The air was still in silence but we decided to first treat ourself and then talk about it.
Since our old place was already in shreads, we needed a new place to stay but finding a place to stay isn't easy.
A normal hotel was too risky—too many eyes, too many records. Motels were even worse, crawling with the kind of people who noticed everything. That left us with one option: a short-term apartment rental, paid in cash, no questions asked.
Except the landlord did have questions.
"I don't like this," the old man grumbled, arms crossed as he eyed the two of us. "A boy and a girl, alone? You're not even married."
Ayane clicked her tongue, already fed up. "We're not kids."
The landlord snorted. "You look like kids."
I sighed, rubbing my temple. "We just need it for a few nights."
He squinted at me. "You got family?"
"No."
His gaze flickered to Ayane. "And you?"
Ayane smiled sweetly. "Oh, don't worry. He's all I've got."
The old man gave me a long, disapproving look. I fought the urge to groan.
After another minute of grumbling—something about 'reckless youth' and 'bad influences'—he finally handed over the key.
And that was how we ended up here.
The rain drummed against the window, a steady rhythm against the muffled sounds of the city. Neon lights bled through the curtains, casting faint colors across the dim apartment.
I tightened the bandage around Ayane's foot.
She flinched. Barely.
"…Hold still," I muttered.
Silence.
She didn't even look at me. Just sat there on the edge of the couch, arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the wall.
I sighed, finishing the wrap. "It's not broken. But if you keep walking on it like an idiot, it might as well be."
No response.
I glanced up. "You're really not gonna say anything?"
Still nothing.
I exhaled sharply, leaning back. "Fine. Go ahead. Keep ignoring me. Real mature."
Ayane's fingers twitched against her sleeve, but she didn't move.
I sat there for a second, waiting.
Nothing.
I ran a hand through my hair. "Look, I know you're pissed—"
"Pissed?" she finally snapped, turning her head just enough to glare at me. "You knew something, Ken. And you didn't say a damn thing."
I met her eyes. "Because I don't know everything."
"That's not the point." Her voice was sharp, but beneath it, I caught something else. Frustration. Maybe even something close to hurt. "You still kept it from me."
I held her gaze for a moment before looking away. "…Yeah."
Her fingers tightened around the fabric of her sleeve.
Silence again.
I reached for the bandage roll, stuffing it back into the first aid kit. "We didn't have a choice but to stay here. It's the safest option for now."
Ayane didn't answer.
I stood up, stretching out my sore muscles. "You should rest. You're injured."
She scoffed. "So are you."
I smirked faintly. "I don't need rest."
Ayane finally turned to face me, eyes narrowing. "You always say that."
I shrugged. "Because it's true."
She exhaled, shaking her head. "You're impossible."
I didn't argue.
Instead, I leaned against the window, watching the city blur behind streaks of rain.
"…If you want to know the truth," I said after a moment, "then we go tomorrow."
Ayane was quiet for a second. Then—
"I don't need you to decide that for me."
I looked back at her.
She met my gaze, steady and unyielding.
"I'm going," she said firmly. "With or without you."
Of course she was.
I let out a short breath, shaking my head. "…Yeah."
We both knew there was no turning back now.
Ayane shifted slightly, testing her bandaged foot. Then, after a moment, she spoke.
"That crest."
I froze.
She wasn't looking at me, but I could feel the weight of her words.
"You recognized it," she said. "Back in that room."
I exhaled slowly. "Yeah."
She turned her head, finally meeting my gaze. "Why?"
I hesitated. "…It's complicated."
She let out a dry laugh. "Of course it is."
I ran a hand through my hair, already regretting where this conversation was going. "…I saw it before."
Her eyes narrowed. "Where?"
I looked away. "…On you."
Silence.
Her expression didn't change, but I saw the slight tension in her shoulders. "…What do you mean?"
I sighed, leaning against the window. "It was a long time ago. You were injured. I was treating your wound, and I lit a torch to see better."
I glanced at her. "That's when I saw it. The crest. Engraved behind your back."
Her breath hitched, but she didn't interrupt.
"It wasn't visible normally," I continued. "I only saw it because of the light."
Then, without warning, she turned to me sharply.
"Wait." Her tone shifted, suspicious. "Why were you seeing me naked?"
I blinked. "…What?"
"You said it was on my back," she said, arms crossed. "And you were treating my wound. So how exactly did you see it?"
I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose. "You were bleeding, Ayane. Badly. The wound was on your side, near your back. Your shirt was already torn. I had to check the injury."
She squinted at me, clearly not satisfied.
I groaned. "It wasn't like that."
She scoffed. "So you're saying you just happened to get a full view of my back?"
"It was dark!" I shot back. "I wasn't paying attention to—"
I cut myself off, realizing too late that anything I said would only make this worse.
Ayane smirked, leaning back. "Right. Not paying attention."
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "…Can we move on?"
She hummed, clearly enjoying this. "I don't know. It's a little concerning."
I shot her a flat look. "I removed the mark. If I had any ulterior motives, I wouldn't have done that."
Her smirk faded slightly, her expression turning serious again.
"…Right," she muttered, glancing down.
The teasing atmosphere disappeared in an instant.
She stared at the floor for a moment before speaking again.
"You really removed it?" Her voice was quieter now.
I nodded. "…Yeah."
She let out a sharp breath. "Why?"
"I thought it might be dangerous," I admitted. "My father had a cream—something he used to treat marks left by wounds. I didn't know if it would work, but I—"
I ran a hand through my hair. "I couldn't take the risk."
Ayane's gaze was unreadable. "So you erased something from my body. Without telling me."
I closed my eyes for a second. "…Yeah."
A long, heavy silence stretched between us.
Then—
"When you first met me," she said, her voice quiet but sharp, "did you already know?"
I looked at her.
And, for the first time, I told her the truth.
"No."
Her eyes searched mine, as if trying to find any trace of a lie.
I didn't look away.
Finally, she exhaled, shaking her head. "…You're a real bastard, you know that?"
I let out a short, bitter chuckle. "Yeah."
She didn't speak again.
And I didn't have the right to say anything more.
At the end it was decided that we will go meet kaito to the address he gave.
Although it was very dangerous but it didn't look like he really meant any harm and it's not like we had anyother choice, you can't simply ignore someone who appeared after years and claims to be your family.
Ayane didn't show it but it was clear that she needed a family's affection which she never got.
"What's gotten in you" , she says.
"Nothing...I will make sure to end it all soon enough so then we can rest"
"Really, you won't disappear", she smirked.
"I don't think I can run away from my responsibilies anymore"
Although I said that but I am not courageous enough to look at her face.
"Wow, you sure are something. Yeah... don't ever forget that I am your responsibility forever."
She says while giving a yawn.
"Yeah I won't.....now let's sleep we need to go tomorrow."
I didn't let my smile show on my face.
"Well, there is only one bed though, not that I mind", she says teasing me.
"You don't need to worry about that, i will sleep on the couch."
I laid on the couch and soon fell asleep.