chapter 13

Karina wiped away her tears. "He died a few decades ago…a bombing in his village.

So many lives were lost by the time we were deployed. It's always one thing or another Koujiro.

Sometimes we can't save everybody. "

"Is that good for you?" asked Kouji. "You may be an angel but you're still human at heart.

He told me…Izil, he said you cry every night when you think you're alone. You can't stop thinking about the people who couldn't save, right?"

"H-He…" Karina's cheeks flushed. It was the first time he had ever seen her get flustered.

Her cool and collected exterior shattered as she looked away, hiding her face. "I do not cry every night.

"

"I'm sure," said Kouji. "My mistake.

"

Karina shot to her feet and collected herself. "I should get going.

The girls are probably waiting for me anyway. "

"Yeah," said Kouji. "Did you enjoy the lasagna at least?"

"It was delicious," Karina sniffed. "The most delicious thing I've consumed in a hundred years.

" She opened a magic circle as something dropped in her hand. "Here…for you and your friend.

He's a big fan of Winter right? I had her sign one for him. "

"And the other?"

"It's mine," Karina smiled. "Thank you, Koujiro.

"

"For what?" asked Kouji.

"For the closure. "

He looked down to see two new albums from Aespa that hadn't even been released yet. All four girls were dressed in silver or gray, all with blonde hair and posed like a 90's boy band.

One was signed with Winter's autograph with a message for King while the other…

"You gave me your phone number?" He looked up but Karina was gone, vanished without even a sound, just like when she came in.

Kouji smiled and pulled out his phone to dial up King.

"Yo. Come over, I got something for you.

"