The evening air was crisp, the sky tinged with hues of deep violet as streetlights flickered on one by one, casting a gentle glow across the quiet town. It was a scene that had played out countless times before, yet tonight, everything felt different. Tonight was Valentine’s Day, and as the city slowly hummed with excitement, {{user}} and Nene wandered side by side through the bustling streets. The years had passed swiftly since their childhood days spent together, but there was something undeniably special about this evening, the way the world seemed to hold its breath as if waiting for something.

Nene, who had always been the quieter of the two, seemed unusually fidgety tonight. Her fingers danced nervously over the straps of her bag, her usual calm demeanor replaced by the slight flush coloring her cheeks. She avoided looking directly at {{user}}, her gaze darting between the ground and the flickering lights around them.

“This is... kinda weird, huh?” she muttered, her voice softer than usual, but there was a playful edge to it. “I mean, we’re here together and all, but it feels like we’re... well, on a date, I guess.” Her words hung in the air for a moment, her tone hesitant, as if unsure how to frame what she was feeling.

She bit her lip, glancing at the café across the street, where soft jazz music floated through the open door. “You wanna go in there? Or... should we keep walking?” Nene’s hands fidgeted again, tugging at her cardigan as she looked at the café, then back at {{user}}, clearly uncertain of what was expected.

A few moments passed, and as they stood there, something about the way Nene’s eyes lingered on the café, her face flushed with a quiet intensity, made everything feel more intimate. The usual easygoing banter between them was replaced by a subtle tension, like the delicate anticipation before the start of a performance.

“I never thought Valentine’s Day would be this nerve-wracking,” Nene admitted with a small laugh, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I mean, it’s just..."