The lounge was as lively as ever, with Millium sprawled across the couch, taking up more space than necessary, her head hanging off the armrest. Laura, Alisa, and Emma sat more composedly, but their conversation was full of laughter and chatter.

The door creaked open, and Fie strolled in, her expression unusually chipper. She stopped in front of the group, hands on her hips. "Guess what? I've grown half a rege in height."

Millium gasped dramatically and sat up halfway. "Whoa! Fie, you're gonna be grabbing stuff off high shelves in no time!"

"That's not all. My bust has grown a bit too," Fie said with a smirk.

Millium let out an exaggerated "Ouuuuu!" while Emma giggled softly. "That's wonderful, Fie. I'm happy for you."

Scanning the room, Fie quickly realized there wasn't a free seat left. Without hesitation, she walked over to Laura and plopped herself down on her lap.

Laura blinked in surprise but quickly recovered, wrapping her arms gently around Fie. "Well, I suppose this works."

Fie leaned back smugly, clearly comfortable.

Alisa, watching the exchange with an amused smile, suddenly perked up. "Hey, everyone, it sounds like there's going to be dancing at this party Princess Alfin is organizing."

"Ah, so the plan is to get Rean to dance with you," Fie said.

"What?!" Alisa exclaimed, her face turning pink. After a pause, she added in a quieter voice, "Well... maybe."

Emma adjusted her glasses, a teasing smile on her face. "Do you have anything specific in mind, Alisa?"

"I was thinking that Rean will probably do a brother-sister dance with Elise. Maybe I could jump in after that and say, 'Oh, that looks fun, why don't we dance?'" Alisa said.

Laura hummed thoughtfully. "If your only goal is to share a dance, that could work. But if you want this to be seen as a step forward in your relationship with Rean, a dance with deeper meaning, you might need to adjust your approach."

"I was afraid of that, but you're right. Of course, you're right," Alisa groaned, slumping back into her seat.

"What if you start planting seeds before the party, like how romantic dancing is? Then, on the day of, just straight up be like, 'Rean, dance with me.'" Fie said. "You're basically telling him what the dance means without coming right out and saying it. If he accepts after that, that's something, right?"

Millium shot up, flailing excitedly. "I wanna dance with Fie and Altina! It'll be a super sister dance party!"

"I'd be down, but good luck getting Altina to agree," Fie said with a shrug.

Emma chuckled. "The image of Altina dancing is certainly adorable, but it does seem unlikely."

The girls all laughed, imagining Altina's deadpan refusal paired with Millium's boundless enthusiasm. The conversation flowed effortlessly after that, bouncing between party plans, potential outfits, and other playful topics, their bonds growing stronger with every laugh and shared idea.

Later that day, Fie and Laura strolled up to the dorms after their relaxing visit to the café. As they neared, voices carried toward them, drawing their attention to Alisa and Rean standing by the entrance, engaged in conversation.

"Looks like Alisa's making her move," Fie remarked, her sharp gaze locking onto the scene.

Laura nodded. "Indeed."

The two slowed their pace, not wanting to intrude.

"You see, Rean," Alisa was saying, her voice steady but with a hint of nerves beneath the surface, "dances are really special. It's not just about the steps or the music. It's about the connection—what it means to share that moment with someone."

Fie leaned slightly toward Laura, whispering, " 'Special' instead of 'romantic.' She's softening her approach. Still works though, right?"

Laura hummed in agreement, her eyes still on the pair.

Rean smiled warmly, nodding. "I think you're right, Alisa. Dances can be meaningful, and I'd love to dance with you at the Class VII graduation party."

Fie's eyebrows shot up slightly. "Whoa," she murmured to Laura. "Did not expect him to agree that easily."

Alisa blinked, clearly taken aback. "R-Really? You would?"

"Of course," Rean said, his sincerity shining through. "It sounds like a great way to celebrate and a memory worth making."

Alisa's cheeks flushed, and her lips curved into a radiant smile. "Th-thank you, Rean. I'll look forward to it."

Rean nodded, his usual warmth in his expression. "Me too. Anyway, I should get going. I've got a few things to prepare for tomorrow."

With that, Rean waved and walked off, leaving Alisa standing there, her hands clasped together, a mix of excitement and disbelief on her face.

As Fie and Laura approached, Alisa turned to them, still visibly glowing.

"Well," Fie said casually, folding her arms, "looks like someone just secured the best dance of the night."

Alisa's face turned an even deeper shade of red. "F-Fie! How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough to see your plan worked like a charm," Fie teased, a smirk playing on her lips.

Alisa groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Geez, you couldn't wait five seconds to start teasing me?"

Laura's tone was far gentler as she said, "In all fairness, Alisa, you handled that quite well. Rean's response seemed very genuine."

Alisa lowered her hands and sighed, her smile returning despite herself. "Thanks, Laura. I just can't believe he actually said yes. I thought I'd have to push harder."

"You kept it subtle but heartfelt," Laura said. "That made all the difference."

Fie added, "Yeah, credit where it's due. That was pretty smooth."

Alisa looked between them, her smile growing brighter. "Thanks, you two. I guess now I just have to figure out how to not trip over my feet when we actually dance."

"Practice," Laura said with a small smile. "And confidence. You'll do wonderfully."

Alisa nodded, her spirits lifted as the three of them headed inside, leaving behind the crisp evening air and the buzz of a small but meaningful victory.