Just as Gin entered the house to take a break from helping in the construction, he saw her younger sister come out of her room dressed up and wearing a light makeup.

He thought, it was midday, and it's still summer.

"Have plans with Akira?"

"Nooope. It's rare that our schedules aligned so I'm meeting with friends from Blue Ink."

"The people from the Art Club?"

"And Naru. She's probably waiting for me so I'll be out now, Mom, Nii."

"You be careful," Senna reminded.

"Hey, hey, hey. Before you go, catch."

Just as her little sister was about to set off, a folding umbrella rolled off Gin's fingers and safely landed on Anna's hands.

"I'll be home by evening if not sundown!"

And so she left the house.

Then Gin noticed something within his house.

"Mom… I always tell you to just turn the AC on if it gets too hot. You have to remember I have little to no electricity to pay when it's summer," he sighed as he pressed on the remote of the air conditioner.

"It's hard to take away old habits, okay?"

"You have to get used to it from now on, especially since we're installing panels on the new house too."

"Thank you," said his mother, warmly.

"…"

For some reason, Gin could not really get used to receiving warm treatment from his closest family, yet he could in front of his partner. But perhaps, it was still because of lingering insecurities that lead him to think that such experiences were not something he deserves. However, it was not to point that it physically and mentally hinders him anymore, as he slowly learns that things are supposed to be this way.

"Just take it as me paying off the years I was dead, well, figuratively. I still don't think that huge sum of goodwill from Yohan is not my money anyway, so it's better if it gets used to something good than sit on my account."

"Then you should buy a car for yourself with the remainder," Senna lightly chuckled.

"I'd rather get that with my own savings. That's too personal of an expense."

"I suppose it is. How is it out there, anyway?"

"Doing nicely. I'm somehow pulling my own weight with our skilled laborers, but the roof is about to be done. It's crazy how much progress a lot of people can do in a short time. I couldn't ask for better people and I'm pretty sure I share the same sentiment as Dad."

"You are all way ahead of schedule."

"I've seen so many people passionate about cooking and drawing, but never in building until now. We're getting so many thunderstorms these days that the other Exiles are genuinely frustrated when work gets cut.

Hahh… the world doesn't deserve these kind people," he let out a cynical sigh.

"Don't say that."

"I mean, I'm being negative about it, but they're just fed up. At this point, a conflict is bound to happen if the status quo is disturbed not just between the outside and the underground, but also factoring the spies.

But honestly, I would have left the Exiles if they forced their beliefs to the children that knew no better. The best I can do as a child playing pretend as an adult is to keep it that way."

"Isn't that responsible of you," his mother proudly said.

~ ~ ~

Meanwhile, in the midst of the pinnacle of the glaring sun, Anna met with Naru at the station with unease clearly drawn on her face.

"Don't trains in Japan always come on time?" without even greeting, Naru asked as her opening.

"At least that's what I heard from Nii."

"Then why is it still not here?! This is disgusting…!"

Like brother, like sister. Just like Nagi, she also has a deep-seated hatred with Orio's summer heat.

Unfortunate as it is that the train's schedule is not the strongest point of the country's rail lines, what it is somehow and unusually proud of is its air conditioning system that seems to never give in to density of commuters in the train as it always retains a temperature relative to the climate.

Thus, with the train's arrival, Naru rushed inside without waiting for Anna and secured a seat on the not so crowded cabin in the noon.

"Heaven…"

South of the province, they shortly reached the Capital as the commute was completely rid of traffic. Now that the country is slowly adapting to the rail systems over the course of four years, business establishments naturally flocked near the stations, although much less in the Capital as it has already been a very dense city as it is.

With only a few minutes of walking under the umbrella, the two of them arrived at a large Japanese restaurant that could be mistaken as a chain with its scale. Upon entrance, they were greeted by a staff with a tablet at hand.

Somewhat timidly, Anna started, "We're here for the reservation under Kotori."

"Then, please let me guide you to your table."

Table, the staff said. Anna and Naru were escorted to an empty private room with a long table housing a stove and a grill.

"We'll have water for now."

"Please let us know whenever if you're ready to order," the staff then lightly bowed and left.

What remained inside the Japanese room was the two of them and the silence.

"Sora really didn't hold back, huh…" Naru muttered.

"You know, this kind of meeting should have been when we've all graduated."

"She's just built different. But this floor is nice on the feet."

"First time on a tatami room too? That reminds me, it looks like Nii is planning to retrofit tatamis somewhere in his house."

"I seem to remember my brother saying that Yuka is also overhauling his porch to look like those Japanese ones. He sure is loaded, huh."

"More like he was rewarded and it didn't sit right with him. Well, I think he donated a part of it to a Kagurazaka-backed foundation."

"I didn't even think about doing that. And here I thought he didn't cross me as the smart one."

"He's going to mull on a corner if he heard you just now."

The idle chat was cut by the door's opening as Aomine and Hoshino entered the room.

"Ohh, you two are early," upon dropping his bag and greeting, Hoshino proceed to take pictures of the room and its ornaments.

"We're practically in the same campus but we've rarely met, huh?" Aomine greeted in his own way of saying 'It's been a while' to Anna.

"I'm still an accounting student so we never really get the same lectures much even after three years. You're staying in touch with Sora, yes?"

"Even we're in different departments too."

"How about the man busy taking pictures and ignoring us?" asked Naru.

"I'm doing good? Lately I've been helping out in the studio, though."

"Oh, nepotism," Aomine jested.

"Excuse me, man. I'm not even allowed to touch even a dust from current projects. I'm more like a utility there since it only happens from time to time…

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

Oh, right! Yuka Ginji is now part of Stylo's staff."

Suddenly, a voice from behind Hoshino spoke, "Ah, he told me about that too."

"…! Goodness, Obi! How long have you been there?!"

"Just now," and Obi responded, he let Reina behind him enter and sit before he followed and sat beside her.

"You two came together?" Hoshino curiously asked.

"We met at the station at home by chance.

You were talking about Yuka Ginji?"

"That's right. Have you guys heard of the singer called Zero—to?"

"Don't we listen to his covers a lot, Reina?"

"We do. Wait, isn't his new original song going to premiere tonight?"

"I actually have a bit of info about that. It's already credited in the waiting room so there's no problem talking about it now, but Stylo actually did the MV for it. For some reason, they pulled Yuka Ginji from the webcomic section and helped on storyboarding it."

"I also saw that Capy_nina did the illustrations for it," Reina added with a grin. "Do you guys know him?"

"I heard about him," Anna's disinterested voice reverberated from the glass as she drank cold water.

"Our senior is suddenly going places now," Obi muttered to himself with a bit of awe.

Then, the door of the room opened anew with Ai awkwardly and slowly entering.

"A-Am I late?"

"Nooope~ We're still waiting for Sora."

Four minutes after the call time they agreed upon, entered the room a woman with a ponytail hiding her face with a snapback, a pair of sunglasses, and a mask.

"We'll get our orders now, thank you very much. Please come back in ten minutes."

As she revealed herself, Sora Kagurazaka's hair danced in the air. The way she presented herself through her actions had almost made them think that they were looking at a celebrity or a model.

…Until Anna nearly choked on her glass of water. She then did a scan of Sora from head to toe.

As they are within the premises of a rather premium-looking restaurant, all of them decided to dress up with a rather smart casual attire according to the season. Well, all of them but Sora herself who organized this meeting.

What exactly caught Anna's eyes was the oversized t-shirt half tucked to her jeans that Sora is wearing with a familiar print of what looks like a male anime character she was sure she had already seen many times before.

As it turns out, she recalled that her brother has the same shirt.

"Can I be honest, Sora?"

"Uh, yes?

Also, hi, Anna."

"You didn't strike me as one to watch vtubers."

Sora's eyes widened and happiness suddenly welled up from her as the character on her shirt was immediately recognized.

It was then Naru also almost spat her drink.

"W-Wait, you recognize him, Anna?!" Sora joyfully let out with a fawn following it, completely removed from the composed demeanor that her friends usually see.

Anna and Naru thought to themselves, they would comfort that beautiful lady in front of them anticipating that she would be devastated from Michelo Azuria's retirement come the near future.

But there is also the thought of a possibility that some of Nagi's earnings have come from her, which felt strange for the two of them.

But now that they have all settled into the private room, they agreed to one common order from the menu to make things easy for the eight of them while chiming in their own smaller orders.

By the time a waitress came to their room, Sora hurriedly wore her sunglasses before she was approached.

"We've got our orders. We'll have-"

"For now, please let us have the hotpot with two broths with the primary sides for us eight accordingly, then we'll follow with yakiniku. We'll call on if we have additional orders.

Oh, sorry. We'll all have rice too. That's all for now."

All of a sudden, Aomine took charge of the ordering unprompted, cutting off Sora who had barely recovered from the slight hurry.

Once the waitress left, he then started, "Looks like you don't want to be found out."

"You saved me there," Sora sighed in relief.

"Something going on?" Hoshino raised.

"Nothing concerning. I'm just… kind of doing a stealth inspection? Our company was an investor in the expansion of this restaurant and my dad goes here for dinners and meetings. We're using that very room, in fact."

"Ah, so that's what the Kotori-san was for," Ai guessed.

"No wonder the menu was pricey. Are you sure you're going to shout for us?"

"Just take it as our business expense," Sora shrugged.

With the way Sora's words are going, Reina slowly reach an inquisitive assumption, "Are you formally working in your company now?"

To that, Sora shook her hands in the air.

"Nothing of that sort yet. I won't be employed until I have graduated. I just volunteered to do this to get some experience."

"You sure are getting busy. How about you guys? Anything going on?"

Anna and Naru almost immediately tapped out of Reina's question as both of their college life has basically been the same for the most part.

Meanwhile, Ai responded, "I actually got to work at a shoot recently. Our club senior Shiro-senpai got to pull me on one of her work right after her graduation. It was kind of overwhelming to get asked for design inputs spontaneously, though."

"Is it for an ad?"

"I can't really say anything. At least not right now. You realize soon that major jobs have contract procedures that can involve legal."

"I don't know the full details, but that checks out," Naru thought as brief mentions of his brother's work crossed her mind.

"No wonder I had the feeling I saw you here in the Capital recently," Obi then voiced out.

"It was a studio, though?"

"Yeah. I was running around with Reina's brother on his work and we probably missed each other. Different studios, same building, maybe."

"What were you doing, Obi-kun?"

"I was just there for stage rehearsal. I usually help out Reina's brother on making storyboards for his manuscript since he can't for the life of him draw, then it gets sent to the director for approval.

Come to think of it… I haven't seen Yuka Ko a lot these days. Is he busier now, Reina?"

"Nothing like that," her brows ever so slightly furrowed. "He goes out a lot but the reason is just a tiny bit ridiculous.

If you have free time, you can try going to him instead."

Thinking that it would get hard to see with sunglasses indoors. Sora wore the cap deeply and hid her eyes with her bangs, then raised something as curiosity got the better of her.

"Is it just me or did you two get closer?"

In the sudden short spell of silence upon such question, the order of hotpot arrived on the stove together with the sides. Disregarding that, the two in question—Obi and Reina just looked at each other while the others began slowly digging in.

"Did we?" they asked each other and an audible 'Huh?' left Naru and Hoshino.

"I mean… I do visit their place from time to time but that's mostly because her brother calls me for something or if he wants to play a game with someone. But I guess we sometimes listen to music together just for a bit. Well, Reina got me into the streamers called vtubers like the guy on Sora's shirt."

"Whose music do you listen to, Obi? From Taiyou? Yololive? Or an indie?"

Again, Sora's face brightened up.

On the other hand, Anna suddenly fell into a deep thought as she took cues untold from Sora's question that seemed to ask more than what's at face value.

Her muttered words then shook Naru and Ai that were on both her sides.

"Now that I think about it, it didn't feel like it happened but I'm dating someone now."

And then she dipped the strip of meat to the spicy broth for it to cook.

As it appears, it seems that it was everyone's first time hearing it.

"Uh, did you mean Akira-san?"

"It's kind of an interesting story; well, also frustrating because of some funny misunderstanding.

We decided not to put a name on our relationship out of respect to my dad's request but as it turns out he forgot about it and thought that we're already going out. Can you believe that?! And it just happened very recently!"

"Wow. Didn't you tell me that you've been seeing Akira-san for like… four years? You guys sure are patient…"

"You have a role model, right, Anna?" Reina butted in.

"And it's definitely not my impulsive brother, just so you know."

"You guys sure have a lot of stuff going on right now, huh…" slightly disinterested, Aomine let out.

"Whaaaat, nothing's going on with you these days~?" hearing the laziness in his voice, Hoshino wrapped his arm over his head.

"Hey- I almost dropped the meat, cut it out.

But yeah, I'm just floating about. There's one time I completely forgot I have a whole day of lecture the next day and I went cycling somewhere and set up camp. Didn't regret it, though. Was really fun."

Sora then sighed, "That guy's gotten lazy, you know? The only times I see him in campus is when he's probably in a daze or sleeping in the library."

"I'm just kinda bored, okay? School's always a pain and my only hobby really is drawing landscapes when I'm out in nature. Well, that boredom felt liberating, still. Less people are bothering me about academics so I feel at peace most of the time."

"If you have so much free time, then why don't you try working part-time at Yona? They're kind of short-staffed these days since my sister-in-law just gave birth."

"It'd be nice to catch up with Yuka Haruka. Do I just rock up at the cafe?"

"Try to do it before opening hours."

"Speaking of Yona, you might see my brother around there sometimes since he stops by to do work and get coffee. Don't get surprised if you see someone with long white hair. But that would be him."

"Ah, I've actually met him already. I was with Obi, Hoshino, and the other seniors and did all sorts of things. To be honest, I didn't really talk much with him so I felt a bit intimidated."

"Nooo, he's such a gentle person, though. I feel like you'll get along with him and I think he's friends with the owner too."

"If I see him, I'll say hi then. Can I ask for your brother's number, Sora?"

"Sure thing. Remind me when we're finished eating."

"Oh, right. On the other hand, I heard Anna's family is building a new house?"

"Really? Where? I can maybe call up someone to get it looked at. I know some people so I can probably refer you to someone named Engineer Nishi-"

"You don't have to go that far, Sora… It's in good hands, I'm just telling you now. It's a few blocks from our current house, though. No, well, we sold our old house so we're all living at my brother's place."

"That said… it's informal but I'd like to thank your family for the donation you made to the foundation we support."

"I didn't really do anything at all… If anything, I feel a bit overwhelmed when so much stuff is happening while I'm just studying away."

"I was about to say it's a student's main duty to study, but here I am on an assignment in this restaurant," Sora broke out a chuckle.

Unbeknownst to the two of them, Aomine and Sora has been getting glances from time to time whenever they have an exchange.

A few years have passed, but the worry still lingers in their friends knowing their complicated history. Even then, what they see now is the absence of an invisible wall between them, and yet there are no hints of them crossing beyond that.

"Then let's have a housewarming party when it's finished!" with a bright smile, Reina suggested, or rather decided.

Knowing full well of her circumstances, Anna still couldn't help but see a vivid image of her future sister-in-law from Reina with the way she just acted, similarly to how Rin acts openly to those closest to her.

Prior to this, she has already been warned by Rin about what seems to be an overlap in personality with the existences those people coincide with, and she is now seeing it, as confusing as it is.

"Sometimes you really do scare me, Reina… Have you been with Nee-chan a lot lately?"

"We've been talking quite a lot. She does feel like a sister to me, but by extension, I guess us two are also like sisters? "

Anna broke into a serious blush and pouted, "Stop playing with my heart, you meanie! If there was no table between us, I would have bear hugged you already…!"

"You better not do that to me outside because it's really hot."

"It's raining though?" Naru pointed out at the window.

"All the more reason not to. It's going to get really muggy."

"I really want to hug you now though."

"Anna…"

The two girls rushing out of the table garnered mixed reactions of finding it sweet and feeling the secondhand embarrassment as they are doing this in a restaurant.

On the other hand, there's Obi.

"Hey, Hoshino. Don't you find those two adorable and teetee?"

"What? Well, yes, but what?"

Hoshino has always taken Obi as nonchalant, if not a serious one, but something must have changed over the years that he couldn't believe what he's looking at.

What Hoshino could only peer from the man's face is pure bliss, satisfaction, and comfort as his expressions melt together in front of what he personally deems as a cute episode.