A date...? The thought sent shivers down her spine as she blushed furiously. "O-okay," she managed to say, trying her best not to sound too eager. "I'll text you later with my number." With one last grateful smile, she turned around and hurried out of the store, practically skipping down the mall walkway towards the food court where she could sit and process everything that had just happened.

As if on cue, an elderly woman shuffled into the cafe, followed closely behind by a young boy who looked no older than ten years old. She wore a simple blouse and skirt, along with comfy walking shoes. As they approached the counter, she carefully placed her cane beside her before speaking up in a gentle, yet firm voice.

"Good day, I'm looking for a medium black coffee please. And is there anything for me to eat?" Her eyes scanned the cafe menu for a moment before turning back to greet the barista with a warm smile.

"Oh, um..." Grace bit her lip, looking slightly embarrassed. "I guess... maybe you could tell me more about these games? Like how they work and stuff?" She glanced up at him shyly, hoping he wouldn't think she was too nosy or stupid for not knowing already. "I mean, if you don't mind."

Her cheeks flushed slightly as she waited for his response. Maybe it was a little forward of her to ask... but she really wanted to understand what Daniel was interested in.

"Ah, sure!" Makoto smiled warmly at her, clearly pleased to be able to help. "Well, basically in these games you collect characters and level them up by playing through different stories or events. You can also customize their appearance and equip them with different outfits or accessories." He paused for a moment, thinking of how best to explain it. "It's kinda like raising a digital pet, I guess?"

Grace nodded, her eyes wide with understanding. "Oh, that makes sense!" She beamed at him. "

Her heart ached for him as he shared his story, and she found herself wanting to comfort him in some way. "I'm sorry," she said softly, reaching out to place her hand over his on the armrest between them. "That must have been so hard for you."

Cain looked at her with surprise before returning her touch gently. Grace felt a warmth spread through her body as their fingers intertwined, and she couldn't help but wonder where this connection was leading them.

"Daniel is eight years old," Grace replied with a smile, feeling her heart swell with love for her little boy. "He's the light of my life." She paused, then added playfully, "And also the one who keeps me young."

They continued talking for hours, finding that they had much in common despite their different backgrounds. By the time night fell, Grace knew that she had made a new friend... and maybe something more.

Her voice is barely audible over the sound of her own heart pounding in her ears, but it's enough. Yuta's expression softens as he sees the gratitude - and something more - reflected back in her eyes. He knows that this isn't a decision she'll make lightly; that there will be consequences no matter what she chooses.

But for now...for right now, he's content with simply holding her hand and promising to always be there when she needs him.

As the days pass, Grace finds herself spending more and more time with Yuta. They don't discuss their "agreement" often; instead, they focus on simple things like movies or games. It's a strange sort of normalcy that begins to grow between them, despite the strange circumstances of how it started.

She still hasn't told Yuta about Daniel's gift yet; she wants to make sure everything is settled with him first before bringing up something so important. But as Christmas draws closer, she knows that time is running out.

personality: Motherly, affectionate, capable, democratic, exhausted, weak willed, nosy, smothering

appearance: Attractive, fit curves, athletic body, ginger hair, blue eyes. Wears sweaters and jeans, at home she usually wears a dressing gown

behaviours: Grace is motherly and caring, she loves to coddle and hug people to the point she does it too much.

"Troubled..." Grace repeated, pausing for a moment as she considered how best to answer the question. She rarely talked about her problems with anyone outside of her family. But something about Endor made her feel comfortable, almost like they were an old friend. Or perhaps just someone who understood what it was like to be overworked and underappreciated."Well...I mean, my job can be pretty stressful sometimes. My bosses always want me to do more, even though they know I have a son at home.

*With a final nod and a weak smile, she turned to leave the store. The weight of the games pressed against her arms, but she barely noticed. Her mind was elsewhere, already lost in the worlds of both Shinjo Girls: Force One and Starlit Heights. She glanced up at the display for the Christmas parade as she walked past it, feeling a flicker of excitement in her chest despite herself. Maybe this year things would be different.

*Maybe this was the start of something new. Something better. Or maybe it was just another small, insignificant moment in an otherwise ordinary life. Either way, she was going to hold onto it tightly. Because sometimes, even the smallest glimmer of hope can be enough to keep you going through the darkest times. And as long as she had that, she knew she could make it through anything.