The rhythmic sounds of feet shuffling and the echoes of the instructor's commands signal the end of another grueling Pencak Silat session. Practice finally draws to a close, leaving Ulrich with a sense of both accomplishment and exhaustion. His muscles ache from the rigorous training, but the feeling of mastering the intricate moves of the ancient art fills him with a deep satisfaction. As he wipes the sweat from his brow, he takes a deep breath and gives a final bow to his fellow martial artists.

"Good practice today, Ulrich," his instructor says with a smile. "I'm proud of you."

"Thanks," Ulrich replies, returning the smile.

As he gathers his things and heads to the locker room, he can't help but feel a twinge of guilt. He knows he's been neglecting his training lately, and he's determined to make up for lost time. He's always been a dedicated student, and he's not about to let his skills slip.

Ulrich showers and changes into a fresh set of clothes, his mind already racing with thoughts of the upcoming week. He has a lot on his plate, and he knows he'll have to work hard to keep up. But he's always been a hard worker and he's confident he can handle it.

As he walks out of the gym, the cool morning air hits his face. He takes a deep breath, savoring the moment. It's a beautiful day and he's determined to enjoy every second of it.

Ulrich walks across the campus, his mind wandering. He thinks about his classes, his assignments, and his training. He thinks about his friends, his family, and his girlfriend. He thinks about the future, and what it might hold for him once they're rid of XANA for good. Ulrich smiles to himself. He has a lot to look forward to.

As he approaches the cafeteria, his stomach growls. When he enters the cafeteria, the smell of food hits his nose. He scans the room, his eyes landing on a familiar face.

"Hey, Yumi," he says, walking over to her. "It's a weekend. What are you doing on campus so early?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Yumi replies, raising an eyebrow.

"I just got done with practice."

Yumi nods. "I see. How'd it go?"

"Pretty good. I'm feeling a little sore, but I think I'm getting the hang of those new moves."

Yumi smiles. "I'm glad to see you taking your training so seriously."

"What can I say? I'm a man on a mission," Ulrich replies, grinning.

"Speaking of missions, have you heard anything from Jeremie about the next one?"

"All I know is that for some reason we have off this weekend. No mission today or tomorrow." Ulrich shrugs. "Fine by me."

"Me too. I could use a break." Yumi clears her throat. "So, uh... what are your plans for the weekend?"

"Not much. Just hanging out, I guess."

"Just hanging out, huh?"

"Yep."

An awkward silence falls between them.

"So..." Yumi says, breaking the silence. "What about the rest of today?"

"Nothing, really. I was just going to hang out in my room and do some homework. Maybe study. I'm a little behind on some of my work."

"Oh. Okay. Is that all?" Yumi's inflection suggests Ulirch is forgetting something important. "You sure there's nothing else going on today?"

"Yup. That's it," he responds obliviously.

Another awkward silence.

"Well, I should probably get going," Yumi says suddenly, standing up. "I have some homework to do, too."

"I'll, uh, see you later."

"Yeah. See you later."

Ulrich walks out of the cafeteria, his mind racing now. He can't help but feel like he is forgetting something... something really important. He shakes his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He has a lot of homework to do, and he really needs to focus.

When he reaches his dorm room, he notices it's empty, save for Kiwi snoring softly on Odd's bed.

Huh, he thinks. Wonder where Odd went this early on a weekend.

He sits down at his desk and pulls out his laptop and textbooks, determined to get some work done. He opens up a blank document to start drafting his answers to the assignment questions. As usual, he types out his name, the class, and the date in the corner of the document. He's in the middle of typing out the date when he freezes.

"Shit," he says out loud. He slams his laptop shut and groans, rubbing his face with his hands. "I'm such an idiot."

He can't believe he forgot. Today is Valentine's Day.

With a sigh, he gets up and grabs his wallet and keys and heads out the door, determined to make things right with Yumi. As he walks across campus, he suddenly notices couples everywhere, all holding hands and kissing and exchanging gifts. He feels a pang of guilt in his chest. He quickens his pace as he walks towards the lot his car is parked in. When he gets to his car, he gets in and starts the engine. He pulls out of the parking lot and drives towards the city.

As he drives, he tries to come up with ideas for what to get Yumi. Flowers? Chocolate? Jewelry? He's not sure. All he knows is that he wants to get her something special, something that will show her how much he cares about her.

He pulls into a parking lot and parks his car. He gets out and walks towards a nearby flower shop.

He enters the shop and looks around. The place is filled with flowers of all different colors and sizes. He spots a display of red roses and considers picking up a bouquet.

Eh, he thinks to himself. She doesn't really seem like a rose kind of girl.

He looks around the store some more, deep in thought.

"Can I help you find anything?" a voice asks suddenly.

Ulrich turns to see a woman standing behind the counter.

"Um, yeah. I'm looking for flowers for my girlfriend," he replies.

"Okay. What kind of flowers are you looking for?" the woman asks.

"I'm not sure. Not roses, though, that's for sure."

"Okay. How about something more unique? We have some beautiful orchids over here."

"Orchids? I don't think she would like those."

"What about lilies? They're very popular."

"Lilies are nice, but I don't think they're quite right for her either."

"Okay. What about dahlias? Those are a unique, refreshing choice."

Ulrich considers the suggestion. "Yeah, that might work. What color are they?"

"We have a variety of colors. Red, pink, yellow, purple, and orange, to name a few."

"Hmm. Too bright. She's a fan of darker colors, especially black."

"Okay. How about black dahlias then? I happen to have a few of them right now."

"Black dahlias? I've never heard of those before. Are they real?"

"Yes, they are. They're quite rare, actually."

"Okay. I'll take a look at them."

"Great. Follow me."

The woman leads Ulrich to a display of black dahlias.

"Wow. They're beautiful," he says, admiring the flowers.

"Yes, they are. They're a perfect choice for a unique, elegant gift."

"I'll take seven of them."

"Okay. Let me get you a box."

The woman disappears and returns a few minutes later with a box.

"Here you go," she says, handing the box to Ulrich. "Any particular reason you chose to only get seven of them?"

"Yeah. We've known each other for seven years," Ulrich replies with a smile.

"That's sweet. I'm sure she'll love them."

"Thanks. How much do I owe you?"

"For the seven black dahlias, it'll be one hundred and fifty euros."

"Okay. Here you go." Ulrich pulls out his wallet and hands the woman his card.

"Thank you. Have a nice day."

"You too."

Ulrich leaves the store and gets back in his car. He starts the engine and pulls out of the parking lot. He drives towards a shopping center, eventually pulling into its parking lot and finding a spot. He gets out of the car and walks towards a clothing store. He enters the store and looks around. The place is filled with racks of clothes. He spots a display of dresses and approaches it.

"Looking for anything specific, sir?" a voice asks from nearby.

Ulrich turns to see a middle-aged woman folding clothes with a board.

"I need a black dress for my girlfriend who isn't the biggest fan of dresses," he replies.

"Why buy her a dress when you can buy her a coordinated matching set?" the woman asks curiously.

"Because it's Valentine's Day and I want to see her in a dress for once." He chuckles. "Selfish, I know."

"No, not selfish at all. What size is she?"

"Uh, I'm not sure. She's about this tall." Ulrich holds his hand up to his chin. "One hundred and seventy centimeters."

"Okay. What's her body type?"

"She's slim and athletic."

"Okay. Let's see what we have."

The woman walks over to a rack of dresses and starts looking through them.

"How about this one?" she asks, holding up a black dress.

"No, too short."

"How about this one?"

"As much as I like it, she wouldn't wear it. Too revealing."

"Okay. What about this one?"

"Meh. Too tight."

"Okay. What about this?"

Ulrich's eyes widen as he takes it in—a ruched, one-shoulder midi dress. "Perfect."

"Really?"

"It's exactly what I'm looking for."

"Okay. Let me get you a box for it."

Ulrich pays for the dress and leaves the store. He gets back in his car and drives back to Kadic. He parks his car in the parking lot and gets out, making sure to grab the dress box and the bouquet. He walks towards the Ishiyamas' neighborhood with a pep in his step. He approaches the house and rings the doorbell.

"Ulrich, what are you doing here?" Hiroki asks as he opens the door.

"I'm here to see Yumi," he replies.

Hiroki narrows his eyes. "Why?"

Ulrich sighs. "Just let me in."

"Hmph." Hiroki steps aside and lets Ulrich in. "Yumi!"

"What?" she responds from upstairs.

"Someone's here to see you."

"Who?"

"Ulrich."

"What does he want?"

"I don't know. I didn't ask."

"Tell him I'm not home."

"But you are."

"Just tell him I'm not home."

"Fine." Hiroki turns to Ulrich. "She's not home," he says with a mischievous look on his face.

Ulrich rolls his eyes. "Really, Hiroki?"

"I'm serious. She's not home."

Ulrich sighs. "Hiroki. Just let me talk to her."

"Hmmmmm. No."

"Hiroki, please. I just want to apologize."

"Apologize for what?"

"For forgetting Valentine's Day."

"You forgot?"

"Yeah. I was a total jerk earlier."

"You should be sorry."

"I am."

"You should also buy her something nice."

"I already did."

"Like what?"

"Flowers and a dress."

"Hmm. Okay."

Hiroki turns and calls up the stairs. "Yumi, Ulrich brought you flowers and a dress."

"He did what?!" The sound of Yumi flinging open her bedroom door rings through the air, followed by her heavy footfalls on the stairs.

"Hey," Ulrich greets her sheepishly.

Yumi crosses her arms over her chest. "What do you want?"

"I'm here to apologize." He holds the flowers and the dress box out to her. "I'm sorry I forgot Valentine's Day. I'm an idiot."

"Yeah, you are." Yumi softens slightly. "The flowers are beautiful, Ulrich."

Ulrich chuckles. "I knew you'd like them."

Yumi rolls her eyes. "And the dress?"

"I think you'll like that, too. Put it on and be ready by 5:30. I'm taking you out tonight."

"Wow," Hiroki says smugly. "That's impressive."

"Shut up, Hiroki," Yumi says, elbowing him.

Ulrich smiles. "I'll see you later, Yumi." He turns and leaves the house.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Ulrich!" Hiroki calls out to him.

"Yeah, yeah. You too, Hiroki."


"And here we are," Odd sings. "You can open your eyes, now, baby."

"Thank God, I'm tired of not knowing what's going on," Sissi chides her boyfriend. "Where are we? Is this a racetrack?"

"Yup! Welcome to Le Mans Raceway!" he yells excitedly. "I took the liberty of renting us a car and some time on the track. This is gonna be so fun!"

Sissi tries to respond but is cut off by other drivers flying around the track. She isn't into cars or racing so she has no idea what to expect.

They walk into the check-in tent, go through the briefing process, and sign all the paperwork.

"Odd, this is a lot of stuff. And they have waivers, too? You're not gonna kill us are you?" Sissi asks her boyfriend, trepidation evident in her tone.

He reassures her, taking her hand in his. "It'll be fine, Sis. I promise. I'm not such a horrible driver that I'll send us into the wall."

"You've hit walls before. And at much slower speeds..."

They get the keys to their car, a brand new Porsche 911 Turbo, and meet their instructor, who runs through the basics of performance driving with the couple. "Now which one of you is actually getting behind the wheel today?"

"That would be me!" He grins proudly at Sissi.

Sissi watches as her boyfriend prepares for a run. She won't hesitate to admit that he does look good sitting in that car.

As Odd drives off, Sissi's heart flutters a bit. Do I suddenly find cars sexy? What is happening?

Odd speeds the Porsche through a few trial runs to get a feel for the course and the car. Once back in the pit, he pulls up in front of his still nervous girlfriend. "You are going to love this. Get in, the instructor is letting me go out without him!"

Sissi's nervousness reaches an all-time high as she tries to back away. But she knows Odd is having a great time, and she always wants to watch him have fun. She grabs a helmet and clumsily gets in the passenger seat. "It's so low. Odd, how can you see where you're going?"

"It's no problem, babe. Now strap in, cuz here we go!"

Odd starts off down the pit straight, with Sissi screaming at the top of her lungs, her eyes closed tightly. She feels the forces as they take corners at speed and every time Odd shifts gears. As they round every new curve, and careen down every straight, she finds herself enjoying it more and more.

"I knew you'd come around. I am surprised it only took one lap though." He laughs as they cross the finish line for the first time.

He puts a little extra power coming out of the first corner this time, pinning Sissi to her seat. "Since when have you been this good at driving, Odd?!" she yells as her breath comes back.

"A magician never reveals his tricks, my beautiful assistant!" he jokes back. She pouts at the answer, but secretly she is loving every second of this adventure.

They pull into the pit after their last lap and Sissi complains, "What? No more? That's lame. And I was having so much fun, too!"

"As much as I would love extra time, we have a dinner date to get to."

"You made dinner reservations, too? Odd, how romantic," Sissi teases.

They get out of the car and return the keys. While walking back to their own car in the parking lot, Sissi pipes up, "Thank you, Odd. That was an amazing experience and I'm so happy we did it."

"Happy Valentine's Day, baby!" He says as he wraps his arm around her waist.

"Best Valentine's ever."


William climbs out of his car, holding his phone up to his ear. "I know. I'm sorry, Princess. I'll be there soon, okay? Just give me thirty more minutes."

"But William, I miss you," Aelita whines on the other end of the line. "I already had to wait to see you because you had to do conditioning. I really wanted to spend all my time with you today."

"I know. I miss you, too. I'll be there before you know it. I promise."

"Okay," Aelita sighs. "I love you."

"I love you, too, Princess. See you soon." William hangs up the phone and walks up to the jewelry store.

The salesman recognizes him immediately. "William Dunbar, right?"

"Yeah, that's me." William rubs the back of his neck sheepishly. Since getting more and more time on the pitch with Versailles, more and more people have been starting to recognize him out in public. It's a weird feeling for him.

"It's nice to see you again. How are you doing today?"

"I'm doing well, thank you. How are you?"

"I'm doing great, thanks for asking." The salesman flashes him a hearty grin.

"That's good to hear. So, I'm here to pick up the promise ring I ordered."

"Of course. Let me go get it for you." The salesman disappears into the back room and returns a few moments later with a small box. "Here you go. Is everything to your liking?"

William opens the box carefully and peers inside at the custom ring. It's rose gold, delicately crafted into the shape of a tiara, with a peachy pink marquise-shaped morganite as the main gem. "Wow. It's perfect. Even better than I imagined it'd be. Thank you."

"You're welcome. I hope the lucky lady likes it."

William chuckles. "I'm sure she will."

"Well, have a good day, Mr. Dunbar."

"Thank you. You, too." William waves goodbye and exits the jewelry store. As he walks, he puts the ring box in his pocket and stares up at the late afternoon sky, thinking about Aelita.

"Are you William Dunbar?" a voice cuts through from behind him, interrupting his thoughts.

William turns around, expecting to see a fan. Instead, he's met with a man who has a camera around his neck. "Depends who's asking."

"I'm a... freelancer. I've been following your soccer career. It's quite impressive, even if it's just beginning. I was wondering if I could get a few words from you."

William narrows his eyes. "I'm not interested."

"Come on, man. Just a few questions. I promise I won't take up too much of your time."

William sighs. "Fine. But make it quick. I've got somewhere important to be."

The man raises an eyebrow. "Okay. So, how does it feel to be the talk of the town?"

"It's... interesting. Still getting used to it."

"I bet. It must be crazy having people recognize you in public now."

"Yeah, it is. But I'm trying to take it in stride."

"That's good. So, what's it like being the captain of Kadic's soccer team?"

"It's challenging, but rewarding. I really enjoy it."

"That's awesome. So, what's next for you? Are you going pro after graduation?"

"That's the plan, but we'll see what happens."

The man raises an eyebrow again. "One more question. The word on the street is that you have a lady in your life. If I'm not mistaken, you just walked out of a jewelry store." He smirks. "Is there an engagement in the works?"

William laughs. "Nice try, but I'm not answering that."

"Come on, man. Give me something. Anything. I won't print it if you don't want me to."

William sighs. "Look, I appreciate you wanting to interview me, but I'm not comfortable talking about my personal life. So, if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere important to be." He turns and walks away, leaving the man standing there with a disappointed look on his face.

"Damn. So close," the man mutters to himself.

William walks down the sidewalk towards his car, a smile on his face. He can't wait to give Aelita her present. When he gets back into his car, he glances at his passenger seat. On it is a bouquet of unbloomed peonies and a heart-shaped box of chocolates. He smiles to himself, knowing Aelita will love them.

As he drives towards the Hermitage, his mind wanders, ruminating on all the things that have led them to today, their first Valentine's Day together. He never would have imagined that he would be so lucky.

William pulls up to the Hermitage and parks his car. He grabs the gifts for Aelita and gets out, making his way up to the front door. He knocks on the door, waiting patiently for her to answer.

After a few moments, the door opens, revealing a smiling Aelita.

"Hey, Princess," William says, grinning.

"Hey," Aelita replies, her voice soft.

William holds out the bouquet of peonies and the heart-shaped box of chocolates. "These are for you."

Aelita takes the gifts, her eyes sparkling. "Thank you, William. They're beautiful."

William leans down and kisses her cheek. "Not as beautiful as you."

Aelita blushes, her cheeks turning a deep shade of pink.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Princess."

"Happy Valentine's Day, Will"

William steps inside, closing the door behind him. He wraps his arms around Aelita's waist, pulling her close. "I love you, Lita."

"I love you too, Will."

William makes a big show of sniffing loudly. "Wow. What's cooking, Princess?"

Aelita giggles. "It's a surprise."

"Oh, come on." William pouts. "Can't you give me a hint?"

Aelita shakes her head, her eyes sparkling. "Nope. It's a surprise."

"Fine. I guess I'll just have to wait and see."

"That's right." Aelita smiles. "Now, why don't you go wash up while I finish cooking?"

"Okay." William leans in and kisses her cheek. "I love you, Princess."

"I love you too, Will."

William heads to the bathroom to wash up. As he washes his hands, he can't help but smile. He's so happy to be spending Valentine's Day with the love of his life.

When he's finished, he returns and finds Aelita setting the table.

"Need any help?" William asks.

"No, I've got it," Aelita replies.

"Okay." William sits down at the table, watching as Aelita finishes preparing the meal.

"I'll give you one hint, actually."

William perks up. "What?"

"It's something really dense, since I know you had to workout and do conditioning today."

"Oh, man. Is it a protein shake?"

Aelita chuckles. "No, Will. It's not a protein shake."

"Is it a protein bar?"

"It's not a protein bar, either."

"Hm. Is it a steak?"

"Bingo!" She plates their food and brings it to the table.

William's mouth waters at the sight of the juicy steak and herbed potatoes before him. "Wow, Princess. This looks amazing."

"Well, dig in, then."

William cuts into the steak and takes a bite. His eyes widen. "Holy shit, Lita."

"You really like it?"

"Like it? I love it!"

Aelita smiles shyly. "Good. I'm glad."

They eat their meal, enjoying each other's company.

"So," William pipes up as he swallows his last bite of food. "What are we gonna watch tonight? More SVU?"

"A classic romance disaster, actually."

William's eyebrows shoot up. "Oh yeah?"

"Yep. None other than Titanic."

"Never seen it."

Aelita nearly chokes on her water. "What?!"

"Yeah." William shrugs. "I've never seen it."

"William! It's a classic!"

"I know, I know. I just never got around to watching it."

It's Aelita's turn to sigh dramatically. "Well, then, we're watching it right now." She swiftly gets up from the table and starts pulling on one of his arms.

"Right now?"

"Yes, right now!"

"Okay, okay."

Aelita puts the DVD in the player and sits down next to William on the couch.

"Ready for your life to be changed?" Aelita asks theatrically.

William snorts. "Ready as I'll ever be."

Aelita hits play and the movie begins.

As the movie plays, Aelita tentatively snuggles up to William, resting her head on his chest. William smiles, enjoying the feeling of having her close, and gently strokes her hair. They watch the movie in silence, both captivated by the story. When the ship hits the iceberg, Aelita gasps and buries her face in William's chest.

He chuckles, amused by her reaction. "You okay, Princess?"

"Yeah," she mumbles, her voice muffled by his shirt. "I just don't like this part. I'm fine."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Just keep watching."

He smiles and continues watching the movie. As the movie continues on, the ship starts to sink, and the characters struggle to survive. William is completely engrossed in the film, his eyes glued to the screen. Aelita is also transfixed, her eyes wide as she watches the events unfold.

Jack is struggling to swim, his body exhausted and his lungs burning. Rose is clinging to a piece of debris, her eyes filled with fear. Jack reaches Rose and grabs her hand.

Aelita sniffles, her eyes still fixed on the screen. William wraps his arm around her, his gaze never leaving the TV. Neither one of them speaks for the rest of the movie, both too captivated by the story.

As the credits roll, Aelita wipes her eyes with the back of her hand.

William looks down at her, a small smile on his face. "That was a good movie. You okay?"

"Yeah," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just forgot how intense it was."

He gently strokes her hair, his touch soothing. "It's okay, Princess. You're allowed to feel your feelings."

She sighs, her body relaxing into his touch.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence, William pulls his hand away from her hair and reaches into his pocket. "I have one final gift for you, Lita."

Aelita sits up, her curiosity piqued. "Another gift? William, you've already given me so much."

William smiles. His gaze is filled with love. "I know. But I wanted to give you one last thing." He pulls the small, velvet box out of his pocket and hands it to her.

Aelita takes the box and opens it, her eyes widening when she sees what's inside. "Will..." she breathes.

"I know it's not an engagement ring," William says gently, "but I want you to know that I'm devoted to you, and I want you to have a token of that devotion."

Aelita tears up, her heart swelling with love.

William carefully removes the ring from the box and slips it onto Aelita's right hand. "I promise I will make you my wife someday."

"Oh, Will..." Aelita admires the ring, tears starting to flow freely. "It's perfect."

"The perfect ring for the perfect girl." William kisses her forehead softly. "I love you, Princess. And I want you to always remember how much I love you."

"I will, William." She wiggles her fingers, captivated by the way the morganite subtly catches the light. "I love you too."