真実性-5

Ace

Another morning, and this time I wasn't about to let Phoenix sleep through his alarm. I'd made sure to set one myself — this younger brother of mine sure needs a lesson in getting up on time. I couldn't help but chuckle to myself as I walked toward his room. It was past six-thirty, and I knew I had to drag him out of bed before he pulled one of his classic "I slept through it" excuses again.

I knocked on his door, giving it a light tap with my knuckles. "Phoenix, get up. It's morning. You're not skipping school today," I called out. Predictably, there was a muffled groan from the other side, but I didn't stick around to see if he moved. He'd get up — or I'd make him.

I headed to the kitchen, rolling my shoulders to shake off the sleepiness. Kuro was already perched on the dining table, his yellow eyes fixed on me like he was supervising my every move. "Morning, little buddy," I greeted him, giving him a quick scratch behind the ears before getting to work.

Breakfast was simple today — a warm cup of milk and some rice balls. I figured that'd be easy for Phoenix to eat on the go if he started running late. As the rice cooked, I prepared his lunchbox with one of his favorites — Italian-style pasta with a side of his beloved apple juice. The pasta smelled pretty good, and I had to resist the urge to snag a bite before packing it up.

Fifteen minutes later, I heard Phoenix's door creak open. He wandered out, looking half-asleep but at least dressed in his school uniform — neat white shirt and navy-blue trousers. His tie was a little crooked, but I let it slide for now.

"Morning," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

"Morning, Nixy. Sit down and eat," I said, placing the cup of warm milk and the plate of rice balls in front of him. He gave a quiet hum of approval before digging in, still looking drowsy.

I finished packing his lunch, slipping the pasta into a container and making sure the juice box was snug in his bag. Kuro meowed from the table, probably annoyed that his usual spot was occupied by Phoenix. I glanced at him and chuckled. "Don't worry, you'll get your breakfast too," I promised, grabbing another can of cat food and filling his bowl.

By the time I'd double-checked Phoenix's bag and made sure he hadn't forgotten his homework, it was already 7:25. He finally seemed a little more awake, slinging his bag over his shoulder and giving Kuro a quick pat.

"You got everything?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

He nodded, still chewing on the last bit of his rice ball. "Yeah, yeah. I'm good."

"Don't fall asleep in class again," I warned, giving him a light flick on the forehead.

He winced, rubbing the spot with a pout. "No promises."

I rolled my eyes but smiled. "Get going. Don't make me come to school to drag you to class."

Phoenix shot me a playful glare before slipping on his shoes and heading out the door. I watched him jog down the hall, and once he was out of sight, I couldn't help but feel a little proud. Kid was growing up, even if he still needed a push now and then.

Kuro meowed again, and I looked down at him. "Yeah, yeah. You did good too, keeping him company," I said, scooping him up for a quick cuddle.

Another morning, another victory against Phoenix's stubborn sleepiness. Not a bad start to the day.

After Phoenix left for school, I took a quick, warm shower — definitely not making the same mistake as yesterday morning. Once I was done, I slipped into a pair of cozy joggers and an oversized hoodie. Comfort over style today. Breakfast didn't really feel necessary, so I skipped it and moved on to more important things — like getting Kuro's bag ready.

Since I planned to take him to the library with me, I made sure his small blanket, food bowl, and a few snacks were packed. Kuro was sitting near his bag, as if he knew we were heading out. "You're coming along today, little guy," I said, giving his ears a gentle rub before zipping up the bag with just enough space for him to peek out.

Once I made sure I had everything I needed — wallet, phone, keys — I locked the door behind me. Today's good luck: the elevator was actually working. I let out a relieved sigh and hit the button for the ground floor, giving myself a little mental pat on the back for not having to suffer through 22 floors of stairs again.

When we finally got to the bike, I secured Kuro's bag in the front basket and started the engine. The ride to the library was short and smooth, but when I arrived, I noticed the metal shutters were down and a small sign was hanging on the door. "Closed for Maintenance."

"Seriously?" I muttered, running a hand through my silver hair. Great. Day off from library work. I thought about heading back home but decided against it. Instead, I figured it'd be better to stop by the office. Since I had the day free, I could at least organize some files or check any pending requests.

The office was located on a busy street, surrounded by small shops and cafés that gave it a bit of life. I unlocked the door and pushed it open, flicking on the lights as I walked in. Cozy and warm, just the way I liked it — kind of a contrast to my work as a supposed shaman dealing with ghosts and paranormal chaos.

I set Kuro's bag on the floor and opened it, letting him stretch and wander around. He immediately claimed his usual spot on the worn-out armchair by the window, curling up as if he owned the place. I couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, make yourself at home, buddy," I said, taking off my hoodie and hanging it on the coat rack.

I glanced around the room — a few books scattered on the coffee table, my laptop half-open on the desk, and a couple of client files stacked on the shelves. The atmosphere was peaceful, filled with the soft hum of the air purifier in the corner. I plopped down on the couch and pulled out my phone, scrolling through some messages.

A slow day didn't sound too bad, actually. Maybe I could catch up on some paperwork or clean up the mess Phoenix made last time he tagged along. I leaned back and sighed contentedly. Cozy office, lazy cat, and a day off — I couldn't really complain.

At least, that's what I thought — until the door swung open with a soft jingle, and in walked a guy who definitely didn't look like my usual clients. The first thing I noticed was his suit — sleek, expensive, probably custom-tailored. Branded, too. He looked like he belonged more at some fancy business meeting than in my cozy little office. His hair was jet black, perfectly styled, and his piercing blue eyes scanned the room before landing on me. He took a moment to size me up, clearly unimpressed.

"Are you Ace Anderson?" he asked, his voice low and steady.

"Yeah," I replied, raising an eyebrow. "And you are?"

He stared at me like I'd just said something completely out of line, his lips twitching into a smirk. "But you're just a kid."

I scoffed, crossing my arms. "Excuse me, I'm already 20."

He raised one eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "I'm 24. You're basically a kid."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, congrats on being four years older than me. Why are you here, Mister 24 Years Old?"

He seemed to hesitate for a second, his eyes narrowing before he spoke. "My name is Xavier," he said, his tone curt and clipped. His voice was deep, almost commanding. I might've been impressed if he didn't look like he was one bad mood away from firing his entire imaginary staff.

I couldn't help but snicker at his attitude. Rich guy arrogance. I guess that comes with wealth. "Okay, Xavier. You planning to tell me why you're here, or just going to critique my age?"

His jaw clenched a little, and I almost laughed at how uptight he seemed. "I heard about your... services," he said finally, looking less than thrilled to be saying it. "They say you're good at dealing with... unusual situations."

I nodded, leaning back in my chair. "That's one way to put it. You looking for help with something paranormal, or just passing by to judge my life choices?"

He didn't seem amused, but hey, I wasn't exactly in the mood to coddle some rich guy's ego. Kuro yawned lazily from the armchair, clearly just as uninterested in Xavier's whole vibe as I was. I waited for him to get to the point, already half-expecting some ridiculous ghost story from a guy who probably didn't believe in any of it.

"I just wanted your help cleaning up a plot. I plan to use it as a storage room, but it seems to have a lot of... abnormal problems," he spoke, his voice still carrying that authoritative tone.

I couldn't help but smirk. Even when asking for help, he sounded like he was giving orders. "Wanna share the address, your number, and more details with me so I can understand it better?" I asked, keeping my tone casual. Honestly, I was in a surprisingly good mood — probably because I found his attitude more amusing than intimidating. Rich people really did have one hell of a bad personality sometimes.

He pulled out a sleek, black business card and handed it to me. I glanced down, and my eyes widened slightly. CEO of Lunar. No wonder he looked so well put together. Lunar was the best perfume company on the market — every girl I knew was obsessed with their products. I mentally pieced things together as the strong, lingering scent in the office finally made sense. The cologne he was wearing was intense but surprisingly pleasant — not overpowering, just enough to demand attention.

Though, not everyone seemed to appreciate it. I glanced over at Kuro, who was now sneezing softly and pawing at his nose. Right, cats and strong scents didn't mix well. I got up and cracked the windows open, letting some fresh air flow through the room. Xavier didn't even seem to notice, too busy looking at his phone and typing something out.

"We'll meet on the weekend," he finally said, pocketing his phone. "I'll be there, and so will my business partner, Atlas. I want both of you there — you and your brother."

I nodded, taking note of the time and day. "Sure. More the merrier, I guess. Just keep in mind that the risk also increases with more people tagging along."

He gave me a curt nod. "I'll make sure everyone follows your lead. I just want it done efficiently."

Efficiency, huh? Definitely sounded like a CEO. He discussed the timing with me briefly, then asked to add his personal number to my phone. I handed it over, and he punched in his contact info without another word. Once done, he gave me a short nod and left, leaving behind a faint trail of cologne and an air of superiority.

As soon as he was gone, Kuro jumped off the armchair and came over to me, still rubbing his nose. I scooped him up and scratched behind his ears. "Sorry about that, buddy. Rich guys apparently don't know how to dial down the perfume," I joked, earning a faint purr in response.

I leaned against the window and glanced at the business card again, flipping it between my fingers. Lunar, huh? Whatever he was dealing with, it must've been serious if he was willing to personally come here and ask for help. I made a mental note to inform Phoenix about the job later.

"Well, looks like we've got our next gig," I mumbled, half to Kuro and half to myself. Kuro just stared up at me with his usual lazy expression. Typical cat behavior — no interest in anything that didn't involve food or sleep.

I closed the window after the scent faded, then plopped back down on the couch. Weekend, huh? I guess it wasn't too far off. I could use the time to get prepared — and maybe teach Phoenix a few more exorcism techniques. No way I was letting him slack off after what happened last time.