''Where exactly did you just drag me...''

Ayaka looked around. That restaurant was a complete opposite of what she'd been used to. Everything felt more cheerful. The many couples and families that were seated were proof of that.

''It's not like the five-star restaurants you're used to, but when it comes to tasty food at low prices, you can't beat Wanmin.'' replied Aether while slightly leaning over their table.

He had insisted for them to sit at the terrace, and she was glad they did. They were not completely cut off from the restaurant's cozy atmosphere, and the breeze made the whole setting even more enjoyable.
Once her eyes had taken it all in, she decided it was now time to satisfy her stomach, and looked at the menu.

Huh. The food really was unexpensive. And they had a lot of different styles, as well. She quickly made her pick.

''Alright, are you guys ready to order ?''

The blue-haired waitress gratified them both with a friendly smile. Aether, who was apparently a regular, handed her his menu.

''I'll have the Dragon Beard Noodles, Xiangling.'' he said before turning to his roommate.''What about you, Ayaka ?''

''One Butter Crab, please.''

''Got it ! Any drinks you two would like ?''

Ayaka answered before he could say anything.

''Water will do just fine, thanks.''

''Okay ! Crab and noodles, for our lovely pair of customers !''

The second she left them, Aether raised a brow.

''Water, huh ? So you really don't drink, girlie ?''

She shook her head. ''Please, I'm trying to forget about that.''

Crap. Too soon. Seeing her dejected expression, he decided to try a softer approach.

''Alright, I'll stop. The evening wasn't great, so let's just relax.''

She sighed, but her mood went up slightly. It wasn't long before she found herself smiling too.

''You're right. It's not often that I get to hang out with...'' her voice grew softer. ''A friend.''

He chuckled. ''Well, I'm glad.'' He was now trying to avoid her ridiculously cute eyes.

Uh, they weren't looking too bad.

Luckily for the both of them, Xiangling arrived with their plates. Their attention now completely on the food, they began to eat.
Aether probably didn't realize that he had been starving, because now he could only open his mouth to immediately shove food inside.
Ayaka was probably the same, considering that she had gone completely silent as well.

Only after a while, did he notice that she was now staring at him.

Uh-oh. Had he done something wrong again ? He couldn't even tell if she was actually mad.

''Welp, guess I just have to bite.''

But she broke the silence first.

''I have a question, if you don't mind.'' Her tone was clear and unwavering, but he did not sense any animosity in the way she talked.

''Sure, shoot.''

''Who exactly is Lumine ?''

It wasn't like her to pry. But that very question had been burning her lips ever since their encounter with Ajax.

With a mechanical motion, Aether placed his chopsticks back on the table. His eyes trailed off into the distance.

''I suppose there's no harm in telling you a few things.'' His gaze grew mournful. ''Lumine is my twin sister.''

Actually, no.

Lumine was much more than that. But that wasn't something he could simply put into words. For the longest time she had been his pillar, his pride, his other half. But all of that belonged in the past.

Ayaka said nothing. He took it as an incentive to keep going.

''We've never been able to find something about our parents. Not even a last name. My earliest memories go back to us moving from one orphanage to another. Eventually...someone took us in.''

He was well aware of how vague he was sounding, but he really didn't want to talk about him.

''If there are details in your story that you would rather leave out, it's fine.'' said Ayaka while giving him an understanding nod. ''You don't owe me anything. Go at your own pace.''

''You're probably the first person to be so easygoing about my story. Thank you for that.'' he replied with a smile. ''Anyway, a few years ago, I was hit by a drunk driver.''

What.

Ayaka's eyes widened in shock, then concern.

''You were WHAT ?'' A few heads turned in their direction. Realizing that she was drawing unwanted attention, she lowered her voice before asking : ''Are you okay ? Do you need special care ?''

Aether leaned back on his chair. ''I'm fine. I went through hell in rehab, but I regained almost full usage of my body. The biggest problem was the fee...We were already barely getting by, and that made her look for a better job, when she was still a minor.''

Ayaka understood where that was going. ''And she began to work for the Abyss, correct ?''

Spot on. He nodded.

''Young people desperate for money, looking for a job.'' A sad smile made its way to his face. ''How convenient for a criminal organization, that just happened to be in need of more members ?''

And she was now one of them. Another poor soul faced with the grim world of corruption and all other sorts of dirty profits he didn't even want to think about. His sister had faced things she never should have been exposed to, because of him.

Ayaka's voice made him raise his head.

''After my parents passed away, my brother took up the task of handling every single one of our family's affairs. I help him out whenever I can, but it's still a lot of responsibility. We've been approached by the Abyss several times now.'' Her fist clenched. ''They take advantage of other people's weakness to make profit. I'm sorry that your sister fell prey to them.''

''Don't be.''

Huh ?

Their eyes met. Aether made sure that they stayed together.

''I messed up myself, you know. I tried to tell her off when she was just trying to help me.'' A light chuckle escaped his lips. ''Our relationship isn't great, I'll admit it. But hey, she's still my sister, and I'd do anything for her. I'm sure you feel the same way.''

She did. Caring about your sibling, because it's the only family that you have left. That resonated with her. Maybe they did have a lot more in common than she'd thought. Aether shook his blond head.

''But enough about that. I promised that I'd make tonight enjoyable, and all I did was telling a sob-story. You shouldn't have to put up with tha-''

''Aether.''

Was that the first time she said his name out loud ? It simply rolled off her tongue. But that sure got his attention.

Now she was the one looking deep into his eyes.

''Thank you. For sharing your story, I mean. I'm not sure why, but I'm glad that you felt like you could open up to me.'' Her head tilted slightly to the right.
''So thank you, Aether.''

''…''

What the hell was going on ?

Firstly it felt like his face had been frozen solid. But at the same time it felt like he was burning up. Not only that, it felt like every single one of his senses had been heightened too. And all of that only happened when he looked at Ayaka.

He had somehow become aware of every single one of her movements. How she batted her eyes. How her lips curved up into a smile. The way the city lights reflected on her face and how it made her look so damn attractive. Had that little mole under her left eye always been there ?

It felt like watching the highest-quality movie ever made in slow-motion. Every second of it was absolutely gorgeous, and he didn't know how to feel about that.

A part of him wanted to stay like this, just slowly drowning into her mesmerizing blue-gray eyes, without a care in the world.

The other part wanted to get the heck out of that situation before his brain fully turned into a jumbled mess. He chose the latter.

''Hey, are you alright ? You zoned out a little.''

Wow. Had he seriously lost it ? He quickly waved her worries off.

''Don't worry, I'm fine, I was just...calculating the bill.''

He got up to look for Xiangling before she could ask any more questions. Actually, he should have waited for her at their table, but he would rather avoid experiencing whatever just happened again.

He paid for the food, left a handsome tip, and both him and Ayaka walked out of the restaurant.

''What a night, huh ?''

''You can say that again.''

Ayaka looked at the stars. The cold wind swept her face in a freezing caress, but she didn't shudder. If she had started the evening doubtful, she was ending it with a smile.

''But I don't regret it.''

Odd. She went to a party where no one knew her, felt super awkward, got hit on by a ginger guy, watched her roommate almost lose it, and was treated to some actually delicious food by that same roommate, who casually explained that he had been hit by a car, and that his sister was a criminal. She should have felt at least a little frustrated.

But she was rather satisfied.

No one tried to hold her bag for her. No one saw her as a fragile jewel. People talked to her normally and strangers simply ignored her. Everything felt different. Mona was clearly a little jealous, Ajax wasn't trying to hide the fact he was a player. And a prick. Maybe she could even ask Aether to introduce her to Yoimiya. She sounded like an interesting character.

''Speaking of Aether...he was the first one.''

The first person who did not care about her status. Her roommate who laughed whenever she brought up etiquette, but still tried to make her feel comfortable. Her friend who, everytime she explained what was expected of the eldest daughter of the Kamisato clan, scratched the back of his head and said :

''What's even the point of that ? Sounds like such a pain. Are you okay with this ?''

Ayaka giggled at the thought, and glanced at her roommate. A nearly inaudible 'Thank you so much' escaped her lips.

She felt happy. Maybe it was caused by the good food in her stomach. Or the way he looked at her.

He felt happy. Maybe it was caused by the fresh breeze. Or these damned city lights.

''…''

''…''

''Don't we have a curfew ?''


Spoiler : they broke the curfew.

This chapter was a little on the short side, but think of it as a continuation of the previous one. It was just too much to include in Chapter 2. The next chapter will finally introduce Ayato and Thoma, as well as someone, so be hyped (this is a threat).

Don't hesitate to leave your thoughts in a review. Constructive criticism is always welcome:)

If there's something in particular that you'd like to see in a story, PM me ! Who knows, you might help me write the next one...

Until then, later !