Having gone out and adventured with Shino and Silabus, Haseo was beginning to feel like he was finally able to relax and enjoy the game again. He sighed heavily as he stared at his desktop, waiting for it to load and wondering what he should do. After the quest, Shino had said that she was going to take a break for a little while, but that she would log back on later in the evening. Until then, Haseo figured he would check out the mysterious attachment in the message from Aura that he had left untouched earlier.

"Let's see." He said to himself as his desktop finally finished loading. He skimmed over to his mail station, quickly tapping into the e-mail and downloading its attachment.

'Forever in Love has been added to the list of greeting cards,' a message informed him.

"Forever in Love?" He wondered aloud. "That's strange. I've never heard of that kind of greeting card."

He went over to the greeting card menu and highlighted the greeting card he was just given.

It read: 'Wedding Invitation.'

As he stared at the falling cherry blossoms on the card and the grunty that looked so much like him ringing a bell above the words 'marry me', a thousand questions racked his brain. "What kind of greeting card is this?" He questioned, feeling himself begin to blush. For a brief second he thought of sending it to Shino. "This is crazy!" He closed his mail station and decided to log-out and take a shower instead, knowing damn well in the back of his mind that he would be back to send the invitation later.

It was 6:45 when he reappeared in front of his computer. It hadn't been neglected so suddenly in quite some time, and needed extra time to reboot. When he was finally back at his desktop he opened up his mail station. There was a message from Atoli.

Sender: Atoli

Subject: Re: Motto

"To love. To love is not to look only at one another. It is to look together, in the same direction."

I believe Antoine de Saint-Exupery said that. It's a little different from a personal motto, but they're words that remain in my heart even now.

Sincerely, Atoli.

What a random reply. Thought Haseo after reading the e-mail. Oh, yeah. That's right. He thought. The motto greeting card... He decided to share his thoughts, having no idea what she was talking about.

Sender: Haseo

Subject: Together

Someone to look together in the same direction with?

I guess that's one way to think of it.

And he left it at that. He hit send and started typing up a new e-mail.

Sender: Haseo

Subject: Wedding invitation

Shino, I got this in an e-mail. I think it's some sort of an event. Would you like to take part in it with me?

Don't worry; I'm sure it's nothing like the Forest of Pain. You won't see me freak out again, I promise!

When you come back online, meet me at Mac anu's chaos gate.

He re-read the e-mail several times, reworded it several more, but eventually decided that the original message said what he had wanted to say. Well, for the most part. He clicked send and sighed. The hard part was over. Then he gasped. He had forgotten to attach the greeting card! He opened up a new letter and began typing.

Sender: Haseo

Subject: The greeting card attachment

I'm so sorry Shino! I forgot to attach the invitation.

He attached it this time, double-checking to make sure before he sent it. Good, now I can relax. He thought. He closed his mail station and grabbed his headset. He wanted to check if Shino was online. He logged in and soon found that she wasn't. This didn't surprise him, however, since whenever Shino usually took a break she didn't come back until at least several hours later. He decided to go spend some time in the arena while he waited.

"Hey look it's Haseo! Long time no see!" A familiar voice called out. Haseo stopped in front of the arena counter and turned around.

"Alkaid!" He said cheerfully. "How have you been?"

"Well, I've been doin' okay, I guess." She said. "Planning on fighting in the arena?" She observed. "Mind if I join in?"

"Not at all." Haseo replied.

"Okay, great! Hold on a second."

Alkaid ran off, leaving Haseo by himself in front of the arena counter. After a few minutes, she returned with Endrance.

"Haseo...it's been so long," Endrance said. "How fortunate it is that we are able to meet again."

"Yeah, It's good to see you too, Endrance," replied Haseo.

"Endrance hasn't been feeling well." Alkaid told Haseo.

"Why is that?"

Endrance interrupted. "I am perfectly fine now that you are here by my side, Haseo. With you here, standing next to me, I feel as though I could die of pure happiness at any moment."

Alkaid spoke up next. "Well, I take it back. I guess he's fine now."

"Was something wrong before, Endrance?" Haseo asked out of curiosity. "Are you eating okay?"

"It's nothing physical, I can assure you." Endrance explained. "I was suffering from a pain deep within my very soul. Something that stemmed from your absence."

Haseo immediately felt sorry for not calling upon Endrance more often. He admitted to himself that he had been neglecting their friendship lately. Actually, ever since Shino came back. "Well, I'm glad you're feeling better." He told him.

"Oh, Haseo." Endrance said, stepping closer to Haseo. He clasped his hands together to express his joy. "It makes me so happy that you worry about me. But I am perfectly fine now, and am ready to serve you well in the arena."

"Right." Haseo turned and walked toward the counter to register his new party.

Within moments they were in the lobby, waiting to start the match at anytime. But for some reason, Haseo hesitated. Usually, he would just run in and annihilate anything that came out onto the arena floor, but this time something was eating away at him. He thought about earlier; how he had worried Shino on their quest with Silabus. Have I always been so serious when it comes to playing this game? He wondered.

"Is something the matter, Haseo?" Alkaid asked. She approached him and waited patiently for an answer. "You don't look so good."

Endrance felt some sort of disturbance as well and decided to join her.

Haseo remained silent, the palm of his right hand against his forehead. He was unsure of what to say since he himself was unsure about what he was feeling. Normally, Shino was almost always on his mind. And whether it was healthy or unhealthy, he didn't care. Right now he couldn't bring himself to think about anything else other than what had happened, what had kept happening, whenever he and Shino were together. He still hadn't even told her how he felt. He thought that his actions would have said enough by now. Maybe that was why he would overreact; because he couldn't bring himself to tell her how he really felt.

You're breaking my heart, Shino.

"Are you okay?" Alkaid suddenly asked, her voice rose higher than before. Her digital hand waving in front of his face made him snap back into reality, or rather, their virtual reality.

"Yeah." Haseo replied. "I was just thinking."

"Well stop thinking!" She told him. "We have a battle to win!"

Endrance stepped forward. Being the expert in love that he was, he immediately saw straight through Haseo. "I understand now, Haseo." He said. "Something, or some person rather, is clouding your mind, even as we speak. The reason you distanced yourself from me is the same, is it not?"

Haseo was taken aback by Endrance's sudden comment. "What are you talking about?"

"I mean you're in love, aren't you, Haseo?" Endrance continued, probably speaking from personal experience.

"No way!" Alkaid spoke up, trying to hide her blush. "You're in love with somebody, Haseo?"

Well, there was no sense in hiding it when it was so apparently obvious. "So what if I am?" Haseo asked, trying to keep his emotions in check.

"Have you told that person how you feel?"

Haseo didn't reply. What a stupid conversation this is turning out to be. He sighed, deciding that he wouldn't answer Endrance's question.

"I see." Endrance moved closer to Haseo until he was able to place his right hand against Haseo's face. He caressed it while he spoke. "Haseo, if you care deeply about this person, so much in fact that you can honestly say you love them, then I think they have a right to know how you feel."

Haseo took in Endrance's words, but gave no reply. Instead he closed his eyes and just let it all sink in. There was a truth to be found within Endrance's words, and he could feel it. Shino...

"Then again, maybe simply being next to this person and supporting them is all they need to know that you cherish them. At least, that's how it is for me. Sometimes our actions can speak louder than saying simple words. The important thing is that you show this person how you feel."

Haseo took in a deep breath and opened his eyes. He now had a new perspective on things. "I think you're right, Endrance." He said calmly. "I think I might just let her know how I feel."

"Excuse me," Alkaid broke into the conversation. "We're not talking about Atoli, are we?"

Haseo turned to face Alkaid as Endrance removed his hand from Haseo's face. "No, why?" He asked.

"Well, she seems to really enjoy being with you."

Haseo thought for a moment. "That's true," he finally said. "But I really enjoy being with someone else. I'm just not sure if they feel the same way."

"Then you should find out, Haseo." Said Endrance. "I'm sure those feelings of yours will reach them just as they reached me not too long ago."

"I think Endrance is right, Haseo." Alkaid added. "You should just go for it, just like you always do!" She made a fist and pretended to punch the air in front of her to further her point. "Aim at the one you love like every foe you've ever faced in the arena!"

Haseo laughed to himself. Alkaid sure knew how to cheer him up. "Whatever you say, Alkaid." He walked over to the warp point that would begin their arena match, but before he activated it, he turned to face his friends once again. "Thanks for all the advice. I'm afraid I'm not as good with love as I am with arena battles."

Alkaid smiled, more than happy that she was able to help Haseo. "No problem!" She said. "You just need to push yourself a little more."

"Never be afraid to show your true feelings to the one you love, Haseo." Said Endrance. "To love is to live freely beside the person that matters most to you, so don't hold anything back."

"Thanks guys." Haseo said, turning back toward the warp point. "Now let's win this battle!"

When they were done at the arena, Haseo said good-bye to Endrance and Alkaid.

"Good luck, Haseo." Endrance told him.

Alkaid agreed wholeheartedly. "Yeah, go get 'em, tiger!"

Haseo was thankful to have such admirable friends. Having played most of the day already, he logged out and decided to take a nap. He took his friend's advice to heart, and hoped Shino would be online by the time he woke up.