04:00 IST, Twentieth Day, Seventh Month, 3079 PV | Planet City Stelarum / Royal Quarters

  “Daaaaarling, wake up, you know what day it is!”

  I somewhat reluctantly open my eyes. It's never good when your girlfriend says those words.

  Though, the sight I am greeted with is not a bad one per say. In fact, seeing your girlfriend’s super cute face as the first thing of the day is the best. Especially when she is wearing that super cute smirk of hers. It makes me want to not do anything for the entire day and just laze about.

  “Hmgph, what day is it again?”

  This question earns me a flick to the forehead. A quite hard one. It hurts.

  “Oh, right. The day. Yes, today is. Let's see. What could it possibly be? Hold on, its right at the edge of my brain.”

  “Jerk.”

  “No, wait, I'll get it. Just give me, like, five minutes.”

  “Fine. 300. 299. 288…” At this time, my brain is rapidly firing on all cylinders. I can figure this out. I'm a genius, right. But I'm also a worthless NEET pretending that I can be a good boyfriend. “41. 40.”

  “AHA, I have it. Be ready for this. I have uncovered the secrets of your brain. Today is the 3784th day anniversary of Kek’s debut!” [Kek is one of our favourite internet streamers, we have been watching their streams together since they started out]

  (un)fortunately, this response earns me yet another flick to the forehead. But, defying all logic, Ray then follows this action with a kiss to my forehead. I don't understand her at all.

  “You're a Jerk. An Idiot. A dummy too. Honestly, you're just a bad person. But, you're cute. Also you tried. Thus, you shall be forgiven.. This time.” She says, still hovering over me, preventing me from escaping her clutches as her piercing blue eyes stare into my gray ones. Her hair is long enough that it falls around my face, creating a brilliant silver screen. Isolating the world from the two of us.

  “Well, you're super cute too, you know. The cutest in the universe in fact.”

  “Of course I am silly. You don't gotta say it.”

  “Well, I wanna say it. After all, who wouldn't want to call their super cute girlfriend super cute? They'd have to be a complete sociopath.”

  “Stahp, or ima start blushing really bad.”

  “Well, maybe I want to see my super cute girlfriend’s cheeks painted a nice red tone.”

  “Hmm, what am I supposed to think about that statement? Like, what are you gonna do to make it a reality, hmm?”

  “Ill have to think on that. By the way, what was the thing that I was forgiven for?”

  “Oh, well it's our five month anniversary of course!”

  I almost say we should be celebrating a five month anniversary. But I catch myself before I commit such an unforgivable act.

  “Oh, I cannot believe I forgot such an important event! So, what are the plans for today?”

  “I can see it in your eyes. You were about to say it's not an important event to celebrate, weren't you.”

  Klack, she caught my internal monologue.

  “Well, at least I realized what a grave error such a statement would be.”

  “Ko darling.”

  “Yes, Ray darling?”

  “You're so cute.” She says, as she grabs me into a tight hug. A few kisses may have been exchanged, I'm not sure, the memory is quite fuzzy with happiness.

  A few hours of lazing about later

  “So, not that I have any issue with our current arrangement, in fact we could stay like this for eons as far as I care. But did you have any other plans for the day?”

  I reach over and mindlessly twirl a strand of her platinum-blonde hair around my finger. My head is resting on her shoulder, giving the perfect vantage point for such activities.

  “Hm, I did have plans. But staying here with you almost sounds preferable to them.”

  “Well, I'm not going to argue with the super cute girlfriend.”

  “Oh, you. Stop acting like you aren't at most equally as cute as I am.”

  “Well, all I can say is that you are definitely more cute than I am. I mean, you remembered our fifth month anniversary. That's like the peak of absolute cuteness in my book.”

  “Wait, what is this book that you speak of? You have a book aside from your cute little journal!?”

  “Well, first off, my journal is not cute, it's an important historical piece. Also, the reference to ‘my book’ was a metaphorical reference to all the things I could ever want from my cute girlfriend.”

  “I would like to learn more about this book of yours. After all, isn't it my right?”

  My hand, of its own accord, manages to come to a rest upon her cheek.

  Naturally, this prompts me to lean in for an extended kiss.

  “Well, I'll be glad to show you what some of it entails. So, allow me to demonstrate the intricacies of what is contained within this book of mine.”

  With that, I spend several hours demonstrating and showing various things. After all, it's her right as my girlfriend to know what things I want, right? In return, she of course, demonstrates and shows me many things from her book.

  “Hey darling. Are you sure you had nothing else planned for the day? It's getting kind of late if you want to do anything else…”

  Ray, who is super cutely nuzzling into my side at the current moment, briefly disengages and a look of panic briefly appears on her face.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Oh klack, I did have something to show you today. You know that secret project I've been working on the past month or so? It's finally completed!”

  “Thats great news, I can't wait to find out what it is. I sense a but coming along. and not the good kind.”

  “Well, you see.. We were supposed to be there like, five hours ago. I wonder if everything is still set up…”

  “Well, I'm sure someone would've realized that we would be late, though maybe not by five whole hours. So there is a chance your surprise is still ready!”

  “Hmm, I suppose so. But, I propose just a few more minutes of headrubs. We are already five hours late, what harm can thirty or so more do?”

  “Darling. I love your way of thinking.”

  18:45 IST, Twentieth Day, Seventh Month, 3079 PV | Planet City Stelarum / Streets

  “Ohmygossh darling! How did thirty or so minutes turn into two more hours?”

  “Well, I think your cuteness just warps the fabric of spacetime. Maybe we could've harnessed it to travel the stars if not for hyperspace tech.”

  Ray (who is super duper cute by the way, if ya didnt know) and I are currently walking – more like running to be honest – towards our destination. Apparently she has prepared something near the city center for us.

  I'm holding onto her arm, but she somehow has the leverage to drag me along, as though I weigh almost nothing. To be fair, she does more strength training than I do. I think I am faster than her though. So it balances out.. Maybe.

  After several minutes of walking we enter one of the older-styled districts of the city. It very much has that 1900s aesthetic, as best as we could recreate it.

  We are standing in front of a very unassuming shop. It blends almost seamlessly with the environment.

  Though, one thing sticks out.

  “Darling, welcome to Raon’s!” Ray says, as she walks away from me to stand next to the sign. Her arms are clasped behind her back and she is leaning down a little bit. It's immensely cute. It's a good thing we are in public, or we might end up a few extra hours late.

  I look at the sign above the door. Surely enough, it says ‘welcome to Raon’s cafe and bar’ in fancy letters.

  “Oh great, it looks like they stuck around to wait for us. Ima have to give them a bonus or something, not every day you find such dedicated workers.”

  I sneak up next to Ray and suddenly grab her hand. I lean in to whisper in her ear “you really went through all this effort, for us? I suppose I'll have to do some more demonstrating later for such a cute and hardworking girlfriend such as yourself.”

  My sudden speech spooks her and she tries to bolt away. Only for me to hold on firm and pull her into a nice tight hug. I believe this series of actions has earned me more than a few boyfriend points. I think it might now be 58-3643 (in Ray’s favor), not bad if I do say so myself.

  I notice a blush creeping up her neck. Aha! I have managed it at last. A natural blush reaction. Though it doesn't quite reach her face like earlier. I will have to work on my techniques.

  “Darling, you're so evil. Now, come.”

  “As you wish, milady."

  We enter the cafe, only to be quickly greeted by someone tending the bar.. However, that's not abnormal. The strange part is, she is an elf. Or elvan? Ima just call them elves when I feel like it. I'm sure they won't mind if they ever read this journal.

  Her long ears stand out quite significantly in contrast to her shorter brunette hair. Also just in general she is quite short, even for an elvan. They normally stand around 1.3 meters tall. But I think she is only around a meter tall. She must be using some form of stepstool to even reach the counter.

  “Welcome back, Rayleigh. You finally managed to drag him outa bed, I see?”

  “Nice to be back, Cheryl, though to be honest, it's more like he dragged me into bed, and then out of bed. What's a love-struck girl supposed to do in such a situation?”

  “Hah, well that's a pretty good reason for being late, as far as reasons go. Though, could you try to not make it nearly eight hours late next time?”

  “Sorry Miss, I'll try to round her up earlier next time. But you seem to know how she can be sometimes. Always causing distractions and making us late.” As I say this last part, Ray gives me a sharp elbow to the side. “Ow. What was that for, not that I can complain about such loving affection.”

  “You know very well that you are at least equally responsible for making us late all the time. Don't you dare try to pin this time on me. Mr. Jerk who forgets anniversaries.”

  “Hey, don't act like I forget everything, I remembered our one month anniversary and even got you a gift!”

  “You mean, you remembered last minute and picked up a flower from the closest flower pot you could find.”

  “Waaat, I thought I got away with that! You looked so happy.”

  “I was happy. I mean, I didn't have to remind you about our anniversary. But, that doesn't mean I still don't notice your hijinks, you forget we've known each other for what is it, thirteen years now?”

  Cheryl suddenly bursts out into laughter, ending our minorly romantic banter session.

  “You two are hilarious, are you always this way? I can see why people cant watch enough of you on the net.”

  Both: “What way could you possibly mean? Our banter is completely normal and realistic. It's nothing special as far as banter goes.”

  This earns an even greater laugh from Cheryl. I start to wonder if she is having trouble breathing from all the laughing.

  “Now now, kiddos. How about we get on with today’s event. Dear Rayleigh, do you wanna announce it?”

  “Hmm, I guess I will.

  So Ko, here's the quick deal. I have been working to open up this restaurant, with help from Cheryl here and many others. I figured it would be nice to have a place to call our own. Separate from all the trial shenanigans right? Also, I've made it so that it is one of the spaces where IEC cannot monitor us, so we are free from any and all prying eyes.”

  “That is perhaps one of the sweetest and romantic things I have ever heard. Now get over here.” I pull Ray (who is ultra cute by the way) into a tight hug, with bonus headrubs for good measure.

  “Well.. I can only do the best for my darling Ko that I love oh so much.”

  “Well then, I guess I better work on being a better boyfriend to my darling Ray that I love oh so much.”

  “I think you've been a pretty decent boyfriend all things considered. Though you're still a jerk.”

  “Hmm, but you've been the best girlfriend a guy could ask for. Genius prodigy and all. I gotta up my game.”

  “Well, don't worry, I'm not going anywhere, so you've got all the time in the universe to do that, I'll be waiting.”

  “Alright kiddos, how'd you like some of my specialty dishes in commemoration of this very romantic event?”

  “Oooo, oo, Ko, you're gonna love this one!”

  It turns out this speciality is something known as ‘lava cake’. Though probably not the type you're thinking of.

  I take a bite of the cake and instantly regret it.

  My mouth is on fire, and I feel a bit dizzy.

  “Kiddo, I think he figured out what the lava part was!”

  “Yeah, he sure did. I can't wait to help his mouth heal from the burns!”

  Okay, I take back some of what I said. She is a pure incarnation of evil.

  It turns out that the ‘lava’ part is a new brand of alcohol that she has been developing. The majority of her ‘secret project’ so to speak. Cheryl had the brilliant idea to infuse it into a cake. Thus making such an abomination.

  Though, it turned out to be quite a hit, especially among the Arkan (who can't get burned), so.. I guess that's a partial success?

  I'm sure that whatever should come of this ‘lava cake’ or these upcoming trials, Ray and I will conquer it, together. So, bring it on.

  End of Chapter 74

  Next: Chapter 75 | City of Stars