Over the course of the weekend, Maria and Tai make full use of their time, taking in several of the main tourist attractions in the city centre, dining at some of the best restaurants, and finding a whole new level of excitement in their promisingly nascent relationship.

However, neither is prepared for what happens at the end of the second day.

Late evening, and Maria and Tai return to their hotel room, a little weary from their busy day, but neither regretting it one iota.

"What a weekend!" Tai sighs happily as she flops on the bed. "I never knew it was possible to have so much fun in such a short amount of time!"

"It's not over yet: we have the rest of the night to ourselves," Maria reminds, joining Tai on the bed.

"I've been thinking," Tai reveals.

"What about?" Maria asks.

"About us."

"Good things?"

"Great things."

"Are you gonna tell me, or do I have to tease it out of you?" Maria flirts.

"I dunno," Tai flirts back. "Can you tease it out of me?"

"Kitty likes a challenge," Maria retorts playfully, readying to pounce.

"Does she now?" Tai replies, readying to pounce in return.

The two felines pounce each other simultaneously, meeting in the middle of the bed. For the next few minutes they playfight, both unable to refrain from child‑like laughter as the excitement level builds. Eventually, Maria manages to pin Tai to the bed.

"Hey, no fair!" Tai giggles. "You totally cheated!"

"I did not!" Maria retorts playfully with mock indignation.

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Dunno if I wanna kiss you now," Maria teases.

Tai responds by rolling over and pinning Maria down. "Looks like you don't have a choice," she flirts.

"Looks like I have to surrender," Maria sighs, unable to hide a cheeky smirk.

"Surrender accepted," Tai replies before leaning down and kissing Maria long and passionately.

As they kiss, their excitement level builds: before long, they start undressing each other. However, after stripping each other down to their underwear, Maria's mood unexpectantly changes as unwelcome memories flood her mind. With panic threatening to overwhelm her, Maria suddenly breaks the kiss.

"I'm sorry, I just… I can't do this," she admits, her voice tinged with sadness.

"…what?" Tai replies, confused.

"I… I can't do this," Maria repeats.

"Your first time?" Tai asks. "Don't worry; it's my first time too," she assures, leaning in to resume kissing.

But Maria pushes Tai away. "It's not that, it's… Look, I just… I just can't do this."

Tai blinks a few times in surprise, then lets her arms slip from Maria's shoulders. "I… I don't understand… I thought you liked me."

"I do like you," Maria assures. "I like you loads. Loads and loads. It's just… I'd rather not talk about it."

"Talk about what?"

"I'd rather not say."

"Maria, you can tell me: I won't judge you or anything, I promise."

"I know," Maria sighs. "It's just… It's a really painful thing for me to talk about, and I'm just not ready to talk to you about it yet."

"Wow," Tai replies flatly. "After all the time we've spent together, all that kissing and cuddling, and suddenly you're not interested anymore."

"What? No! It's not like that at all!" Maria insists.

"Then what is it like?" Tai demands, her tone revealing her building anger.

"Please don't be angry with me."

"Answer me then."

"I… I can't."

"That's it, is it?"

"Sorry."

"Not good enough."

Now it's Maria's turn to blink in surprise. "Why are you being so mean? I thought you liked me?"

"I do," Tai confirms.

"Doesn't sound like it."

"Well, I'm not exactly hearing comforting things right now."

"Please don't be like this," Maria pleads. "I've already said it's a very painful thing for me to talk about."

"Is it something your friends know?" Tai demands, folding her arms.

"Hanna, Rob, and Danny know about it, yes," Maria admits.

"Then why can't you tell me?"

"We've only known each other three weeks."

"And yet here we are, both in bed in our underwear, having just spent a fabulous weekend together, and you're now pushing me away."

"I'm not pushing you away!" Maria retorts, allowing a little anger to seep through. "I just don't want to move too fast!"

"Move too fast." Tai shakes her head in disappointment. "Danny and Sally: how long did they know each other before they started dating?"

"What's that got to do with anything?" Maria asks angrily.

"Just answer me," Tai demands.

"Half a year."

"Hm. What about Hanna and Rob?"

"This is stupid."

"Answer me!" Tai commands.

"Two and a half years!" Maria spits back.

"Now that's taking things slow," Tai remarks.

"What is your problem?" Maria demands.

"My problem is, right up until about two minutes ago, you were perfectly fine with the pace of our relationship," Tai explains. "Yet when we're about to consummate, you push me away."

"I told you, it's painful for me to talk about it!" Maria reminds, raising the volume of her voice without intending to.

"And now you're shouting at me," Tai replies flatly.

"Sorry," Maria apologises, her voice quiet again.

"Too little, too late."

"What‽"

"If you can't be honest with me, then there's no future for us," Tai admits, a hint of sadness colouring her anger.

"But I can be honest with you!" Maria pleads. "It's just, this one thing, I need a bit more‑"

"Enough!" Tai snaps.

Maria's patience expires. "Get out of my sight," she growls.

"Gladly." Tai slides off the bed, dresses quickly, then turns back to Maria. "Don't bother following me," she instructs before storming out of the room.

"I wouldn't follow you if you paid me!" Maria yells after her.

"Perfect!" Tai yells back before slamming the door.

For several moments, Maria simply sits there, seething with anger. How dare she demand I tell her about that‽ She has no right to… to… to… By the Ancients, what have I done? Overwhelmed with despair at the fact she's just destroyed her very first romantic relationship, Maria buries her face in her hands and cries freely.

Outside the room, Tai listens to Maria crying. Great going Tai, you've just destroyed your very first relationship, and hurt Maria badly. Tai reaches for the door handle, but stops herself before she takes hold of it. No, I shouldn't go back in. I know I shouldn't have gotten angry with her, but then she shouldn't be holding secrets from me. If we don't have trust, what do we have?

Reluctantly, Tai backs away from the door, and shuffles down the corridor, wiping tears from her eyes. Maybe it's better this way.

A few minutes later, Maria brings her crying under control. Come on Maria, pull yourself together! This isn't beyond repair: just go out there and apologise, and maybe even tell her about… about what's holding you back. Filled with renewed resolve, Maria quickly puts on her dress and checks herself briefly in the mirror. I look awful. Wait, why am I wasting time? Go after her!

Maria sprints out into the corridor, only to find it empty. "Tai?" she calls out of pure hope.

There's no response.

It's… It's all over…

In the hotel's parking lot, Tai mounts her bike, and prepares to start the engine. But just as she's about to turn the key, she hesitates. Shall I go back up? Or shall I wait to see if she comes down? No, it's best to just leave.

Tai starts the engine, rides out of the parking lot, and doesn't stop until she's back at Red Scarves HQ.