pair of socks to a machete. Closing all of them revealed a list of dropdowns. As I was about to investigate further, Damara walked up holding a pitcher of water and a glass.

"Hope you aren’t too thirsty after all that brooding earlier," she said, placing the glass in front of me and filling it. "So you do have a cellphone? I’ll give you my number later."

Before I could respond, she was already gone, leaving me alone once more.

I continued to scroll through the menus, nothing currently catching my eye other than Damara. Tucking the phone flat against the tabletop, my attention seemed to drift right back to her.

She moved between the crowded tables with an effortless sway, carrying heavy-looking drink trays without spilling even a drop. Every time she reached high to restock a glass or leaned over to clear a booth, her fitted leather vest pulled tight against her waist, making it nearly impossible to look anywhere else.

"HEY!" Damara yelled.

Her voice broke the quiet concentration I had fallen into. "Oh... Hey," I said with a grin. "Shift over? Already?"

"It looked like you fell asleep. Are you sure you’re up for a date? We can move it to—"

"No! I’m good. Let’s go," I quickly interjected, not wanting to spoil the impression I had made earlier. "I’m starving. What about you?"

"I’d kill for some hot, greasy food." She tucked a strand of her obsidian-black hair behind her ear. "I’ve got somewhere I’d like to show you. You can’t tell anyone about it, though. Promise?"

"I promise, cross my heart and hope to die," I said before standing. "Where are we going?"

She gave me a concerned look for a moment before continuing. "I can’t tell you in here. Let’s go!"

Without warning, she whisked me out of the Inn and into the bustling traffic of the village. We ducked under a cart hauling produce, falling into the rhythm of the traffic. She pulled me by my hand, occasionally looking back and smiling.

After a few minutes, she pulled us into an alley, the buildings towering over us as we passed through. People gave us intrigued looks as we rushed by.

The alley opened onto a wider street, and the cramped walls immediately gave way to open sky. The evening crowd had thinned, leaving the street noticeably quieter than the main thoroughfare. Warm light spilled from shop windows, mixing with the faint glow of magical signs above their doors.

The smell of fresh bread reached me before the bakery came into view. Damara and I followed it without hesitation. She pulled me toward a small shop tucked between two larger buildings.

"I’m surprised you can keep up," she said as we finally slowed down. "There’s a bakery not far from here. I’m going to get us some picnic supplies and treat you to one of the village’s best views. Stay here, I’ll be right back."

She entered the building in haste, the sound of her shouting for help slowly becoming muffled as the door crept closed.

"So much for greasy food..." I muttered.

Damara returned with a large basket and an emerald-green blanket on top. Rich aromas wafted from it, immediately putting any concerns I had about the picnic out of my mind. She eyed me with a devious grin, her bright smile making it impossible not to grin back.

"What are you planning? A grin like that usually has something behind it."

"Nothing too crazy," she said, signaling for me to follow her. "It’s just up that ridge."

We reached the destination unscathed, picnic basket and all. Damara quickly placed her hands over my eyes.

"Sit over there with your eyes closed. No peeking," she whispered.

The warmth from her breath gave me goosebumps. "Okay..."

With my eyes closed, my other senses seemed to sharpen. I listened to her set up our date, never even thinking to peek. Who would ruin a moment like this by doing something so asinine? After a few moments, she walked back over to me, replacing my hands with hers once more.

"Alright, there’s a small step up," she commanded, her voice soft but stern. "Once I say so, you can open your eyes."

The anticipation had built throughout this entire adventure. My skin was nearly vibrating, waiting for the words.

"Open them," she whispered, her fingers sliding slowly away from my face.

My breath caught in my lungs. We were sitting on a high, grassy bluff at the edge of the world.

Below us, the vast ring-city was bathed in a breathtaking cascade of molten gold, violet, and electric rose. The massive curve of the outer wall glowed like a celestial halo in the twilight, reflecting the setting sun while thousands of magical transit lines began to twinkle across the district like fallen stars.

"It’s incredible," I managed, completely awestruck.

"It really is," Damara said, but when I turned, she wasn’t looking at the horizon. Her ruby-red eyes were fixed on me. A delicate blush crept across her dusky cheeks, her hand lingering on the emerald blanket just inches from mine. "I usually come up here to be alone. But after today... I wanted to share it with you."

She leaned in slightly, her shoulder gently resting against mine as our fingers brushed together. A tingling spark shot straight to my chest, making my pulse race faster than any monster fight ever could.

My cellphone chimed in my pocket, somewhat ruining the moment. She didn’t notice the sound. Pulling my phone out showed I’d received a notification from the Harem System. Clicking on it opened the app.

[ QUEST RECEIVED! ]

[ Kiss the Girl ]

[NOTE: Damara has shown significant signs of compatibility. Continue being you. It’s working. ]