Elsword One-shot: Just Desserts

Author's Note: Inspired by FumeKnight's Cake Helps. You should check it out, it's fun~

Monday…

It is the day of the week where everything would reset back to its natural state of routine. It is where everyone returns to their usual work or daily routine after a short weekend. It is that day again, where most people are unlikely to come out of their bed as they are either too lazy to do so or the fact that Mondays doesn't actually exist in their weekday timeline.

Either way, it doesn't matter for Add. The mad genius can list 99 facts and reasons about why people hate Mondays. But for him, there's only one reason why he loves this certain day of the week. Some of the people who recognize him are bewildered at the fact that he was able to not only endure the starting day of the week, but he also found meaning for spending his Monday in delight.

Normally, whenever one hears the word Monday, dread is surely thought to crawl in that person's mind. However, the time and space conqueror can only revel and bathe in their dismay as today was all about his indulgence to his favorite place at Velder.

He missed the place a lot after winding up with some tremendous events with the El Search Party. At first, the Esper had gone ballistic over the different dimensions and timelines he had gotten himself out of lunatic fervor. The mad feeling of repeated failure proved to have broken his already dejected sanity to the point that he had no longer wanted to go back in time to save his mother. His original plan from time traveling turned into a series of nightmarish yet entertaining undertakings for Add.

Not many have lived to tell the tale of his horrendous actions in different timelines, but that all changed after unknowingly traveling back to his current timeline. He was confronted by the El Search Party shortly after his display of power at a nearby village, but was incapable of handling them all at once. Once they had a grip of who he really was, the group decided that it was best to help him with his problems, as Add was once their member and friend before he strangely disappeared.

So far, none of them had gotten through his mad intellectual. Some tried, but others just gave up as they only got threats and silent glares from the man. They just couldn't comprehend what was going on with him. But what they didn't know is that Add was just as confused as they were to him. Their appearances somehow changed. It was as if he had gone to a futuristic timeline where everyone was older by a year or two, making it harder for the white haired man to interact with them.

Information says he was indeed on the right timeline, but he figured he had somewhat leaped a bit to the future. So, Add concluded that it was best to avoid any interaction with them at all cost. He didn't want to know or meet them in the first place.

"Ah! Mister, uh, Add! Welcome back!"

As Add finally approached the dead end of his destination, a familiar woman with a short blonde hair spoke up in both excitement and nervousness. The man only smirked in delight upon recognizing who it was.

"Yes… good to be back." Add had remembered her so well. The glasses, the usual simple uniform that they wear every day along with a small red hat and her nervous speaking… Luriel hasn't changed one bit. He took a seat on one of the vacant spots. But as soon as he did, another figure caught his attention.

"Mister Add! It's so great to see you coming back again in the café!" Donning the same outfit of Luriel, another girl with a different hairstyle spoke up across the counter with a smile. The white haired man only nodded in turn. Despite showing no emotions, he was glad to be able to visit the café back where he can relax and just be himself.

"U-uhm, would it be your usual order, Mister Add?" Luriel suddenly asked, seeing as how it was just normal for her to accommodate customers since she was somewhat of a waitress in the café. Add nodded, although this time, with a slight smirk on his face. Luriel couldn't help but fidget back to Ariel to fetch the man's order.

As Add waited, he couldn't help but feel the atmosphere that he had missed for so long. The empty but soothing environment of the COBO café had never failed to uplift his mood. The feeling that he had been longing for was right in this place all along. It held a quaint sentiment in the Esper's heart, as he had first visited this place two years ago. It still had that serene impact on him that makes him want to live life to the fullest again. If only he could do so, however…

"Uh, here's your slice of chocolate cake, Mister Add!" Returning with a plate of dessert on her hand, Luriel gently placed it down on the table. Add took out his coin purse and gave a handful of ED coins to her. In return, Luriel bowed slightly in front of him as her usual gesture before she went back to the counter with Ariel.

… That was supposed to be the case. However, somebody had shortly cleared its throat before Luriel could even move a muscle.

"Excuse me… but I think you're forgetting my slice of cake."

From out of the blue, a lady in her late teens had suddenly appeared on the other side of the table, sitting with her arms crossed against her chest while her legs were crossed in a manner where her other leg was swaying slowly. The discontentment on her face was visible enough to make Luriel squirm and apologize in response.

"I-I'm sorry! I didn't know Mister Add had company, I'll go get yours, too…" Frantically, she walked back to where Ariel was to get the newcomer's order. The lady's expression slowly eased up to a somewhat boastful smirk as she eyed Add. As for the said Esper, he was not amused to see this all-too-familiar person sitting across the table, in front of him.

He simply chose to ignore her as he tried to eat his dessert in peace. The young woman puffed her cheek in sudden irritation. "Hmph! How dare you ignore me, after all the trouble of following you here!"

Add placed down his fork in a mild manner before staring at the woman in front. After a minute of silence, he took a forkful of cake into his mouth again before speaking.

"… who are you?"

Taken back by his sudden question, the lady retort back with a slightly threatening tone. "Of all names, you chose to forget mine? How rude, I am Lu… you idiot." She grumbled the last bit of words, but Add managed to hear it anyhow. After finishing half of his sliced cake, he answered back nonchalantly.

"Ah, now I remember. You're that brat with a servant."

It was true that he had somewhat forgotten the team ever since they had advanced to greater power. However, he could still somewhat distinguish others a bit. He's just choosing not to mingle with them. As for the woman in front, Add can't properly describe how Lu changed since she had grown up to a young lady with her hair flowing elegantly down to the floor. Everything with her attire had gone a bit… seductive, perhaps? He doesn't know, as he's choosing not to.

Before Lu could address the insult he had said, Luriel came back with the plateful of chocolate cake for Lu. "H-here you go, uh, Miss Lu." She was happy enough to see the chocolate cake prepared for her, but it only made Add sigh in annoyance as he grabbed a handful of ED again to Luriel. "This one's on me, you can leave us now."

The waitress nodded before leaving after. The Esper then turned to face Lu again, only to see her eyes sparkling in delight as she was eating the chocolate cake. He sweat dropped in response.

"Why did you follow me? And where's your butler?"

Waking up from her short trance, Lu blinked back at Add and responded. "Oh, I gave him orders to buy some groceries at the nearby shop. As for following you, well…" She took another piece of cake in her mouth, before continuing speaking. "I'm curious why everyone wants to save you."

Add cocked up an eyebrow in mild disbelief. "Save me? Keh, don't make me laugh. Those stubborn asses can't save me." Lu only giggled at his remark.

"I know we've had the same situation before, but the Elsword and his gang had helped me reclaimed back what I lost."

The Esper frowned as he stared at her. "We're not the same, nor did we have similar losses. And please, they had already given up on me. So there's no point bringing those nosy people in the topic."

She can definitely feel his dark aura slowly seeping out from the topic they're having, but she decided to push further for answers. Lu waved her head for a moment before retorting back. "I see Elesis bugging you constantly. She hasn't given up on you."

"So you've been observing?"

"No, I'm simply stating the obvious."

Add scoffed her statement away with a mocking grin. He was slowly realizing why she was truly here for. "I don't recall you being a saint all of a sudden. There's no point in helping a mad man who doesn't need help." Before Lu could even bother to reply back, the Esper stood up and exited the café without formalities. She could only sigh in defeat before lightening herself up with the cake he had paid for her. Somehow, that small act of kindness—along with the sweet taste of the chocolate cake—proved to have lifted her mood back to its usual state.

As she finished her plate, the door opened for another person. "Lu, I've been looking for you. What were you doing in this establishment?"

Lu frowned a bit, the forkful of cake still in her mouth. "What does it look like? I'm eating cake, you dimwitted servant."

Ciel sat down beside her, his one hand carrying a bag of groceries. "Where's the waiter? I'll go pay for your cake." The Innocent waved his head off dismissively, taking the fork out of her mouth and leaving it on the plate.

"You don't have to. Add already paid for it."

Her servant's expression slowly turned blank upon hearing Add's name. "He was here with you?"

"That's what I just said! Geez, you really need to pay more attention." Finishing her statement, Lu stood up and walked towards the door in a stylish manner.

"Now let's go back, we have a lot of stuff to do." Ciel could only follow her in turn without complain. But he would need to ask why she had magically disappeared a while ago later.