An odd combination of people has sat on Gin's dining table, with himself, his little sister, Nagi, and Ginji all having lunch together at a cold day in the first month of the year.

"Do college students really get a long break after a semester ends, Anna?" the older brother asked.

"It's just all the same, but it does feel long when you have a time where you can just turn your brain off away from school.

I miss the two-month breaks in high school, though…"

"I'd say just enjoy it while you still can, coming from someone who traded them for work way too early."

"That was on you, Nii."

"Speaking of work… Interested in working part-time for Giotto's?"

"Me? But why though? You know that I don't have the best skills in cooking."

Nagi chimed in, "At least you're trying for Akira," which got him a slap on his arm.

"I never said you'd be in the kitchen. We're hiring for office staff since Sis is eventually going to her maternity leave at some point, so another hand wouldn't hurt. It's right up your alley since you'll do the accounts and finances of the resto under Sean.

And you can also think of it as a bit of an income, of course."

"I'll… think about it. I guess it would give me some idea on how my internship will go next year."

What was a passing thought of Anna somehow stuck with his brother, so much that his cutlery stopped in the middle of the meal with a sudden deep thought in his mind.

"I just realized that when you graduate next year, none of us in this area are studying anymore… and then… Hiro and Sis will have their kid which is basically a new generation.

What the heck, this all feels so weird."

"It's nothing really that strange," Ginji noted. "I guess in your siblings' case it is, because your only relative here in Orio is your cousin, Mochizuki, and then the side from Aunt Senna."

"Right… Even I haven't met our relatives in Japan, and I don't even know if they really know of us."

"But for me and Nagi, I guess it's just normal to see these changes since we have bigger family trees compared to yours.

You'll probably get used to it in a few years, especially if we all have kids in the future."

Nevertheless, the other three shuddered at the thought of it.

"You and Gin aren't right in the mind…" Nagi grumbled, "Is this what happens when you get in to the workforce?"

"Hey now. Even I'm just as reactive of that because of the things that Rin have talked about with me."

And with those words, the table fell silent.

What Gin did not realize was how ambiguous his words could be. And while the other three on the dining table obviously does not know what Gin meant, they could only think of one thing.

"What?"

"At least try to elaborate what you're trying to say, Nii…!"

"H-Huh…? I was just talking about her feelings about her sister's pregnancy, and she shared it to me just because."

All at once, the three was reminded that Gin can sometimes be a genuine dumbass.

"Goodness gracious… I thought they were already family planning…"

But suddenly, and perhaps also thankfully, the topic was interrupted as Gin suddenly stood up and opened the front door when there was seemingly no one outside, yet he acted as though he was welcoming someone.

Then, emerging from the semi-wall was a ginger cat with a collar approaching Anna's foot upon seeing her.

"Eh? How did Ui manage to get here on her own?

Also, you just ate so don't go sneaking on our food!"

Regardless, she carried the cat to her lap with the two of them realizing each other's comfort and warmth in the middle of winter.

"She's probably played with Haku from time to time. This is not the first time she went here on her own, though. I think it started some time when I moved back here.

Maybe she realized this house started to have the scent of a home since I got back," said Gin as he slowly stared at Nagi from the other end of the table.

"W-Why are you looking at me… I'm taking care of the house, you know…"

Then an eerie smile emerged from Gin's face, "Oh, I don't doubt you. But maybe there's a difference on how we define 'taking care'."

"Dude, stop… You're scaring me…"

In the time Gin was living alone, he was never very particular on how clean he wants his house to be; he does not put on a high standard, but at a minimum, he does not want his home to have a stale feeling to it even if he considers his daily life boring at most.

And yet, to his eyes, Nagi was able to do what Gin had always ought not to.

To not catch any further of Gin's wrath that was off-screened, he forcefully changed the subject.

"A-Anyway… Is it just me or have I not seen you with Ringo together for a bit now?"

"I feel like I've noticed that too," Anna nodded.

"Ahh… we agreed to it. We're not going to meet if it isn't necessary, so honestly nothing really happened. It's just that I guess it isn't really normal that we're seeing each other soooo much when we aren't even living together."

"Isn't it a good thing that you're always seeing Nee-chan?"

"I guess it can be, but we're trying to tone things down."

"Hold on, you just said you two weren't living together?" Nagi asked with doubt.

"Did the past year really look like cohabiting to you, boyo? We don't even plan to do that while we're only going out, yeah? I'd like her to be with her family as long as possible."

"Ah, makes sense. My B.

On the other hand, I just can't help but be reminded by the stupid stunt you two did not even a year to your relationship."

"…"

Perhaps, a moment when they temporarily separated still holds importance to them, but looking back, it now felt like just a piece of dark history in their past. While it may have been a serious and significant point into their relationship, Gin could not deny the embarrassment the two teenagers from six years ago have put themselves into.

"Don't remind me of that, please…

But it isn't like things are the same as that long ago. Maybe we even need that distance to focus on ourselves than us together."

"You're awfully confident, aren't you?" Ginji chuckled as he stood up to put his dishes to the kitchen.

"This is the only thing I have the most confidence with in my life so if I blunder, I am so done for."

"Yeah, you're an entirely different person," Nagi uttered. "You in your junior high school days will probably kill you if you've ever met. He'll absolutely cringe that you are now a normie with a stable job and a love life."

"More like I might do that to him for being so embarrassing."

"Huh… I really missed a dark history of Nii when I wasn't around, then."

"Was there ever a point when your brother didn't have a dark history?" Nagi joked.

"It's times like this where we're able to joke around means that we're through that. Goes without saying that I'm much happier now."

"Oh, speaking of being much happier… Gaku has been in good spirits lately, Gin," Ginji shared.

"How's he doing?"

"I feel like he's absorbing things quicker now. It looks like he's starting to find his own style so I hope it helps for his assignments.

That said, it seems like he's been busy outside his studies but he's very motivated."

"I've got his secret locked in my head, after all."

"Good for him. I'll make sure to pay him a visit.

…"

While a celebration in his mind has been going on for his former student and now friend, a sudden thought has stopped him in his tracks after he has emptied his plate.

A thought—something that he shouldn't even have minded anymore has surfaced. Something that could be considered an unfinished business, but also something that he could live without and continue his life as it is now. But his own words had shot back at him.

"'It's times like this where we're able to joke around means that we're through that.'"

Gin somehow had doubts. It just dawned in him that he could not really trust the reality he is living now. Even today he is restrained by the thought that good things come at a price, which in his mind, things that are too good to be true might be what is normal for most people.

There comes the realization that a year of his mind being twisted into itself would not be completely healed even after 18 years. His perception would continue to be different from others, and deep within his instincts would be extreme compared to that of a normal person.

Thus, a self-inflicted suggestion had crossed his mind to see whether he could truly move forward and find out if he can really live a life where he does not think of danger at every passing time.

▪ ▪ ▪

Even after weeks of having lived back in his own house, a few boxes have been left unpacked… with some intentionally left like that.

But after gathering dust, tucked in the corner of the living room, Gin finally opened them reluctantly.

"Heeeeyyyyy, Gin," from the stairs coming down, Nagi called out to him. "Something slipped into my room from under the door. I didn't know you were so delusional that you edited Rin to look older in a picture taken some years back. It even said 2019 at the back."

"What the… I'm not following?"

"Here."

Nagi then handed a picture of the Akanami family together with Gin that he could have easily mistaken to have just been taken recently when he was still living in their house. But there was a hint of uncanniness in the picture that he eventually noticed.

For one, Rin's parents have mostly remained the same, but is ever so slightly younger… while Rin herself looked the same, and at the same time did not.

"Pfft… What a throwback. I really should frame this.

Do you remember Anew's drug? The Facade?"

"Yeah, what of it?"

"Rin accidentally drank it back in high school and she physically aged five years."

"Excuse me, what?! How did I not know about this?"

"Maybe we didn't really tell you… You were all busy with WT back then.

But this feels really weird, ahaha… She's 22 now and this version of her from back then looks like her but also not."

"Talk about a big image change with her hair."

"Maybe she would look exactly like this now in the picture if she didn't get sick?"

"I'd take that as a rhetorical question.

What are you doing anyway?"

"Finally unpacking some of the boxes I left. I'm heading out to the Capital in a bit so I'm leaving the house to you."

"Oh, sure. Just ping me once you're heading out then. I'm going back to my desk."

After moving up the boxes to his room, he pulled out a black jacket from one of them and brought it up to his eye level.

It was a jacket made from the Exiles' versatile and almost indestructible material, AMM. It was a new set of clothes sent to him from the underground base a few months ago, yet he has only opened it now. Its design has been changed from the ones that he used to wear, but for some reason, his body gave out and fell to the floor and all he could do was sigh at the sight of the jacket.

"I appreciate the consideration…"

Since the incident early last year, Gin has not worn an AMM clothing even once, and even after seeing an entirely new type in front of him, he could not stop himself from remembering the vivid memories of his rampage, wearing that clothing, and hurting those that wore the same.

But with a heavy heart, he donned the new jacket and made sure that he had a white handkerchief inside his pocket as he closed the door of his house shut.

…

"Sorry for taking some of your time when you're busy at work."

"What do you mean? This is the work."

At a designated parking space near the province's main police station, Gin entered the passenger seat of a certain car, already wearing a style of hair parted at the very center, and a white mask covering the entirety of his face while Detective Juno Artecus only watched him with his arms leaning on the steering wheel.

"Actually… do you mind if I drive? I haven't really been in that part of the Capital much so I want to familiarize myself on the road…

And well, driving would help me divert my attention on some things."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Without a second thought, the detective stepped out of the vehicle and the two of them traded seats with Gin immediately getting a shock after realizing that a fuel gauge is missing on the dashboard.

"Is this your car?"

"It's the station's, but we use this for some undercover work which is why it doesn't look like a police car."

"And it's electric? Man, my taxes probably paid a fraction for this," Gin joked. "Anyway, do I just type the destination on the screen?"

"Yeah. Just take the fastest route. We have the car automatically pay the toll fees."

"That's neat… Also, it's probably too late to ask, but am I going to be fine driving with this mask?"

"You're with me so I'll just use my cards at hand even if we get stopped. One look at my badge and they'll know it's official business.

"How are you just a provincial detective…?"

Eventually, Gin decided to finally step on the pedal, only for the first few kilometers to be a slow drive while he was trying to get used to driving a completely electric-powered car. In an hour and a little more, they arrived at the country's current maximum-security prison, to which this would be the second time Gin would be coming here. But instead of the main prison, the vehicle was led to and parked before an annexed building where what lies within is the main purpose of this visit.

"He's been with me at one point. We can't ID him, anyways. It's my responsibility if he tries to do anything."

After several checks, the two of them left behind all their belongings as a security measure, and they entered the annex immediately with an air incredibly different from that on the outside.

"I've been here a few more times, but I could never get used to the feeling in this place," the detective groaned.

"Having a miserable series of core memories makes you get used to this, unfortunately," Gin continued walking as the detective showed a hint of astonishment towards him.

"Even to this day, I sometimes still can't get a read of this person."

Indeed, Gin was unfazed with the suffocating feeling inside the building as he had felt the same sensation time and time again for 365 days of his life.

As the two of them continued walking, they began to hear cries of either physical or emotional pain, getting much louder every second passing. Then, Gin was able to take a peek from a window of one of the rooms… where he could see a man with an amputated foot from the ankle down, simply sitting up on a bed with eyes devoid of life.

Gin thought to himself: he did this. Everything that the people inside this building could feel and see was because of Gin… because this very building houses every single one of Joseph Horach's men that he had crippled on the night of his rampage.

Once more, beyond the screams that they already here, the sounds of more shrieks, impacts, and audibly breaking bones resonated in his mind as voices pleading for their lives to be spared trembled under an overpowering streak of ear-piercing laughter.

"What I'm curious about is what suddenly spurred you to look into the aftermath of that night," Juno suddenly asked.

"Maybe… I just want to find some closure in the middle of this."

"You really shouldn't have worried about this. You could have lived your life ignoring all of this and you will be completely fine, but here you are."

"I just want to see for myself what I did so that this could serve as a reminder for me… on the off chance that it happens again. I personally can't promise you that this would never happen again, but with threats like Horach gone, the likelihood might have gone lower."

"At least it's good that you're thinking about this more realistically than just dismissing it outright. But just know that we're now extremely aware, and we equally share the sentiment of not wanting any of this, alike with even the spies.

But don't be apologetic about it. I know that something happened to you in the past as you didn't have any and all records for an entire year somewhere from 2006 to 2007. We've done a background check on you, but we didn't get a hit. Whatever it was, you seem to have purposely not told me."

"For the time being, I don't see any reason to disclose it anymore," Gin has not denied, but instead accepted that the investigation was not false.

"Well, judging by the year you weren't even ten by that point, so I can't really press on any further…

Anyway, just to give you a recap, most of them are now disabled either physically, mentally, or both. Some of them are taking rehabilitation and therapy. Others have lost speech while some are forcefully not remembering them as a coping mechanism."

"Maybe it was a bad idea that I'm here after all."

"Now, don't back down when we've come this far. There's a special case that I want you to see."

Deeper into the facility, there is a room that is even more closed off than anything else. The detective directed Gin towards a window that is acting as a one-way mirror.

"Oh, he's being questioned again. Sometimes, the spies come over because they see him as a special interest."

"I'm just going to guess that he's wearing a face."

"I think that much is a given at this point."

There was indeed a person inside apart from the prisoner itself that seems to be doing an interview. Upon a request from a stationed guard, they were able to freely listen to the conversation from the outside.

"Like I told you… I can read minds of people," they first heard from the prisoner.

"…!" as much as possible, Gin suppressed any reaction, as even a visible twitch from his muscles would not pass before the detective's eyes.

"Hahh… that makes it the 28th time you've said that. You keep on telling me that, and saying that you know something, but you're keeping your mouth shut.

Again. Go ahead and spell out what's on my mind right now."

"I don't want to. I want to see my boss."

"We're really doing this again? Horach's dead."

"Lies. He will never die for from something like that. I'm sure he's in hiding somewhere… and he will strike back when you least expect it."

"Either he sounds like a cult follower or an apologist," the detective whispered, but he did not get a response as the man with a mask was laser focused on the conversation.

"No one's going to believe your claim when you keep doing this. We need information."

"You're not getting anything out of me unless my boss orders it. Suffer from the fact that I know so much more than you. What would it do to you anyw-"

"Hey there. If you can really read minds, then you can definitely hear me, right?"

All of a sudden, the prisoner stopped and went on a long pause of silence. As he claimed but never proved further, he indeed heard a voice from somewhere.

"Do you mind if I take a seat somewhere?" Gin asked the guard to which he was given a chair in the guise of losing interest in the conversation. But in reality, he has attempted to find if the prisoner can truly read minds.

"I'm not sure really, but do you recognize this voice? Wait, can you even hear my voice or is it just monotonous words?

Well, you could just ignore me and go on with the interview. But he's right, though. Your boss apparently committed suicide that night."

"NO…!!!"

With the sudden and random exclamation, the attention of everyone watching has been refueled.

"No? What do you mean no?"

"I'd take that as a declaration.

Now… do you mind if I am the one to do the interviewing?"

Behind the mask, what the others could not see was the growing sourness in Gin's face.

"There was a news report back in 2018… Does the name Glen Copperplate ring a bell?"

A visible flinch has been observed from the prisoner as he remained silent.

"Now it makes sense how you sold the person named Gin Sakato out and learned information that you weren't supposed to learn."

"Wh-Who are you…?!"

"I've seen our guy's questioning a few times, but this is new. Has he finally lost his mind?"

The detective immediately started deducing from how the prisoner suddenly stood up at random.

"Does it really matter?

Now I'm more curious. Are you only able to hear words, or can you also see visions?"

A gasp has left the prisoner and suddenly fell down on his own, but it is now made clear the growing fear observed in his expression.

What no one except from the prisoner himself can see was large room painted with the color of ash in all its sides, and a black silhouette of a man akin to a shadow. All in the midst of this, the prisoner is now having difficulties identifying what is reality and what is not.

From that point on, Gin has welcomed the mind reader into his cognitive realm, meeting his representation of himself, as he called Kuro.

This feeling is weird. I'm still awake outside, but I'm also active here all thanks to you. Man… the mind really is an extremely complex thing, don't you agree?

Anyway… I never thought that there is actually someone that can read minds, but it isn't really entirely surprising. Even I did think that something like this was bound to happen.

But goodness gracious, man. Because of the shit you threw at me for knowing too much, I did something I never wanted to. Because of you, someone incredibly dear to me nearly died. Because of you, I almost killed hundreds of people.

If not because of you… you wouldn't have to cover your ears listening to a loop of laughter that is probably keeping you awake at night.

The room's appearance has flickered to blackness with the shadow only visible by a vague outline, slowly approaching the prisoner one step at a time.

I'm sorry, but I have people that I don't want to get hurt anymore.

A second.

Mere few seconds from the memories of the night of the incident transmitted was enough for the prisoner to go hysteric with an unending scream and a stream of tears as he was reminded of an echoing laughter in his mind.

But in the midst of it all, it was as if Gin woke up in his seat. For a second, he could not piece together what was happening in that very moment, like he was lost, until he collected his wits and realized what has happened.

Gin was not able to contain an episode of Distortion which resulted in the sudden hysteria that they are currently hearing. But what was different from it was that he had a hold of his consciousness—he knew at that very moment the intense rage he felt at the actions he just did.

He then stood up, prompting to leave the monitoring room where the detective immediately followed.

"What's up?"

From his slow steps, Gin stopped and looked back with his faceless visage, "I think… I've seen enough."

~ ~ ~

"Do I really deserve this?"

All of a sudden, Juno heard a question from the passenger seat on the way back from the prison.

"You've been acting strange since you stepped out from the questioning."

"Do you know the route back even without a GPS, detective?"

"I… do?"

"Then I hope you bear with me just for a short bit. I'd like you to pull over for a bit."

Suddenly, the car's navigation appeared to have bugged out completely. In reality, Gin had brought with him the counter earpieces that was originally used for protection against fatal levels of sound that can make organs burst. However, it can also block radio waves at a press of a button.

"I'm sorry, but I jammed any communication inside this car… since I have a confession to make."

The detective continued driving.

"You mentioned that I didn't have any records from a point when I was a kid. The truth is… I've killed a person within that span of time. I may sound like I'm making excuses, but what you saw that night that went out of control was the same thing from when I was a kid.

Since then, I've lost sight of myself. And even now I'm still having doubts. Is it really fine for me to continue with the life I have now?"

Without a response, the detective merged to a slower lane.

"Just when I thought I was able to know a bit more of you… In truth, I hardly know you, huh.

But let's put things into perspective. Horach has killed thousands of people, and yet he became a senator. Did he feel remorse?

Now, I want to expound on what I know of you. You seem to have childhood trauma which is most likely related to what you told me just now. You also admitted to be the victim of the truck crash back in 2017. And after meeting you, you've sometimes shown signs of mental instability, but you were able to press on.

Now what sets you apart with Horach? He's a killer through and through, and you? You were literally just a child back then, and if what you said was true, then you probably weren't even in your conscious mind when it happened.

Will I arrest you? I could try but it has been almost two decades since then, and like I said, you were just a child. But more importantly, there seems to be a bigger picture here that I am not seeing. If you will just tell me, I could help you with it and see things clearer."

"No… It would be better if we just let it go, and the less people that know about it, the better. It has passed, and time has resolved it pretty much.

It's a difficult request of me, but I hope that you can trust me."

"If that is what you say…

Look, it's already a miracle that I am still a detective, honestly. There have been a lot of times where I acted on my own and not by the law, as I felt that it was the best way to reach the best result without betraying my morals. It didn't take me long to know that not everything is black and white, and that's why I formed my own personal unit that coincided with my beliefs. More than anything, I am still a human, which is why I'm hearing you out rather than immediately cuffing your hands.

And who am I joking anyway? Is there even a place in this country that can contain you?"

"Unironically, there is one."

"Wait, there's actually one?"

"If anything, I nearly died there, out of the many times. In certain conditions, that place might take me immediately… but I truly cherish it."

"That does sound oxymoronic…

But with the way I've seen you then and now, it's clear to me that you've suffered enough. It's just that my advice to you is that I feel like I would understand you better if only you were more open with your past, like how Makoto is."

"I'm sorry, but he's him and I'm me. Maybe I will change my mind, but I still think that it is better off if not another person knows about the past in general, rather than my own.

I suppose that's the only clue I can give you."

"That doesn't narrow down anything at all…

That aside… do you have any idea what happened to that prisoner? Did you really think he could really do something as unreal as reading minds?"

From the detective's peripheral vision, he could see that Gin has turned away towards the car's window as soon as he asked.

"I… I might have gone a bit too far."

"Huh…?"

"He wasn't lying. Maybe he's been out of it that's why he confessed his ability, but never proved anything further… but he wasn't lying.

I immediately connected everything when he said he could read minds. While I only reveal my existence as an Exile to people I trust, and to those that had to find out about it through unforeseen circumstances, there are things that I have never divulged to just anyone for my and my family's protection. And yet, I was racking my brain how in the world Horach was able to know about them… but I found my answer today.

There can only be one way for someone to know something that I've tried to always lock in my mind… and it costed me my sanity."

"You truly believe him…?"

"The mind is a fascinating thing, detective. I may sound like I've also lost my mind, but I have my fair share of phenomena with the mind that makes reading minds unsurprising. Well, you could say that me going out of control is an illness of mine that can probably take me to my grave if it happens again.

But yeah… I lost my cool earlier and did something I'm now questioning whether I should have done or not."

"So you're telling me… those episodes earlier weren't at random?"

"Yes. He was the one behind the death of one of our people from 2017 that led us to reveal ourselves and fought against Horach. The moment I found out he was Horach's informant… I fed him my own memories of the incident that set him off so that it would prevent him from even thinking about getting out the truth about me, and the lives of my fellow Exiles.

It was out of anger, but honestly, I've had enough. I'm just so tired…"

With the lack of a gas engine, the vehicle was already silent enough.

The detective looked back on his encounters with Gin. The first time he has met him, he thought that he was just a high school student with a few quirks, but after the event at the Cotona Square and against Teardrop, he began to think that perhaps he was very much mistaken on how he judged him. And when Juno saw his face with tears mixing with blood over a gruesome smile, he finally realized that there was something deep inside him. Mayhaps way too deep, like a chasm with no end in sight that began to crack from very early on in his life.

Juno asked himself, what would be something that could drive Gin to turn into a literal destructive force?

His answer is that he drew a blank.

"Back when I was sent an undisclosed location where I met an Exile and you in isolation after the incident, he told me that there are groups that should not coexist. When you Exiles asserted that you will not be beyond or under the law, I thought that it was stupid. But there was nothing more about your actions than just a few sightings. You didn't interfere with society, and it truly surprised me that you were upholding your word. And then I learned about the spies. They are powerful on their own right, acting in the shadows but also maintaining the welfare of people on their own ways.

The more I assess things, the more I believe that we have reached a status quo that must not be broken. In hindsight… it's the society—this place—that drove the creation of spies and Exiles. For what little I know, Exiles were war victims that weren't treated as humans. While the spies emerged because of how incompetent the society is with dealing with problems. If the balance were to be broken… I don't know what would become of this country.

I will try my best to keep things straight on my side and so that you will never see a repeat of what happened to you. But even if I say that… I feel like the spies have been doing that already."

"What do you mean?"

"I've a few chance encounters with a person under the alias Oregano."

"Ah, him…"

"He told me that you have warned him of the worst-case scenario way sooner. And you may not know it, but it seems like they have deemed you as a special entity under their protection."

"Because I could set off any time and destroy anything on sight if I was too provoked? I won't be offended so you can tell me the truth."

"W-Well… that's a part of it," the detective said frankly, "But he personally seems like he was indebted to you for some reason."

"…

I'll also have to do my part if I want to maintain the peace I have with the people close to me. But still… what I did earlier didn't sit well with me."

"Like I said, I'm human too. I've had cases where I had to exploit gray areas in my work. And it's not like you did something as heinous as anything that Horach has done. From now om… just live a normal life and let go of the things that just hurt you."

"A 'normal' not within the bounds of parentheses, huh…"

"Were you saying something?"

"Nothing significant. I just want to thank you that you accompanied me today."

"Why don't we go for a drink?"

"I'd rather drink when I'm not in a crappy mood, so maybe next time.

Oh, and sorry about breaking your car's system. It should be fine now."

With a press of a button inside Gin's pocket, the large screen of the car has once again come alive.

"Where did you even get a jammer…"

"It's an insurance in the event that my security is at risk."

"I just told you that you should live a normal life…"

~ ~ ~

4pm.

With a twist of his keys, the door of his house opened, entering the house with his mask long removed and the jacket on his shoulder. From the semi-wall, he could see that Nagi was holding a controller as Haku and the ginger cat, Ui, are sleeping on both of his sides.

But as soon as Nagi realized that Gin has gotten home and had a look at him for a few seconds, he paused his game and immediately grabbed his phone that sounded a camera shutter.

"Oh, wow. A photo of that isn't blurry for once."

"…Why did you take a picture of me…"

"You go home with a different hairstyle and you think I'd let it pass? I'm sending that to Ringo, just so you know."

"W-Why…?"

"Well, since you're not meeting or something, I thought I found a loophole. I am the loophole.

By the way, Akira stopped by and asked if he could drop off paperwork here and stay the night since this is closer to the school. He said he's open to make dinner if you say yes."

Suddenly, Nagi heard a sniffle.

"Uh? Are you crying?" he then asked as Gin remained standing at the same place.

"Nah. I just a bit of a sniffle since it's still cold outside. I won't catch a cold but I'm taking a warm bath now just to make sure.

Oh, and tell Akira he can stay. If anything, I'd appreciate more company as long as this house is kept clean. While I'm not yet married, I feel like I can allow you guys to just drop by anytime you want."

"Gee, how generous of you."

In reality, the sheer dichotomy of going from an intense encounter to coming home at a peaceful home has reaffirmed him that there are people that will always help him leave the painful past behind him, which almost let a bead of tear fall from his eyes.

Thus, he escaped to upstairs only to hear a notification from his phone from his significant other showing affirmation on the hairdo that he has now shuffled away to his usual fringes.

"Pfft… Why are you on your phone in the middle of work…

On second thought…"

As he dropped his jacket off to his room he ran back and skipped his entire stairs down.

"Hey, Nagi!"

"Goodness, you scared me…! I thought you were taking a bath!"

"Can you tell Akira to get some Sap*oro on the way here? I'll pay him back later. Wait, do you have a stream later tonight?"

"Do you even know how many drinking streams I've done? I'm up for it since it's still at 11 later. Why did you suddenly feel like drinking?"

"Just because!" thus he ran back upstairs.

"H-Huh…

Man, you woke up the two cats because you're noisy for once…"

Here's a PSA to drink responsibly.