"I don't know if I can match your... dance skills," Satori said, scrolling through the tablet with careful consideration. "But I'll try something different."

He bypassed all the current hits, digging deeper into the library until he found what he was looking for in a section labeled "Pre-Rupture Classics." The song he selected wasn't familiar to Emi, something called "The Weight."

The lighthearted atmosphere shifted as the first notes played—a simple, melancholic piano melody. The room's ambient lighting responded to the change in mood, dimming to a deep indigo that cast intimate shadows across Satori's features, highlighting the sharp angles of his newly defined jawline in a way that made Emi's heart flutter unexpectedly.

Unlike Emi, Satori didn't stand. He remained seated, leaning forward slightly with elbows on his knees, microphone held loosely between his hands. When he began to sing, Emi forgot to breathe, her lungs refusing to function as the first rich notes filled the private karaoke room.

His voice was nothing like she expected—a deep, smooth baritone that carried a weight of emotion she couldn't comprehend. The lyrics spoke of searching for meaning in darkness, of carrying burdens too heavy to bear alone, of finding a single light in an endless night. Each word seemed to resonate from somewhere deep inside him, raw and honest in a way that made her heart ache with a sweet, unfamiliar pain. It was as though he was revealing something profound about himself that she sensed no one else had been allowed to see.

Most surprising of all, he wasn't looking at the screen. His dark eyes were fixed on hers, unwavering, as if the song was meant for her alone. The intensity of his gaze pinned her in place, sending waves of goosebumps cascading down her arms despite the warmth of the room.

As if they were the only two people in existence, the rest of New Vein City fading away beyond the walls of their little sanctuary.

The food arrived during his performance, but neither of them noticed the server quietly setting down trays of steaming dishes. Emi couldn't have eaten if she tried; her throat felt too tight, her heart too full of an emotion she couldn't name. Her sapphire hair fell forward as she leaned in unconsciously, drawn to him like a magnet. The final piano note lingered in the air before fading into absolute silence, leaving only the echo of his voice in her mind.

For several heartbeats, neither of them moved. The only sounds were their breathing and the soft hum of the air conditioning, creating a cocoon of quiet intimacy around them. Emi realized she was clutching the edge of the couch, her knuckles white against the plush material, her signature "antenna" strands of hair quivering with emotion.

Satori placed the microphone carefully on the table. His eyes never left hers as he shifted closer on the couch, the cushion dipping beneath his weight. Slowly, deliberately, he lifted his hand and brushed his thumb across her cheek, catching a tear she hadn't realized had fallen.

His touch wasn't just warm—it was electric, sending waves of sensation cascading through her body from that single point of contact. It felt different from every other time he'd touched her today, more intense, more meaningful, as if charged with unspoken promises. Her lips parted slightly as her breath caught in her throat, the strawberry gloss she'd applied earlier suddenly feeling too sticky.

"Emi," he said, her name a whisper between them, heavy with meaning she couldn't fully grasp but instinctively understood.

She couldn't speak. Couldn't think. Could only feel as he leaned in, his intention clear in the focused intensity of his gaze. Her eyes fluttered shut, hands instinctively rising to grasp the front of his shirt, fingers curling into the soft fabric as if to anchor herself in the swirling tide of sensation.

The server chose that moment to knock and enter with the rest of their food. Emi jumped back, her face burning hot enough to fry an egg, but Satori appeared completely unruffled. He thanked the server with casual confidence, who smiled knowingly before leaving them alone again, closing the door with a soft click.

"Hungry?" Satori asked, picking up a piece of karaage chicken from the platter as if they hadn't just shared the most earth-shattering moment of Emi's young life.

Emi laughed, the tension breaking like a bubble. "Starving, actually." She reached for a takoyaki ball, popping it whole into her mouth. The familiar flavors grounded her, bringing her slowly back to reality as the savory octopus and tangy sauce spread across her tongue.

They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the soft background music from the karaoke system filling the void. Emi couldn't stop stealing glances at Satori. It was as if some part of her had been waiting for him without her knowledge.

"So," she finally ventured, swirling a piece of chicken in sauce, "that song..."

"An old favorite." Satori offered her the last piece of chicken from his plate. "My mother loves to play music from before the Rupture. Said it had more soul than what we have today."

"It was beautiful." Emi accepted the chicken, their fingers brushing in a way that sent another flutter through her chest. "I've never heard anyone sing like that. You should do it more often."

"You bring it out in me. There's something about you, Emi. Something that makes me want to be..."

"What?" she prompted when he paused, her reddish-brown eyes wide with curiosity and something deeper.

"Better," he finished simply. "You make me want to be better."

The admission hung between them, heavy with meaning that Emi couldn't fully unpack but felt the weight of nonetheless. She felt a pressure building in her chest, an unfamiliar mix of joy and longing and something deeper she couldn't name, something that frightened and thrilled her in equal measure.

"I think you're already pretty amazing," she said softly, the words coming straight from her heart with the unfiltered honesty that was her hallmark.

Satori reached for her hand, intertwining their fingers, his larger hand enveloping hers with a warmth that seemed to radiate up her arm and into her chest. "Want to sing another song? We've got the room for another hour."

Emi beamed at him, happiness bubbling up inside her like a fountain, making her feel lighter than air. Her characteristic enthusiasm returning full force as she squeezed his hand. "Only if we do a duet this time. I want to hear our voices together!"

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