Lucid promise

"Ah, you're awake !"

I opened my eyes, to see myself in a humble house. Nothing special about it, but I didn't really care as my attention was focused on two things - The table, with two cups full of coffee, and the lovely girl with long purple hair drinking at the second cup.

"Did I... Just fell asleep ?"
"Yeah. Don't worry, it happens after all the work you went through."
"The work ?"
"You're too tired to remember the help you brought me in making the mechanical arm for that anon who lost his while saving his daughter ?"
"Ah, yeah, the one whose wife is an alternate version of you ? You and her did most of the work, you know."
"Not really, you helped a lot with the testing. But we talked about a little, and I can say she went through lots of hardships..."
"Yeah, I've read about that."
"...You won't do me the same, right ?"
"Obviously not. Why would I ?"
"I dunno. But she has been fooled by a sweet talker, and your words just seem to hit home so easily at times..."
"I can understand that. Is there anything you'd want me to do, in order to reassure you ?"

I drank a little of the coffee, which seems tasteless to me. Weird, but I didn't care, as I remembered having to drink much worse coffee, in order for her to get a grip of my taste.

"Hmmm... What about doing some shopping ?"
"You want to kill my wallet to ensure I won't run away ?"
"Haha, no, not at all. I just want to have fun memories with you, nothing else."
"Fine, let's go then."

------------

"Here !"
"Thanks ! I'll open it at home, okay ?"
"No problems. Here, let me carry it."

The same streets full of people. The same shops full of interesting things. The same lovely girl on my arm. It feels so special sharing those little moments.

"Do you want something special to eat for today ?"
"Hummm... What about a vanilla cake ? You enjoy these ones."
"Really ?"
"It's not like I can propose you a chocolate cake, right ?"
"True."
"See, those ones, they might be fine, don't you think ?"
"Yeah. Let me go and buy one, then !"
"Hey hey hey, this day, it's up to the man to buy everything."
"So the girl can pay back for the White Day, right ?"
"You know I don't pay attention to that and that it is only another excuse to offer you something."
"Yeah, I know."

The cake is quickly bought and packed.

"Oh, look, it snows !"
"Yeah."

The snow dropped rather suddenly, but the result is charming, with the streets slowly going white. But something seems amiss, and I actually couldn't point the finger on it. Until one snowflake fell on my nose, and I realized I didn't felt the cold.

"..."
"You're okay ?"
"Huh ? Oh, yeah, yeah I'm okay."
"You seem a little troubled."
"Really ? Don't worry, I'm fine. Guess I already need more coffee."
"Fine, let's go home already. We bought everything we wanted, after all."

------------

Back into that simple home, which actually looks more like a chalet. Wood everywhere, with some pictures lined on a wall. Photos of my family, of hers, and of everyone together. Plus one which attracted my eyes. A picture with lots of different Nepgears, each with a different man, and two of them with children who seem to have fun together.

"Nostalgic of that reunion ?"
"Yeah, I felt like it was fun. Plus, seeing so many different versions of you was really enjoyable."
"Really ?"
"You could at least see that every of these was happy, although some of them were happy in rather particular ways."
"I have to admit I can be quite... Strange at times."
"Don't worry. You're still the same in the end, and that's what made all these men fall in love with all these versions of you."
"Sweet talker."
"You already said it."

She answered by stucking her tongue out.

"Did I already told you at how cute you are when you act this way ?"
"Countless times. And it still makes me blush."
"I can see that. Should we attack the cake to let you cool down ?"
"Okay."

Quickly, the cake is brought on the table, and parts are cut. I quickly eat mine, surprised at the sweet taste of it. But during that time, Nepgear didn't stop watching me, until she seems to notice something in my eye, before approaching me and putting her hand on my cheek.

"...You're conscious, right ?"
"...I guess so."
"...And you know this isn't real, right ?"
"...Yeah."

Her face instantly sombers. Guess I did the same, given how bad I feel. But my reflexes act first and I held her near me.

"...And I don't regret actually feeling this."
"But you're gonna wake up again, and forget about all of this."
"I'll try my best not to."
"Okay... What about a promise, then ?"

While staying in my arms, she looks up to me.

"I'm listening."
"I know about your friends' worries and feels about my life expectancy compared to you, and about how you don't give a thought about it, but I know I'm supposed to live much longer than you. So promise me that, for as long as you'll be able to, you'll keep me as Valentine every time possible."

I'm shocked by the question, not because it's hard to answer, but because it seems to directly touch my heart.

"Is that all you want to ask me ?"
"Will you promise that to me ?"
"I promise."

She answered by pointing her pinkie at me. I answered by holding hers with mine, while kissing her. The intensity of the kiss might have been too much to handle for my mind, as everything starts to disappear around us.

"No... Don't wake up already..."
"Don't worry. I already came back, I'll find a way to come back again."
"Really ?"
"Really. And even should I not be conscious, I still have our promise."
"I see... Good day, then."
"See ya. Love you."
"Love you too."

------------

I open my eyes in a rush, while calling for her name. Nothing but the usual bed, with the computer in front of me. The same old browser, the same old tabs open, the same discussions going on. I go and fetch me a cup of coffee before coming back, ignoring the cats' pleas for hugs, and check the news.

"Hmmm... Someone reacting to the fact I added his link to the OP, so bad Valentine cards I could be able to do much better, nothing new on the UN vs Japan issue,..."

I didn't continue due to having a hard time watching the screen. Which is due to tears flowing, something that doesn't happen usually.

"...I remember."

Wordpad opened. Writing, writing, writing.

I don't want to forget this promise. And I will not.