The casual reply makes Shuren click her tongue in annoyance. Meanwhile, Taura sits up straight, letting out a soft yawn before directing her gaze toward Zemin.
Her sharp eyes fixate on his features. Leaning in with curiosity, she studies him like a rare treasure, "What's your name?"
Zemin hesitates for just a moment before responding.
"...Zemin."
Taura hums, softly repeating his name to herself. Her attention then drifts to his black and white hair, catching the faint light in the car. Without waiting for permission, she reaches out, running her fingers through it.
"I thought it was dyed at first… but it's natural, isn't it?"
Her fingers brush near his temple, and her curiosity intensifies when her gaze meets his eyes. Those silver irises, framed in black and white, are unlike anything she's ever encountered.
"Silver eyes with that contrast… no wonder it feels surreal."
She twirls a strand of his hair around her finger, still entranced, while Zemin remains perfectly still, his expression unreadable but the tension in the air is palpable.
Finally, Shuren breaks the lingering tension in the car.
"Enough with the distractions. We're running late we should get moving."
Tasia nods in agreement, her tone carrying a hint of authority this time.
"Yeah, right. Let's go."
The car pulls away, leaving the outskirts behind and venturing deeper into the city.
Zemin leans against the window, taking in the changing scenery. Neon lights flicker above narrow alleys, lanterns glow softly in the twilight, and the air buzzes with chatter, aromas, and shadows. The inner streets of Kurayamiya unfold before them vivid, mysterious, and alive.
His silver eyes widen slightly as he absorbs it all.
Beautiful… it almost resembles a Chinatown.
The ride gradually slows down and comes to a halt in front of a line of cars parked along a quiet street. The group steps out, their footsteps echoing against the stone tiles beneath them.
In front of them, nestled between towering buildings, is a small wooden door. It looks pretty plain at first glance nothing special except for the faint, worn lettering carved above it that reads:
"Sweepers Agency."
Without a moment's hesitation, Shuren grabs the handle and pushes the door open, stepping inside. One by one, the others follow, with Zemin trailing last, his curiosity pulling him forward as the mysterious agency unfolds before them.
Once inside, Zemin is surprised by how warm the agency feels dim lanterns flicker along the walls, and shelves are crammed with papers, ledgers, and all sorts of odd trinkets. The sound of their footsteps echoes as they enter.
Almost immediately, the others Lokei, Tasia, Sévon, and Taura veer off down another hallway. Taura stretches and gives Zemin a cheeky little salute.
"Catch you later, Zeii Zeii."
She waves goodbye as she disappears with the rest, leaving Zemin alone with Shuren.
The two of them make their way to a small desk at the front. Behind it sits a girl lounging back in her chair, a glossy magazine casually held in her hands.
Without even looking up, she flips a page, then glances over the edge, her lips curling into a playful grin.
"Well, well, how's my baby-daby doing tonight?"
Shuren lets out a puff of smoke and dismisses her words with a flick of her wrist.
"Knock it off, Pixia."
Pixia giggles, tossing the magazine onto the desk and finally giving Zemin a proper once-over. Her sharp eyes narrow in curiosity, scanning him from head to toe as if she's already trying to figure him out.
"Zemin, this is Pixia. She's the one who keeps this madhouse running… in her own unique way."
Pixia leans her chin on her hands, smirking.
"Ohhh, so this is the stray cat you brought in? Adorable."
Shuren gives a slight sigh at the action that Pixia just did. "Don't get attracted to her fiendish ways."
"Your no fun baby daby."
"Can it."
"Well whatever anyway nice to me ya rookie it's a pleasure to meet new high talents like yourself. "She said with a slight smile on her face her voice soothing.
"Baby daby Shuren over there told me everything about you, but its for the best that I check for myself don't ya think."
Pixia then starts rubbing her forehead and then she taps the middle of her eyes then says, "Time to check ya potential."
This shocks Zemin for a second he does not understand what does she mean by that, potential.
Does she think I have potential I mean that is what she is checking right now.
"Okay baby hold still."
Pixia's eyes light up with golden energy and she stares deep into Zemin but as she tries to look closer all she sees static with a smile that is evil. This makes her back off and takes her out of her trance.
"What's wrong? what did you see?" Shuren asked.
"Um right, well his physical abilities are outstanding so there is no need to for that development. Has a calm mind and soul everything is good so far and also."
"What something wrong with him?"
Pixia looks down at Zemin's chest and points at something then says, "You also got some weird small hole on your chest."
Both Zemin and Shuren looks at the hole Zemin does remember its when he got stabbed at the fight with those drug dealers.
"Oh this I got stabbed here."
"That's way to small for a stab wound there is not even a knife that small in Kurayamiya."
Pixia and Shuren close their eyes trying to think what could have been the cause for that hole but then Zemin stops their thinking process when he says," But I did not say it's a stab wound from a knife."
This makes both of them widen their eyes.
"If it's not a wound from a knife then what could it be from?" Pixia asked.
"Um well it's actually from—