Awwww, that was really sweet ^__^ The trilogy was a really fun read!

Thank you! n.n It was a blast to write, and now I can get into the sillier ideas

Wooo, beach episode! And more Ciri! I wanted to try and avoid reading the descriptions in the preview but I couldn't help myself. I bet this will be a great one.

From your response to my last comment, I can definitely tell how this is more of Zevah's story. And I totally understand how she'd be nervous to invite Auri out to a pool party sort of deal. The little silent celebration she does is super cute though. These little descriptive moments make me think that this whole story could really work as a comic or visual novel!

I know Zev's proportions are a bit exaggerated but I want to be able to lift weights like she apparently does! I know it's a weird thing to be inspired by but it's a great goal to head towards. I want to go to a beach/pool and be awesome like Zevah haha.

I love this idea that Zev is an objectively kind, attractive, and friendly chracter; she has a great job, she has no financial trouble, and everyone in the story seems to like her. She's really the complete package, anyone would easily fall for her. But yet she's so nervous! She's got it all, but she still struggles to confess her feelings to Auri. She's her own worst enemy, and I think it's a powerful lesson. Amazing too, cuz in her introduction to the pool scene, she's totally greeting strangers and even kids like it's nothing, but with Auri it couldn't be more different.

"Not that I blame you." Yeah, good point Zev.

"The unconquered Zev has finally fallen." Hehehe, that's so cute. Ciri is so fun. I love the heart motion she does before this line, too.

Ha. Ciri's story about Tallis is fascinating. If only it were that easy, to just go up to someone and compliment them that way. Maybe it really is, and many of us like Zev are just afraid that we'll mess something up, and ruin something that we already have going. "Just do it badly" really resonates with me as well. I guess that "first impressions" aren't really something to worry about if you already know someone, like Tallis says in the story. But the fear of saying something stupid is so powerful, too. You can't tell if the person you're talking to is like a Tallis who will end up loving it, or someone else who hates what you say so much that you don't dare to try again with anyone else.

I'm glad that Ciri and Tallis appeared at the pool. At first it was just because I love how you write Ciri but the notes above better reflect how I was feeling later in that scene. I was nervous at first that having Ciri in the scene would take time away from Zev and Auri (too many people can hurt the possibility of 1-on-1's) but Ciri could also be a good wingman in this instance. Wing-synth?

I didn't think Rennart would return in this part. Not important enough to mention his name from Zev's perspective, and yet he has such an impact on her. It's clear that her emotions are delicate in this instance.

"I've never seen you like this," is an immensely powerful line.

"Like hell am I gonna make her mad." Okay yeah, Rennart's pretty funny too. A lot of the minor characters in this story are charming in their own ways.

Wow. The moment where they kissed was wonderful! You described the scene so well, how Zev's emotions go totally haywire. You've spent all three parts describing how levelheaded and confident Zevah normally is, and although her emotions have been cracking a few times recently, they've never witnessed this before, and you make it so clear with your writing. What a lovely moment between them.

Also, calling Auri "Cerine" was absolutely brilliant, I love that sort of thing. It's one of the reasons that all of my characters have nicknames in my story; I want there to be emotional moments that demand the real names, or at least alternative names that signify the important of the situation... And the fact that Auri points out the use of her real name a few paragraphs later is even better.

I was pretty sure that this story would have a happy ending when I first started reading, although I'll admit there were moments in this particular part where I wasn't so sure. You've written a great romance, it was never very cliche or too obvious. I suppose the trope of "seeing the person you like with someone else and assuming they're together" is overdone but you put so little emphasis on it, I can tell you only used that tactic just to finally get Zev to open up. It's like seeing Rennart with Auri was the last push she needed to confess her feelings, after the tips from Gebo, Ciri, and others. So in a way, I guess Rennart's more important than I thought lol.

It's taken me far too long to get back into reading your works but this easily reminds me of how talented you are at writing. You are excellent at worldbuilding, great at narration, and the way you write characters might be the best quality of them all. I'm glad I got to read this. I want to read so much more, though. I hope this is only the beginning of what I'm able to do. I can't wait to see what Auri and Zev find themselves up to next.

Thank you for being such an inspiration!