“That should be it! Let me take it out on a test flight!” Oliver said from inside Nicole’s Moon Unit after compiling the code he wrote in the Moon Unit’s computer. “I can’t believe I had to write code for the Magic Amplifier to properly work on the Moon Unit! At least future endeavors would be easier!”

Oliver turned on the Moon Unit and he could hear everything was running normal. He couldn’t hear any strange sounds. He started looking at the display and couldn’t see any problems. He then activated the flight module. Everything felt normal, so he took to the skies as fast as the Moon Unit could take him. As he ascended, he kept an eye on the display, specifically at the energy levels. After going above the clouds, Oliver just let the Moon Unit stay in place for a few minutes. The Moon Unit then grabbed its sword and began doing a sword dance above the clouds. Oliver was pushing his limits as a Moon Unit pilot to fully test the upgrade he made to Nicole’s Moon Unit.

“The conversion to using a Magical Energy Crystal instead of regular fuel worked. The energy levels drop a bit when flying at full speed, but quickly recover when the Moon Unit is stationary, even if it’s turned on.” Oliver said to himself. “We won’t have to worry about running out of energy, unless the Moon Unit flies at full speed for several hours!”

Oliver took an hour-long test flight on the Moon Unit to see if there were any problems when operating it for longer periods of time. After he was satisfied, Oliver slowly landed on the training field. After making the Moon Unit walk for some time on the training field, Oliver returned the Moon Unit to the hangar and left it in its spot.

I finally finished the upgrade; I even made an Elemental Gun for it. Oliver thought as he walked towards Colonel Miyamoto’s office. Nicole blocked me after what happened. After I return this key fob, my obligations to Nicole end. Our relationship now is two people working on the same military base, not even in the same department. Then I must go and see Aria.

Oliver entered the open office and as soon as Colonel Miyamoto saw him, Oliver could feel a bit of resentment coming from him. Oliver took out the key fob of Nicole’s Moon Unit and placed it on the desk.

“Nicole’s Moon Unit is ready. Here is the key fob.” Oliver said, looking at Colonel Miyamoto. “I have no way of contacting Nicole; she blocked all forms of communication with me.”

“Of course she would! You broke my poor daughter’s heart! Or did you expect something else?” Colonel Miyamoto said in an angry tone. “That night when she came back, it pained me seeing her cry. And all because of you! You two are adults and she knew this could happen! You’re lucky we need you for your research and engineering skills! Or else you and I would have had a sparring match the next morning after you broke her heart! Continue your work and unless I call you, I don’t want to see you!!”

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“Yes, sir!” Oliver saluted before leaving the office and heading towards the lab.

When he entered the lab, he could see Ayano looking at some data on a monitor. Oliver could tell how hard she had been working for her project and felt joy in being her apprentice. He knew the day he decided to ask her to mentor him was the day his whole life changed for the better. That risk he took five years ago paid off and he couldn’t be happier about the outcome.

“Mrs. Hashimoto, do you know where Aria is?” Oliver asked.

“Oh, Oliver! She texted me a couple of minutes ago saying she would be here soon.” Ayano replied. “Did you finish the upgrade on Nicole’s Moon Unit?”

“Yeah, it’s all done. Aria’s Moon Unit should take less time since I documented all the troubleshooting I had to do with Nicole’s Moon Unit.” Oliver responded. “I also have other matters to discuss with Aria.”

“Well, you have my blessing, Oliver! Please take good care of my daughter!” Ayano said with a warm tone.

“I will! I have messed up in the past, but I’ll try my best! I just want to find happiness next to her!” Oliver said.

“As long as you two keep trying, I’ll be here to provide guidance! You two are young and are bound to keep making mistakes, even though I am prone to making mistakes, but it’s up to us older folk to guide the young!” Ayano was smiling. “After my husband died, I was only left with Aria and Mei. My two daughters gave me the strength to keep going! I love them very much, so Oliver I will leave Aria in your hands! Make her happy!”

“I promise to keep Aria happy, Ayano! I’ll make sure that we are happy until the end!” Oliver said with a smile. “This is all thanks to you accepting me as your apprentice!”

Oliver could see Ayano’s smile, it was a smile he had not seen in a long time, the smile of a mother. He tried to remember the smile of his late mother, it had been 9 years since he lost her, yet he could still remember her beautiful smile.

“You’re here, Oliver?” Aria said in a surprised tone. “You idiot, why haven’t you tried to find me for the past week? After what you did to my friend, you haven’t talked to me.”

“Today’s the last day of the deadline you gave me. And I knew you and Nicole had to have a heart to heart with each other.” Oliver replied in an apologetic tone. “Plus, I was working overtime upgrading the Moon Unit. I am sorry for neglecting you!”

“I understand, but I am still a little angry!” Aria said, looking at Oliver, then she grabbed Oliver’s right arm and dragged him to her Mom’s office inside the lab. “Do you know how much anguish you have caused?

“I understand the consequences of the action I took. I know I hurt people, but I am now certain of my feelings. I wanted to make sure you also sorted your feelings, so I waited until the last day.” Oliver replied. “Aria, I want us to be together and walk our own path towards happiness!”

“You’re an idiot, Oliver! But now you’re my idiot!” Aria replied as she approached Oliver and hugged him tightly. “I want to be by your side Oliver! Let’s walk our own path together! We don’t know the destination, but as long as we are together, we will be able to face anything!”

“Aria, I am the happiest man in the world!” Oliver hugged Aria back. They gazed into each other's eyes and could see the deep emotions they felt for each other. Little by little the distance between their lips decreased until their lips were touching. They gently kissed each other. Oliver and Aria knew this was just the beginning of their long journey together. Each of them engraved this moment in their hearts as one of their most important memories.