A Night to Remember

The school rooftop had become a usual spot for Remond when he needed a quiet place to think. Today was no different. He sat near the railing, gazing over the city, lost in thought. The sun was dipping below the horizon, casting an amber glow across the skyline.

He had barely gotten a moment to himself before he heard familiar footsteps.

"Hey, broody boy," Innes called out playfully, making her way toward him.

Remond sighed but smirked slightly. "You again?"

"Of course. Someone has to make sure you don't get lost in your own head."

She sat beside him, letting the evening breeze brush through her hair. "So, are you going to tell me about your 'mysterious' activities last night? Or do I have to dig it up myself?"

Remond chuckled. "If I tell you, you promise not to put it on your news site?"

Innes gasped dramatically. "I would never reveal my most valuable source! Besides, this is off the record. Just between us."

He hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright. But don't freak out."

Innes raised an eyebrow. "Oh, now I have to hear it."

Remond exhaled, collecting his thoughts before starting. "Sid picked up an accidental phone call—some dealer making arrangements for a drug exchange. We tracked them to the docks. Hayato and I… well, we took them out before anything could happen."

Innes listened intently, her expression unreadable. "And?"

Remond shrugged. "And we got some new leads, but nothing solid yet. Just more proof that the Axiom Syndicate is deeper into this city than we thought."

For a long moment, Innes remained silent. Then she smiled softly. "You know… you act like some reckless idiot, but I can tell you actually care about this city."

Remond scoffed. "Reckless idiot? That's a bit harsh."

She nudged him playfully. "Hey, I said it with love."

They shared a small laugh, the tension easing.

Then, out of nowhere, Innes casually asked, "So, are you free tonight?"

Remond blinked. "Uh… what?"

She leaned back, crossing her arms. "You heard me. Are you free tonight?"

Remond scratched the back of his head. "Well… my mom went back to our hometown this morning, so I guess I can go out without anyone checking up on me. Why?"

Innes tilted her head with a teasing grin. "Wanna go see a movie with me?"

Remond's brain short-circuited. "A m-movie?" He suddenly felt heat rising to his cheeks.

She laughed at his reaction. "Wow, are you blushing?"

"No!" Remond quickly looked away, clearing his throat. "I mean… I'll, uh… check my schedule and let you know later."

Innes smirked. "Your schedule? Wow, busy man. Alright, let me know by this evening. But don't keep me waiting too long, hero."

With that, she gave him a small wave and walked off, leaving Remond staring at the sunset, still feeling like an idiot.

---

Evening - Movie Night

At 7 PM sharp, Remond found himself standing outside the local movie theater, hands stuffed in his pockets.

The neon lights above flickered with the movie title they had chosen: Dark Horizon. It was an action-thriller—perfectly neutral territory.

He took a deep breath, feeling oddly nervous. He had fought criminals, taken bullets, and faced life-threatening situations… but somehow, this felt way scarier.

Just then, he spotted Innes approaching from the other side of the street.

She wore a casual yet stylish outfit—black skinny jeans, sneakers, and an oversized hoodie. Her hair was tied in a loose ponytail, and her usual confident smirk was present.

"You actually showed up," she teased as she reached him.

Remond rolled his eyes. "Of course I did."

"Good. Would've been embarrassing if I got stood up." She playfully bumped her shoulder against his. "Alright, let's get inside."

They grabbed their tickets and headed in. Innes made sure to buy an absurd amount of popcorn, insisting that "movies are 50% about the food."

As they settled into their seats, the lights dimmed, and the movie began.

At first, Remond tried to focus on the film, but his mind kept drifting to the fact that he was here—with Innes—on what suspiciously felt like a date.

Halfway through the movie, Innes leaned in and whispered, "Are you seriously tense right now? Just relax, dude."

Remond sighed. "I am relaxed."

She grinned. "Then stop sitting like you're on a job interview."

He forced himself to ease up, and before he knew it, he was actually enjoying himself.

By the time the credits rolled, he realized… this was the most normal night he had in a long time.

---

Exploring the Suburb

Instead of heading straight home, the two decided to wander around for a bit.

The night air was cool and refreshing as they walked through the quieter parts of the suburb. The streets were lined with small shops, dimly lit cafes, and occasional street performers.

At some point, they stopped by a vending machine. Innes bought a can of soda and handed one to Remond.

"So, did you have fun?" she asked.

Remond nodded. "Yeah. I actually did."

She smiled. "Good. You need more nights like this."

He took a sip of his drink. "Maybe. But things are getting more dangerous. I can't let my guard down too much."

She gave him a knowing look. "Even heroes need to breathe sometimes."

Remond exhaled, staring at the stars above. "I guess so."

They continued walking, enjoying the quiet peace of the night.

Eventually, they reached a small park. Innes sat on one of the swings, gently swaying back and forth.

"You know, I like this version of you," she said after a moment.

Remond raised an eyebrow. "What version?"

She gestured at him. "The one that's not constantly fighting the weight of the world. Just… being himself."

He chuckled. "Yeah, well… this version doesn't come out often."

Innes smirked. "Then I'll make sure it does."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, enjoying the rare moment of peace.

For the first time in weeks, Remond felt like things were… okay.

At least for now.

---

Meanwhile - Sid's Breakthrough

Back at his workshop, Sid was staring at his laptop, frustration evident on his face.

For the past week, he had been tracking an anonymous phone call—one that had been heavily glitched and distorted. It had taken days of cleaning up the audio, but now… he was finally getting something.

He hit the play button, and the eerie, broken voice filled the room.

"... Project.... nngh.... evolution.... Axiom... complete..."

Sid's eyes narrowed. "What the hell...?"

He ran the audio through another filter. More words became clear.

"... next phase... soon... the subject... prepared..."

His stomach twisted. This wasn't just any call.

This was a direct communication between Axiom Syndicate members.

Sid immediately grabbed his radio. "Remond, Hayato. I got something. You need to hear this."