I send a quick text to the family group chat, letting them know I wouldn't be coming home tonight.
Adam: staying at a friend's place tonight
Responses come almost immediately.
Selene: ooooh 👀
Selene: a FRIEND
Selene: the really cute friend?
Selene: the same friend you've been spending all your time with lately???😏
Oh no. Here we go.
Bianca: use protection
Selene: BIANCA OMG
Selene: you can't just SAY that
Selene: (she's right though)
Selene: also you're giving us DETAILS tomorrow
Adam: it's literally just a friend
Adam: nothing is happening
Bianca: sure
Selene: SURE
I roll my eyes, but honestly? Reading their messages makes something warm settle in my chest, pushing back against the cold horror of what we just witnessed on Jack's phone. It's like a reminder that the world isn't entirely garbage, that some things are still normal and good.
Luna has, at some point, fallen asleep on my shoulder. Her violet eyes have drifted shut, her breathing evening out into the soft rhythm of sleep. Her purple hair has fallen across her face like a curtain, and she looks so small and peaceful that something protective and fierce twists in my chest.
Today was... a lot. For both of us. But especially for her.
I lean back carefully, sinking into the soft couch, and let out a long yawn.
Shoot, I didn't do my nightly workout today.
The thought nags at me for exactly three seconds before I dismiss it. Well, I don't think I'm in any condition to work out anyway. My ribs are still screaming at me every time I breathe too deeply, and I'm pretty sure attempting push-ups would result in me collapsing face-first into the carpet and just staying there.
Hopefully I don't fail my daily routine quest. I mean, they say rest is a part of training too, right?
I let my head rest on top of Luna's, her soft purple hair tickling my chin, and let the gentle sounds of Eva's typing and clicking from across the room lull me toward sleep.
I wake up to the sounds of conversation. People are quietly conversing in Japanese, right in front of me.
I slowly open my eyes and immediately see a stern, older-looking Japanese man staring down at me.
Oh shoot. Is this Luna's dad?
I quickly take in the situation. I'm on a couch. With his daughter. Who is currently using me as a pillow. And there's a blanket over us that I definitely don't remember being there before, which means someone, probably Eva, covered us up at some point during the night.
I also realize that Luna and I are still holding hands, with our fingers interlaced. I carefully let go, trying not to wake her.
Then I try to sit up, but my body has other ideas. Every single muscle in my torso screams in protest. Ouch. My injuries somehow hurt worse than yesterday.
Someone standing next to Luna's father, a younger, quite handsome Japanese man, quickly steps forward to help me. He takes my arm gently, supporting me as I get to my feet. I'm not sure who this guy is, but I'm grateful for the assistance.
Right. Okay. Time to make a good first impression. I do something that my brain insists is appropriate: I bow slightly.
Oof. Café habits again. But to be honest, maybe it's appropriate? Since Luna's father is Japanese? I don't know the rules here. My cultural knowledge comes literally entirely from anime, which is probably not the most reliable source.
I hold out my hand. "H-Hello sir, my name is Adam. It's nice to meet you."
The words come out too fast, with a slight stutter at the beginning. Don't judge me! I'm nervous! I'm meeting Luna's father for the first time while covered in bruises, and having just woken up with his daughter sleeping on my shoulder!
The younger man says something in Japanese, and Luna's father's expression shifts, the severe intensity melting just slightly, a hint of warmth breaking through. Almost a smile. He responds in Japanese, looking at me while he speaks, his voice measured and clear.
Then he takes my hand, giving me a firm handshake.
The younger man speaks up. "I've heard a lot about you from Luna. You've been a good friend to her. My name is Satoru Inoue."
Oh. I see, this must be Mr. Inoue's translator.
Before I can finish that thought, Luna wakes up. "Dad!" she exclaims, her voice rising to something approaching normal volume. She practically launches herself off the couch and into his arms.
The stern mask on Mr. Inoue's face melts away completely. He wraps his arms around her, and I can see real warmth there, real affection. He says something in Japanese, soft and gentle, and Luna responds, her voice animated.
They speak for a while, and even though I can't understand the words, I can hear the love in their voices. Luna sounds happy. Really happy. After everything that happened yesterday, seeing her smile like this makes something warm settle in my chest.
The younger man steps away from them, giving them space, and comes to stand beside me. He's got this slight smile on his face, amused but not unkind.
I turn to him, managing a smile. "Hey, I'm Adam."
His expression shifts, that slight smile becoming more pronounced, warmer. "You can call me Daichi." His English is perfect and accent-free.
After a few more minutes, Mr. Inoue's attention turns back to me. He says something, glancing between me and Luna, his expression thoughtful.
"Would you like to join us for breakfast?" Daichi translates. "It's early, but after the events of last night, it'd be nice to share a meal together."
"I'd love to," I say immediately. Partly because refusing seems like a bad idea, but mostly because I'm absolutely starving. Luna and I fell asleep without dinner last night.
Mr. Inoue nods, seeming satisfied, and says something else.
"I'm grateful you stayed with Luna last night." Daichi translates.
My face heats up slightly. "It was nothing, really. I just... didn't want her to be alone."
When Daichi translates this, Mr. Inoue's expression softens considerably, and he nods with what looks like approval.
In just thirty minutes, the dining table is transformed. Five plates of food appear, each one looking like it belongs in a restaurant window: perfectly fluffy eggs, crispy bacon, pancakes so perfect they might be photoshopped.
There's someone working in the kitchen that I didn't even realize was there, a chef in full whites, moving quickly and purposefully. A private chef. Because of course Luna's family employs a private chef.
Mr. Inoue sits at the head of the table. On the left side: Luna's sat next to her father, then me. On the right: Daichi, then Eva, who has appeared looking as perfectly composed and professional as always.
The food is, quite obviously, amazing. The eggs are seasoned perfectly and impossibly fluffy. The bacon is crispy and salty in exactly the right way. The pancakes are soft with just the right amount of syrup drizzled on top.
I'm trying very hard not to just shovel food into my mouth like a starving animal, but it's difficult.
Mr. Inoue watches me for a moment, then speaks. His voice is measured, thoughtful. Daichi translates: "Luna has told me what you did for her. Standing up to those boys, even when you were outnumbered and outmatched."
I swallow my bite of pancake. "I just... I couldn't let them hurt her."
When that's translated, Mr. Inoue nods slowly. He responds, and Daichi continues: "She also mentioned that you somehow obtained evidence from them. A phone, was it?"
"Yeah, uh... I just grabbed it off of Jack when I had the opportunity."
There's a pause as Daichi translates, then Mr. Inoue says something longer this time, his expression becoming more serious. Daichi translates: "You've done more for my daughter than I could have asked. You protected her, supported her, and made sure she wasn't alone during a frightening experience. That kind of loyalty and courage is rare, especially in someone so young. You even found a way to strike back against those monsters. You are brilliant, truly."
I feel my face heating up. "Really, I just did what anyone should—"
"Most wouldn't," Daichi translates before Mr. Inoue even finishes speaking. "Most would look the other way. Save themselves. Avoid getting involved. You didn't."
Luna is watching this exchange with something like anxiety in her eyes, picking at her food. She hasn't said much since we sat down, just occasionally glancing between me and her father like she's worried about how this is going.
Mr. Inoue continues, and Daichi's translation becomes more formal: "I would like to offer you a reward. For your bravery, for your loyalty to my daughter. Name it, and if it's within my power, it's yours."
A reward. From one of the wealthiest men I've ever met.
But the thing is, I didn't do any of this for a reward. And receiving something for this would just feel… wrong.
"That's... that's really generous, Mr. Inoue, but I can't accept anything." The words come out more firmly than I expected. "I didn't help Luna for a reward. She's my friend. She's..." I pause, trying to find the right words while very carefully not looking at said friend. "She's important to me. I helped her because she needed help, that's all."
There's a moment of silence as Daichi translates. Mr. Inoue's expression is unreadable, and I'm suddenly terrified that I've somehow offended him by refusing.
But then he smiles: a real, genuine smile that completely transforms his face, and he says something that sounds approving.
"You're a man of integrity," Daichi translates, and there's warmth in his voice too. "That's good. That's very good."
Mr. Inoue picks up his coffee cup, taking a slow, deliberate sip. He sets it down carefully, and then he says something else. His tone shifts slightly, still friendly, but with an edge of something... playful? Mischievous?
Luna's face starts to turn red. "Dad!" Luna actually raises her voice, turning to her father with pure mortification written across her face. She launches into rapid Japanese, her voice higher-pitched than normal, gesturing slightly.
Daichi translates through the chaos, and there's something in his tone now, amusement, maybe? "So, what exactly are your intentions with my daughter, you little bastard?"