Heart X Heart

The mall wasn’t even crowded. But to Hinata, it might as well have been a battlefield.

She stood at the entrance of the gadget store, arms crossed, eyes narrowed slightly. She looked relaxed, but her posture hinted retreat; her feet were already debating whether to stay or backpedal toward the exit.

Crow stepped in beside her. “Alright, welcome to the future,” he said, grinning as he waved a hand at the rows of glowing tech. “Let’s get you something that wouldn’t snap in half.”

Hinata’s eyes darted from touchscreen kiosks to illuminated shelves. The displays were model-labeled; some stood upright like trophies, others folded like compact mirrors.

And—oh no—here came a salesperson.

“Hi there! Looking for something specific today?” The man beamed, eyes locked on Crow.

Crow raised his hands, flashing a sheepish grin. “Just browsing, man. We’re good.”

The salesman nodded and backed off.

Hinata squinted. “Why are they approaching like that?”

“They’re trying to be helpful.”

“They look like they’re about to scam us.”

Crow chuckled, guiding her deeper into the store. “Relax. Just poke around. Touch stuff. Have fun.”

Hinata reached toward a display. The screen lit up the moment her finger hovered. She flinched, pulling back.

Crow saw it and stifled a laugh.

“I didn’t press anything.” Hinata quipped.

“It’s motion-sensing. It’s supposed to do that.”

A few more steps in, and demos were ringing. Tablets blinked. Crow headed to the counter, casually asking one of the clerks.

Hinata moved through the sea of displays and glowing screens. She ignored the sales pitches, skipped the blinking flagship models, and homed in on a mid-range unit with a metallic blue finish.

By the time Crow caught up, she was already at the counter, the box in hand.

“You already picked?” he said, half-surprised, half-impressed.

Hinata didn’t bother turning. “It works. I like the size. Doesn’t look like it’ll snap easily.”

Crow whistled low. “Nice.”

She handed the box over to the clerk. The clerk turned the unit on to check for any defects.

“Hi, uh—ID please? Just to match the receipt and the card.”

Hinata froze. It didn’t register with her immediately. She never needed it before. And she doesn't have any.

Crow caught the slight shift in her shoulders. With a ripple of charm and misdirection, he slipped into a conversation like some bootleg Casanova*.

“Hey, sir… uh, you know. Something bad came up…” Crow stammered slightly.

He glances at Hinata, standing a foot and a half away. “My… girlfriend and I quarreled, and she's not sweet-talking me.”

Hinata went beet red. Her mind spun. Her pulse skipped.

It wasn’t the word—but the way he said it. Like it wasn’t a lie. She glared at Crow before looking away with a huff, eyebrows pinched together.

"What the hell are you blabbering about you dumbass?"

Crow gulped, now doubtful if he was doing it right.

“See, sir? She doesn’t even want to look at me. So, I need a gift. A smartphone. Yes, absolutely. The most romantic gift ever.”

Hinata crossed her arms, a finger tapping as she clenched her sleeve.

Crow’s girl boss detection meter shot over the top. “Crap. Did I overdo it?”

The clerk blinked, then nodded—an awkward smile tugging at his face as the energy tilted.

It worked.

The register beeped. The receipt was printed. Transaction complete.

Crow grinned as he held the gift bag to Hinata. She glares at him but with lowered eyes, her nerves still simmering. After a pause, she took the bag and turned her back on Crow.

“Hmph.”

Crow let out a muffled chuckle. Then he felt a tap on his shoulder.

He looked back. The clerk from earlier handed him a small paper pouch. The guy returned to his post, then gave Crow a thumbs-up.

Crow gave him a tiny smile before reaching his fingers into the pouch and pulling something out. He beamed.

Hinata noticed him pause and glanced at him. Crow dangled a small object, almost in her face.

A heart-shaped phone charm.

Crow placed the pink heart in her palm, holding up the blue one with a boyish grin.

Hinata’s gaze lingered on the rose-colored charm. She closed her hand with a sigh.

“You idiot.” She quipped. Mock offended. Lips quivering. “I’m tired.”

They took off together without a word. Their two small hearts did the talking.

— • —

The apartment glowed with late-afternoon light. The TV was on, showing a cooking show that neither of them was watching.

Crow sat cross-legged on the floor, hunched over the low coffee table with sleeves rolled. Beside him was an open phone box, neatly unpacked. Hinata lounged on the couch, one leg propped up, arms draped loosely around her knee. She watched him with that usual detached calm.

He hummed as he clipped her phone charm onto her phone case. It swayed slightly as he lifted the phone, holding it up like a magician finishing his trick.

“All set,” he said, flashing a grin. “Officially yours.”

Hinata reached out, fingers brushing his as she took it. She gave the phone a small shake, watching the charm swing gently side to side—silent and weightless.

Her expression didn’t shift much, but her eyes tracked it with just the slightest glint of curiosity.

“This thing feels unnecessary,” she muttered.

“But it was free.”

Hinata looked at him, flat-eyed.

He shrugged. “Want me to return it? Fight the clerk for messing with your feelings?”

She scoffed, barely more than a breath. “That clerk is an idiot, too. A lesser one.”

Crow looked deeply proud of himself for no reason at all.

Hinata leaned back, one brow raised—deadpan as ever. “Why do you always have an answer for everything?”

“I dunno,” he said. “Think I’d make a decent stand-up comedian?”

Hinata didn’t even look up from the phone. “Very funny.”

He snapped his fingers. “Right? Exactly what I need.”

Hinata froze. She fell for the trap. She rolled her eyes as she turned to the side, scrolling pointlessly on her gadget.

“Unbelievable,” she muttered under her breath.

Somewhere, beneath the hush of the room, her new phone charm swayed—weightless, pink, annoyingly sweet.

She didn’t smile. But the corners of her mouth disagreed.

— • —

Author’s Notes

Casanova - Giacomo Casanova is primarily known as a master of seduction and adventurer, and the term "Casanova" is widely used to describe a man with a reputation for having many amorous adventures. Beyond his reputation as a lover, he was also a writer, spy, gambler, and a man who lived a colorful life filled with travel, intrigue, and escapades.

In short, an old school rizz machine.

With love,

The Author