Sunday analyzed Nero's proposal in silence.
Merlin seemed interested, though there was a hint of caution in his eyes when money crossed his mind.
"Just the five of you," he asked, "or does the young lady—who I assume is your sister—participate as well?"
Nero scratched the back of his neck. It had been a long time since he'd last bought something for his little sister. The thought weighed on him more than he expected.
He smiled faintly, caught between guilt and a genuine desire to be a good brother.
"Yeah… I'll pay for her too."
Merlin let out a relieved sigh.
Greedy bastard… Nero thought, glancing at him from the corner of his eye.
Kōri nodded a bit awkwardly, trying to shift the mood.
"We should have dinner together," she suggested. "How about a fancy restaurant?"
Lux's face lit up instantly.
"Oof. I'm ordering the most expensive steak they have."
Sunday shook his head, annoyed.
"You're as gluttonous and lustful as ever."
Lux's smile vanished.
"Die."
"I won't."
"Want me to help with that?"
Kōri and Nero froze.
Merlin, on the other hand, burst into applause, clearly enjoying the show.
Nero's expression turned amused. He didn't know why, but those two always seemed one step away from killing each other.
Sunday and Lux were already reaching for their weapons.
"Hey!" Kōri shouted desperately. "Tone down the hormones!"
Sunday and Lux shot her a sharp glare.
Kōri flinched instantly. The air around her stirred, lifting her hair, making it float in an unsettling way.
"We should go home," Nero said, exchanging a look with Merlin.
Merlin nodded and waved them off with a smile.
"I'll be waiting at seven."
The group entered Nongua, leaving Merlin behind. They climbed two floors in silence and stopped in front of room 25.
Inside, Rose was sitting on a chair beside the table.
She held an open book, but she wasn't reading. Her fingers trembled slightly as she turned the pages, worry written all over her face.
When she looked up and saw them, her expression changed instantly.
"Nero!" she shouted, jumping up and throwing herself into her brother's arms. "You had me so worried! Where were you? You disappeared for almost 4 hours!"
Nero held her tightly, surprised by the force of the hug.
Her eyes were redder than usual, as if she'd been crying—or stressing—for far too long.
"Hey, beautiful, don't worry so much," a voice said nearby.
Lux smiled easily, as if the scene were nothing new.
Rose turned slightly toward him, still clinging to Nero.
"Lux…"
"You're just as… pleasant as ever," he added, amused.
Son of a bitch… Nero thought.
Without warning, he drove a punch straight into Lux's stomach.
Lux gasped, staggered back, and collapsed onto the floor.
"Seriously?!"
"Never talk to my sister like that," Nero said calmly.
Sunday sighed.
"You knew that was coming."
Rose blinked, alarmed.
"Nero! It was nothing!"
"Nothing to you," he muttered.
Nero took a deep breath and changed the subject before things escalated again.
"Listen, Rose. We're going out to dinner later. To a restaurant."
She tilted her head.
"A restaurant?"
"Yeah."
Rose glanced down at her clothes and bit her lip.
"But… like this?"
Before Nero could answer, Kōri stepped up behind him and gently rested a hand on his arm.
"Come on, Nero," she said with a knowing smile. "You can't take her dressed like that."
Rose looked at him then, eyes clearly pleading.
"Please… just for a bit. I really need new clothes."
Nero stayed silent for a few seconds.
Then he sighed, giving in.
"Fine. But make it quick."
Rose's eyes lit up instantly.
"Thank you!"
Lux lifted his head from the floor.
"Told you. Always works."
Nero glared at him.
"Shut up."
He turned to the rest of the group, Rose still holding onto his arm.
"Alright," he said. "We're going clothes shopping."
An awkward silence followed.
Sunday looked down—only then noticing his own outfit. The coat was worn at the edges, stained with things best left unidentified. His shoes had more history than dignity.
Lux tugged at his sleeves and frowned.
"This used to be classy," he muttered. "A long time ago."
Kōri lifted her arms, inspecting the crooked seams of her clothes.
"…I think this was sewn by someone who hated me."
Rose looked them over, one by one.
Then she looked at Nero.
Then at Kōri.
Kōri and Rose exchanged a glance.
And smiled.
It wasn't a sweet smile.
It was conspiratorial. Malicious. Dangerously enthusiastic.
"Oh," Rose said, tilting her head. "If we're going out… everyone needs new clothes."
Kōri nodded far too eagerly.
"Definitely."
Nero frowned.
"No."
"Yes," they said in unison.
Lux raised an eyebrow.
"Am I sensing an alliance?"
Sunday crossed his arms.
"This is a trap."
Rose leaned closer to Nero, lowering her voice with fake innocence.
"Don't you want them to look good next to you?"
Kōri rested her chin on her hand.
"Besides," she added, "if we're going to a fancy restaurant, they won't let you in dressed like that."
Nero opened his mouth to argue… then stopped.
He looked at his coat.
At Lux's shoes.
At Sunday's clothes.
He sighed deeply.
"…Fine."
Rose's eyes sparkled.
Kōri smiled like someone who'd just won a war.
Lux clapped.
"Excellent. I'm ready to be judged."
Sunday shook his head.
"This is going to be a waste of time."
Nero rubbed his face.
"We're going shopping," he said. "But if anyone tries to dress me like a noble, I'm killing someone."
Rose and Kōri exchanged another look.
Even more malicious than the last.
"Noted," they said together.
...
Clothing plaza — women's section.
Sunday, Lux, and Nero looked like they wanted to die. Sweat covered their faces as they carried bag after bag behind the two women ahead of them.
They already had their own precious outfits. There was no reason to still be there.
But… each of them had a reason.
Nero couldn't leave his sister alone.
Sunday didn't dare abandon two beautiful ladies to their fate.
And Lux… Lux simply had nothing better to do and didn't want to be alone at home.
"Nero."
He looked up.
Rose was pointing at a dress.
Deep black, with red accents running through it like elegant fractures. Beside it rested a small red hat, perfectly matched.
"How would I look in that one?"
Nero didn't hesitate.
"You'd look perfect."
Rose blinked.
Then smiled softly, almost shy, hugging the dress to her chest.
"Then I'll try it on."
As she walked toward the fitting rooms, Kōri stepped in front of Nero.
She said nothing at first.
She simply lifted the white dress in her hands.
It was simple, refined. The fabric fell lightly, almost ethereal. Angelical wasn't an exaggeration.
She held it up, studying it.
Then looked at Nero.
"And me?" she asked.
Nero froze.
For a second—far too long.
"…You too," he finally said. "It would suit you very well."
Kōri smiled, satisfied, and turned toward the fitting rooms.
Lux, leaning against a wall under a mountain of bags, whistled.
"You've got a real talent for saying dangerous things."
Sunday shot him a look.
"Shut up."
They paid without ceremony.
Nero deliberately ignored the final number.
They returned to the Nongua apartment as the sun set and exhaustion settled in.
At exactly seven, the doors opened one by one.
Rose stepped out first.
The black and red dress fit her perfectly. The hat completed the look with unexpected elegance. She no longer looked like the worried girl sitting in a chair, but someone confident, composed… beautiful.
Nero looked at her and nodded in quiet pride.
Kōri came out next.
The white dress made her look almost unreal, as if the light followed her. Her expression was calm, but her eyes shone with soft confidence.
Sunday looked sharp, sober, immaculate—clean lines and commanding presence.
Lux was extravagantly elegant, clearly enjoying every second of it.
And Nero…
Nero looked striking in a black suit that emphasized his figure.
He'd had enough time to polish the glass of his monocle and clean his cape.
The latter rested delicately on his shoulders, matching perfectly with the hat he wore.
Five different figures.
Five powerful presences.
The door knocked.
Two sharp knocks.
Everyone looked up at the same time.