"It looks like you've been out of it, Chef Gin."

"You're really never going to address me just casually, huh…"

What coincided to Gin's break in the afternoon was the work training students getting ready to leave for the day. It just so happened that Dino Arfa, as he indeed was designated in Giotto's as his WT site, entered the staff room first before any of his classmates.

"Oh, right. I'll go sign your DTR. How many days did I miss?"

"About… four. Thanks.

But did something happen, chef?"

"Nothing bad. More like I'm still confused with my life."

"Um, chef… I'm just 18 so I don't think I'm the right person to talk about with this."

"It's nothing bad, like I said.

Then I have a question to you, Dino. Objectively, you're quite successful now and don't you deny it. Sometimes… do you doubt the life that you have now that was a product of all your past actions?"

"Chef, this is not a We*dy's, but this is Giotto's."

"Don't meme at me now, come on. Ahahaha."

"Alright, I'll be serious… If it's about the success I got from making videos, then it sure gave me many nights that prevented me from sleeping. But if I look at it differently, like how it helped my family financially, then it makes me think that what I'm doing is worth it."

"Dude, you just said that you're still 18."

"What was that supposed to mean…"

"Thanks for that, though.

Now… let's just say that I have a friend of a friend of a friend…"

"He's totally talking about himself…"

"That is to say—me. But let's stick with it being the friend."

"He actually admitted it…"

"This friend had done some mistakes and really bad things in his life, but he has found himself now blessed with people and he is even cherished. He feels like he doesn't deserve the life he has now. What do you think?"

"This friend of yours, huh… I'm going to guess, he has taught me in school one time?" in the end, Dino decided to ride his supervisor's wave.

"Holy crap, how did you know that? Are you a mind re-"

All of a sudden, Gin stopped just like a car that slammed on its brakes.

"From the way I've seen him as a teacher although only for a short time, it never crossed my mind that he had done something bad. If anything, he looks after his students in his own way… like in the shadows. And while we're at it… it does feel like those actions that he has done might just look like a shadow of his past.

Whatever he has done… if he has people that care about him, has a house he earned for, even a work he enjoys, and helping others in ways he feels best and leaves an impact on them… don't you think your friend has earned the redemption?"

Gin felt a chill on his back.

Two equal sides of him are either rejecting or completely embracing Dino's words. Ultimately, he fell to confusion while his former student has began packing up.

"I see… Thanks for the insight.

Enough of that sad crap. Do you still have a good backlog for your channel?"

"I'm… actually worried about that, Sir Gin. I didn't think the WT period would be this busy."

"Well, you're here in Giotto's so you probably think everyday is hell."

"I wouldn't go that far.

I feel like I dodged a bullet when the resto decided to slow things down at the start of the year."

"Oh, so that's what you meant."

But if you're concerned about that… this sounds kind of overstepping but why don't you lend me a key to your studio? I have some new ideas I want to add to one of our series, but of course I don't know how Algorithm-sama will like it."

"I still can't believe how good your voice changer is…"

"Even I didn't think it would work that well. I was basically a different person."

"Then, can you send me the details before I make a decision, chef?"

"Sure thing. Now get going before it gets dark."

"Ah, right! Then I'll see you tomorrow, Chef Gin."

Just as Dino left, the door of the staff room opened anew with Sean's arrival.

"You had a meeting outside right, Sean?"

"Yeah… I just got back…"

With a sigh, Sean tossed himself onto a chair followed by a complete silence and a thousand-mile stare subsequently."

"It looks like you've been out of it, Sean," Gin dittoed Dino's words.

"Looked at yourself on the mirror?"

"Why yes, I did. Something wrong, though?"

"Just felt really down in the middle of the meeting with our supplier. Well, that's where Haru works and all."

"Oh, he dropped the -san."

"Huh? Are you in a fight?"

"Nothing like that. She's down with a cold… but it's been four days."

A jolt and a sudden uncomfortable feeling have left Gin as soon as he heard Haru Hikari's health situation, who is currently Sean's partner.

"Hahh… Guess that's my break cut short.

Sean? Do me a favor and clock out right now and go to Haru-san, please? Maybe you should get her to a hospital if she isn't in yet. I'm going to stay until closing."

Amidst the effort to stay nonchalant with Gin's words, Sean noticed the tremble in his voice which in turn made him realize the deep concern that suddenly came upon Gin. Thus, in his request and understanding of his feelings, Sean immediately grabbed his belongings and headed to the door.

"Ai-san called me earlier and said that she has been given an IV drip. Try to visit if you have time."

"Got it. And thank you. I mean it."

"I should be the one thanking you for being worried for her.

Let's go out together with Hiro and Jean if we all get the time."

"Sure, sure. Now go already before my anxiety gets worse."

"She'll be fine. I take good care of her, after all."

With an unreadable smile, Sean exited the staff room.

…

Being lent the horse-drawn carriage of Giotto's, the commute that would take at least half an hour was cut down significantly and Sean had quickly rushed to the hospital ward where her significant other is currently staying at. A quick glance into the entire room and he saw Haru with a book on her hand while her younger sister is watching over beside her.

"You should be resting instead of reading," he said as his greeting as he sat beside Ai.

"This is resting. And as much as I want to sleep, I haven't been able to. Thanks for coming, though."

"Ai-san?" Sean vaguely called, although in such a way that she understood he was asking for how her sister has been doing.

"It's as Nee-chan said."

"I see," then, he asked Haru to take a temperature, checked her pulse by hand, and prompted her to take deep breaths to get a rough idea of how her lungs are doing.

"Don't tell me… were you also a doctor, Yuka?"

"I'm not. Ahahaha. At least, I'm not eligible for a license, but what I know is way beyond first aid."

"Well, the worst patient I had taken care of was Gin, after all."

"Then can you give me a sec while I get you a room?"

"E-En-kun?!"

"I'll pay for it, so don't worry."

"Are you really sure…? I think I'm feeling much better now, so I think there's no need for you to do so,"

Haru adamantly contested that there does not seem to have any reason to place her to a separate hospital room, but the insistence has not reached Sean.

"I want your condition to be fully checked by a doctor, and I really want you to be well soon. Of course I'm worried that you fever still isn't going down much, but I'm not the only one that's worried for you.

Gin actually got kind of mad at me for being at work while you're here. Well, he didn't show it like usual, but he definitely was."

"So senpai was worried…?"

As if things suddenly clicked in to place, Ai pulled her phone to her ear.

"Please give me a moment while I tell our parents about the room."

"Like I said, Ai…"

"I'm not taking buts, Nee-chan. We didn't see it, but Nii-san had seen what happened to Ringo-nee while she was hospitalized for a long time. And I think Nii-san understands Gin-senpai's sentiments on seeing you getting sick, so let's not be stubborn, please."

The sudden sternness had silenced Haru as she listened to a frustrated tone coming from her little sister. Without anything to say, Ai then went ahead with the call while Sean let out a chuckle as he sat closer to Haru.

Thus, he whispered, "Your sister has really grown up…"

Strangely, Haru had noticed that her partner's mood had suddenly lightened up after her sister's strict declaration.

"Hahh… I lost to both of you."

That night, Haru was admitted to her own room while a doctor had initially checked up on her and returning on the following day to see if there was a need for any further diagnosis.

In the short time that Sean left to get some things from his home and Hikari household, the two sisters were once again left on their own, but now with the silence of a private room.

"Looks like you don't even know how much Nii-san really values you," Ai teased rather than reproach. "Now maybe you'll be able to sleep here, Nee-chan."

"Just when I thought I've been through with my insomnia…"

"Maybe if you live together with Nii-san you'll never be thinking about it~"

"Eh… We've only been in this relationship for more than a year… That sounds too soon.

Then I'm going to throw it back at you. Why don't you and Jean-san go and rent your own place?"

"I'm still studying, so that's not going to happen anytime soon."

"See? And Mom and Dad feels like they don't want us to move out yet. Besides, I don't think I'm ready for a new life like that yet. But if En-kun were to bring something like that up, I'd still give it some consideration. I want to be with him, after all.

It's just that… I don't want to pry about his life as a 'glassmaker.'"

"Wait, Nii-san also makes glass?"

"Ah… you didn't know about the code, right."

While Ai was still confused thinking that Sean secretly had another profession, Haru gestured drawing an oval around her face and waving her hand up and down right in front of her face as if to cover it.

"Ah… so that's what you meant by glassmaker… But, aren't you curious about that in the end?"

"Of course I am… There's literally a side of him that I don't see, and who knows if he's actually cheating on me?!"

"Ah, wait, that was what you were concerned about…?" Ai asked, somewhat disappointingly.

"N-No, well… That was half of it."

"Then maybe this won't work out for you, Nee-chan."

It felt as though the air had frozen to a frost all of a sudden. Ai's words had carried coldness to it as she declared her blunt opinion of the matter.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"I just think that it's unfair on Nii-san's side. He was the one that told you the truth about himself because he truly likes you, but it sounds like you're just rejecting it."

"But he has never really brought it up…"

"From my experience with Gin-senpai and Akira-san, they would not just simply talk about it to for their safety, but they are still open about it nonetheless especially to those they really trust.

Who knows, maybe he's keeping it to himself because he wants to protect you. But perhaps he doesn't want to bring it up because you don't want to accept that side of him? It just sounds like you don't really want to understand him… Then if that's the case maybe this relationship just isn't for you, Nee-chan?

I'm sorry because I really don't want to argue with a sick person, but still…"

The air in the room that still felt frozen had persisted in the long silence as Ai looked away in frustration.

While it may be untrue to say that her little sister was right on the mark, it gave Haru a different perspective. At a loss of words, all she could do was drop her back to the hospital bed, pull her blanket up, and closed her eyes as she found the courage to move her lips and ask a question.

"I've never really asked you… but what is it that made you like Jean-kun, Ai?"

"When he puts his mind into something, he goes through with it," quick and straight as an arrow, Ai responded. "And honestly, there's just a part of me that wants to spoil him a lot. Before his brother's name got cleared, he has placed a lot of responsibility to himself; too much, really. So I want to be the one to put his mind at ease.

As much as his hardworking quality influences me, I want the comfort that I hope I'm giving to influence him too. Really, he's too hard on himself sometimes."

"Hahh… who's the older sister again…?

I'll try to get some sleep so I hope I will remember the things you said completely because they hit a little close to home. Are you going home after En-kun comes back?"

"Nii-san said he'll pick up Jin then we'll go home together."

"I see… I really could learn a thing or two from you…"

▪ ▪ ▪

After an overnight hospitalization and several checkups courtesy of Sean's bill that was also covered by her partner's insurance, Haru has gotten over her lengthy fever with the cause of her immune system dropping from her long bouts of insomnia. In the end, she has been prescribed with supplements and was recommended a diet that would boost her defenses against illnesses.

At the weekend of her recovery, the couple has decided to take things easy with a home date as Sean had invited Haru to his home for a overnight stay until sundown of the next day.

"Wow… your place is tidy as always."

By choice, Haru decided to come on her own instead of getting fetched from her home, and it seems that the owner of the house appears to be more hospitable and welcoming than usual.

"It's like, what, your third time here and you remember?"

"Of course I do. It stood out to me that this house looked just a tiny bit big for you."

"Well, Hiro and I used to live here when we were just starting with the restaurant. It was… eight years ago?

Now that I recall, we felt so anxious coming back to the surface because we don't really remember much from it, but things ended up well in the end.

Anyway, anything you'd like to drink?"

"Do you have green tea?"

"Will be there in a sec!"

Just as Sean rushed into his kitchen, Haru silently stood up from her seat with her eyes and feet going around the house, seeing details that she would not have seen in her previous visits as she was still unsure how to tread on this relationship back then.

Simply put, she was so nervous that she couldn't even leave her seat until now.

Perhaps, she thought, that this place was a lot livelier when Hiroomi was still here. She could even find articles that has left his residence here, just like how there is a picture frame hanging on the wall with him and Sean standing in front of the original door of Giotto's before it was renovated.

But more than anything else, the house itself has served as a narrative for Haru to tell the life of her significant other. She realized then and there that even after a year, she is yet to learn much of Sean Hickory's life.

Before she returned to the living room with the satisfaction and a conflicted feeling having a tug of war inside her, she noticed a record player and that she found out that Sean collects vinyl records from the catalogue under the player. But on that same table, a white handkerchief has stood out among the dark elements of the desk.

She figured that that handkerchief would be what she is thinking about, and that it was her first time seeing it up close. Thus, she picked up the cloth from one of its corners and let it unfold on its own.

From both sides, it would just look like it was an ordinary handkerchief, and in such disappointment, she prompted to fold the cloth back only for it to suddenly take a new form, satisfyingly snapping into place, and with her palm suddenly visible through the cloth, or what was the cloth.

By the time Sean has returned with a teapot at hand, their eyes met.

"You… really shouldn't have this just lying around in your house…"

"Ah… I forgot. Let's take a seat first. I'll pour you a cup."

Still clutching to the mask, Haru slowly walked back to the living room, with Sean noticing she is in deep thought as she could not seem to take her eyes off or let go of the white mask even after she had sat back down. Regardless, he brought the teapot to a cup and listened to the pour of the tea.

"I know I invited you for the weekend… but is there anywhere or anything you want to do?" he then sheepishly asked.

"Anywhere, you say? Then I'm already where I want to go. I just recovered so let's just take it easy today and tomorrow."

"I see. Are you up for a movie marathon, then? I have some shows I've been wanting to watch. Maybe you have your recommendations?"

"I have, but let's get to that later."

"It's still morning after all, huh."

Finally, Haru gently placed the mask on the coffee table and picked up the cup of tea.

Sean had always noticed from the times they have gone out, but it's made clear to him anew how delicate Haru is on how she handles things. From the moment she picked up the cup, to putting it on her lips and placing it back to the table, there is finesse on every move she does.

But behind that endearing quality, her face was showing a hint of glum in a small smile, looking at her own hands from her knees as she clasped them.

"Just by walking around your house for a few moments, it felt like I've started to get to know you a bit better, but similarly…" once again, she slowly picked up the mask, "…it also feels like I still don't know anything about you.

Or rather… I didn't really try to get to know who you really are, En-kun.

Ai gave me a scolding… and I realized that one year in this, I feel like there have been so much I could have done."

"Should we try change it, then?"

Haru looked up as she heard her significant other's voice. His face did not exude confidence, but more of understanding.

"It's kind of funny how I'm going to turn 30 next year and I've just got into a relationship, and it's with you. I guess it's because I focused myself on other things to validate how I'm still alive as an Exile that when I failed once at love, I kind of got disheartened from it.

But of course I never want what we have now to just end like that, so let's try to change what might be needed to be changed. Haru?"

"Then… can I start?"

"I'll gladly listen."

After another sip from her cup, Haru took a deep breath.

"Recently, I've been thinking that it feels unfair that there is a side of you that I really didn't know. At first, I thought that I should respect the fact that you are an Exile and not pry into that. In the end, Ai made me realize it was just me not doing anything about it.

So if it's fine with you… will you let me know about the side of you that I haven't seen?"

From the opposite side of the table, Sean leaned forward and took the delicate hands that were still holding on to the white mask.

"I guess… this is what can be difficult in resurfacing to the outside world. As you know… every one of the Exiles aside from the ones separated from the outside society since birth have their own history. Our stories vary, but for me, I was with Hiro before we became Exiles when we were children.

Well… we were… violated, let's just say…

But our life has become peaceful when we became Exiles. The truth is… we Exiles are living underground in a location we don't easily disclose. I'm someone you would call a Resurfaced. Hiro and I decided to also live a life here in the society so that we could tell our base what is happening here. While we're living in isolation, we didn't want to be ignorant.

But as for the life as an Exile… I guess I could say that it is bliss? Our history however can be rough, though. What the first generation of Exiles ultimately want was peace among themselves, but since it was in the middle of a war, the easier choice was to get rid of the bad apples. It however resulted in a self-sustaining group mostly devoid of society's system, especially money.

Because of the great minds that made up the Exiles, we found our ways on how to live independently. While we have drifted away from the outside's systems, we still educate ourselves about them and use existing technology.

But aside from that, the Exiles are unified by the purpose of just existing in peace. We've closed off ourselves, but it means that we don't need to concern us of the political system here. We find joy in the small things we do, like providing our own food, educating and being educated, eating, sleeping, and spending time with the current happiness we've protected.

It's not all sunshine's and rainbows, but I've learned so much as an Exile. Because of the diversity of our people, I guess… I've become a jack of all trades? While I'm not the best at cooking, I learned things about engineering, information technology, and even surgery."

"W-Wait, surgery?!"

"Nothing that's incredibly complex, though… I know a lot of medical practices, but the one that I probably remember the most is… being able to help on delivering a baby."

"You mean… m-midwifery?! Is there anything that you can't even do…?"

"Easily carrying a crane with my bare hands."

"Huh…?"

"No, sorry. That wasn't serious.

Anyway… I feel like it would be better to understand it by seeing than just me telling. It probably won't be easy, but I will try my best if I can get you to enter our base."

"I-Is that really alright…?"

"You know that Gin is an Exile, right?"

"Yes?"

"Well, us Exiles also have someone to lead us, but it's not Gin! He is a special entity that has exposed himself to dangers to protect us, and he can vouch for people from the outside so they can get a pass.

But with recent developments… that might take a while. I guess I'll try to introduced you to other Resurfaced, alternatively."

"Thanks for telling me everything…"

"It's nothing. I guess we really won't get anywhere if I were to hide something this big from you in our relationship. So if anything, I guess this is better for building trust with each other."

"Mhm.

…

En-kun… Can I sit next to you?"

"Sure?"

And so Haru did. But right as she sat, she wrapped her arms on one of Sean's and rested her head on his shoulder.

"I'm not going to lie that I felt a little scared about what happened to you when you were a child. If I was a teenager, I would have reacted strongly, but I'm glad that I've grown up. In the first place, it seems that while it's still painful, it's just a distant memory for you."

"I guess…"

"So I know that I will definitely like the current you."

"Thank you."

And as the lady sat straight and let go for the embrace, Sean leaned towards Haru for a light kiss on her lips.

"…"

It was not that it made her surprised. If anything, Sean had acted with care and waited if she would agree to it. Nevertheless, her heart went aflutter and was reflected from her expression that she immediately covered with the mask.

"Ahaha…"

"Y-You said you were going to pick up ingredients in the market, right…?"

"I did say that. Are you up to join me for shopping?"

"Mhm."

"Alright, but put down the mask, okay?"

"Okay… I'll help make our lunch later."

"But you already said you were going to make dinner later."

"Am I not allowed to help, then?"

"Of course you are. Ahahaha."

~ ~ ~

In the 29 years of Sean Hickory's life, he never thought something as new as this experience would come to his life. Suddenly, the stories that Hiroomi and Gin told him about their relationships that felt dream-like is now slowly turning into reality.

Granted, there was an apparent standstill in his relationship with Haru due to the only few times they have met in the span of a year, which suddenly changed in just a matter of an hour after settling their own shortcomings towards each other.

Slowly, Sean has started to understand the joy that Gin and Hiroomi shared as he sees himself going shopping with her lover, coming back home and making their meal together, clearing a co-op game from start to finish in five hours, and sitting at their own comfort as they watch a film.

"We find joy in the small things we do, like… spending time with the current happiness we've protected."

Suddenly, this small turn in his life felt like how he had defined the way of the Exiles' life, now right in front of his eyes.

"Are you sure… you don't want to use the other room, Haru?"

"This is fine, isn't it?" she asked as she let herself in to the blanket of the bed.

"I guess as long as you're fine with it… I'm aware that we haven't really closed off the distance we had until now so I'm just worried that you might be uncomfortable with this."

"You're the one that invited me to your place and I agreed to it. Isn't that good enough for both of us?"

"…I can't argue with that."

Thus, Sean pulled Haru closer to his chest with a soft "Good night" following a silence as he closed his eyes.

On the other hand, Haru has quickly gotten used to the rhythm of Sean's heartbeat as she inches closer to listen to it calm down from a rapid pace that she similarly felt on her own heart. But with the sound of the heartbeat and the warmth around her, she even surprised herself that her eyes are starting to close on its own so quickly, contrary to the many hours that it used to take to make her fall asleep.

"Mm… I really could get used to this…"

▪ ▪ ▪

As Sunday arrived, Haru woke up with the curtain of the bedroom half open yet apparent that it has been quite bright outside with the short hand of the clock almost pointing at 10 completely pulling her back to reality. The space beside her on the bed has already been unoccupied and thus she got up let out a large stretch.

Coming downstairs, she could see Sean idly lying down on the couch with mumbles that she could barely hear while he was laser focused on the tablet in front of his face.

"I guess it really wouldn't hurt if I just make the full deposit already since it's so cheap… but would it be really worth it in case something happe-"

"Good morning…?"

"…!

W-Woah, good morning. I've already prepared breakfast."

"Have you eaten yet?"

"I was waiting for you to wake up."

"You should have woken me up… What were you doing, though?" Haru then joined Sean in the couch catching a few glimpses of what appears to be a spreadsheet on the screen."

"Personal finances, you could say."

Hearing that, she moved away a little as the thought that something private ought to not have concerned her and joked, "As expected of a CFO."

"What does that even mean, hahaha.

But well, I was just thinking about owning this house."

"Y-You're saying you didn't buy this house…?"

"I'm still actually renting it. When Hiro was still living here, we made a deal with the landlord that we should be able to acquire this house if our cumulative rent has reached the estimated value of this house. We did a few years ago and we could get the house anytime we want for a fraction of the actual price.

I say that, but Hiro got married, moved out, and got himself his own house…

The reason why I haven't done it is because I'm still weighing it in since I still spend a lot of time in our base, so I can't really decide."

"I see… I really should have listened more to my parents back when we were moving here to Orio. It was probably a total nightmare to take care everything about migrating."

"That sounds scary logistically…

Anyway, you must be hungry."

"Ah… let's eat, then."

Sean Hickory may have been completely normal on the outside, but internally, a waterfall of cold sweat has been pouring over his figurative self, hoping that the lady beside her has not caught on with his intentions, especially after how he somehow could not stop himself from telling the truth about the house.

All it took was a night. A night so different yet several folds more comfortable than a night Sean slept alone around the silence of this house.

Right then and there, it is taking everything from him to not outright ask Haru to live together with him as he is also someone with the belief that relationships take time to develop. But after several hours of his lover's stay, he immediately realized his own loneliness, prompting him to reassess his own finances and even consider how they would be if split with two people.

Needless to say, he was very much aware that he is getting ahead of himself, but what was such a foreign thing to him like love has suddenly given him a few pushes for new initiatives.

Still, he kept himself silent.

"It's really getting warmer, isn't it?"

After a hearty breakfast enthusiastically made by Sean for this special day, the couple decided to step outside and take a bit of a walk as the weather was perfect as they deemed it, with spots of clouds that covers the sun from time to time and with a breeze of spring even in the later hours of the morning.

"It looks like you and Katsuto-san lucked out in this area."

"How so?"

"It's nice and peaceful. Not a lot of cars are going around the neighborhood. That's probably why I was able to sleep so much better."

"You said you couldn't sleep again when you were sick, right?"

"Apart from that… I can get a lot of sleep now but it just bothers me that I still wake up a few times at night."

"I'm probably the one that woke up in the middle of the night then, hahaha."

"I never noticed, so I was definitely asleep straight, then."

The conversation abruptly ended, not from awkwardness, but it has naturally concluded in the midst of their attention on the stroll. But in a few seconds of silence, Haru's hand reached out and locked with the man's.

"It was really fun," thus, she broke the silence. "It's just been work and my health that's been on my mind lately that I haven't really had a leisure time in a while."

"If you want a place to wind down at, you can just come over anytime."

"Really?"

"Yeah! It doesn't have to be something like staying over. Just come if you feel like it, and if I'm around. And I can always bring you home with my car if it gets late. I'd very much appreciate the company anyway since I'm pretty much alone for the most part."

"Thank you, then…

I'll probably cook for you again if I visit."

"I would look forward to that."

…

Coming home from a light walk, Sean immediately placed a track on the record player following with the sudden interest sparking from within Haru, which turned into a lengthy explanation of several years' worth of his hobby.

And as if they had not watched enough, a film has gone with the time growing very close to Haru leaving.

"You really don't need me to send you home?"

"I'll be fine on my own. Besides, I want to remind myself of these two days when I take a walk to the station.

Thanks for having me, En-kun."

"Take care as always, Haru."

With a kiss goodbye, Sean watched Haru walk farther and farther away from his home until she was out of sight. A turn around towards the interior of the house has immediately put Sean in a heavy feeling, dreading that once he closes that door, he would be alone in this house once again.

And indeed, the door shut and the total silence upon the sound of it closing has sunk in, which was painfully deafening for him.

What two days' worth of new experiences has led Sean to rush to his turntable to compensate on the frightening silence. The tunes that he has loved for years had somehow disappointed him in that very moment as he chuckled and felt the dampness of his eyes.

"Oh, come on… It's not like she's going anywhere… What is this…

Ah, shoot… I sure hope it won't feel like I'm suddenly on a rush with this…"

Sean Hickory was now reminded of his loneliness… that he now wishes to be satisfied.