"We don't have to do anything grand. No promises forever. Just tonight. Just this conversation."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBnFJY3fi4
Then, with quiet patience, he extended his hand toward her—not demanding, only offering.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKj4CHhwPA
After a moment, he asked,
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPPE3BPSrU
"So... tell me something about yourself that isn't on your résumé. Something that has nothing to do with this party."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5h9G2ATYf8
Rei blinked.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8rsPCIPkx
"Like what?"
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnxXiZtD5S
He chuckled softly.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzBMZPiq5A
"Anything. A song you listen to when you're alone. A place you go when you want to disappear. Something you're secretly good at that would surprise everyone in that ballroom."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8Wj9kZpKb
She thought for a moment before answering.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAVEjImHIz
"I don't really have a favorite song. It depends on my mood. If a song matches how I'm feeling, I'll listen to it. If it doesn't... I move on."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCzlzRid44
Elias listened without interrupting, giving her his full attention.
The conversation drifted naturally, unhurried, as though neither of them was eager to let the night end.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvFnb8JLcG
Rei hesitated, searching for something to say.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXuf7Dyubr
"Uh... do you watch anime?" she asked, almost under her breath.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iOeo9XTrg
For a moment, Elias simply stared at her. Then a genuine laugh escaped him—not the polite laugh reserved for crowded parties, but something warm and real.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwT5kqHzd8x
"Anime?" he repeated with a grin. "That's what you came up with after thinking that hard?"
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySX21hBgh0
Rei looked away, slightly embarrassed.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJqiEa4FPR
He chuckled again, shaking his head.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbM4xuKyv1E
"Honestly? No. I've never really been into it. My childhood was mostly books, long walks, and being outdoors. I missed that whole wave without cartoon."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7gxVZIDSh
He paused thoughtfully.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXvXA3f35a
"But I've seen clips here and there. The animation is beautiful. And some of the older stories... they're surprisingly deep."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqIHqw4diq
His gaze lingered on her.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoc4qbSMYPJ
"I had a feeling you'd be someone who watches anime."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdsghppg3N
Rei blinked.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSNs2k8FPz
"Oh..."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwthYllq3cK
A quiet smile curved on his lips.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvNAbxGu7l
"Don't sound so surprised," he said. "I told you—I pay attention."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61qkgoK9cT
He took a slow sip from his glass before setting it aside.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvrov5DXSH
"So," he said, folding his arms loosely across his chest, "I've been asking all the questions. Your turn."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJ46mkp6FD
He looked at her expectantly.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zUCkGjM6h
"Ask me anything. I promise I won't be offended."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtJOHcuZ0a
Rei frowned in concentration.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkPF2dj4wX
"Uhh..."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2BzQIDIHp
Nothing came to mind.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IUzi8EBx4
The silence stretched between them, but Elias didn't rush to fill it. He simply stood beside her, comfortable with the quiet.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjTKGiqDdd
Finally, he smiled.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPXo6FtFTc
"You're very good at that."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkEPGIQSnP
She tilted her head.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLOwUfcBAs
"At what?"
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EHDPljAhX
"Silence."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeZqJTJPWE
He looked out over the glowing city.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVc0E0z0QaV
"Most people can't stand it. They keep talking until the quiet disappears."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mhVbsrA2X
His eyes found hers again.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYTEbAv0vp
"But you... you make silence feel natural."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbqCG7jR0y
A small, private smile touched his face.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6R0x2fDMG
"It's one of the first things I noticed about you."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG53FA81Wu5
Rei's cheeks warmed ever so slightly.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJK1NuXVmh
"Oh..."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxXp00ivKJ
The silence returned, softer than before.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7xoHMIWK0
After a while, Elias laughed quietly.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFQdMYmE0L
"Since you refuse to interrogate me, let me ask one last question."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTAha49i31
He raised his glass in mock surrender.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNGWpRzcUa
"Tell me about a place you go when you want to be completely alone. Not somewhere impressive. Just... somewhere that feels like yours."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwYPFvdQ6o
Rei thought carefully.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3EcFyf0K2
"It's not a real place," she admitted.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBVsTCJzRL
He waited.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EhYptwkIv
"A forest," she said quietly. "With a waterfall. Peaceful. Somewhere no one expects anything from me."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsfGn1w9h4
Elias closed his eyes for a brief moment, as if he could picture it perfectly.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSbyRQunt1
"A forest with a waterfall," he repeated softly.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJxqU8G0n9
"That sounds like enough peace for one lifetime."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuW9TALDpM
He leaned back against the railing and looked up at the stars.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQWCw5geKV
"I understand why you'd choose that place. Trees don't ask questions. Water doesn't care who you are. You don't have to explain yourself there."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBIcZc8qQM
Then he smiled.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3ThDhcCId
"I think I'd like that place too."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlurZFah7Us
"Hmm," Rei murmured.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vkBG5wuic
He accepted the simple sound without asking her to say more.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQV2C9JDSs
"You know," he said after a while, "I've spent a lot of time in places like that. Whenever life becomes too loud, I go somewhere quiet to remind myself that the world is much bigger than whatever problem I'm carrying."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYauPkyDGf
He looked over the endless city lights.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGx56R7gO2
"It's funny."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfTV69IKqw
"We spend our entire lives building walls—careers, reputations, expectations—just so we have somewhere to hide."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZTuLC0eYU
The breeze carried his words into the night.
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFT51TdYs0C
Neither of them spoke again .16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wrQnOEXpN
and then Add to home screen.