"We don't have to do anything grand. No promises forever. Just tonight. Just this conversation."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvs1S3lC8ow
Then, with quiet patience, he extended his hand toward her—not demanding, only offering.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvipNltva2V
After a moment, he asked,
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3NctYfZZ0
"So... tell me something about yourself that isn't on your résumé. Something that has nothing to do with this party."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlM5gydsze
Rei blinked.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETAjjrUjxW
"Like what?"
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3VaFxKrsQ
He chuckled softly.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyMl0LeGxW
"Anything. A song you listen to when you're alone. A place you go when you want to disappear. Something you're secretly good at that would surprise everyone in that ballroom."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8LJnPh6k7
She thought for a moment before answering.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhLmXcDFTq
"I don't really have a favorite song. It depends on my mood. If a song matches how I'm feeling, I'll listen to it. If it doesn't... I move on."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaTXyzbXH6
Elias listened without interrupting, giving her his full attention.
The conversation drifted naturally, unhurried, as though neither of them was eager to let the night end.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqD8w2R4atA
Rei hesitated, searching for something to say.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aG0GIElGR
"Uh... do you watch anime?" she asked, almost under her breath.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ytV81VfbR
For a moment, Elias simply stared at her. Then a genuine laugh escaped him—not the polite laugh reserved for crowded parties, but something warm and real.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FlvNXLmUP
"Anime?" he repeated with a grin. "That's what you came up with after thinking that hard?"
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUlUQEygxc
Rei looked away, slightly embarrassed.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBbyi86EiS
He chuckled again, shaking his head.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnK8GCIuv94
"Honestly? No. I've never really been into it. My childhood was mostly books, long walks, and being outdoors. I missed that whole wave without cartoon."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWREr9DGU5R
He paused thoughtfully.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNF1eCJUOOw
"But I've seen clips here and there. The animation is beautiful. And some of the older stories... they're surprisingly deep."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGK54MZlqz
His gaze lingered on her.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4ibBoP3a6
"I had a feeling you'd be someone who watches anime."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZ8s8cqJf0
Rei blinked.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuR1CbAwUt
"Oh..."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mxLmST008
A quiet smile curved on his lips.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbsuJLvi6S
"Don't sound so surprised," he said. "I told you—I pay attention."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRypqm64wU
He took a slow sip from his glass before setting it aside.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlb7sOreHq3
"So," he said, folding his arms loosely across his chest, "I've been asking all the questions. Your turn."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM35ekkVeJQ
He looked at her expectantly.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNu1RdA5kHh
"Ask me anything. I promise I won't be offended."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EcFjFzD6M
Rei frowned in concentration.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhs1q2S2En
"Uhh..."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9kJm8lk1V
Nothing came to mind.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVqvPdN5ex
The silence stretched between them, but Elias didn't rush to fill it. He simply stood beside her, comfortable with the quiet.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnjkJBX3uU
Finally, he smiled.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMl3sj1xOV0
"You're very good at that."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPd6E4xP2F
She tilted her head.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgd3d6qWXV
"At what?"
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSK4NQsVGdG
"Silence."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcO8NdF4LhS
He looked out over the glowing city.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzYr5Jsojj
"Most people can't stand it. They keep talking until the quiet disappears."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2D14qLPDy
His eyes found hers again.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVHF3RZ25U
"But you... you make silence feel natural."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmMJuiEkni
A small, private smile touched his face.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGc4jnHLfOw
"It's one of the first things I noticed about you."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfzHpI9w4F
Rei's cheeks warmed ever so slightly.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0I6BP30BJh
"Oh..."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLIoZJOUMd
The silence returned, softer than before.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrrIq1XIGA
After a while, Elias laughed quietly.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNbKrxcKtY
"Since you refuse to interrogate me, let me ask one last question."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32srMrTBSK
He raised his glass in mock surrender.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVTCsuwdX4
"Tell me about a place you go when you want to be completely alone. Not somewhere impressive. Just... somewhere that feels like yours."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrP7anhe1i
Rei thought carefully.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy93dMnsNIO
"It's not a real place," she admitted.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIPwCuqM5N
He waited.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdegZegm0E
"A forest," she said quietly. "With a waterfall. Peaceful. Somewhere no one expects anything from me."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzC2vFAchJe
Elias closed his eyes for a brief moment, as if he could picture it perfectly.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHwN6wLezM
"A forest with a waterfall," he repeated softly.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvcz3bUUta
"That sounds like enough peace for one lifetime."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsH4APzM3PP
He leaned back against the railing and looked up at the stars.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sgFplxBqv
"I understand why you'd choose that place. Trees don't ask questions. Water doesn't care who you are. You don't have to explain yourself there."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKydnAuIju
Then he smiled.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrg7QpRm9EN
"I think I'd like that place too."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AQ1mLqH0K
"Hmm," Rei murmured.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviLdSR8PqP
He accepted the simple sound without asking her to say more.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrxluZ2Bw9
"You know," he said after a while, "I've spent a lot of time in places like that. Whenever life becomes too loud, I go somewhere quiet to remind myself that the world is much bigger than whatever problem I'm carrying."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzpeqGHsX1
He looked over the endless city lights.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡof03WAohUt
"It's funny."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVci15HB3wj
"We spend our entire lives building walls—careers, reputations, expectations—just so we have somewhere to hide."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmJvTgnVac
The breeze carried his words into the night.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQuodV7Car
Neither of them spoke again .19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlclM7K5Rjr
and then Add to home screen.