Vampire and His Pleasant Companions: Volume 4 - Part 6
When Al came out of the bathroom, Kyiv was sitting on the bed in a bathrobe, smoking a cigarette. The TV was showing footage of the passengers descending the emergency slide. Al froze at the sight—he had appeared on screen. Wearing sunglasses, a jacket, and a blanket wrapped around his waist. He looked suspicious beyond belief. As the footage continued, his blanket and jacket slipped off as he slid down. Though the apron had covered the front, his bare backside briefly flashed on screen. It was such a ridiculous scene in the midst of a serious situation that it almost seemed staged. And then, the final taste of wind. On screen, Al was clutching the front of his apron, his mouth agape as if he were about to scream.
Kyiv laughed out loud.
[“No matter how many times I see this, it's the best.”]
Al looked around for the remote but couldn't find it. He walked over to the TV and turned it off manually.
[“Come on, I was just watching that. That’s a bit cruel.”]
Kyiv didn't seem angry, just amused. Al, still naked, crawled into bed and pulled the sheets over his head. Kyiv gently patted him on the back from above the sheets.
[“In the morning, I'll take you to the hospital where Akira is.”]
The soft tone of Kyiv's voice eased Al's irritated mood a little. Though Kyiv teased him, he had brought clothes, snuck him out of the airport, and hid him in the hotel. No matter how you looked at it, Kyiv was being kind.
[“Why are you in Texas, Kyiv?”]
Al poked his head out from under the sheets and asked. Kyiv sighed, placing his hands on his hips.
[“I found out you and Akira were on the hijacked plane, so of course, I rushed here. Though, by the time I arrived at the airport, the passengers were already being released. When I heard the hijacked plane had landed at a Texas airport, I tried to get a ticket here right away. But with the airport on lockdown and flights canceled, it wasn't easy. I searched for a flight to the nearest airport, but everyone else had the same idea, and there were no open seats. After some negotiations, I managed to board one, rented a car, and made my way here.”]
He had worried and came all the way here for them.
[“Thank you... and I’m sorry.”]
When Al expressed his gratitude, Kyiv smiled and said, [“I didn’t do much.”]
[“But I think this incident made you realize something, didn't it? About what kind of existence you are.”]
Those words stung. Al buried his face in the sheets, pretending not to hear. Kyiv suddenly flopped on top of him.
[“Kyiv, you're heavy...”]
Cold fingers gently pressed on Al's head. He felt a chill on his neck, like the brush of lips.
[“...Let me drink your blood.”]
Al swallowed nervously. Kyiv licked Al's neck as though savoring a piece of candy.
[“I've lived for hundreds of years, but I've never drunk the blood of an incomplete vampire like you. I'm excited... Don't worry, I'll let you drink my blood afterward.”]
[“Wait!”]
Al turned to see Kyiv's fangs growing long. Panicking, Al flipped onto his back and pushed Kyiv away by the shoulders.
[“S-stop it!”]
Kyiv clicked his fangs together like a predator teasing his prey.
[“Not today!”]
When Al refused, Kyiv laughed and got off him. As he combed his messy bangs, his fangs retracted back to normal.
[“You're acting like a girl about to lose her virginity. Why are you so against it? It doesn't even hurt when you're bitten, and a little taste wouldn't hurt, once you drink my blood besides, you'll become a full vampire. Isn’t that ideal?”]
[“But if I become a full vampire, I won't be able to stay by Akira's side.”]
Kyiv's teasing expression suddenly tightened.
[“You say you can't stay by Akira's side unless you're stuck in this half-state, but is that really true?”]
Al tilted his head in confusion.
[“I mean, would Akira really not accept you unless you're in this half-breed body?”]
Al didn't understand what he meant. Kyiv's eyes narrowed as he gave a sad smile.
[“You're a foolish child, Al. Thinking that you won't be loved unless you're in this half-breed body—that's just an excuse you've made for yourself. If Akira truly loves you, he wouldn't care whether you're an incomplete vampire or a complete vampire.”]
Al wanted to argue back, but he couldn't. Kyiv wasn't wrong.
[“You just lack confidence in Akira's love for you, Al.”]
That might be true. No, it probably was.
["But..."]
Al squeezed out his words.
[“But even if Akira doesn't really love me, at least if I'm an incomplete vampire, he won't abandon me.”]
After losing Kyiv, who had once cared for him, Al wandered without any purpose in life. He had wanted to die but couldn't, living in a kind of hell. It had been lonely, painful. His emotions had rusted over, and all he did was drink blood to quell his hunger and sleep. There had been no dreams, no hopes.
Then everything changed when he went to Japan. Even though Akira hit him and complained at him, Al felt happy to be acknowledged. He felt safe being by Akira's side. He had made so many new friends. Living with Akira was fun. It had been so much fun.
[“You can't use anything other than feelings as a measure when it comes to love. If you aren't loved for who you truly are, most people would give up. Crying while they do it. Al, you're not special... If every love story ended happily, we wouldn't have so many heartbreak songs.”]
[“But I'm not human! Only Akira has understood me!”]
Even though Al was serious, Kyiv laughed.
[“That's just another one of your delusions. The world is full of people. Can you really say for certain that Akira is the only one who understands you?”]
Al felt cornered, with no escape. He turned his eyes away from Kyiv and clutched his head. His chest felt like it was being squeezed painfully.
[“I'm not trying to torment you. I'm just telling you the truth.”]
Kyiv returned to the other bed. Al lay face down, wishing he could return to Japan as soon as possible. The sooner, the better. Once he got back to Japan, everything would go back to normal. He'd live with Akira, spend the daytime as a bat, and hang out with everyone in the break room. Forever...
With his sleepless mind wide awake, Al rolled over.
[“...Al, maybe you should learn how to be alone.”]
Al pretended not to hear Kyiv's quiet words.
◇ :-: ◆ :-: ◇
On the night of the rescue, Akira was taken to the hospital for a blood transfusion and stayed overnight. Martha, Richard, and Henry had been released with the first group of hostages, so their questioning and medical checks were already completed.
When Martha heard that Akira had been hospitalized, she reportedly burst into tears, thinking he was seriously injured. Even after learning it was just anemia, she insisted on staying by her side, but Akira had to calm her down, saying, "Al will be here soon." Knowing that Al would arrive seemed to help soothe her, and she, along with Richard, caught an early morning flight to LA. Richard's work schedule had become chaotic due to the one-day delay in returning.
Akira's interrogation began early in the morning, and while it was ongoing, Al waited with Kyiv in the airport lobby. They were waiting for the questioning to finish so they could catch a flight to LA.
On TV, yesterday's hijacking was being repeatedly reported. Many people stopped to watch the large airport screen, and Angel's face appeared frequently. A woman in a staff uniform, likely an airport employee, passed by, talking loudly, ["Yesterday was crazy with so many people. It's quieter today, though."]
Although the hijacked plane was still on the runway, the airport had mostly returned to normal operations. Reporters and police were still milling around, but there were many passengers using the airport as well.
Kyiv, with Al perched on his shoulder, offered a cool observation:
[“The hijacking was sensational, but since none of the passengers were injured or killed, and all the culprits were arrested, it feels like the impact wasn't that strong.”]
[“People forget easily. No matter how big the incident, a week later, memories start to fade. Vampires are no different. I'm forgetting more and more as the years pass.”]
Kyiv stared into the busy lobby with a distant look in his eyes. Akira, who had been involved in the capture of the criminals, was delayed in his questioning, finally finishing around noon. Reporters kept pressing him about the identity of the man in the apron, but Akira brushed off their persistent questions. Once he made it to the airport lobby, he quickly secured two seats on the flight to LA.
Al, still in bat form, was puzzled as to why Akira had booked two seats when only one was needed for him. Just then, Akira handed the second ticket to Kyiv. It turned out that Kyiv was also heading to LA. Al had assumed Kyiv had stayed at the airport only to hand him back to Akira.
He wanted to ask why Kyiv was coming along, but as a bat, he couldn't communicate properly. Holding his curiosity, Al boarded the LA-bound flight with Akira and Kyiv. The flight from this airport to LA would take about three and a half hours, so they'd arrive by sunset.
Kyiv and Akira sit side by side in the middle section of the economy class. Due to the previous day's hijacking, the security checks were strict, and it took a long time, but the plane departed almost on schedule.
Al was aware that he was feeling overly sensitive, likely because of everything Kyiv had said to him the night before. Taking advantage of his bat form, which no one found bothersome, he slipped out of his basket and climbed onto Akira's shoulder, pressing close for comfort. The warmth of Akira's body made him feel secure. Just as he was settling in, Kyiv abruptly pulled him away, holding him tightly and petting his head, saying [“There, there.”] Akira glanced at them, perhaps thinking Al was being spoiled, but didn't try to take him back.
[“Akira, do you like bats?”] Kyiv asked.
Leaning back in his seat, Akira replied with a tired nod, [“Yeah.”] Although his anemia should have improved after the blood transfusion, Akira still looked exhausted, likely due to the stress of the previous day's events.
[“Do you like Al because he turns into a bat?”]
Akira's brow furrowed in irritation.
[“That has nothing to do with it. I’ve always liked bats.”]
Kyiv blinked in exaggerated surprise.
[“Liking bats is a bit unusual.”]
[“Some people like dogs, others like cats. I just happen to like bats.”]
Akira's statement was firm. Kyiv deliberately pushed Al forward, close to Akira's face.
[“What do you like about bats?”]
[“Because they're cute.”]
The response came instantly. Al, feeling as though he was being called cute, felt his cheeks heat up with embarrassment.
[“From a general perspective, bats aren’t usually considered cute animals.”]
Al turned around, started by Kyiv's betrayal.
[“It doesn't matter if other people don't find them cute. I think they are, and that’s enough.”]
When Al shifted in Kyiv's hand, Kyiv released him, allowing him to hop back onto Akira's shoulder. Al nuzzled his nose against Akira's neck, feeling affection.
[“You don’t see bats as often as dogs or cats, though.”]
Akira closed his eyes slightly.
[“There was a cave behind the elementary school I went to. Lots of bats lived there.”]
[“I see. Though, I've got to say, seeing a swarm of bats doesn't sound very pleasant...”]
[“Be quiet. I want to rest.”] Akira cut Kyiv off with a single sentence, exhaling sharply through his nose. Al felt grateful that Akira had gone to an elementary school near a cave. If that hadn't been the case, Akira might not have developed his fondness for bats.
Encouraged by Akira's calm breathing, Al also closed his eyes. Clinging to Akira's shoulder, he fell asleep, unaware that Kyiv was watching him with a look of pity.
◇ :-: ◆ :-: ◇
The sky over LA, as seen from the small airplane window, was clearly that of dusk, even in monochrome.
Due to congestion from arriving planes, they were forced to wait a bit before landing. By the time they finally arrived and passengers started to disembark, it was just moments before darkness fell. Akira, sensing this could be bad, asked Kyiv to pick up his checked luggage, and the moment they passed through the arrival gate, he rushed into the restroom.
He hung the bag containing Al's change of clothes on the hook inside the stall door and placed Al on top of the toilet's water tank. After that, Akira left the stall. Al, sitting on the tank, breathed a sigh of relief that the sun hadn't set while they were still on the plane. Suddenly, he heard Akira's shout: [“Ah, wait, not there!”] The door opened.
A tall man in his twenties with light-colored hair and a tight-fitting T-shirt entered the stall. Al couldn't lock the door from inside, so the man must have assumed the stall was empty. When he noticed the bat on the water tank, he waved his right hand, trying to shoo it away, saying, [“Shoo, shoo.”] When Al didn't move, the man raised both hands and shouted in an attempt to scare him. Startled, Al flapped his wings and flew up, hanging from the edge of the ceiling light. Realizing this wasn't a good situation, Al figured it was best to change stalls.
[“Sorry, but…”]
Akira's voice called out to the tall man. The man turned, giving Akira an unabashed up-and-down glance before letting out a smug chuckle.
[“Sorry, you're not my type. I prefer macho over pretty boys.”]
Akira's face stiffened.
[“Just so we're clear, I'm not here to hit on you. I left my bag hanging inside. Let me grab it.”]
The tall man grabbed the bag from the door hook, tossed it at Akira, and then shut himself inside the stall. Akira clicked his tongue in annoyance and moved to a stall a bit farther away, beckoning Al over.
The moment Al climbed into Akira's palm, the sun set. Al's body began to change rapidly—his limbs elongated, and the fur on his skin retracted. With the transformation in progress, they couldn't leave the stall, so Akira stood against the door, watching with a blank expression as Al turned back into his human form.
In less than a minute, Al was fully human again.
“I'm heading out first,” Akira said, reaching for the stall's lock, when a child's voice rang out:
[“Mommy, this toilet has four legs!”]
The child must have spotted Al's feet through the gap under the door. Akira froze.
[“That's impossible, sweetie. Toilets are for one person at a time,”] the mother said from farther away, probably waiting outside the restroom.
After hesitating briefly, Akira decided to leave the stall. He quickly shut the door behind him, but Al caught a glimpse of the red-haired boy, about five or six years old.
[“Mommy, I told you! There are two men in the same toilet stall!”]
Immediately after, the mother's angry voice echoed: [“Paul, get out of there right now!”]
[“But I have to go!”] the boy whined.
[“I said now!”]
The sound of a door closing signaled that the boy had left, and the restroom fell quiet. It seemed the mother had misunderstood and thought something inappropriate was happening between the two men in the stall. A sad misunderstanding, indeed.
Al quickly dressed in the long-sleeved T-shirt and jeans before stepping out of the stall. The tall man in the tight T-shirt who had shooed him away earlier was now leaning against the wall, his eyes ringing on Al.
[“Nice body you’ve got there.”]
The man called out from a distance. Al responded curtly with, [“Thanks.”]
[“Your partner's that Asian guy with the black hair, right?”]
Al immediately knew he was talking about Akira. Unsure how to respond—denying it might invite more unwanted attention—Al decided to assert, [“Yeah, that's right.”]
[“Well, I bet I’m way better in bed than that skinny guy with no energy.”]
The man pointed at himself with his thumb. Al wasn't exactly sharp-witted, but this guy didn't seem too bright either. Though he couldn't say that out loud…
[“Sorry, but we're madly in love. Goodbye.”]
Al dodged the man's clingy gaze and left the restroom. As soon as he exited, he saw Akira standing by the wall just outside, arms crossed.
“Akira, did you wait for me?” Al asked, but Akira didn't answer. He simply gave a small nod of his chin and started walking ahead. His mood seemed sour. Was it because of the misunderstanding with the child's mother?
As Al hurried to catch up with Akira's fast pace, the exit came into view. Kyiv stood there, waiting with Akira's luggage at his feet.
[“Sorry to keep you waiting,”] Akira said, approaching Kyiv.
[“No problem at all,”] Kyiv replied with a smile. After retrieving his luggage, Akira tilted his head.
[“Is that all the luggage you have?”]
[“Yep,”] Kyiv answered, holding a small bag no bigger than a briefcase.
[“I'm not a fan of heavy luggage.”] Typical of Kyiv.
[“By the way, where are you staying tonight?”] Akira asked. Kyiv shrugged playfully.
[“I know plenty of people in LA. I'll easily find one or two girls who'll let me stay the night.”]
Girls who'd easily let him stay the night... it was obvious what kind of “relationship” he was referring to.
[“Hey, that's the guy!”] A high-pitched child's voice rang out in the lobby.
[“The two guys who were in the toilet together—it’s the man with the black hair and the man with the brown hair!”]
It was the red-haired boy from earlier, pointing directly at them. The surrounding people turned to stare. The boy's mother, embarrassed, scolded him: [“Be quiet!”] and dragged him away. Yes, they had both entered the restroom together, but… Al and Akira, feeling the weight of the stars, hurried out of the airport lobby. Akira, whose mood had already been sour since the restroom incident, grew even more visibly irritated. His face looked like it carried the weight of all the world's grievances as he got into a taxi.
Kyiv waved goodbye as he took a separate taxi, winking and saying [“See you later.”] It seemed likely they'd meet again during their stay in LA.
Since Akira wasn't talking, Al stared out the window. Despite being a vampire, the glittering neon lights of Los Angeles, the city of his dreams, were all he could see.
Come to think of it, with all the commotion after returning to human form in the restroom, Al never got the chance to ask why Kyiv had come to LA. Akira had arranged Kyiv's plane ticket, so he probably knew Kyiv's reasons, but Al was left in the dark.
After about twenty minutes of driving, the taxi passed through a bustling street lined with palm trees and entered a quiet residential neighborhood. The houses here all had impressive fences and gates, and behind them stood grand mansions. Al's heart raced with excitement as he wondered if this was the famous Beverly Hills.
The taxi stopped in front of a white gate. The high stone wall, made of cream-colored stones, was adorned with large antique-style lamps. The iron gate, with its intricate design, exuded both elegance and strength. As Akira got out of the car, Al hurriedly followed.
The gate opened smoothly and silently. The moment they stepped inside, Al was struck by the sight before him. About a hundred yards (roughly 91 meters) ahead stood a mansion with cream-colored walls and a blue roof, resembling a castle. The mansion was enormous—at least twenty times the size of Al's family home, if not more. He had never seen such a magnificent private residence, except on TV when showing the homes of famous celebrities.
They walked slowly along the white marble path leading to the house. The same antique-style lamps that lined the wall illuminated the path, making everything bright. The gardens surrounding the mansion were filled with colorful, well-maintained flowers.
“Whose house is this?” Al asked. Akira glanced back at him and sighed in exasperation.
“It’s Dick’s house, of course.”
This was the Los Angeles home of the famous producer, Richard Carlisle. Now that Akira mentioned it, the mansion seemed perfectly fitting for a successful celebrity.
Akira walked up the marble path to the front entrance of the mansion. He climbed the low, white stairs and pressed the intercom. The elaborately crafted, dark brown door opened wide from the inside.
[“Welcome back, Akira. Are you okay?”]
Martha rushed out, embracing Akira. He bent down and hugged her tightly. After giving Akira a few kisses on the cheek, Martha walked over to Al and hugged him warmly, saying, [“Welcome to LA.”]
[“You should be careful when you open the door without checking who it is first,”] Akira warned. Martha and smiled waved off her concern.
[“It’s fine. Dick recently upgraded the security around the house. He said that not even a stray cat could get in unless they're registered.”]
[“I walked right in through the gate.”]
[“We saw you on the security cameras and turned it off just for you. Even Henry was impressed with the system.”]
If Henry, the professional bodyguard, thought the system was impressive, it must have been something, but Al didn't really understand the details.
[“Come on in. Are you hungry?”] Martha asked.
[“We're fine,”] Akira replied. Al didn't need human food, but he knew Akira hadn't eaten anything since midday. When Al glanced at him worriedly, Akira shot him a sharp look, as if to say, “Don't say anything unnecessary,” so Al kept quiet.
The mansion, which already looked massive from the outside, felt even larger inside. Like the exterior, the walls were a soft cream color, and the floors were covered in white marble. The entrance hall had a high ceiling, giving the space an open, airy feel. The Chicago house had an American antique style, but here, part of the living room was decorated in an Asian theme. The furniture was dark brown, and the sofas were made from woven materials, covered in thick purple fabric. The cushions scattered across the sofas were either purple or a muted green.
A tapestry decorated one of the walls, featuring lotus flowers in shades of red, dark brown, and gold, giving the room a distinct tropical feel. On top of a bamboo shelf against the wall, incense burned, filling the air with an exotic scent that made Al feel like he had stepped into a luxury Asian resort. Akira sat on the sofa and sighed deeply.
“This place is amazing,” Al whispered. Akira flicked the large leaves of a nearby houseplant, toying with them as he spoke.
“This room is completely Dick's style. I don't know why he bothers decorating with all this Asian stuff when we're in America, but…”
Seated there, Akira seemed to blend into the atmosphere of the room effortlessly. His black hair and dark eyes might have had something to do with it. Al began to wonder if Richard had designed the Asian-style interior with Akira in mind.
Al sat on the purple loveseat beside Akira. There was a single chair across from them, but the living room was so spacious that it felt far away. Akira didn't tell him to move, but he narrowed his eyes slightly, looking annoyed by Al's proximity.
[“Here you go.”]
Since Akira had declined dinner, Martha brought three cups of coffee to the living room instead. Akira thanked her and took a cup, but only drank a sip. Feeling a bit awkward, Al mimicked him, bringing the cup to his lips without really drinking.
[“Sitting here like this makes yesterday feel like a dream.”] Martha said, nibbling on a cookie that came with the coffee.
[“This time yesterday, I was trembling in the back seat of the plane, threatened by the hijackers. I thought for sure I was going to die. But now, just one day later, here we are, sipping coffee like nothing happened. Life is like a rollercoaster, isn’t it?”]
Akira nodded in agreement.
[“Even when we got back, reporters were surrounding the house until the afternoon. It didn't quiet down until Dick went to the studio, and they all followed him there.”]
Martha touched her cheek thoughtfully.
[“It was terrifying, but when I think about it, knowing I'll probably never experience another hijacking, maybe it was a valuable experience in its own way?”]
Akira gave a wry smile. [“Valuable or not, I could go my whole life without ever going through something like that again… By the way, Dick's not back from the studio yet, is he?”]
[“No. He's been swamped with work since the hijacking delayed his return. I think he might stay at the studio tonight.”]
[“If Dick's not here, then Henry's not here either. So it’s just you, Martha?”]
Just then, there was a noise from the entrance, and Akira turned to look.
[“Is there someone else working here?”] he asked.
Martha began to explain, but her voice was suddenly overlapped by the sound of footsteps echoing across the marble floor, continuously approaching. A tall man, who appeared to be in his late twenties, emerged. His hair and eyes were black, his eyebrows thick, and his features deeply chiseled. His skin had a dusky tone, a striking blend of various races—Black, White, Asian—creating an appearance that exuded a unique and individual charm. His posture was impeccable. At first glance, Al thought, "Is he an actor?"
[“I'm back, Martha.”]
The man entered the living room with a smile.
[“Welcome home, Stan.”]
Martha stood up from the sofa.
[“Let me introduce you, Akira. You're meeting Stan for the first time, right? This is Stanley Griffith, who's been working for us since the summer. The housekeeper comes three times a week, but with so much to do, he helps out with a lot of things around the house.”]
The man, referred to as Stan, shrugged playfully and said, [“In short, I'm Martha's apprentice housekeeper.”] He walked over to Akira, extending his right hand.
[“Nice to meet you, Akira.”]
Akira stood up and extended his hand as well. [“Nice to meet you.”]
After shaking hands, Stan peered closely at Akira's face.
[“I've heard a lot about you from Richard and Martha. They say you're their precious son in Japan.”]
Stan's gaze shifted to Al, who was seated next to Akira. Al was about to introduce himself when Martha beat him to it.
[“Stan, this is Al, Akira's partner.”]
[“Martha!”]
Akira interjected, seemingly at his limit.
[“I’ve told you many times, Al and I aren’t like that!”]
Martha gazed at him with a compassionate look, as if indulging a child making a feeble excuse.
[“You don't have to be embarrassed just because Stan is here. So, the same room as before is fine, right?”]
Akira fell silent, clearly irritated.
[“Akira, don’t worry about it.”]
Stan placed his right hand on his chest.
[“I don't care about the gender of the person someone loves. There are a lot of gay couples in LA. Some even live nearby, and I often see them walking with their adopted children.”]
[“I have no intention of making family plans with this guy!”]
Pointing at Al, Akira's frustration was evident, making Al instinctively straighten his posture. Stan gave a sheepish smile, his expression tinged with awkwardness.
[“I'm just saying there are people like that, not that I'm encouraging it. There are also gay couples who don’t adopt children.”]
Since arriving in America, people had continuously misunderstood them as a couple, and now even someone they'd just met was reacting in the same way. Al couldn't entirely blame Akira for his frustration. But leaving the atmosphere like this wasn't ideal, so Al leaned forward to change the topic.
[“Stan, do you live here as a full-time worker?”]
[“Yeah.”]
Martha looked up at Stan with admiration. [“He’s an excellent housekeeper.”]
Stan sat down in the armchair next to Martha.
[“Currently, I came to LA to pursue acting. But, you know, I didn't have the talent for it. Richard encouraged me to keep trying, but I'm not getting any younger, and the glamorous life just doesn't follow me. I much prefer cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the house, so they hired me.”]
For Richard to bring a former actor into his private home, he must really like Stan.
[“I cook too.”]
Al's how caught Stan by surprise. ["Oh? You do?"]
[“Yeah, but only for Akira. I also handle the cleaning and laundry…”]
The sound of the sofa creaking made Al turn around. Akira was standing up.
[“I’m tired, so I’ll rest first.”]
Martha looked up at him, disappointed. [“Really?”]
Stan half-rose from his seat. [“Shall I show you to your room?”]
[“...No, it's fine.”]
Akira declined and looked at Martha.
[“Can I use the same room as before?”]
[“Of course. I cleaned it for you, knowing you'd want it. It's your favorite, after all.”]
[“Thanks... Goodnight.”]
Akira leaned down to kiss Martha before leaving the living room and heading toward the entrance. He climbed the stairs in silence. Al quickly excused himself from the other two and was upset after him.
The mansion was luxurious in every corner. The hallway on the second floor was lined with crimson carpets, and the walls up to waist height were decorated with dark brown parquetry. Console tables were placed here and there, displaying Buddha heads and strange driftwood sculptures.
Akira entered the room located at the southernmost end of the second floor. The room had an Asian aesthetic that rivaled the living room. A king-sized bed made of natural materials, with intricately woven plant vines, stood alongside a matching sofa set and table, with bookshelves balanced elegantly in the space. Though smaller than the room they'd stayed in while in Chicago, everything was arranged just right, creating a cozy atmosphere.
A lamp in the corner of the room, shaped like an overturned basket, emitted a soft glow through its slats. The air was faintly filled with a sweet scent, likely from incense. Akira placed his luggage beside the sofa and threw himself onto the bed. He sighed as he lay on his back.
The bedspread was brown, the pillows were pure white, and the spread itself was a two-tone blend of white and brown. The material, perhaps silk, gave off a soft, elegant sheen even in the dim light.
Al also climbed onto the bed from the opposite side, lying on his stomach and turning his face toward Akira. Akira pressed his hands over his eyes, his mouth still set in an irritated line.
He was clearly not in the best mood, and it seemed he was genuinely tired as well. Al reached out and gently touched Akira's black hair. Since they'd arrived, it seemed Akira hadn't bothered to properly brush it; his soft hair was tousled like a bird's nest.
Noticing Al's touch, Akira removed his hands and glanced over. But just as quickly, he closed his eyes again, covering them with his hands. Whether he didn't mind being touched or simply decided to ignore it, he didn't complain.
“Akira... you no eat dinner.”
“...I don't want it.”
Akira's curt reply cut off Al's concern.
“But... you're hungry.”
“I said I don't want it. Be quiet!”
Akira's sharp rebuke made Al lower his gaze, dejected. He hesitated to touch his hair any further. Even so, he couldn't shake the worry that Akira hadn't eaten. Determined, Al got off the bed and stepped out of the room.
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