The clock ticked.

Heishi and Yuzai sat, heads facing down, on the couch. Machi stood opposite them with his arms folded accross his chest.

"So...Yuzai is that secret agent guy who took back the Great Zapfish when it was stolen..." Yuzai nodded quiety.

"And you met Heishi when the Octolings attacked Moray Towers, and she managed to capture you before passing out after seeing how high up she was." Heishi nodded, equally as silent.

"Right..." Machi cracked a smile. "That story was pretty detailed, though. You kept calling him 'sir'? Why was that?"

"I...I was..." Heishi mumbled. "...afraid he was going to splat me if I were disrespectful..."

"BWAHAHA! Seriously?" Shiai could hardly contain his laughter. He had seated himself on top of the counter, behind Machi. "That kid wouldn't hurt a fly! His phobia would have him sweating bullets before he even drew a weapon!"

"I-I know that now!" Heishi snapped. She twiddled her fingers. "B-but...at the time..."

"You were scared. I get it." Machi finished for her.

A silence filled the room.

"Still..." Machi continued. "You two were really made for each other. Scopophobia...acrophobia...maybe you two should avoid popular, high-up areas when you go on your dates."

"W-we're not dating!" Heishi flushed red.

"Y-yeah!" Yuzai agreed. "A-and besides! I'm doing better! I can handle some attention just fine!"

"Yeah, right...Yuzai, do you even know what color Heishi's eyes are?"

"H-huh? Well, they're..."

Yuzai stared directly at Heishi. Heishi stared directly back. Crystalline green eyes met a more solid blue. Yuzai saw her turn a shade of red so bright that her face seemed to glow. Yuzai turned the same color. Between the two of them you could probably fry an egg.

"I...I...I..." Heishi sputtered. She wanted to look away, but couldn't turn her head.

"G...GREN! I MEAN GWEN! I MEAN GREEN!" Yuzai managed. He turned 180° and buried his face in the pillow. The two of them sat, steaming. Shiai was in such hysterics that he almost fell off his perch.

"Why don't you two just act more honest with yourselves?" Machi wondered aloud.

"I...We...hone..." Heishi sputtered. "But...but...he's an Inkling! I-I'm an Octoling! W...what if...it doesn't work...?"

"You never know unless you try."

Heishi pondered this for a minute.

On the one hand...

He train of thought was interrupted by a small sensation on her left cheek.

Yuzai pulled his lips away from the kiss he just planted.

"H...Heishi S-Senso...I-I really l-l-like you." He turned his eyes away. "I-I'm not good with people. But...maybe...if it were you...I'd be willing to work and make myself better...if that's okay with you..."

Heishi sat stunned.

She sat silent.

She leaned in and quickly planted a kiss on Yuzai's right cheek to mirror her own.

"I-I'd be happy to."

The two embraced each other in a hug, Shiai let out a cheer, and Machi whipped out his phone to tell everyone who had asked for updates on the couple's status.

Heishi smiled. She felt safer than ever before.