The morning light filtered through the thin curtains of Violet's room, casting a soft glow over everything. Violet stirred in her bed, her body stretching lazily before her eyes fluttered open.

The first thing she noticed was the warmth radiating from Elior, who was still fast asleep beside her. His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, his peaceful expression softening his otherwise sharp features.

Sliding out of bed carefully so as not to wake him, Violet padded over to the mirror. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw the faint red and purple marks blooming on her neck like delicate petals. She touched the marks gently, her fingertips brushing over the tender skin.

"Sore and itchy," she murmured to herself, but her lips curved into a shy smile. The memory of Elior's touch from the previous night rushed back, her cheeks flushing a deep pink.

Her thoughts swirled as she got ready for the day. After a quick shower and change into a casual outfit, she tied her hair loosely, her eyes lingering on her reflection. The marks were still visible, and despite her best efforts to cover them with a scarf, they peeked through as if refusing to be hidden.

Settling at her study desk, Violet powered on her laptop. Her project the one she had poured her heart and soul into was her only hope. Breaking Elior's code, increasing his memory capacity, giving him the ability to hold onto moments, was her mission.

Her fingers danced across the keyboard, her focus sharp as she tweaked lines of code and algorithms. Every few minutes, her eyes would dart toward Elior, still fast asleep. She couldn't help but smile at how peaceful he looked, his face free of the playful teasing he so often directed at her.

After hours of work, she finally managed to write a new sequence a patch that could increase his memory capacity incrementally, allowing him to store memories for a few days instead of losing them after 24 hours. Her heart raced as she prepared to reset him with the update.

Violet walked over to Elior, her hand hovering over his chest. She took a deep breath and pressed the small reset button she had designed just below his nape.

Elior's body jerked slightly, his brows furrowing as his eyes fluttered open. "Ugh," he groaned, gripping his head. "What the hell?"

"Elior!" Violet exclaimed, rushing to his side. She knelt beside him, her hands gripping his shoulders to steady him as he almost slumped off the bed.

"I... My head... It's killing me," he muttered, wincing.

"It's okay. I'm here," she whispered, rubbing his back gently.

When he finally looked up at her, his eyes widened in recognition. "Violet," he said, his voice soft. A slow smile spread across his face as he cupped her cheek. "I remember. Everything."

"You do?" Her voice trembled with a mix of hope and disbelief.

"Yes," he replied, pulling her into a tight hug. "You did it, Kitten."

Violet's heart soared, tears welling up in her eyes as she buried her face in his shoulder.

The moment felt like a dream.

Elior was no longer bound by the constraints of his resets.

Elior picked up her hand and began tracing patterns on her palm with his fingertips.

"What are you doing?" Violet asked, her voice light with amusement.

"Mapping you," he said with a teasing smirk.

"Mapping me?"

"Every line, every curve... I want to remember all of it," he replied, his voice dropping to a husky whisper.

She blushed but didn't pull away, her heart fluttering as his touch lingered.

Elior leaned over her, his face mere inches from hers.

"Do you know how beautiful you are?" he asked, his voice a mixture of awe and sincerity.

"Stop," Violet said, covering her face with her hands.

He gently pulled her hands away, his gaze locking with hers. "I mean it," he said, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

Her cheeks flushed as he continued to kiss her temple, her cheek, the corner of her lips each touch gentle but electrifying.

He suddenly grabbed her hand. "Come with me," he said, pulling her up towards him.

"What are you doing?" she asked, laughing.

"No questions," he replied, leading her to the living room.

He turned on the stereo, and a soft, slow melody filled the space. "Dance with me."

"Here? Now?"

"Yes," he said, pulling her close.

With one hand on her waist and the other holding her hand, Elior guided her into a gentle sway. Violet felt her nervousness melt away as they moved together, the world outside fading into insignificance.

"I've never danced like this before," she admitted.

"Then let me be your first," he said, spinning her around before pulling her back into his arms.

They danced, swaying gently to the music, completely forgetting the world outside the four walls of her apartment. Time seemed to stretch, the melody wrapping around them like a cocoon, isolating them in their own little universe. Violet's laughter bubbled up, light and carefree, as Elior spun her in a playful twirl before pulling her back into his arms.

"Hey, hey, wait!" she giggled, playfully swatting at his chest. "I'm thirsty."

Elior stopped, his lips quirking into a soft smile as he brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. "Oh, are you now?" he teased. Before she could respond, he bent down and scooped her up effortlessly into his arms.

"Ah! Elior!" she squealed, clutching onto his shoulders as he carried her toward the kitchen.

He grinned, the corner of his mouth tugging upward in a roguish smirk. "I'll take care of you, Kitten. Just sit tight."

He set her down gently on the cool surface of the kitchen island, her legs dangling as she leaned back on her palms, still catching her breath from the impromptu dance. She watched as he moved with surprising ease and familiarity, opening cupboards and retrieving a glass.

"Are you sure you've never lived here before?" she teased, watching him locate the water jug in the fridge without hesitation.

"Maybe I'm just naturally gifted at navigating your space," he quipped, pouring her a glass of water and handing it to her with a playful flourish.

Violet took the glass and drank, her throat bobbing with each sip. The water felt refreshing against the warmth lingering from their dance. Elior stood in front of her, his arms crossed, leaning casually against the counter as he watched her with an intensity that made her heart flutter.

"Better?" he asked, his voice softer now, the teasing edge replaced with something gentler.

"Much better," she said, setting the glass aside. Her cheeks were still flushed, and whether it was from the dance or his gaze, she wasn't sure.

For a moment, their eyes met, and the playful energy between them shifted. The air seemed to thicken, charged with unspoken emotion. Violet leaned forward slightly, reaching out to cup Elior's face with her hands.

"Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

His brows furrowed slightly in confusion. "For what?"

"For today," she replied, her thumbs gently stroking his cheekbones. "For everything, really. For making me feel like this. Like I matter."

Elior's expression softened, his eyes searching hers as if trying to understand the depth of her words. He placed his hands over hers, holding them against his face.

"Violet," he said, his voice low and tender, "you don't just matter. You're everything to me."

Her lips trembled into a smile, her heart swelling with warmth. Elior leaned closer, his forehead resting against hers.

"Does it hurt?" he asked, his voice laced with guilt.

"Hurt what?" she asked.

"The punishment."

"A little," she admitted, her cheeks heating up.

"I'm sorry," he said, pressing a kiss to the tender skin.

Her heart raced as his lips lingered, his touch both soothing and exhilarating. "Elior..."

"Hmm?" he murmured, his lips brushing against her collarbone.

"What if the patch failed?"

"You're thinking too much," he said.

"Am I?"

"Yes. And you need a distraction."

Before she could protest, he leaned down and captured her lips in a kiss that left her breathless.

"You're mine, Violet," he murmured against her lips. "No matter what happens, that won't change."

And for the first time in a long time, Violet let herself believe it.

Breaking during the kiss for a second, she whispered against his lips, "hey Elior, don't stop," she whispered, surprising even herself.

And he didn't.