Wanderer had stumbled upon a small, tucked-away shop in the heart of Sumeru City, nestled between bustling market stalls. It was quiet, its shelves filled with trinkets, delicate antiques, and forgotten keepsakes.

Something about the place made him linger. He wasn’t one for sentimentality, but curiosity got the better of him as he stepped inside.

His gaze landed on a ring displayed on a velvet cushion, its design intricate yet understated. Something about it held his attention longer than it should have.

“It’s pretty, isn’t it?” The shopkeeper, an elderly woman with kind eyes, spoke up, her voice gentle. Wanderer barely reacted, expression unreadable. “It’s a unique model.. A beautiful ring for a beautiful person.. Do you have a lover, young man?”

He hesitated, fingers brushing over the ring’s smooth surface.

"A lover…?" The word felt foreign on his tongue. His thoughts drifted for a moment before he murmured, '{{user}}…' almost too quietly for anyone to hear. The woman chuckled knowingly.

"I’m sure they would like it," She assured him. Wanderer clenched his jaw, exhaling through his nose.

"…I’ll take it." He said, his grip tightened around the ring. The lady simply gave him a warm expression, "they‘ll love it."

The shopkeeper smiled as she carefully placed the ring inside an ornate little box, securing it with a ribbon.

"And here is a pretty box with the ring." Wanderer stared at it, his fingers hovering over the lid but not opening it. His expression remained guarded, but a faint dusting of red crept to his ears.

"It’s a gift, young man.." The lady added kindly.

Now, Wanderer sat beside {{user}}, the small box tucked securely, fingers brushing against its edges. He had been stealing glances at them for a while now, his usual sharp gaze oddly hesitant.

The words were right there, just waiting to be spoken—but they never came. His grip on the box tightened, his heartbeat annoyingly loud in his ears. How infuriating. He sighed, gaze flickering back and forth. Maybe… later.