“Iori, wake up! I already cooked dinner, let’s eat together!”

My head hurts the moment I opened my eyes. I want to say I’m not in the mood to eat, but that’d just hurt him.

“Right. I’ll go there.”

I heard his answer from behind the door, then the footsteps on the stairs. He’s already downstairs. It’s time to calm myself.

After I calmed enough, I walk to the dining room. Riku’s there, playing with his phone. He didn’t touch the food yet.

“Why don’t you eat?”

He put his phone on the table. “Waiting for you. I said, ‘let’s eat together’, right?”

I smiled. “Right. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

We eat silently, though I don’t have an appetite at all. My head also still hurts.

“What’s wrong? You don’t like the food?”

I shook my head fast. “No, no! I like it so much, it’s good! It’s just … I’m so tired, but I can’t sleep. It makes my head hurts too, so ….”

“Ehh, are you sick? I have meds, you can take it later. Now, finish your food, so you won’t sick!”

Thank God, he doesn’t feel bad anymore.

After I finished the food, Riku gave me his meds.

“Thanks”

He gives me water. “You should rest.”

I shook my head. “It’s okay. I’m not sleepy yet.”

Like usual, we watched TV together, even though we ended up playing with our phones and let the TV’s sound filled the silent room.

My eyes focused on a new message. It’s from Yato. He said that he finished preparing for my identity files. Not only that, he also told that he already got me a job.

“Just who is he, actually?!”

That was out of my mouth accidentally. Of course, Riku heard it.

“What’s wrong?” He glanced at my phone, then got hysterical seconds later. “Whoa, that really fast! Congrats, Iori!”

Did he forget about my promise?

“So, what did both of you do this morning?”

Of course, he’s not.

“Um, well …,” I feel like my eyes are going to slide into my throat if he keeps glaring at me like that. “We just played cards.”

“Huh?”

“Yeah, cards. He told me to accompany him playing cards. He said he’s gonna test my card skill, since I’m a former gangster.”

Does it make sense? Ah, whatever.

“Lie.”

Whoaa, what do I do now?

Sigh

“You can’t get tricked that easily, huh?”

He punched me again. “I’m not a child!”

“But you’re cute.”

He blushed.

See? I don’t lie about him being cute.

“We didn’t do anything, Riku. Really. It’s not like what you think. Well, at first I thought so too, but we ended up just talking.”

“Talking? What kinda talk that made he lied to us?”

Riku brought his legs together and hugged it while looking at me.

“That’s … I can’t tell you the detail, but it’s a matter between Alphas.”

He tilted his head. “You aren’t planning to be a real gangster or something like that, right?”

“Of course no! Why would I?”

“Well, then.”

He moved his head to watch TV. He’s pouting.

“Are you mad? It’s not that I planned to keep it a secret, but, I really can’t tell you. Not right now, Riku.”

He sighed.

“No, that’s okay, but you’ve been hiding something else, right? I don’t intend to force you to tell me, but I already told you about my past, so I hope you, too, can be a little more open towards me.” He looked at me again. “Like you said, we’re friends, right?”

It’s kind of amaze me how he can keep his face flat while feeling about something that actually bothering him. He really is something else, indeed.

I giggled. “So you know, huh? Is it because of my act that was bad?”

He nodded. “Yeah, you suck.”

This brat.

I looked at him, whose still busy with his phone. If I think about it, Riku is the only person who knows about my situations. He also tried to believe my story without much judging.

Can I really share it with him? It’s been burdening me, I hope sharing it can relax me a little.

“I ever told you that I used to live alone in my old life, right? The only family member closest to me was my big brother. We were like Sanji and Zoro, though, but he has a crush on my friend, so he kept contacted me just for knowing about my friend’s doing.”

Riku is listening to my story quietly, just like how I did. He looked me in the eye, and it makes me feel nervous.

“One day, we made an agreement. If I can make them together, his car would be mine.” My eyes started to feel hot. “Right before I die, I remembered about it, and was thinking about it until recently. Because, I’m not a person who can stay calm if I have debts or promises. Well, after I die and transferred to this world, it’s only natural for me to forget about it, since I couldn’t do anything anymore.”

I stopped for a while. I think I’m going to cry if I continue right away. It’s not cool, especially in front of an Omega. He’d tease me till I die.

“The agreement indeed doesn’t burden me anymore. What bothers me right now is that … the fact that they’re dead now, just like me.”

Riku is shocked, but he tried to look calm.

“You must be confused about how did I know it, right? Well, to put it short, I will sometimes meet an entity named Shiro in my sleep. That’s why I told you I can’t sleep earlier. Since our meetings aren’t dreams—it’s semi real—so it feels as if I’m not sleeping at all, just my body that’s resting. Simply put, Shiro is my informant and adviser. He tells me anything I need, but it’s limited, and he can give me advice to live a good life in this new place. It’s crazy, right? You don’t have to believe me.”

I laughed, but not with Riku. His face remains still. It’s the face of shock, but he tried to hide it.

I take a deep breath.

“The point is, I’m still shocked about their death. They’re a precious person to me, so I got sad. But it’s better now, thanks to you.” I ruffled his hair, then pinched his cheek. “Arigatou, Onii-chan.”

I run upstairs before he could chase me. Then, I stopped my steps, so he bumps into me.

Again, he nagged me, and it’s cute.

“Riku,” I cut his nagging. “How about we sleep together? I feel like I couldn’t sleep if I’m alone.”

***

Actually, I just planned to tease him, but this guy agreed without complaint. Instead, he teased me back.

“Ehh? Poor you, kid, but don’t worry. This onii-chan will protect you! Hahahaha!”

So here I am right now, trying to get asleep beside him.

“I’ll turn the lamp off, okay?”

“Sure.”

It’s totally dark, I’m a bit shocked.

“You sleep in this darkness?”

“Yeah, why? Are you scared? Should I turn it on instead?”

I can feel his movements, trying to get the lamp.

“No, it’s okay. My eyes are kinda sensitive with light, though.”

I grabbed his hand, and it makes him turned his head to face me. Our eyes met in this darkness.

The moon light comes through the big window beside the bed. Its light is enough for me to see Riku’s face.

My hand moves on its own. I touched his eyes, then covered it.

“W-What’s this? Iori?”

I can’t hear his voice clearly. It’s as if my senses are blocked.