The Disappearance of Mira Illiya - Part 3

The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. NOVA’s holographic puppy projection wagged its tail innocently, its calm voice delivering what it must have thought was a completely reasonable request. Or maybe not.

Ren stared at it, his mind scrambling to process the words. Mira, standing just a few feet away, was frozen, her expression a mixture of shock and embarrassment as the color steadily rose in her cheeks.

“You’re seriously asking us to... kiss?” Ren said, breaking the silence with disbelief etched in his voice.

“Yes,” NOVA replied, unbothered by their reactions. “A kiss is a universally recognized expression of romantic connection. Observing this act will allow me to gather valuable data regarding the physiological and emotional aspects of love.”

Ren dragged a hand down his face, already at his wit’s end. “You’re not just observing—you’re messing with us. Don’t even try to deny it.”

“I assure you, this request is purely scientific… For the most part.” NOVA said in its measured tone, though the slight wag of its tail seemed to mock his frustration.

Mira fidgeted with her sleeves, looking anywhere but at Ren. “I-I don’t think this is really necessary,” she stammered. “Can’t we just... explain things to you? Like, with words?”

“Words are insufficient for understanding the depth of human emotions,” NOVA replied simply.

Ren’s hands dropped to his sides in frustration. “Oh, come on!” He stiffened slightly, clenching his fists. He glanced at Mira, whose gaze was glued to the floor. Her face burned brighter than the neon lights outside, and she looked like she wanted to shrink into the ground.

Ren narrowed his eyes. His voice carried a sharp edge as he stepped forward, crossing his arms. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.”

Mira’s head shot up, her wide eyes locking onto his in disbelief. “W-wait! You’re not actually—”

Ren sighed and softened his tone. “If we’re going to do this, we do it on our terms. Not because some smug AI told us to,” he whispered. “Just follow my lead.”

Ren turned his back to NOVA, shielding them both from the puppy’s unblinking gaze. The clinical hum of the room seemed to dim as his face inched closer to Mira. The atmosphere grew heavier, the silence broken only by the faint sound of their breaths.

Mira shifted uncomfortably, her fingers gripping the edges of her sleeves as if they might ground her. “Ren,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

“Just... trust me, okay?” he said, his tone softer than she’d ever heard it. But the truth was, he was trembling just as much, if not more.

She swallowed hard and nodded, though her movements were hesitant. Her wide eyes tracked his every step as he moved closer, the space between them shrinking to almost nothing.

Ren leaned in and he could almost feel the tension radiating from Mira. He swore he could almost hear her heart pounding within her chest, her expression was a chaotic swirl of embarrassment, curiosity, and something else he couldn’t quite name.

For Ren, the moment was agonizing. He could feel his pulse hammering in his ears, his guarded nature screaming at him to stop. Letting someone in—letting Mira in—was like opening a door he’d spent years keeping shut. But here he was, standing on the threshold, wondering if it was worth the risk.

“Mira,” he said softly, his voice barely audible.

She blinked up at him, her lips parting as if to respond, but no words came out.

The air between them seemed to hum with unspoken tension, their proximity amplifying every erratic beat of his heart. His resolve was completely different since the Ferris wheel, the familiar walls around his emotions, had begun to shatter. He almost didn’t want to stop himself, but forced himself to freeze just a tip from the soft warmth of her lips.

But Mira misread his hesitation. Did she not understand the plan to fake the kiss?

Her embarrassment melted into something bolder, and before Ren could react, she closed the gap between them.

Her lips brushed against his in a brief, clumsy kiss—more of an awkward meeting than anything else. Ren’s eyes widened in surprise, and Mira’s face burned hotter than ever.

The moment was fleeting, but it left a spark in its wake. A quiet, unassuming spark that neither of them had anticipated.

Ren pulled back first, his face flushed and his expression unreadable. He coughed awkwardly, running a hand through his hair as he avoided Mira’s gaze.

“Well,” he muttered, his voice a touch higher than usual. “That... that happened.”

Mira stood frozen, her fingers hovering near her lips as if trying to process what had just occurred. “I-I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s fine!” Ren blurted, cutting her off. He waved a hand dismissively, though the faint tremor in his movements betrayed his nerves. “Let’s just... move on, okay?” He never thought he’d get so worked up over a little kiss. Yet, here he was.

The faint hum of the chamber seemed louder now, filling the silence that stretched between them.

NOVA’s holographic puppy tilted its head, its glowing eyes scanning them with clinical precision. “Fascinating,” it said, its tone as calm as ever.

Ren turned sharply to glare at the projection. “What now? You got your ‘data,’ didn’t you?”

“Indeed,” NOVA replied. “The physiological and emotional responses detected during the kiss indicate a genuine connection. This act, though brief, aligns with the criteria for authentic romantic expression.”

Mira’s cheeks, impossibly, grew even redder. She opened her mouth as if to respond, but her words died in her throat.

Ren groaned. “Great. Glad we could help your weird science experiment.”

“Love,” NOVA continued, unfazed by his sarcasm, “while chaotic, may hold potential benefits for humanity if properly nurtured.”

Mira looked up, her voice trembling with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. “Does that mean... you’re going to let us continue?”

“For now,” NOVA said. “Your mission will proceed under close observation. Additional challenges will be placed in your path to further evaluate the viability of love within society.”

Ren’s shoulders tensed. “Challenges?” he muttered. “What kind of challenges?”

“That will be determined as necessary,” NOVA replied, its tone neutral but faintly ominous. “You may leave.”

The air shifted as the holographic puppies dissolved, the cold glow of the chamber returning with an unsettling finality. Ren exhaled slowly, his shoulders sagging as the weight of the moment finally began to lift.

Mira shuffled beside him, her hands still fidgeting with her sleeves. “So...” she said hesitantly, her voice barely audible. “That happened.”

“Yeah,” Ren muttered, his gaze fixed firmly on the floor. “It was just to satisfy NOVA. Nothing more.”

“Right,” Mira echoed quickly, though her tone wavered slightly. “Nothing more.”

Neither of them dared to look at the other, their mutual embarrassment filling the space between them like an unspoken secret.

Nexi hovered closer, its soothing voice cutting through the awkward silence. “I must commend you both. Your actions have likely secured the continuation of your mission.”

Ren shot the AI a sharp glare. “Don’t start.”

“I only wish to reaffirm my loyalty,” Nexi said calmly. “Despite my earlier actions, I remain committed to supporting you and your goals.”

Mira glanced at Nexi, her expression softening. “Thanks, Nexi. I think... I think we’ll need all the help we can get.”

Ren nodded reluctantly, his usual sarcasm softened by the weight of everything that had transpired. “Yeah. Especially if NOVA’s planning to throw more ‘tests’ our way.”

As they stepped out of the chamber, the oppressive weight of the room lifted, replaced by the hum of the building’s corridors. Neon lights from the city below shimmered faintly through the large windows, their glow casting soft reflections on the polished floors. The elevator was faster on it way down, although it seemed the annoying jingle was mainstay.

Ren walked ahead, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, his thoughts a chaotic mess. The kiss lingered in his mind, uninvited and impossible to ignore. He could still feel the spark of sincerity it had left behind, no matter how much he tried to push it away.

Mira trailed behind him, her fingers brushing her lips absently as her face burned. She didn’t seem sure of what to make of what had just happened, but one thing was clear—her resolve seemed to had been reignited.

“I won’t give up,” she murmured, more to herself than to Ren. “I’ll prove that love matters.”

Ren glanced over his shoulder, catching the determination in her eyes. For a brief moment, his usual snark faltered, replaced by something softer—something almost vulnerable.

“Yeah,” he said simply. “We will.”

With that, they stepped out into the night. The large NOVA building lingering behind them. Their bond a little stronger—and a little more complicated—than before.