Chapter 23: The Unplanned Greenhead and Redhead Moment
As Mike and Heidi landed slowly in the snowy land, Jim and Naomi rushed towards them as they embraced, tears of relief flowing freely.
The once darkened world was now bathed in golden light.
Jim: (smiling proudly)
"You two really did it."
Naomi: (wiping her tears)
"The power of love... it wasn't just a myth."
Mike gazed at Heidi, his heart overflowing with gratitude.
Mike: (softly)
"We did it, Heidi."
Heidi: (blushing slightly)
"Yeah... together."
But as they celebrated, a dark whisper echoed in the wind.
Alucard's Voice: (faintly)
"This... isn't over..."
After that Alucard got dissolved with the wind.
And though the battle was won, the warriors knew - the war had only just begun.
The Next Day...
Back on the spaceship, Mike and Heidi sat across from each other, smirking.
Jim and Naomi watched as the two bickered, mocking their own romantic moments.
Mike (grinning): "Did you see how into it you were, Heidi? You practically melted in my arms."
Heidi (smirking): "Oh please, Mike. You were blushing so hard when you kissed me. I thought your head would explode."
Their teasing was lighthearted, but underneath it all, there was a gradual shift in their bond-a genuine closeness growing between them.
Jim and Naomi chuckled as the bickering continued.
Despite their playful denials, the truth was clear - their romantic roles as Snow White and the Prince had left a lingering effect. Even if they pretended otherwise, something had shifted between them.
Naomi whispered to Jim, "At least they're getting along. Kind of."
Jim nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "They're just too stubborn to admit how much they care."
But before the conversation could go further, a loud, violent impact suddenly shook the spaceship. Sirens blared, and the control panel flashed red.
"Warning! Collision detected!" the system blared.
A massive meteor had struck the spaceship.
The force of the collision ripped through the hybrid spacecraft's outer layer, sending it spiraling uncontrollably toward a nearby planet. The ship's systems struggled to stabilize as they plummeted.
"Brace for impact!" Jim shouted, grabbing hold of the nearest handle.
Thinking quickly, Naomi rushed to her tablet and frantically typed in commands. "I'm activating the lockdown system! My lab-ship partition will be sealed off - it's the only way to protect the research and the engines!"
The metallic doors slid shut, securing her lab from damage. Despite her efforts, the ship continued its uncontrolled descent. The four braced themselves as the spaceship roared through the atmosphere.
The spaceship dived down and was going faster into that planet.
With a deafening crash, the ship slammed into the ground, sending up clouds of dust and debris.
The shockwave threw everyone from their seats. Mike groaned as he tumbled, with Heidi falling directly on top of him. In the chaos, her face landed dangerously close to his.
Their eyes widened. Before either of them could react, their lips brushed in another accidental kiss.
Heidi's eyes darted away, her face flushing deep red. "W-What the heck?! That didn't count!"
Mike, equally flustered, tried to downplay the moment. "I-I didn't see anything! Just... gravity, that's all!"
But his embarrassment only grew as a mischievous grin spread across his face. "Though, now that I think about it... that's technically four kisses now. Guess I'm a real prince, huh?"
Heidi's fists clenched. "Ugh! You are so annoying!"
While their argument continued, on the other side of the damaged ship, Jim and Naomi were struggling to recover from the impact.
Jim had cushioned Naomi's fall, but in the chaos, she had inadvertently fallen over him. As they tried to shift, their faces drew closer - too close.
Their lips brushed, just like Mike and Heidi's. The contact was brief, but the warmth lingered. Naomi's eyes went wide, and her cheeks flushed a vibrant pink. Jim, equally horrified, froze in disbelief.
"I-I'm sorry!" Naomi stammered, quickly scrambling to her feet.
Jim bolted upright, his face crimson. "It-it was an accident! Completely unintentional!"
Mike, still grinning from his own incident, noticed the scene and couldn't resist. "Well, well, Redhead and Greenhead having a moment, huh?" His smirk widened. "I didn't know you two were so close!"
Jim's embarrassment deepened. He covered his face, unable to respond.
His heart pounded uncontrollably - not from the crash, but from the overwhelming shame.
Jim realized he had never felt so embarrassed around any girl.
Comrades occasionally hugged him, and some even dared a kiss on the cheekābut it had never fazed him.
He always saw everyone as just that: comrades.
So why did Naomiās accidental kiss make his face burn like this?
Naomi felt just as conflicted. Though she had apologized, the kiss left her flustered. Her admiration for Jim, something she had kept hidden, now bubbled to the surface.
She had spent her childhood years hearing stories about him from her father, Edward.
She was always a supporter of Jim(who that time was child prodigy in Celestic Justice)and every time, he went up the ranks, she became more and more impressed.
Jim had become something of a distant hero in her mind, someone she secretly admired and respected. To be in such a vulnerable moment with him stirred conflicting emotions.
But Jim's turmoil was even stronger. To him, the idea of falling in love seemed impossible.
He believed his status as a hybrid - the son of Heatsun and Moonsalt, a Solar and Lunar married couple - made him unworthy of romantic feelings in Soluna due to him neither being solar nor lunar.
Plus, he didn't believe in romance even if it was a girl not from Soluna.
His existence alone was already a burden in his his eyes, and the thought of pursuing love felt like an unnecessary dream.
He shook his head, silently cursing himself. I'm not meant for love. I'm a hybrid. I exist to protect others - nothing more.
After that he prayed to Edward's departed soul. " Please...please forgive me....Edward. In your absence, I have committed a unforgivable sin. I am not your ideal student...I never was."
Jim was getting too emotional about it.
And yet, the warmth from Naomi's accidental kiss lingered.
Naomi, meanwhile, wrestled with her own thoughts. I'm not worthy of someone like Jim. He's on a whole different level. A hero who faced monstrous threats, and overcame impossible odds.
She lowered her gaze, trying to steady her breath. "I-I'm really sorry, Jim. That... that shouldn't have happened."
Jim forced a small, awkward smile. "No, it's okay. It was just an accident. Let's... just forget it ever happened."
But even as they said those words, both of them knew the moment would be impossible to forget.
The unspoken tension lingered between them as the ship's alarms died down. Naomi quickly checked her tablet, confirming that her lab remained undamaged.
"We should get to work on repairs," Naomi said, trying to break the awkward silence. "The sooner we fix this, the sooner we can get back to our mission."
Jim nodded in agreement, though a small part of him couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed.
As they began the repairs, Mike and Heidi - still playfully arguing - occasionally stole glances at Naomi and Jim. Despite their stubbornness, even they could sense that something deeper had stirred within their teammates.
Mike grinned mischievously, resting his arm on Heidi's shoulder. "Well, well! Redhead and Greenhead, huh? I can see it now - the great love story of the universe!"
Heidi smirked, playing along. "Oh, absolutely! From awkward stumbles to accidental kisses, the romance practically writes itself!"
Jim's face burned red as he clenched his fists. "We're definitely not younger than you two, so stop with the nicknames!"
Naomi, equally embarrassed, crossed her arms and tried to regain her composure. "Exactly! You two are acting like children!"
Mike raised a brow, the grin never leaving his face. "Oh? We already know Jim's 22. Not that much older than us."
Heidi quickly chimed in. "Yeah! I'm 18, and Mike's 20. So, who's acting like the kid now, huh?"
Naomi froze for a moment, struggling to find a retort. Her flustered state was evident. Mike caught on and, with a mischievous gleam, prodded further.
"Wait a second..." Heidi leaned in, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Naomi, don't tell me you're older than Jim?"
"N-No!" Naomi stammered, her cheeks now a deep crimson. "I'm 21!"
Heidi and Mike both sighed in exaggerated relief. "Phew! That was a close one!" Heidi chuckled. "I thought we'd have to start calling you 'Miss Naomi.'"
"Miss Naomi," Mike echoed mockingly, sending both of them into a fit of laughter.
Jim groaned, clearly annoyed. "Enough already! Shouldn't we be figuring out where we are instead of acting like a couple of gossiping kids?"
Mike waved him off. "Yeah, yeah. You're no fun, Greenhead." He then nudged Heidi. "Come on, Princess. Let's go see which fairy tale planet we crashed into."
"While you two," Heidi teased, shooting a knowing glance, "enjoy some private time."
Naomi's face burned even brighter as she shook her head. "You're impossible!"
"And proud of it!" Mike called out as he and Heidi headed toward the exit, snickering the entire way.
Now left alone, Jim and Naomi stood in awkward silence, avoiding each other's gaze. The ship's interior was dimly lit, with cracks and damaged panels surrounding them.
Jim scratched the back of his head. "Well... we should probably get started on the repairs."
"Y-Yeah," Naomi nodded quickly, trying to shake off the embarrassment. She pulled out her tablet, tapping a few buttons.
The sealed partition of her lab-ship, which had been protected from the crash, opened up with a low hiss. A glowing, futuristic workspace was revealed, with various tools and devices lining the walls.
Then, using a sleek remote control, Naomi commanded several small, spider-like repair robots to emerge. They whirred to life, their metallic legs clinking against the floor as they began assessing the damage.
Jim watched in awe. "That's... incredible. You really thought of everything, huh?"
Naomi, still a bit flustered, gave a small smile. "It's just basic automation. After analyzing the damage, the robots estimate it will take about two hours to complete the repairs."
Jim's admiration only grew. "Two hours? That's amazing. Honestly, I wouldn't even know where to start without you."
Naomi's eyes softened. "Well... if not for you, I might not even be here right now. Remember when I first met you? If you hadn't stopped me, I probably would've..." She trailed off, not wanting to finish the thought.
Jim shook his head, offering her a reassuring look. "But you didn't. You chose a different path, Naomi. You've come a long way."
Her heart warmed at his words. Despite her father's legacy and her own struggles, Jim always saw the good in her. For a brief moment, the awkwardness faded, replaced by mutual respect and gratitude.
"Thanks, Jim," Naomi said softly.
Jim smiled. "Anytime."
The robots continued their work, sparks flying as they mended the damaged hull. Though the repairs would take time, the atmosphere between Jim and Naomi felt lighter - even if the faint blush on their faces remained.
Meanwhile, Mike and Heidi wandered through the strange new planet, walking along a cobblestone path that twisted through a lush, vibrant forest.
The air was crisp, and the sunlight filtered through the tall trees, illuminating the moss-covered ground.
It was a far cry from the damaged spaceship, and they were determined to figure out which fairy tale world they had crash-landed on.
"Well, at least it's not another cursed wasteland," Mike said, stretching his arms. "No evil witches or possessed monsters so far. I'd call that a win."
"Don't jinx it," Heidi quipped, her arms crossed. "Knowing our luck, something ridiculous is bound to happen."
As they strolled further, the two soon approached a small village bustling with life.
Stalls lined the streets, displaying fresh fruits, colorful fabrics, and handmade trinkets. Cheerful chatter filled the air as villagers moved about, enjoying their day.
Mike, however, seemed far too distracted by something else. A group of charming young ladies giggled by a flower stand, clearly noticing the tall, confident figure walking by. They whispered amongst themselves, shooting shy glances in his direction.
"Well, hello there," Mike said smoothly, flashing his most dazzling grin. "I'm Mike, a daring warrior who has saved countless worlds. Perhaps you lovely ladies would like to hear one of my heroic tales over some tea?"
The girls giggled even more, their eyes sparkling with curiosity. "A hero? Really?" one of them asked.
"Absolutely," Mike replied, dramatically placing his hand on his chest. "And fear not, for I am always available to rescue fair maidens in distress."
Just as he was about to indulge in more of his exaggerated boasting, a sharp smack echoed through the village.
"Oww!" Mike yelped, stumbling forward.
Heidi stood behind him, her fist still clenched from the swift punch she had delivered to the back of his head.
"Seriously, Mike?!" Heidi fumed. "We're on a mission, and you're out here flirting like an idiot!"
The young ladies gasped in surprise, backing away in fear. "I-I think we should go," one of them stammered, quickly ushering the others away.
"Wait! No, come back!" Mike called after them, rubbing the sore spot on his head. "She's just... protective!"
"Protective?" Heidi scoffed. "More like preventing you from making an even bigger fool of yourself."
Mike groaned silently. "You know, you didn't have to hit me that hard."
"Then stop being a moron."
They continued their walk through the village, tension lingering until Heidi caught sight of a commotion up ahead.
A group of well-dressed men had gathered, all seemingly vying for the attention of a single figure. It didn't take long for Heidi to realize they were all trying to impress her.
"Milady!" One of the men dramatically bowed before her. "Surely you would allow me the honor of accompanying you through our humble village?"
"Nonsense!" Another declared. "I am far more suited to your elegance. Name any challenge, and I shall prove myself worthy!"
The men began bickering, each attempting to outshine the other. Heidi's face twisted in disbelief.
"Oh, for crying out loud-"
Before she could finish, Mike swiftly stepped in front of her, his expression darkening.
"Back off," he growled, his hands glowing faintly with magical energy. "She's not interested."
"But-" one man stammered.
"No 'but.' And just so you don't get any bright ideas..." Mike flicked his wrist, casting a binding spell.
Thick golden bands of light wrapped around the group of men, preventing them from taking another step. They struggled, but the bindings held firm.
"Consider that a warning," Mike said smugly, dusting his hands.
Heidi blinked in surprise, then snickered. "Jealous much?"
Mike crossed his arms. "I'm not jealous. I'm just making sure no idiot tries to steal my partner."
Heidi grinned. "Whatever you say, Prince Charming."
As they resumed their walk, the dense foliage of the previous landscape began to thin, and the refreshing scent of saltwater filled the air. A cool breeze swept across the land, and the distant sound of crashing waves became more prominent.
Mike's sharp eyes caught sight of a sparkling shoreline in the distance, the turquoise waters glimmering under the sun.
Star-shaped seashells scattered along the pristine beach, and the gentle hum of seabirds echoed above.
"Okay," Mike said, taking a deep breath. "Definitely not Snow White's castle."
Heidi nodded. "Looks more like something from a beachside fairy tale."