"Let's meet again... friend."
"..."
The voice from the screen faded as the movie's credits rolled in a soft blur of colors.
Dinner ended without much fanfare. Clara finished tidying the kitchen and took her leave. Once the front door clicked shut, Soren brought out a few bags of sweets and snacks. He sat down on the sofa beside Ethea and pulled up a mystery series they had bookmarked.
As the new show began, Soren talked about today's events. He told her about his progress with his technique. He also told her he was now officially E-Rank and that the pay increase meant he could provide better care and comfort, and that their life would improve significantly.
Ethea stayed quiet, keeping her eyes on the television, but her stillness suggested she was listening closely to every word.
After a while, Soren took a deep breath while reaching up to scratch the back of his neck.
"Actually... There is something else I wanted to talk about. Something really important."
