“Mine!” Younri sighed in relief. "Gosh! I was so worried!" he approached Mine, examining his condition.

"Y-Younri…" Mine voiced, his hands were still trembling, and so did his body.

“And you…” Younri glanced at Addai, who looked back, not breaking the eye contact. "I suppose… forget it,” he opened his fan, “take Mine and follow me. The streets-"

“Why should I trust you?” Addai took Mine closer, shielding his trembling body.

“…”

Younri would have to use more tactics than he thought if he wanted to conquer the brief trust of that boy who didn't seem so friendly. Even though he didn't hit Younri or even lay a finger on him, Younri felt the intention behind the blow and his ability to absorb a spell that quickly.

So, Younri just sighed.

“Ok, you don’t need to trust me,” Younri showed his bare hands. “But think about Mine, please,” he pleaded, glancing at Mine, whose eyes barely focused.

The only thing keeping Mine to that reality was his friend's hand, which he held relatively tightly. Besides, he seemed to be as far away as the station.

Addai's chest throbbed at the sight of Mine's poor state and his horrified expression. So, he glanced at Younri and sighed, still holding Mine's hand.

“Show me the way,” Addai said.

“…” Younri’s muscles relaxed, and he sighed in relief. Maybe that boy wasn’t a threat to him after all. “Follow me,” he cheerfully said, waving his fan.

Right beside Younri, a portal was opened. It was bright, and the people in the streets looked at it with mild curiosity.

Addai, despite his wariness, followed the elf inside, with a frail Mine trailing behind him. Once past the portal line, they entered a beautifully furnished office.

There were two very comfortable sofas, and a large table with various papers stacked in one corner, a modern computer in another, and various office supplies meticulously organized. There were also potted plants in some corners, and they were lush and well cared for, as was the impeccably clean carpet.

The office also had a scullery, which had a minibar, a coffee machine, and a water fountain - as well as cupboards, counters, and two chairs.

Was it really an office?

Younri made a sign with his hands, and Addai guided Mine to the nearest sofa, covering his shoulders with his coat. Mine insisted on remaining seated, even though his eyes began to burn from how tired he felt.

No matter how attentive he was, Addai also began to feel his body fatigue. Perhaps the wave of adrenaline was finally wearing off, and the tiredness had almost doubled, so he sat down next to Mine, who was unresponsive and barely blinking.

“Mine,” Addai called, and Mine slowly turned to Addai, barely facing him. "Are you ok?"

“Give him some time,” Younri said, giving them a glass of water. “Here, drink it. It’s just water, don’t worry,” he smiled.

Addai looked at Mine, whose eyes were still in that shade of pink and blue, and he clenched his jaw inadvertently. He should have paid more attention to him earlier and noticed his panic when they faced those people in the streets or heard those horrible whistles and bad words.

He couldn’t help but feel miserable for not being able to take that stain from Mine and take it for himself instead.

Now, all he could do was hold one of Mine's hands.

"He'll be fine," Younri said softly. "Mine is-"

“Who are you?” Addai cut.

Younri chuckled. Youngsters were always like that, all mighty and stuff.

“I’m Younri, a humble businessman," he answered, sitting on the couch near them. "And you, who are you?"

“…” Addai seemed pensive, but he finally faced Younri. “I’m Addai Lee-Hobb. I’m Mine’s friend,” he said.

Sometimes, people act tough - really tough - but when they take a moment to be themselves... it's like seeing someone completely different, another character, another person... and Younri saw that in Addai, whose eyes were now serene and calm, with a background of melancholy and concern as he stroked Mine's hair.

“The streets around here have been dangerous recently,” Younri advised. “If you both can avoid walking around here, it'll be much appreciated.”

Addai nodded, swallowing his urge to tell Mine they should have called a cab earlier.

“I have something to cheer him up,” Younri smiled and got up from the chair.

He headed to the scullery. He took a plate and opened the Frigobar's door, taking a custard pudding and putting it on the plate. Then, he crouched in front of Mine and offered the dessert with a calm smile on his serene face.

“Here,” Younri placed the item on Mine’s hand, who slowly took it. “Eat it,” he smiled again, and Mine nodded.

Addai smiled slightly, and Younri couldn't help but notice how good he looked when he smiled. Who would have thought that, after everything he saw earlier, a smile like that would be possible to appear on the face of that young boy who - despite the fright that Younri got - was very patient and calm?

Somehow, Mine started turning a little more active, responding with small nods or murmurs to what Addai said.

A sweet treat is always welcome, right?

The dark circles under Mine's eyes were still clearly visible, as was the redness in the same area and on her nose. Even though she was eating the sweet treat, her speed was somewhat slow but constant.

While he ate his sweet treat, Addai's eyes began to scan the environment, and Younri, noticing this, began to follow the trajectory because he remembered that poster on his wall!!!

It was small, but still!!!

He needed to get that boy's attention!!

“Ahem, ahem,” Younri coughed, and Addai briefly looked at him (phew!). “What do you work with, Mr. Addai?”

"Ah, I'm a teacher," he replied, wiping the custard's caramel from Mine's lips.

“Oh~ that’s so cool~” Younri smiled and waved his fan, temporarily changing the poster image with a spell. “You’re so handsome. I thought you were a model or something like that.”

Addai was a little confused, and surprisingly his cheeks turned red.

"I'm too shy for that," he meekly answered.

Maybe his nervousness towards such a compliment made him messy and too honest.

"Such a handsome young man like you… shy?!" Younri gasped, almost dropping his fan. "I'll surely make my things if you'd like to become a model one day. I know a few people from famous magazines, and they could help your modeling career… hmmm," he approached the flustered Addai.

Mine looked at them, his eyes regaining a bit of life.

Addai no longer knew where to hide with such closeness and so much praise on his person, so all he could do was become more and more red.

“Look at these fine facial features... these moles... these soft lips..." With each compliment, Addai felt his face hotter. "And this hair that can be fixed...”

“Fixed?” Addai gasped, looking at Younri and slightly offended.

"Yeah! We can cut a few spots to make it even. It's terrible on the back," Younri smiled, and Addai frowned.

"Pfffffff. Hahahaha!" Mine laughed after a long time in his shell.

"Right, Mine? Lend him to me, and I'll make him even more handsome!" Younri posed proudly, and Addai couldn't believe what he was witnessing.

“It would be fun,” Mine faintly smiled.

"See?" Younri looked at Addai and dramatically opened his fan. "Do it for him~" he winked, and Addai's cheeks turned reddish again. "We'll also fix your style! You're too basic! Nuh-uh, I'll certainly fix you,” he promptly said and noisily closed his fan, startling Addai.

When Younri went to get a paper from his desk to give to Addai... someone knocked on his door. He found it strange. No one had scheduled anything, and his cell phone was quiet that night, which meant no calls, problems, or requests.

Mine quickly looked at the door when the back of his hand started to glow with that usual symbol. That alone was enough for Younri to feel thoughtful about opening the door.

Someone knocked on the door again. Two knocks.

“Who could it be?” Younri frowned and approached the door. "Don't worry. I'll take care of it," he held his fan and opened a small open on the door, peeking outside.

A voice made Mine drop the plate on the floor.

Addai looked at him, confused at the sudden change in his behavior.

Mine knew that voice.

 

“I warned you to not lay a foot in my Pub. Go away," Younri's voice seemed stern.

 

“It’s a quick business,” the person outside said. “It’s about Star’s performances and debt. The boss-"

Mine could no longer hear whatever that man and Younri were saying. His stomach immediately began to turn, and the dessert - which had gone down so well - felt strange inside, as if it needed to be expelled in every way. Feeling his mouth water, Mine turned pale, and with wide eyes and rapid, choppy breathing, he tried to search for lost air.

His vision was becoming darker and darker... dangerously darker.

“Mine?!” Addai worried. “What’s up?”

His lungs were tired from the earlier commotion but they still needed to work even more because the person tried opening the door forcefully, and the adrenaline was running wild inside Mine's body.

If it wasn't for Younri's fan slash, the person could have entered the room and faced someone even worse than him: the person beside Mine, whose eyes were glowing.

Something fell on the wooden floor.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

It made flesh-like noises before rolling mutely on the rug, staining the route with crimson ruby.

Mine looked at that, and his breathing intensified. He would soon turn into a statue, but a loud screech made his whole body shiver and-

"Mine!" Addai shouted, covering Mine's ears right after. "Don't look at it!" he urged, turning Mine's head to him.

 

Addai's voice was so muffled Mine could only feel the vibrations from his voice, while another sound in the background was too messy to hear clearly.

Addai's eyes were locked on the door. His eyes were alert, as well as his posture.

Mine attempted to talk, but his mouth couldn't form words. Only wobbly babbles could be heard, and it was so frustrating.

His hands were trembling again, and he wanted to know what happened to that guy outside and what Younri was talking about. So, he tried taking Addai's hand off his ears, but he was too weak for that.

His teeth could no longer clench without hurting.

His mouth felt moist.

His stomach could no longer twist and twirl.

Addai looked at him and quickly turned Mine's body to the side, making sure whatever could come out would hit the rug.

The dessert now felt acid.

He was burning on the inside.

Addai held Mine's hair, and Mine coughed.

His own noises covered the screech outside.