“Aiko!” Hina called over her shoulder. “Your boyfriend is here!”

“Urusai!” Aiko hissed. She turned to see Hina with two other girls, giggling as a young, American looking man stood in the doorway. His lips pulled into a crooked smile when Hina called loudly for Aiko, and he stepped to the counter where Hina waited with a sly grin.

“Yahhō, Akua,” Hina said. “When are you going to ask Aiko out?”

His cheeks turned pink and Hina laughed.

“Hina!” Aiko scolded once more. She pushed her friend aside as she approached the counter and offered the young man an apologetic smile. The three girls teased Aiko in Japanese briefly before leaving her alone at the counter.

“What are you doing here, Akua?” Aiko asked. She met his gaze sheepishly and smiled.

“I don’t know how I feel about that nickname,” he said.

Aiko’s smile grew and she rolled her eyes. “Well, Aquarius is a little weird.”

“Besides the fact that I’m not even human?”

“If you don’t stop walking me home, I’ll have no choice but to tell them you’re my boyfriend.”

He smiled. “Would that be so bad?”

But Aiko’s smile faded and she turned away. “Let me get my things,” she said quickly, then disappeared around the corner.

Aquarius leaned on the counter, listening as the women spoke quickly to one another. When Aiko returned, she had her bag in hand and was waving over her shoulder, bidding her friends goodbye. She smiled up at him as she came around the counter, and together, they stepped outside into the cool Tokyo night air.

Aquarius glanced at her as they walked. “I made contact with Libra. Her Ouranos, Sonia, was attacked by a Gigantes.”

Aiko frowned. “Is she okay?”

Aquarius nodded. “She is. But it seems she has no interest in helping.”

Aiko smiled. “I didn’t know that was an option.”

“It is,” Aquarius said.

“Well, I’m still here,” she said softly. Aiko pulled her gaze away. She looked ahead, her brows furrowed. “I guess I was still hoping you were messing with me.” She sighed. “But you’ve been hanging around for two months, now, so I guess you’re not the American on vacation you said you were.”

“Would you have preferred it if I kept lying to you?”

“Yes.” She sighed. “I guess it helps to know I’m not the only one.”

“I told you you weren’t.”

“Right, because I would believe you.” She met his gaze and winked playfully.

“Thanks for believing me.”

“I guess I should have called the police.” She smiled.

“Yes, well, thanks for not doing that. Not that it would have mattered.”

“Because you can just turn into space dust and go home?”

He laughed lightly. “Yeah, something like that.”

“I would have missed you,” Aiko said with a smile. “The weird American boy that comes to visit me at work every day.”

Aquarius smiled. “I would have missed you, too.”

She met his gaze briefly, then blushed and pulled her gaze away. “So, the Gigantes are out there. It doesn’t sound like we have much time to waste.”

“Are you prepared for that?”

She sucked in a breath. “As prepared as one can possibly be for something like this.”

“I’ll be with you,” Aquarius assured her. “I will not let any harm come to you.”

Aiko frowned. “Will it be that dangerous?”

“I don’t know what will happen,” he admitted. “But I intend to keep my promise to you.”

She nodded quietly.

“I’ve been in touch with Virgo as well,” Aquarius said. “There are others nearby. I will coordinate with them. But I’ll come back and get you when they’re ready.”

“Promise?” she smiled.

“Always.”