Sitting in a corner of the food court, Kyle stared at the girl across from him in silence.

Layena browsed through the menu as if nothing had happened, humming softly as though she was simply enjoying the variety of options.

"So... are we going to pretend none of that happened?" Kyle finally asked, breaking the silence.

Layena looked up at him. "What do you mean?"

Kyle placed his hands on the table and leaned closer. "Layena... do you really need to ask that?"

There was a reason he was acting like this.

And to understand it, one would have to go back ten minutes. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

....

"Do you have any idea how much those were worth?! You’d have to slave your entire life to pay for that damage!" the manager shouted at the top of his lungs, the shop’s earlier calm completely shattered, much like the glasses on the floor.

The woman beside him already had her phone in hand. "I’m calling the police."

"No, wait—" Kyle reacted, about to do something calm the situation, but before he could, Layena stepped forward and offered something that silenced them both.

"I hope this covers all that garbage."

She extended a platinum card toward the manager.

The man’s eyes widened as he inspected it closely. The initials, the brand stamp... there was no doubt. It was genuine.

"I-I’ll bring the card reader, sir," Linda stammered, panicking at the sudden shift in the situation. She hurried to the counter and returned with the machine.

Taking the card from Layena, she swiped it.

It worked.

"The limit is a million. I’m sure it will easily cover the damage. And I also want the most unique piece you have in the store."

The manager glanced at Linda, and she immediately nodded. "U-Understood. Please come this way to choose from the inner section."

....

And that was how Layena, apparently a millionaire, handled the situation and ended up buying a gift worth twenty thousand lumir for Kyle.

"Seriously... why did you suddenly start breaking the glasses? I mean, that woman wasn’t that rude, was she?" Given her usual demeanor, Kyle had never expected such destructive impulsiveness from Layena.

"I hate people who judge others and look down on them for any reason. It irritates me," Layena said simply, then pointed at something on the menu.

"I want to eat this."

Kyle glanced at the name and realized it was a hamburger and fries combo.

He asked if she wanted a soda, and like a mechanical doll, she nodded several times.

Shaking his head, he walked to the counter and placed the order.

"One happy meal set and one small bucket of roasted chicken. No sauce."

He paid, took the ticket, and returned to the table.

Sitting across from Layena, he watched her for a few moments.

She was still flipping through the menu, which made him ask, "Want to order anything else?"

Layena looked up and shook her head. "I’m just fascinated by how many things they offer."

Her words made it clear she didn’t eat out often. He was definitely learning more about her.

"By the way, how do you have so much money? Does your organization pay that well?"

Layena leaned back, placing the menu aside before answering, "When I was recruited as a cadet, I used to get ten thousand lumir as a stipend. I didn’t have many expenses, so I saved most of it."

"...Ten thousand just for being recruited?" Kyle was stunned. Not even a general manager at a corporate company earned that much in a month.

Layena nodded. "Yes. They make us sign a document stating that if we lose our lives during training, they bear no responsibility. So in exchange for risking our lives, we’re paid well."

Kyle crossed his arms. It made sense. The life of a Nightwalker was extremely dangerous, and the training to prepare them for it had to be just as brutal.

"But still... you have that much saved up?" Kyle pressed, worried he might have just made her spend her life savings. He would pay her back, of course, but at his current income, it might take years.

Layena shook her head. "No. We also get paid for every Knull Resident we kill. It’s like a monthly salary for being part of the corps, and additional bounty for each hunt."

"Damn," Kyle muttered. "Then what would the hunt I did back then be worth?"

Layena hummed, thinking for a moment. "Maybe... three of the cards I just used."

"...!!"

What the hell?

He lost three million just like that?

Layena gave a faint smile at his reaction. "So you want to stay out of the limelight and still get paid? That’s quite selfish."

Kyle sighed. "It’s not that I’m desperate to stay in the shadows, but I hate being ordered around and forced to do things I don’t want to."

"But you wouldn’t be," Layena argued. "If you get recruited now and are assigned to our squad, your superiors would consider your choices first. Especially our Commander. She’s the kind of person who would stand against the world for her officers."

Kyle smiled faintly. "You seem very close to your superior."

He has heard from Veronica too, but every time Layena speaks of their relationship it feels Layena sees Veronica much like that guardian figure in her life on whom she depends blindly.

This time, a genuine smile spread across her face.

She didn’t need to say anything. It was obvious how much she admired her Commander.

Ting.

Hearing the bell, Kyle turned. The display showed the same number printed on his ticket.

"I’ll go get the food," he said, standing up.

Layena nodded and picked up the menu again, though this time, she wasn’t reading it.

Her thoughts were on Kyle.

She enjoyed being with him.

Unlike the cold, detached figure he had seemed on the bus, Kyle was surprisingly talkative in person, and his reactions were oddly pleasant to watch.

The more time she spent with him, the more she found herself drawn to him.

Maybe... he could become her first friend. Would he mind? She wasn’t like Amanda or Hannah, people who could get along with anyone. She was dull, and at times, impulsive.

’But even so...’

She made up her mind. She would become his friend. She would exchange contact information with him. Yes, that was the first step.

Just as her thoughts settled, the seat across from her was suddenly taken by a hooded figure.

Layena spoke up, "Excuse me, that seat is taken—"

"How rude of you..." the person muttered, slowly lifting their head.

Layena froze, her eyes widening, her face draining of color.

All the thoughts revolving in her mind faded, and everything was replaced by fear and wariness.

The hood slipped back, revealing a breathtaking woman with fiery red hair framing her face.

Her golden eyes gleamed with pure amusement, a stark contrast to the reaction the other girl had as she watched Layena with nothing but mirth in her eyes.

Leaning back, she asked,

"...Missed me, little sister?"

°°°°°°°°°°

A/N:- If you have been enjoying the story so far, please drop a review to motivate me. Thank you. Don’t forget to comment.