The setting sun dyed the street orange-red.
The three of their shadows stretched long, swaying as they braided together across the asphalt.
Griseo walked in the middle, hugging her drawing board, taking tiny steps.
Su Yu led from the front, occasionally turning his head to confirm where the other two were.
Kiana followed at the back, keeping about 1.2 meters from Su Yu—no more, no less, perfectly wedged right at that invisible boundary.
Not exactly distant… but not exactly close, either. Just an ordinary distance between friends.
Griseo's gaze moved back and forth between them.
She looked at Su Yu's back, then at Kiana's profile.
Kiana's expression was calm, her eyes fixed on some point ahead—she wasn't looking at Su Yu, and she wasn't looking at Griseo.
Those mismatched eyes looked especially clear under the sunset… yet, without meaning to, they leaked a hint of fatigue.
Griseo tilted her head.
She didn't understand.
Back in the milk-tea shop, this big sister had smiled.
It had been brief, and small—but Griseo had caught it.
In that instant, the colors around big sister had warmed noticeably.
But now…
"What is it?" Kiana's voice suddenly cut in.
She wasn't an idiot—no matter how many people called her one.
She'd obviously noticed Griseo staring at her over and over, and that feeling of being examined made her uneasy.
Griseo stopped and looked up at her seriously.
"…When Big Sister Kiana smiled earlier."
Her voice was soft, like she was sharing a secret.
"Your colors were prettier than they are now. More… warm."
Kiana froze for a second.
She knew exactly what Griseo meant.
That way of sensing the world through color sounded mystical, but somehow… she could understand it.
When she smiled earlier? Was it when Su Yu got pointed at and called a "big meanie"? Or when the words "amusement park" came up?
Even she couldn't remember anymore.
Kiana couldn't recall how long it had been since she'd laughed openly, without restraint—laughing like an idiot, carefree.
Even with a place to stay, even with someone she could lean on… the trauma was still buried deep in her heart.
She couldn't go back.
Couldn't go back to that foolish time when she could laugh without a care.
"…Mm."
That was all she gave, her face unchanged.
A reflexive distance—wrapping herself up.
Like a startled hedgehog, hiding its soft belly and showing only its spines.
Especially in front of a child like Griseo, someone who could see straight through her… Kiana was afraid.
Afraid that the version of herself soaked in sin would be exposed to this innocent child.
Griseo blinked at her and didn't press.
She simply hugged her drawing board tighter and resumed walking with her tiny steps.
Mobius's lab was tucked inside an unremarkable building.
The security guard at the entrance knew Griseo. He waved from far away.
Griseo waved back, then turned to Su Yu and Kiana.
"…Su Yu-gege."
"What is it?"
"The script… Griseo will draw it seriously."
Her voice was still light, but there was more weight in it now—more solemn.
"When Griseo finishes, I'll send it to Su Yu-gege."
Su Yu smiled and ruffled her hair.
"Okay. I'll be waiting."
Griseo nodded, then looked at Kiana.
"Big Sister Kiana…"
"What?"
"The next time we meet," Griseo hugged her drawing board and tilted her head, "I hope your colors will be a little warmer."
Kiana's lips moved, but in the end she said nothing.
Griseo didn't seem to expect a response. She turned and ran toward the lab entrance.
The guard received her, nodded to Su Yu, and led Griseo inside.
Su Yu pulled out his phone and quickly typed a message to Mobius.
[Griseo has arrived. Staff have taken her in.]
After sending it, he slipped the phone back into his pocket and turned to Kiana beside him.
The white-haired girl stood where she was, her gaze still fixed on the lab's doors. Her expression was hidden in the deepening dusk.
"Let's go," Su Yu said.
Kiana snapped back and followed silently.
They walked side by side down the gradually darkening street.
One streetlight after another flickered on, casting dim yellow pools on the ground.
There were fewer pedestrians now—only the occasional car passing with a low engine hum.
"Kiana."
"…What." Her voice was muffled.
"Want to grab some late-night food?"
Su Yu sounded casual.
But Kiana's steps clearly stuttered for a moment.
"…Late-night food?"
"Yeah." He glanced at her, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Let's call it a celebration. We found a partner. Tonight—barbecue."
Barbecue.
Those two words were like a spell.
Something lit up in Kiana's usually flat gaze—she suppressed it immediately, but Su Yu caught it.
Su Yu took it all in, and laughed to himself.
As expected.
No matter how thick the armor, no matter how much cruelty she'd endured…
Deep down, Kiana Kaslana's inner glutton had never disappeared.
Food was the shortest path to her heart.
"…Okay." Kiana's voice was quiet, carrying a trace of anticipation.
Su Yu didn't expose her. He just smiled and kept walking.
Under the streetlights, their shadows stretched long.
Kiana followed behind him—just a little closer than before.
She probably didn't even realize the change.
Or maybe she did… and chose not to care.
Su Yu didn't look back. He only slowed his pace, letting their shadows nearly overlap beneath the next streetlamp.
At the corner ahead, the signboard of a grill shop blinked.
The smell of roasted meat rode the night breeze, making mouths water.
"We're here." Su Yu pushed open the glass door.
A wave of heat and thicker aroma hit them in the face.
Inside, the place was loud—cheers, laughter, drinking games, and the sizzling hiss of fat dripping onto the grill.
Kiana followed him in and slid into the booth across from him.
The plastic seat was a bit hard. The tabletop was covered with disposable plastic printed with a faded beer advertisement.
But compared to earlier…
That invisible boundary seemed to have softened.
"What do you want?" Su Yu handed over the menu.
Kiana took it and flipped through with the seriousness of someone reviewing classified documents.
Very quickly—
"Beef belly." Her voice came from behind the menu. "And chicken wings. And grilled corn."
"Just those?"
"…And enoki wrapped in bacon."
"Alright."
Su Yu lifted a hand toward the busy boss lady behind the counter and called out the order.
She answered and, with practiced ease, used metal tongs to lay skewers of meat onto the glowing charcoal.
....
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