"What are you waiting for?" Shiki grinned, his eyes bright in the dim light of the hall. Edens Zero was an enormous ship, and Rebecca was glad to finally get a day to explore more of it. "Come on, there's a place I want to show you."
Shiki had interrupted her precious exploration time with an excited shout, only a few minutes earlier. "Rebecca! You have to come see this place…" His voice had trailed off, eyes wide with excitement, and something else… a different kind of warmth. "It's special. Like you." Those words… they made her heart flutter and head feel light. But he couldn't have meant anything besides the tight bond of friendship they all shared… right?
"Come on, it's this way!" Shiki lead the way down the hall, determination etched in his features. He traced his hand across the cool metal bulkhead of the hall. "You're going to love it. I know it!"
Rebecca laughed, shaking her head a little, and following her friend down the hall to a part of the ship she hadn't been to very often. He ducked in through a dark doorway, and she followed after, curious and unsure… where are we?
She stepped into the dim lit room, and it felt almost like she was stepping into an aquarium. The light swam with blue and gold… Above her and across from the door was all glass, she could see out into the stars and nebulas and galaxies beyond. Shiki was bouncing with excitement, dashing towards the middle of the room where an enormous instrument of some kind was covered in cloth.
"Are you ready?!" He gasped, before she could reply he ripped the cloth away and Rebecca faced and enormous telescope.
"Wow!" She whispered, slowly crossing the metal floor towards where Shiki stood, smiling proudly.
"It's an observatory!" Shiki said, grinning brightly. "I wanted to show you first! I knew you would love the telescope. Now we can see all the stars up close!"
"It really works?" Rebecca breathed, reaching out to touch the edge of the metal scope. Shiki nodded.
"Check it out. You just turn this little knob to focus it, okay? Point it at that little pink star over there! I looked at it earlier!"
Rebecca carefully looked through the scope, adjusting the focus until she could see the stars and planets beyond more clearly. "I can't see the pink one…" she whispered.
"Here…" Shiki gently rested one hand on her shoulder, and then pulled the telescope… just slightly… to the left… "There… do you see it now?"
Her view in the telescope was filled with swirling greens and pale reds and pinks. Her heart skipped a beat. A nebula! It seemed close enough that she could reach out and touch it, trace her fingers through the stars, dance through the stardust. She beamed, unable to tear her eyes away from sight.
"See?" Shiki whispered. And she realized his hand was still on her shoulder. "Isn't it amazing?" She stood up straight, away from the telescope, to look him in the eyes.
"It's beautiful," she breathed. She watched his cheeks dust pink as his eyes traced over her features. His lips turned up in a soft smile.
"I knew you would love it… for now… this room is just for you! And you can look at all the places we'll go one day, right? We're going to see the Cosmos! And beyond the Cosmos!"
Shiki… she felt her heart warm. The way he made her feel… safe…
Rebecca took in a breath and threw her arms around her friend, pulling him close, resting her head on his shoulder. "Thank you!" She gasped, "This is the best gift you've ever given me!"
Shiki chuckled, "I would do anything for you Rebecca."
She felt her whole face go hot. Anything? She bit her lip, thinking of all the possibilities, and laughing a little to herself before standing up straight again. "Anything, huh?"
"Anything." He nodded, his cheeks dusting pink.
"What do you say we stay here and stargaze for a little bit then?" She whispered, reaching out to take his hand.
Shiki smiled softly, "I'd like that a lot."