Everyone is gathered on the dining table their food already served in front of them. An awkward silence filled the whole room, everyone's attention are on the smiling man and the quiet girl. Izaya and Seven sat together, Shizuo is in front of the two, Celty and Shinra is on Seven's left side and Namie sat opposite them.
"Aren't you all going to eat?" Seven broke the silence and clearly annoyed.
"You're surprisingly behave right now, Shizu-chan" Izaya's smile never fade, confident and taunting.
"If I'll go rampaging right now, the food that Sev prepared will go into waste" Shizuo said in his most calm voice he can muster and started to eat.
"How considerate Shizuo" Shinra commented and also started to dig in. Though dinner continued to be quiet, the heavy atmosphere lightened. Seven watched Celty hand Shinra a glass of water, the doctor happily chatting with the others but mostly with the dullahan, Namie trying her best to ignore him and Shizuo eating quietly. Eventhough one is missing, Seven still feels nostalgic, sharing dinner with the three. This made her smile.
"I didn't know Kirien can show such a gentle smile" Izaya raised a brow and smirked.
"Just eat" the girl rolled her eyes.
"Can you explain now, Sev?" Shinra adjusted his glasses to look intimidating. "When did this relationship started?" The doctor finally asked after waiting for the others to finish dinner. Asking this question earlier might create another awkward silence spoiling the food. Seven annoyingly looked away. What the heck would she know about this kind of topic anyway?
"We've been dating for three years now" Izaya was the one who answered. All eyes turned to him. "Last week is our anniversary if you're curious"
"Is that the reason you went back here in Ikebukuro just to celebrate your anniversary with the flea?" Shizuo asked his patience slowly slipping.
"Are you jealous Shizu-chan? You even saw her two times yet you didn't recognize her" Izaya said, putting his arm around Seven's sholder, her right brow twitched. "I pity my sweetheart"
"How could she end up in a scumbag like you?!" The blond was planning to throw the table to the troll but he suddenly thought of a comical scene that Seven will block the way and the furniture hitting her. He can't let her get hurt, he cares for Seven just like he cares for Kasuka.
"Remove your arm from my shoulder and I'll torture you later" Seven threateningly whispered as Izaya.
"The conjunction is or my dear" he whispered back.
"Fine. Remove your arm or I'll murder you" Seven hissed, Izaya chuckled and retrieved his arm.
"Yagiri-san, do you know about this?" Shinra asked the woman who is casually drinking her coffee.
"Of course, they can be creepily sweet with each other" Namie answered nonchalantly but deep inside she's laughing.
Hearing the words 'creepily sweet' made Celty thought of the soap operas she watched. She imagined Seven feeding Izaya saying "Ah~" and the troll obeying. The thought made her shudder.
So how did you two met? Celty asked the question everybody wanted to ask.
"We met three years ago" Izaya dramatically started. "and that was the time I believed at love at first sight"
Another shocking revelation for the three while Namie is quietly cleaning the table.
"And I believed in hate at first sight" Seven muttered remembering the first time he saw Izaya in the park.
"She really hated me at first. Ahh~ she can really be cute when she's annoyed" Izaya smiled as if remembering 'the days'. Seven secretly rolled her eyes. When did this man study acting?
"Sev is really hard to court but months later, she finally said yes" the troll continued, his act completely made the others believe.
Silence. This seven lettered word filled the lips of the listeners. 1 minute passed. No one dared to talk. 2… 3 minutes.
"What threat did you use?!" Shizuo and Shinra exclaimed in unison, standing up and slamming both hands on the table. Celty on the other hand, typed the same words and also did the same.
"You three really look badly at me. I feel sad." Izaya sighed but was also surprised by their chorus earlier. The girl beside him closed her eyes, took a deep breath and cursed herself for her next action.
"Shinra, Celty, Shizu-nii" Seven took another deep breath and kept her head bowed. "There's a reason I kept this a secret"
"We'll listen Sev" Shizuo instantly calmed down and sat, the two followed.
"I know this is hard for everyone, especially you Shizu-nii… and I know this will be your reaction" She raised her head, showing a painful expression. "Sooner or later the three of you will tell me to break up with him… it's… I…" A tear fell from her eye shocking all of them. "I just love him so much… just thinking about leaving him…" and she broke into sobs.
The three listeners were taken aback, Izaya and Namie would've clapped and muttered 'bravo' at Seven's performance if they had been in any other company. Shizuo started to have an internal war which Shinra noticed.
"Arghh… this can't be happening" Shizuo gritted his teeth and clutched his head. He lost it.
"I'm sorry Shizu-nii" Seven sighed and watched Shinra and Celty calm Shizuo. She feel sorry for her big brother.
"I didn't know you love me that much" Izaya smirked at the girl after she dried her fake tears. Seven glared back, if looks can kill Izaya would have died brutally right now.
"Seven" Shizuo's first word after recovering his ability to speak. Izaya watched him curiously as the blond walked towards Seven and put his hand on her head. "If this is really what you want, then I'll not complain" Shizuo pat her head and smiled, a sign that he accepts their 'relationship' "but if that low life, scum, good-for-nothing flea made you cry, I'll kill him for you"
"You can tell him that directly since Izaya is beside Seven" Shinra cautiously said knowing he's not yet stable.
"Then we'll be going" The bartender ignored the doctor and walked towards the door.
"Shizu-nii" Seven called out and followed him him "I'll visit you some other time" Shizuo nodded and left the room.
We'll be going too. It looks like Shizuo is still in shock. Celty typed and hurriedly showed Seven.
She see them off and closed the door, the room is quiet once again. 1 minute, 2, 3, 4, another minute and Namie laughed with her heart's content.
"Orihara" Izayah eared Seven growl and looked at her direction but unexpectedly a book hit his forehead creating a red mark.
"I told you, you can call me Izaya" The troll laughed and massaged his abused forehead.
"I'm happy calling you Orihara" Seven picked another book and threw it at the man's direction. He barely dodged it.
"I figured you'd tell a lie like being friends and returning the favor"
"At least they'll buy it" the girl slumped on one of the couches. "This is the worst, most terrifying lie I just did"
"Is the idea of me being a boyfriend that bad?"
"If ever someone confessed to you, yeah sure, you'll accept her feelings just to study her belief 'a love from a kind woman will change the ways of a bad boy'" Seven crossed her arms. "With you being you, you're not capable of loving. What more in loving the whole human race?"
For the first time, Izaya felt annoyed and he wasn't able to hide it fast enough for the girl not to notice his expression. She grinned "You're pissed"
Izaya clicked his tongue. "Going back to our conversation earlier, some notorious criminals in Nerima were already recruited. As I said before, most of the scientists working there are from Italy and they're conducting some human experiment." Namie glanced at their direction. "According to my source, it's a preparation for the research stolen 4 months ago"
"Preparation?" Seven furrowed her brows.
"It's the idea of the head scientist. While they're finding the one who gave the research, he wanted to memorize the little details in a human body"
"Who's the one who gave them?" Seven asked despite knowing the answer, she just wanted to test him.
"I don't know but I have a guess" the man simply replied. The girl's violet eyes stared at him waiting for an answer "Shingen Kishitani right?"
"Why him?"
"I found out he had ties with them once but then he suddenly left. I know he always have this 'slip-of-the-tongue' experiences" he answered anyway even though he knows she's testing him.
"It happened in one of their meetings. Since he is one of the family's scientist it's easy for them to threaten him" She added.
"And if he's in danger, he spills all the information he knows" Izaya finished. "Is that research really important?"
"Right. The research"
"Hmm?"
"I have it."
"Come again"
"I'm the one who stole that research 4 months ago" Seven looked at Izaya as if it's the most obvious thing in the whole world. "That's how I learned they're after Celty"
"You really are something, I'm glad you became my girlfriend" Izaya looked bak at her amused his annoyance earlier disappeared. "Even though I don't like you"
"Fake girlfriend" She pointed out making sure she emphasized the word fake. "I thought you hated me"
"Hate is a big word, I said dislike" Izaya stated.
"You said hate first"
"At least you should be happy it turned to dislike"
"Yeah, sure"
"Moving on, what's the content of the research?" Izaya ignored her sarcasm.
"A research about a dullahan, obviously" Seven answered nonchalantly. "They need a specimen"
"Another plan came up to kidnap Shinra. Still looking for the when and how"
"He'll be the bait to get Celty. Can you make an estimation?"
"They seem to plan thoroughly and they're cautious. Since they didn't capture Celty for the past 3 months they must be up to something bigger" Izaya deduced. "Maybe the one they're sending to capture Shinra these past days is to see if someone is against them. But the fact that the offense groups are rapidly increasing, it means they're ready"
"So there's a chance they'll act their plan sooner? A few days?" Izaya nodded. "Tell your minions to get a blueprint of the facility. I'll pay you extra if you want"
"I'll double the price" The troll smirked. "When do you need it?"
"Tomorrow" Seven glanced at the man.
"Sure. Anything more?"
"During this, I want you to work only for me" Seven said exposing her doubt for the information broker.
"My girlfriend's possessive. How cute." Izaya chuckled. "I'll triple the pay."
"Whatever" she answered weakly, she's not in the mood to argue.
"I won't two-time" He whispered and smiled to himself.