A/N: Had a fever dream I wrote this. Thought I'd live up to dream me's creative process. It's been a good while since I've watched Zexal completely [barely like 28 eps in] so forgive me if the characterization is off! Working off of my vague memories from 2014/2015 and briefly familiarizing myself with the characters wikipages.

7AM. The sound of an alarm rings through the small studio apartment, but it doesn't come from your traditional clock. Instead, it comes from a phone, placed carefully on the top of a dresser that sits next to a bed. This is brief however as a hand reaches over, picking up the phone and pulling it closer to the bed.

Kaito holds up the phone, blinking a few times as he sleepily drags his finger along the screen to turn off the alarm. Yet before he can fully set it back down, it slips from his hand and in turn, smacks directly onto his face.

"Shit-" he says with a scowl as he brushes the phone aside to rub the bridge of his nose. This is followed by him sitting up in bed as he briefly checks his face for any lasting damage from the phone's impact.

Seems good… He follows it with picking up his phone as he looks at the date. Tuesday. Normally a day he gets up early to head to work with Chris, but not today. It's his earned day off. Normally a day he spends to go visit Haruto and catch up.

He checks his phone, looking through his notifications. Mostly just annoying updates from Yuma and his recent duel-themed party. Some promotions here and there from random restaurants. Drunk texts from Mizael asking him to come over. Typical stuff. Kaito's quick to swipe them off before pausing on the last notification.

A text message from Haruto.

hey big brother

i hope ur not mad at me for saying no to us hanging out after school. i just never get invited to hang out so i rly wanted to go

we can hang out on your next day off if that's ok? love u, haruto

He smiles a little. Typical of Haruto to always be worrying, but regardless, Kaito's quick to respond.

Hey, I just wanted to let you know it's fine. We can reschedule for next time. I have stuff to catch up on today anyways so don't feel bad. Make sure to have fun too, and I love you too.

He sets his phone down, quickly getting out of bed to stretch.

It's not actually true he has things to do. He cleared his schedule completely to make sure it'd be an uninterrupted time, but oh well. He can just spend the day at home and relax.

He's quick to go to his closet as he picks out a new outfit. Then it's off to the bathroom, because hygiene always comes first.

2PM.

Hanging out at home wasn't as fun of a thing as he thought it'd be. After he showered, he had breakfast, and after breakfast, he caught up on the news. And after the news, he watched TV, one of those daily shows with multiple TV hosts.

It only took a half hour for him to get bored though. No wonder Regular TV was on its way out.

As a last-ditch effort, Kaito decided to sit outside of his apartment and read. And that's where he sat now. Catching up on the never-ending list of book suggestions Chris had for him because of how "illuminating" and "breathtaking" they were. Kaito never really got it, but because all they really had to rely on was the past and work, it was worth a shot.

He flips the page, reading slowly through the last paragraph as he finishes off the current chapter. Sighing, Kaito closes the book as he leans back in the chair. This is even more boring than TV.

"Fuck it," he says as he stands up once more, heading into his apartment. He walks over to his dresser and begins to sift through the shelves. All he finds at first are random trinkets and the countless books Chris lent him that he has yet to read.

It's when he begins to pull out the books and set them on his bed, he finds what he's looking for: A pack of cigarettes. Not only that though as besides them sits a small black lighter.

Quick to grab both, he begins to close the shelf before glancing at the random books on his bed.

Eh, he'll put them back after his smoke break. It's not like he has much to do.

Going back outside, Kaito sits on his chair again as he pulls out a cigarette. Setting aside the pack, he then takes the lighter, slowly lighting it up before taking a drag.

Relaxing into the chair, he looks out at the city down below him. This feels right.

A thriving city with just enough bustle to live on, but not enough to distract him from his day-to-day life.

He glances off to the right of him, noticing the row of apartment units that live near him. They usually consist of college students starting off or a small family on a budget. Then there's the singles like him, young workers (at least under 40) that spend their time working then overworking. Those that are only home when they come to sleep or have the rare day off. Speaking of which… He glances at the direct apartment beside him.

That's the one that's been empty for a while now. It previously belonged to an old woman. She was kind. She had the habit of "accidentally making too much food" but they both knew it was a tendency to look after him. But that was a while ago. She was gone all of a sudden and that's how it became the vacant apartment it is now.

Another drag from his cigarette.

The sudden loud noise of footsteps catches his attention as he hears someone approaching from the staircase near him. He shifts, squinting a bit as he listens for more clues to who the individual is. But it's only met with a raised eyebrow as he hears slight grunts, ones that come from a slightly higher tone.

Then he sees a head come up from his view of the staircase. Dark blue hair. Purple tips. Bangs covering a majority of the person's face.

It's Droite.

His face remains mostly unchanged as he squints, watching a bit closer as she completes her journey up the stairs. She looks a bit older now, and though she always had a mature taste in fashion, the outfit she wears now only shows the commitment to her preferred style.

She doesn't notice him, however, as she sets the box down at the top of the stairs. She leans over, hands on her knees as she takes a few deep breaths. This is then followed by her tilting her head to look in the direction of the apartments… and him.

Their eyes meet for a moment. A pause.

She widens her eyes, looking a bit taken aback as she'd say, "Kaito? Is that you?"

She reaches down to grab her box again, hoisting it up as she approaches him for a closer. Yet it's not one that really infringes on one's own social boundaries.

Kaito looks at her and gives a brief nod. Well, his smoking break is done.

"Droite. It's been a few years now, hasn't it?" he states as he puts his cigarette out. "I'm guessing you're moving in?"

Droite looks at the apartment briefly before nodding, "Yes. I'm actually moved in… for the most part."

She looks down at the box, biting her lip before starting again, "I was uh, just collecting the last of my things from… Gauche."

While grabbing his things, Kaito stops, taking a moment to look at her with a raised eyebrow as he'd be like "Ah, I see."

He isn't sure what else to say.

Droite notices, forcing a slight gentle smile as she continues, "We were engaged. For a few years, but we're taking a break now… In case you were wondering."

He nods, focusing on the box she holds as he repeats, "I see, I'm sorry to hear that… Are you doing okay?"

She blinks, looking a bit taken aback as she pauses before nodding, "I think so… Hopefully it's for a few months."

As she walks past him and to the door of her apartment, she sets the box down again to take out her keys. With a quiet and tense silence between them, all the two hear is the jingling of her keys as she unlocks the door to her own home. She follows this by picking it up but doesn't take a step inside.

"It was nice seeing you, Kaito."

"Agreed."

"Well, I guess I'll see you around.

"Yeah, same."

Droite nods, taking a step inside as she closes the door behind her with a click.

Kaito sighs as he stands up, grabbing his chair before he goes inside to his apartment. As if one awkward conversation was enough, it had to be with a former coworker of his from his teen years.

If only Haruto hadn't canceled…