Aiden held the door into the condominium open for Lily to enter. Stepping inside, she smelled roasted chickens.
A humanoid robot maid walked around the corner to greet them, "Welcome home, Aiden. I'm glad you are safe."
The robot gaze then fell on Lily, "Welcome back, Lily. Why are your eyes red and puffy? What happened?"
Aiden interjected on Lily's behalf, "Glad to see you are doing well too, Coppelia. What's for dinner?"
"Chicken club salad." The robot maid answered.
Lily wondered if Aiden wanted to do anything with her as his little sister after that unnecessary scene at the park. All she wanted was to sleep, to forget everything that had happened that day.
Pivoting her body towards her room, Aiden called out gently yet insistent. "Let's have dinner first,"
"It's already close to 10 p.m." Lily countered.
Aiden glanced at the clock, offering a faint smile. "Late dinner then. It's not healthy to skip meals, you are still growing up."
Lily stifled a sigh, "Okay." It was more to avoid confrontation rather than hunger.
"I'll go set up the table." Coppelia walked to the kitchen.
"I'll help." Aiden followed Coppelia's lead. Lily ended up helping them too, not wanting to be a freeloader.
After arranging the dishes on the table, they took their seats at the dining table while Coppelia washed the used cooking utensils.
Lily picked up the utensils, slicing through the chicken and began eating. Her gaze never fell on Aiden. Each clink of the cutlery was deafening amidst the awkward silence.
Glances from the robot maid at in direction made her seems like she wanted to ask questions but refrained for whatever reason.
"I didn't see you this evening." Aiden asked the robot maid.
"I went to the convenience store to restock the refrigerator." The robot gaze never left the sink.
"Did you notice difference in the store in recent months?" Aiden asked.
"I don't understand your question. Can you elaborate?" The robot queried.
"Like the prices for the ingredients?"
"Oh, if that is the question, yes, there have been changes. The prices have been going down and the ingredients on the shelves are more varied. For example, the addition of coffee beans. Tropical fruits like bananas have also been reintroduced along with other fruits and vegetables. However, they are very expensive." The robot maid listed.
Lily focused on quickly finishing her meal. Afterward, she announced abruptly to the table. "I'm going back to my room. Call me after you've done bathing."
"Okay." Aiden answered.
Lily went to the sink to wash her plate, which Coppelia insisted she didn't have to do it. In the end, Lily relented and walked to her room situated at the end of the corridor.
Lights lit the room when she opened the door. Stuffed animals lined the windowsill while a human-sized teddy bear laid on the bed. Curtain was drawn down before she retrieved her bass guitar. It stood between Aiden's hand me down electric guitar and her piano keyboard. They were purchased with her own allowance.
At the time, she didn't know the musical session she planned with Aiden was a wishful thinking. Shifting tides of growing up had been unpredictable. She hadn't expected that Aiden chose to be a spy like her late father.
Lily plugged the bass into the amplifier connected to her headphone. The faint melody of 'Kizuna Music' played, prompting her to play Ushigome's recorded bass line as if she had a written score. The room faded away as the song progressed. Deep vibration of each plucked notes resonated in her chest.
The bass guitar sets the mood for a song through rhythm and harmony. Bassists knew they had played well when their presence went unnoticed by the audiences. It was ironic but Lily adored the role.
Blending into the background while playing the support role. Helping the lead guitar and vocalist shine. Harmonizing the song. Helping the band stay on tempo while she stayed away from the spotlight...
Lily wanted to be in a band. It was an ambition far from her reach.
"A beloved song, a song of promises, a song of eternity
Let it reach! We have always been
With our everything! Forever for dreaming!
I am with you
Forever for dreaming!
I'll believe in you."
Believing in her, huh? If only Toyama knew about her, she would retract that statement
As Toyama sang the verse, her door was knocked from outside. Lily stopped the song.
"Lily, I'm done." Came her brother's voice.
"Okay." Lily replied back.
Lily unplugged the bass guitar and returned it to the stand. Choosing a matching pair of light blue coloured pyjama from her wardrobe, she went to the bathroom. She placed her folded nightwear on a basket on the washing machine before going into the bathtub.
Bring sumerged in warm water cleared her head. It allowed her to process the day's event more clearly. Serene it was, until her mind wandered to her breakdown at the park.
Lily squirmed. It prompted her to bathe faster.
Climbing out of the tub, she dried herself with a towel. She slipped into the pyjama. Lily padded down the hallway back to her room. Coppelia stood in her charging station at the corner of the room.
As Lily passed behind Aiden, she noticed he was engrossed in the news about Munich's declaration as Blue Zones. If her memory served her correct, the city had turned into a Red Zone due to an alien bombing decades before she was born. While she didn't fully grasp the significance beyond humanity's progress in the fight against Tiberium, Aiden's continued interest on watching television news puzzled her. Working for the intelligence department meant he could access information before the public.
Aiden sensed her presence. He switched off the television and swivelled his head around to face her. Lily quickly averted her gaze, continuing to walk to her room.
"Wait. I want to speak with you," Aiden called out.
Lily stopped. Her arms now crossed, hesitated. "What if I don't want to?"
"Please." Aiden's eyes implored her to stay. His tone was pleading, edging on desperation
Irritation rose, but seeing her brother like this made her uncomfortable. In the end, Lily sank into the couch beside him, but even the once-comfortable furniture seemed to have expanded between them.
Lily could sense the conversation Aiden wanted to have, so she began, "If it was because of the park earlier...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be emotional."
Aiden's gaze lingered on his clasped hands. "You don't have to apologize. It's okay to share your emotions with me. You don't have to face everything…alone."
Aiden's slight pause before uttering the word 'alone' made Lily understand the core issue he wanted to discuss.
Her lips parted, debating what and how much she want to reveal. Finally, she offered, "It gets quiet sometimes. But I've grown accustomed to it and there's Coppelia. You don't have to worry."
Aiden closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, they were distant.
"Are you okay?" Lily asked.
"Yes." Aiden looked at the floor. From the side, Lily could see the tears welling up. Lily was becoming increasingly concerned.
"Are you really okay?"
"Yes." His words shook. It landed a blow to Lily's heart.
Lily propelled herself from the couch instinctively.
Aiden looked up, wide-eyed from her sudden intensity.
Silence hung, heavy with unspoken emotions, granting Lily a moment to gather her thoughts better as not to repeat the scene at the park.
"I get it, Aiden. I know you're out there, doing important things. But sometimes, I'm just so scared. The thought of something happening to you... it's terrifying. I wish you didn't have to face these dangers. But it couldn't be helped. It's not your fault. Sorry if I couldn't say it properly at the park but it's not your fault, really." Lily assured.
She paused, her gaze meeting his troubled eyes. "And please, don't worry too much about me. I have Coppelia. Focus on what you need to do. I'll be okay, okay?."
Lily slumped back on the sofa. Her fingers tapping her thigh, anxious on her brother's response. She took a deep breath to steady her emotions.
Yet, Aiden was unresponsive, prompting her to turn and check on him. Aiden was biting his lower lip really hard.
Her words didn't reach him.
Unable to bear seeing him hurting himself and desperate for a solution to assure him, her hearts screamed for her to wrap her arms around him, to which she did. She hugged him from the side, though her embrace fell short due to her small frame.
"Please, don't blame yourself." Lily whispered, mirroring Aiden's turmoil.
"Thank you…I'm fine now." Aiden tenderly ran his fingers through her hair, prompting Lily to break the awkward embrace.
Witnessing her usually smiling brother almost breaking down when she was already useless by default...She burdened Aiden with her struggles that can be easily solved when he already had his own burden to begin with. If only she could control her own emotions better...she hated herself.
Knowing Aiden, he wouldn't stop worrying about her unsolved problems before he returned. If his mind wandered to her problems during a critical moment in his future mission, it would put him in danger.
Lily didn't want that. She needed to do something.
The application for part time Lily had asked Coppelia to send a day ago crossed her mind. It was accepted within seconds despite the mail was written at the spur of the moment. She wanted to turn it down...until now.
"I'm actually have been considering taking on a part-time job." Lily blurted, caught in the heat of moment.
"A part-time job might add more stress, especially with school and everything else," Aiden voiced his thoughts.
1"I know, but I need this change." Lily stood her ground. She could always quit her part-time without her brother knowing.
Aiden looked at the floor again. After a moment, he voiced, "I understand. But promise me you won't push yourself too hard."
Yet, Lily found her determination growing. "I won't. I promise."
"You won't also ignore me again, right?" Aiden asked.
"Absolutely," Lily stated firmly. She didn't want to feel bad again.
"Pinky promise?" Aiden asked, extending his pinky finger.
Lily laced her pinky finger with Aiden's. A soft smile broke on her brother's face. He suddenly pinched both of her cheeks.
"Aww, you're so adorable when you are so serious." Aiden cooed.
"Don't tease me," Lily gently swatted away Aiden's hands. Irritated but glad her brother had cheered up.
"Alright, alright. Sorry," Aiden chuckled. He leaned against the couch, staring at the ceiling. "It's just that...it has been a long time..." He looked at Lily, "I miss you, Lily."
Lily laid her head on her brother's shoulder, "I miss you too, Onii-chan."
They enjoyed the moment together in quietness, staring at the television until her brother broke the silence. "Where do you plan to work part-time?"
"RiNG. Coppelia already sent an application form. It was accepted and I plan to apply tomorrow morning." Lily disclosed. The form
Aiden wasted no time offering, "I'll drive you there."
"…If you want." Lily whispered, unsure.
"Of course I do. When do you need to be there?" Aiden asked.
"At 8.00 a.m." Lily answered.
Her mind wandered back to the park; she swore the voice apologizing was familiar. She asked, "Back at the park when I…" Lily let it hang, embarrassed, before continuing, "There was someone who stumbled upon us did you see her?"
"It was Morfonica's vocalist, Kurata Mashiro," Aiden casually confirmed.
Heat rose to her face. Of all people, why did it have to be one of her favourite band members?
"Don't worry. I made sure she didn't see your face," Aiden reassured.
Lily hesitated, then mumbled, "Thanks."
"You are welcome."
Their conversation eased into a comfortable lull. Lily felt her eyelids grow heavy. Suppressing a yawn, she stood up. "Can you wake me up if I don't get up tomorrow morning?"
"Sure."
"Okay. I'm off to bed now. Good night, Aiden."
"Good night," Aiden reciprocated softly as Lily parted ways for the night.
Sleepiness faded when Lily laid on the bed.
Tomorrow would be a big day. She didn't want to mess it up.