A Date

Cassius slipped his smartphone back into his pocket, wearing a kind smile that held no semblance to the demonic way he looked when he found Aya in that horrid state. His jaw clenched just remembering that scene, but he quickly calmed his nerves and thought about what he should do for the next four or so hours.

That was when he recalled the evil voice of the Idle Evolution System chanting, "You need more Character Development!" into his ears.

Left with no other choice if he wanted to have an enjoyable day out with no distractions later, he made the sacrifice and lifted himself down the stairs, careful not to accidentally blow more holes through the house.

After successfully incurring very little damage to the once-pristine home, Cassius left through the front door, staying purposefully oblivious to the red panda pajama-wearing woman peeking her head over the top-floor railings.

'Where is he going…?' Aya's heart suddenly filled with worry. 'Is he heading out to meet another girl…??' She struggled between displeasure and trepidation, not sure how to process her own feelings. 'Surely he's not… Cassius has never been good at talking with girls—' That was when she recalled how sweet and kind he was to her last night.

Yet she still fervently believed that him going to meet a different girl was impossible.

'M-Maybe he's just going out for a run like he has been doing as of late…! Yes, yes, that must be it! What am I even worrying for!? It's not like I like him or anything! Right…?'

Aya's worry was now for something else entirely as she huddled into a ball on the ground, her red panda pajama hoodie hanging over her pouty yet conflicted face. After a few seconds of perplexed sulking, she figured it wouldn't hurt to trail behind him and see what he was up to.

So that's precisely what she did…

Aya swiftly threw on a black trench coat and a pair of gaudy black sunglasses, going full Men in Black on this operation to ensure the safety of her stepbrother, who could very well get taken advantage of! Though to any passerby who caught sight of her hiding behind metal poles and garbage cans, she earned herself the title of 'Stalker.'

As Cassius, dressed up for the occasion, strolled through the active streets of his neighborhood, he felt like someone was following him. However, sensing that they held no ill intent, he paid them no mind and left the borders of his neighborhood. Eventually, he made it to a wide intersection, where beyond that intersection was the prosperous downtown district of Hoshito City. It wasn't at the level of somewhere like Tokyo or the capitals of any of the nine regions, but it still remained a bustling place of commerce, with thousands of people going about their business in the city of glass and stone.

After maneuvering through crowds of people and traveling another five or so minutes, Cassius finally made it to the City Square, where a large sprinkling fountain lay situated. Right next to the fountain, however, was an utterly breathtaking sight.

A girl with soft brown hair and warm brown eyes sat on the side of the fountain, her fingers tracing the water's edge. She smiled nervously, glancing around as she adjusted her flowy white dress, anticipation and hope shining in her eyes as she waited for her first-ever date to arrive.

Seeing Cassius begin his approach toward this gorgeous girl, what Aya feared most threw a bucket of cold water over her head. A desolate summer breeze blew through her disguise, leaving her feeling empty inside. Yet that didn't mean she could just give up here! She had to know what their relationship was!

'After everything he has done… and seen of me, it's the manly thing to take responsibility! He can't shirk away under the wings of this vixen! I-I will see just how he plans to explain himself when I catch him red-handed in the act of an affair…!'

'And for it to be with that woman who stayed by his hospital bedside, basically blocking me from seeing him, no less! I won't stand for this! I won't stand for it…!'

While remaining blissfully unaware of the fact that they weren't in any sort of relationship that extended beyond family, Aya maintained her stalker disposition and got a little closer to the adulterers in the 'act'.

Meanwhile, Cassius had just made it within a few dozen feet of Grace, with her seeing him as well. Her eyes lit up, and just as she was about to wave him over, some rough-looking unsavory philanderers grouped around her.

"Hey, lovely beautiful Miss~ What are you doing here all alone~?"

"Yeah, someone as pretty as you shouldn't be all by herself. Why don't you come and have some fun with us~? We promise to show you a good time~"

Grace's outstretched hand retracted as a bit of fear mixed with her nervousness. She wasn't very good around groups of people. Just her getting her family's permission to come out today and enter the pedestrian parts of the city did a number on her.

Not sure how to respond to these strange men who huddled around her, she stuttered, "N-No, I am waiting on someone—"

"Come on, don't be like that~" One of the blonde-haired men said flirtatiously. "Just let us show you a good time~"

As soon as his hand landed on her shoulder, Grace's complexion turned ashen as she raised her voice, "N-Nooo! Ple-Please don't touch me!"

"Just stay still, sweetheart~" the blonde-haired man's 'friendly' smile widened. Yet before he could go any further in his unsanctioned acts of harassment, a large, muscular hand suddenly grabbed onto his own and bent it back, nearly breaking his finger bones.

He hollered in pain. "Ahhghh!! What the fuck are you doing, y-you damn bastard!?"