Dialogue: Valentine's Day 2022

*- ...*

*- You can't stop a heart from feeling, but never let them weaken you. NEVER let them control you or tell you what to say or do. You must analyze every situation with your logic, not your heart. Never... Never let emotions speak over your logic.*

*The woman looked at the little girl with cold eyes, spoke in an icy tone and showed no kindness on her face.*

*- ... I... Okay, Mommy.*

*She was only six years old. The young Sheerah looked at her mother with tears in her eyes. She was very young, but since that event, she had been tested many times. For such a young Kemono, living such a future was going to be hell. Sheerah's heart would never break...*

*Because she had to force it behind an ice barrier. Put it in rock.*

*Never listen to him again, never let him speak, refuse to hear him.*

- ...

It was a rainy night and the thunder did not hesitate to strike Arcave with power and anger. Only Lura -- the planet's natural satellite -- was faintly visible through the many clouds in the sky. The Kemono looked outside her room with bored eyes. She was feeling her fatigue more and more, so she decided to go to sleep instead of thinking of unpleasant memories. She sighed as she closed the window and fell into bed. She was in comfortable pajamas that would keep her warm enough on this cold night. She barely closed her eyes when the doorbell rang. She sighed again and decided not to answer it.

- Sheerah... ?

She finally opened her eyes when she heard the person's voice. She recognized it immediately and agreed to get up. She turned the key in the lock and opened the door before facing a Kemono she knew perfectly.

- What is it, Ronaa... ?

Bad hair, tired eyes and frog-like attributes. She scratched her cheek.

- I-I can't sleep well and Kituhn... Kituhn is not here today.

- Oh, right. He'll be back tomorrow, won't he?" asked Sheerah.

Ronaa nodded and stared into the eyes of the Kemono before her.

- Can I... sleep with you today?

Sheerah had a spasm in her hand and pursed her lips. She quickly calmed down and coughed.

- Hm, you have so much trouble sleeping... ?

- Too much "brrr!" for me...

Ronaa imitated the thunder in a cute way which almost made Sheerah laugh. She held back and finally let her pass. Ronaa thanked her with a big smile and threw herself on Sheerah's bed. Sheerah locked the door behind her and shook her head.

- What a child... she thought.

She lay down in her bed without further ado, with her back to Ronaa. After all, there was enough room for both of them... Sheerah had always had a big bed, since she sometimes moved around a lot during her sleep. Nevertheless--

- ??!

Sheerah opened her eyes and turned to Ronaa. The Kemono with the frog-like attributes had taken her in her arms!

- R-Ronaa...?

- Hmmm... ?

She opened her eyes and looked at Sheerah.

- Y-Yes... ?

- You... You're taking up a lot of space, aren't you?

- Eeeh... I said I wanted to sleep with you, didn't I...

Ronaa opened her eyes wider when she saw Sheerah's face blush. Her eyes were staring at Ronaa's, the embarrassment was visible in every feature of her face. Her mouth hesitated, trembled weakly. Ronaa knew her better than anyone, she knew how much she tried to hide her emotions from everyone, even when they were together. Even with her own Faction, Sheerah never showed her cuter side... At least, she did her best to never show it. Seeing her blush was not the rarest thing for Ronaa, but seeing her so close and so embarrassed...

- ...

Ronaa hugged her tighter and blushed back.

- E-Eh!

Sheerah was about to ask her to at least not hug her when Ronaa spoke before her.

- Sheerah, you know you don't have to be like that with me...?

The Kemono with the sheep-like attributes blinked and looked at Ronaa. The latter had her head against her back... Sheerah remained silent.

- I know how you are, deep down... I know what your heart says, even when you are cold. You are such a warm person inside, and yet what you show us is a wall of ice...

Ronaa spoke from her heart.

- You always think before you speak. You are cold with people you don't really know and you are cold with your friends. Yet, we all know that... We all know what a great person you are. You always hide what you feel, what your heart wants to say, but I understand you better than anyone, you know?

Ronaa looked up, observing Sheerah's eyes. She raised her hand to her face.

- You never want to admit that deep down you are a gentle, caring and warm person. You hide your heart behind an icy wall... It's all about looking your best, isn't it, Sheerah?

Ronaa asked her this question in a soft voice, but the other Kemono could also hear... a touch of sadness. She didn't answer, still shocked to hear her talk about this.

- You don't have to look strong... We all know you are.

Ronaa stroked her cheek and pursed her lips. The more she stared into her eyes, the less she could hold back her words. Sheerah grabbed her hand gently, still watching Ronaa's gaze.

- ... It's not that," she said.

- Then what is it?

Sheerah hesitated to speak, but finally sighed and turned her full attention to Ronaa.

- ... I'm not trying to look strong, but I've always been forced to show no emotion... Not only to look strong, but also not to let anything... block my way...

Sheerah closed her eyes and shook her head.

- I don't even know why, really... I listened to my mother since I was a little girl, I don't know why she forced me to never listen to my heart...

She forced Ronaa's hand, but Ronaa did not care.

- But it's so complicated!

Sheerah let out these words with sadness and despair. Ronaa watched her attentively, listening to her without saying anything. Letting her express herself.

- I am so used to not listening to my heart that it is too complicated to let it speak... Besides...

Sheerah did not hide her emotions. She wasn't trying to hide them. Not with Ronaa...

- Besides, if I'm not so cold anymore, will I still look like the Sheerah that everyone knows... ?

Ronaa had always understood Sheerah, ever since their first meeting. She had always been able to see the real Sheerah through her false wall of ice, behind her icy tone. She could understand how she really felt and could make her blush without forcing her. However, she didn't know her past. She didn't know all of her thoughts. She didn't know her relationship with her mother.

She didn't know how Sheerah really felt about her.

Ronaa brought her face closer and was so close that she could feel her breath on her cheeks. She wanted to reassure her, but also wanted to kiss her.   She wanted to kiss her so badly, she just wanted to touch her lips with her. She just wanted to hold her and stay with her all night...

- Shee--

- Wait, Ronaa.

The Kemono with the frog-like attributes blinked and calmed her breathing. There was silence for a few moments before Sheerah kissed Ronaa's cheek. Ronaa blushed hard and questioned her with her eyes.

- Thank you. Thank you," Sheerah thanked her.

She stroked her hair and smiled. Ronaa kissed her on the cheek in turn and closed her eyes with embarrassment.

- I-I want to go out with you!

She took her back in her arms and hugged her tightly. Sheerah remained speechless and did not know how to react. She was red as a tomato and took Ronaa in her arms in turn. Ronaa had her eyes closed, waiting for her answer. She had spoken from her heart, without thinking. She didn't care if it was the right thing to do, she wasn't sure if Sheerah felt the same way, but she didn't care. She wanted to tell her she loved her, she wanted to ask her to be by her side.

- I love you, Sheerah!

The sheep-horned Kemono blinked, still speechless. They were in each other's arms as the rain continued to fall outside. They were holding each other tightly, lovingly. Ronaa opened her eyes and looked at Sheerah, waiting for an answer. Their hearts were beating rapidly, together.

- R-Ronaa...

Sheerah finally spoke. She hesitated, but this time she wanted to speak from her heart. Ronaa was the only one who made her heart skip a beat. She was the only one who made her feel... "different".

Ronaa was the one...

- Ronaa, I swear.

Sheerah stroked her hair as she spoke. She had a big smile on her face. It was a loving expression, one that Ronaa had never seen before.

That no person, no Kemono, no God had ever seen before.

- I swear, as soon as I come back from my mission in Alarez, we will kiss. We will go out together. I swear, I will do my best to break the ice that has formed around me.

Ronaa watched her speak with starry eyes. She finally smiled and touched her lips with her index finger. She tilted her head to the right and said:

- I've waited too long, so you owe me more than a kiss.

Sheerah giggled and nodded.

- Okay, more than a kiss.

Ronaa thanked her by rubbing her face on her and licked her cheek before closing her eyes on her chest. Sheerah closed her eyes in turn, caressing her hair and both fell asleep peacefully during this eventful night.

Sheerah couldn't change overnight, but knowing that Ronaa felt what she herself felt... She couldn't go out with her until she knew if she could return alive from the mission Maslow had given her. However, now she had one more reason to come back alive. She would do everything to end it as soon as possible and finally kiss Ronaa's lips. Finally let her heart speak...

She was so eager.