Hmm. Good food, Kazuki thought. He did his best to ignore the others, though it was hard. Sitting beside him was Eliza, and beside her was Chloé, then Archius - around a table within a private room.

Three guards stood outside their booth, dressed in suits: Nihara, Václavos and Cyrus. They stood from smallest to tallest.

Looking back at the barbeque booth, Kazuki was the unfortunate one in the middle. He’ll be fine. He felt a slight warmth emanating from under the table. He looked down at Pi. The Phoenicia-Leviathan was sleeping between his legs. Yuki sat beside him, with her phoenix brooch, coveted with a cyan blue gem.

A crimson-haired boy sat beside her… He ID’d him as Nathaniel Ryuu. Just… Why is he here? His last name, like his brother’s, made Kazuki believe he was of Trasian descent. Gabriel, Nate’s brother, denied it, though. Nate had an ear piercing, something much more common along the rim states of the galaxy.

The stars were aligned too well here. Though Kazuki respected their privacy enough to not ask…

Best to keep it at that… especially since those rare features alone reminded Kazuki of Riharia. That lingering thought alone sent his mind trailing down. Seated amidst the joys of the people around him, Kazuki sat alone with his wounds.

His eyes, however, slid to someone else in the room.

The biggest threat present to his natural order.

If someone has to happen, he’ll have this person terminated without a second thought. This target knew one of Kazuki’s darkest secrets, sworn into security and safety.

Noah Slyra-Montageu. He was placing some meat on one of the hovering barbeques. Blood pumped through Kazuki’s artificial heart.

“Noah, you want to sit on this side?” Chloé asked, waving over at him.

Noah shook his head. “Nah, your side’s barbecue’s pretty packed already.”

Kazuki kept his wits up, his guard awake. His words may be coveted with lies and knives.

“Well, suit yourself,” Chloé said.

“Noah, are you staying with Yuki?” Eliza asked, peering over.

The answer Noah will provide will change everything. If he is, then he’ll ensure that Noah can never even consider getting close to his family. Otherwise, he lives.

Kazuki exchanged glances with Noah. Golden stare merging with hostile blue. “No,” Noah said, “I’m with my parent’s, they’re representing the media company right now somewhere, so I’m free to do whatever.”

Yuki looked over at Noah. “Pfft, responsibilities are for losers.”

Noah chuckled. “They’re dealing with it right now, for now I’m just enjoying the food.”

“Well, you were friends with my sister, so it’s nice to finally meet up with people from the past!” Eliza noted.

Kazuki didn’t like that. Not one bit.

“I guess so!” Noah said with a smile. “It’s a shame... what happened to her...” Kazuki caught a single stray glance from Noah, narrowing his brow. Kazuki responded with just a mere glare. Simple yet effective. Noah stared back for a moment, before continuing, “I’ve heard that you’re doing fine for yourself, Eliza.”

She nodded. “It’s just... Not that impressive, I guess.”

Pure flattery. That was the avenue of attack. Kazuki remained idle, noting Archius’ prying eyes into the conversation. Behind that damned façade, Kazuki knew Archius was grinning.

This whole thing was irking Kazuki the wrong way.

“Oh, come on, you’re far too harsh on yourself! Humble too,” Noah remarked. “Though, I guess a lot of people have said that as well. If you want something new, I could say the opposite? Don’t know if reverse psychology will work.”

Eliza chuckled slightly. The sight and noise was not what Kazuki expected. Not at all... His eyes slowly moved from Noah to Eliza, then back.

Why did Chloé invite him, Kazuki asked himself. Does Chloé know? No… if she did, she would have told Eliza. Maybe Noah’s just some friend. Best case scenario, he keeps his mouth shut. If he knows what’s best for him and his family.

Archius is also present, Kazuki must understand that he’ll see this as an opportunity. Still, Archius can help Kazuki deal with Noah, if he becomes a problem. If he has to sacrifice the knowledge… he may consider it, given how Archius won’t betray him.

He cannot, he does everything for the only ‘family’ he has left... But knowing him, Archius will give Kazuki twenty fucking riddles to solve. He cannot be asked. Slowly, he looked down at his own plate… empty.

“Huh?” Kazuki’s eyes turned over towards Eliza. She was using a fork to pick up her own cooked meat.

“Hmm?” Eliza turned to him, placing the meat into her mouth as she chewed down on it. She placed a finger up, then finished chewing. “Something the matter?”

“No…”

Eliza went back to eating. He kept an eye on her. No matter what happens, he cannot allow Noah to tell her the truth. He can’t. If that happens, then it’s checkmate for him, and death for Noah.

Slowly, he turned towards Yuki, who looked like her mouth was filled to the brim with food. It wasn’t a hard deduction from then on. “You… could have ordered more meat, you know?”

“Nuh uh, I didn’t eat it,” Yuki said.

Kazuki grumbled, glancing up to the ceiling. He needed a moment to relax his mind, as impossible as that was.

It was over-the-top in its authenticity, Kazuki thought. The Shogito-style barbeque joint they were at was trying too hard. It had a similar sense to the Lautrasian-style of architecture. Still, their understanding of the differences between Trasian ethnicities was… commendable.

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Kazuki slowly pressed down on the order panel behind him. A panel projected out, in vibrant displays of colour. “Fine… what meat do you want? I’ll get us a refill.”

“Oh, oh!” Yuki’s interest piqued up immediately. “Riesarilo meat! The free range ones!”

Of course she chose the most expensive free ranged meat option, the Riesarilo azure bovines.

“Alright, I’ll also get a bunch of vegetables,” he said. A drone came out from the projector, the size of his palm. It copied the projection and hovered away.

He should have expected Yuki’s response. “Ugh… did you go full vegetarian, Kazu?”

“No?” Kazuki shot back. “Why would I restrict the enjoyment of my own life?” he asked her a rhetorical question. Amusing her to some extent does get her to shut up.

His sister shook her head. “Whatever, whatever, just get me the meat and we’re even, alright?”

“Even… for what? You stole my meat.” Kazuki was in no mood for her games. Yuki was the only vestige of his blood untouched by reality, Kazuki thought Her games were no fun for him. “And the drone will get it for us, not me.”

He glanced at her. Yuki was yapping to Nathan, berating him. What did he do?

It was something about music. Nathan’s brother was an amazing guitarist, enough that he convinced him to be in the Sarimba band… Does the younger also know how to rift?

“Come on! Play!” shouted Yuki.

Nathan chuckled, then shook his head. A drone was projected out from Yuki’s pocket, recording everything like a vlog. She turned the drone towards her. “Ey, we’re gonna hear my friend play us some tunes whilst we eat! He’s like… really really really talented!”

“Please,” Nathan started, his face as red as his hair. “You flatter… me…”

“Come on, Nathan, you gotta show everyone your sick rifts.” Kazuki was mildly interested. The drone camera danced around Nate, as he crumbled to her demands.

He got his hands into position, a holo-guitar summoning the guitar. He started to play a small tune. Hmm. Not as good as Gabriel, but Kazuki will allow it to persist. Nathan was locked infor a moment, as Yuki turned to Kazuki.

The drone camera followed him. “And this is Kazu! My brother! I know a lot of you on the interweb say mean things about him but look at him! He wouldn’t hurt a fly!”

She shoved the camera in his face.

Kazuki waited a moment before responding. “Fuck you.”

Yuki chuckled at his bland response. “How is your life?!”

“Mediocre,” Kazuki stated.

“And… your job?”

“Mediocre.”

A drop of embarrassment fell onto Yuki’s face as the drone turned back to her, then to Kazuki. “And… the Lowguard guild?”

Without him, the guild was highly understaffed, especially since Yuki kicked anyone that disagreed with her, even the people he recruited. “Mediocre.”

She exploded into a furious argument and hissy fit. She shovelled food down her throat, which did shut her up. He ignored her tantrum, simply turning away and looking over towards Eliza’s side.

Chloé was talking to Archius. Archius, Eliza, Chloé and him.

The two were catching up, though it was mainly Chloé complaining about her boyfriend. “He’s always just been ghosting me, dude!”

“Hey, maybe he’s got a good reason?” asked Archius. A spark of a glance caught Kazuki’s attention. Between everyone here, many secrets lied beneath the surface. “Like, he’s probably going to spend a year making a successful business out the Western Fingers, con it to someone, then come back.”

“Yeah, that does sound like him.” Chloé sighed.

Kazuki’s promise to Victoria. Chloé’s boyfriend, Barclay, true agenda. The brother of Nathan. Noah’s immense hatred towards Kazuki. All of it stirred in his mind.

For a moment, he allowed himself to reminisce of the old Student Exec. Before the rebellion…

“Hey, Kaz,” said Eliza… His mind snapped out of the trance. He looked directly into Eliza’s bloody eyes. She nodded down towards the utensils. “Everyone’s using chopsticks…”

“So?” asked Kazuki. He glanced around. Everyone was, even Nathan and Noah. Looking back at Eliza, she was using a knife and fork. Does this have to do with her pride? Kazuki asked himself.

He tilted his head to the side, as she slowly grabbed a pair of chopsticks. Does she want him to teach her how to use them? He might not be able to. Using them might be the same as him trying to teach her to kill. It’s engrained into his body, not his mind. He can translate the waves of his brain, but not the movements of his fleshy steel.

“You just put it between your fingers,” he said, showing Eliza how he held it. “And then you move them.”

“Wow… so informative,” quipped Chloé, looking past Eliza at Kazuki.

“Blegh?!” Eliza twisted to look at Chloé and Archius, the two chuckling Were they laughing at her? Or him? “Were you two listening in?”

“Of course, we’ve finally learnt your weakness! The inability to use foreign eating utensils,” said Archius. Chloé sniggered.

Kazuki, however, kept a straight face. Eliza slowly looked back at him, as she tried her best at emanating what Kazuki did. It failed. She was barely able to lift a small piece off her plate before it fell.

Then, a voice stung Kazuki’s mind awake.

“I—”

Kazuki’s instincts rattled. He dropped his chopsticks and wrapped his hand around Eliza’s. He adjusted her grip. “No. Do this.”

“Oh… so that’s how it works?” she said, slowly getting adjusted to the grip. He won’t give Noah an opportunity.

“Yeah. Got it?”

Eliza nodded, confidently. Kazuki pulled away, watching as Eliza learnt how to use it… No… she’s trying her best.

“Just use the fork if you can’t use ‘em,” said Chloé, elbowing Eliza.

She shot back, “Absolutely not! I’ll get it eventually.”

The drone returned with the order. Three large plates were placed on the table, meats and vegetables.

Kazuki glanced at it, as Yuki tugged on his shirt sleeve. “Hey, swap with me, that side seems fun,” she said.

Looking over at the other side, Kazuki saw Noah and Nate eating quietly. It was quiet…

He didn’t hate the bustle of the conversation, but Yuki’s more suited to it. Grumbling, he acquiesced. “Fine, stand up.”

“Huh? Are you going to make me stand up?” she asked, placing a hand against her chest like a pompous fuck. She acted high and might, standing up to gain height on him.

“Yeah,” Kazuki stated, swapping places with her. She didn’t realise.

Opening her eyes, she looked down, noticing the swap. “Huh?”

“You stood up. I win.” Kazuki pointed at her.

He was now left with the rejects. Nathaniel was quietly eating, giving Kazuki a few side-glances with an anxious look. Noah was… Kazuki couldn’t get a read on him.

Yuki was getting along well with Eliza, for whatever purposes she had. Then, Archius stood up. He walked all over to the other side, placing himself down beside Noah before grunting.

“Lads talk?” Archius asked. The three didn’t respond. Archius rolled his eyes. “Oh, come on, did I really get saddled with three boring people?”

“Do I know you?” asked Noah, placing more meat on the barbeque. “I’ll put some on for you.”

“Ah, you know me, more the better,” Archius snickered, maintaining his persona. “But nah, I’m just a drop out that knew Liz and Chloé.”

“Drop out?” asked Noah.

Archius nodded. “Hey, it’s free accommodation and food! I’m your unemployed friend on a Wednesday.”

Noah laughed at his joke, followed by a small chuckle from Nathaniel.

“Nathaniel,” Kazuki started. “That’s your name, right?” He knew it was his name, but just wanted to make sure.

“Y—yes… Nate for short, or Nathan…” He trailed off, looking away to avoid the Contract-Breaker’s gaze. Noah interjected, “You’re scaring the poor kid, Kazuki.”

The two exchanging a set of glares. Eyes interlocking.

Archius leaned forward, looking at Noah, then at Kazuki. “You two old friends?” he asked.

Kazuki remained silent. He needed to gauge Noah’s assertation of him in public.

“Yeah, it’s been a while since we’ve talked, though.”

A very long while. Kazuki let his exospine audibly gauge off some steam, reclocking gears into place. “Yeah…” he said, looking back towards Nathan. “You’re Gabriel’s brother, aren’t you?”

“Huh? You know my brother?” he asked.

Kazuki nodded. He knew his brother very well. One of his best operatives, up there with Quinn, Amyé and Martinez. One of his closest confidants. “A friend,” Kazuki said, diluting the evaluation.

“A good friend, he made cake for my eighteenth and…” Kazuki paused. He stopped himself in thought and corrected the misplaced word. “Birthday. I liked it…”

The strange moment of peace and respite that fell onto Kazuki’s face perplexed the young man. That cake was amazing… Amongst the sea of regret his birthday brought, little brought him celebration - let alone tranquillity.

“I haven’t talked to him in a while…” It’s been four months… But, best for Gabriel, Kazuki thought. He has something to live for, to keep his hands clean for. Kazuki? He has something to keep his hands bloodied for. No matter how doomed or flawed it may be, his reason exists, a contract. That was all that mattered.