"We don't have to do anything grand. No promises forever. Just tonight. Just this conversation."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3XGUdO13s
Then, with quiet patience, he extended his hand toward her—not demanding, only offering.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qYG7xCIYR
After a moment, he asked,
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbq7TXVZAA
"So... tell me something about yourself that isn't on your résumé. Something that has nothing to do with this party."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGgl2OgpZU
Rei blinked.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezG1ZjYPJK
"Like what?"
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJG96rUODdc
He chuckled softly.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1K3AWzmTSq
"Anything. A song you listen to when you're alone. A place you go when you want to disappear. Something you're secretly good at that would surprise everyone in that ballroom."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyrWPya1RT
She thought for a moment before answering.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHzsQ2F6j7
"I don't really have a favorite song. It depends on my mood. If a song matches how I'm feeling, I'll listen to it. If it doesn't... I move on."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvbtT3CcoG
Elias listened without interrupting, giving her his full attention.
The conversation drifted naturally, unhurried, as though neither of them was eager to let the night end.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNtB98fhrk
Rei hesitated, searching for something to say.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOJODKC6Or
"Uh... do you watch anime?" she asked, almost under her breath.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4VCqsCS9h
For a moment, Elias simply stared at her. Then a genuine laugh escaped him—not the polite laugh reserved for crowded parties, but something warm and real.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDatqipfPo
"Anime?" he repeated with a grin. "That's what you came up with after thinking that hard?"
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHU9dm5Xe83
Rei looked away, slightly embarrassed.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppS00EocJm
He chuckled again, shaking his head.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTJ4cFtQqz
"Honestly? No. I've never really been into it. My childhood was mostly books, long walks, and being outdoors. I missed that whole wave without cartoon."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjpFtMMnYa
He paused thoughtfully.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjbBpq5nhM
"But I've seen clips here and there. The animation is beautiful. And some of the older stories... they're surprisingly deep."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZeLqe9H6Z
His gaze lingered on her.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jAFl2sPDg
"I had a feeling you'd be someone who watches anime."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRi32OKtFzi
Rei blinked.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡag4i5Efjqs
"Oh..."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VO8ahm4Aj
A quiet smile curved on his lips.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9Nkhssn0n
"Don't sound so surprised," he said. "I told you—I pay attention."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqkxmJF5Vd
He took a slow sip from his glass before setting it aside.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAazugT6pu
"So," he said, folding his arms loosely across his chest, "I've been asking all the questions. Your turn."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwqoH0mqJj
He looked at her expectantly.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJma4g1v9i7
"Ask me anything. I promise I won't be offended."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmV2Rjx93UZ
Rei frowned in concentration.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROnbo11Vr1
"Uhh..."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lu8G50Ybt
Nothing came to mind.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEe88dC57vi
The silence stretched between them, but Elias didn't rush to fill it. He simply stood beside her, comfortable with the quiet.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLF7olXqtj
Finally, he smiled.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBcuy6LhLp
"You're very good at that."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOysyxyTrw
She tilted her head.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMWAnO9Ynf
"At what?"
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPz8riNrenE
"Silence."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT88Ij80cxi
He looked out over the glowing city.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLBPMNpxYW
"Most people can't stand it. They keep talking until the quiet disappears."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0hzVbhjhS
His eyes found hers again.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxMkjfk2K2
"But you... you make silence feel natural."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzlvxlZG5F
A small, private smile touched his face.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjkrynJbcY
"It's one of the first things I noticed about you."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLfQ3zirEQ
Rei's cheeks warmed ever so slightly.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUps16STNdD
"Oh..."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4RnjresrI
The silence returned, softer than before.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BMSQtkiar
After a while, Elias laughed quietly.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82ECtas66K
"Since you refuse to interrogate me, let me ask one last question."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QoeIXjvaY
He raised his glass in mock surrender.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9ZWWmLxkr
"Tell me about a place you go when you want to be completely alone. Not somewhere impressive. Just... somewhere that feels like yours."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtLy3hRZ8T
Rei thought carefully.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0W6PU9afTH
"It's not a real place," she admitted.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcWsYJiwue
He waited.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLMVIObtwi
"A forest," she said quietly. "With a waterfall. Peaceful. Somewhere no one expects anything from me."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoKzQyKg2e
Elias closed his eyes for a brief moment, as if he could picture it perfectly.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsc4uGt0EXy
"A forest with a waterfall," he repeated softly.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvAZ9kcVXM
"That sounds like enough peace for one lifetime."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nvQz0uc5D
He leaned back against the railing and looked up at the stars.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpvhY1GEnz
"I understand why you'd choose that place. Trees don't ask questions. Water doesn't care who you are. You don't have to explain yourself there."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7avoGkPZi
Then he smiled.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QunWCGPrF
"I think I'd like that place too."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuxvh55v5a
"Hmm," Rei murmured.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyVluDVhcX
He accepted the simple sound without asking her to say more.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvP03GpaTcb
"You know," he said after a while, "I've spent a lot of time in places like that. Whenever life becomes too loud, I go somewhere quiet to remind myself that the world is much bigger than whatever problem I'm carrying."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8VwOdnHsQ
He looked over the endless city lights.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEBKEeI1ME
"It's funny."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5I8STA3zg
"We spend our entire lives building walls—careers, reputations, expectations—just so we have somewhere to hide."
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1itPv5dEI
The breeze carried his words into the night.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmUfQAJgX5
Neither of them spoke again .17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZntlJlcJzN
→ Request update
and then Add to home screen.