"We don't have to do anything grand. No promises forever. Just tonight. Just this conversation."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65uXQdOfdo
Then, with quiet patience, he extended his hand toward her—not demanding, only offering.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPrtfeWCmn
After a moment, he asked,
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9vjJIkuF0
"So... tell me something about yourself that isn't on your résumé. Something that has nothing to do with this party."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3fLcMOKeH
Rei blinked.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3bcy0B4aE
"Like what?"
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolhvWxq5z4
He chuckled softly.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnckpNIacH4
"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."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolhTat6zAZ
She thought for a moment before answering.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6pGSrpTiM
"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."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBhcPfYlQh
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.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rDAEPy8TM
Rei hesitated, searching for something to say.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMUctPy3xu
"Uh... do you watch anime?" she asked, almost under her breath.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3sNCjFm48
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.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwovN3JK8Ps
"Anime?" he repeated with a grin. "That's what you came up with after thinking that hard?"
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2i3ABrEFVL
Rei looked away, slightly embarrassed.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EuQpnNxHq
He chuckled again, shaking his head.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwi1HW7az3
"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."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3Ea4UGJkb
He paused thoughtfully.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CdDko9v8O
"But I've seen clips here and there. The animation is beautiful. And some of the older stories... they're surprisingly deep."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwUSDb8AkZ
His gaze lingered on her.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4C29pqP0Ea
"I had a feeling you'd be someone who watches anime."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtvAQxgaPG
Rei blinked.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeyEJZdp4I
"Oh..."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsPad7I7Mt
A quiet smile curved on his lips.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxFXFeO6v1
"Don't sound so surprised," he said. "I told you—I pay attention."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqq5xG1IpV
He took a slow sip from his glass before setting it aside.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QtSoaLgMA
"So," he said, folding his arms loosely across his chest, "I've been asking all the questions. Your turn."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiIGiJwHKx
He looked at her expectantly.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkf7heI06QX
"Ask me anything. I promise I won't be offended."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBhDxAHZQD
Rei frowned in concentration.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkbtCHKzGm
"Uhh..."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGB7h2uUEjO
Nothing came to mind.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzp2lRV0X7M
The silence stretched between them, but Elias didn't rush to fill it. He simply stood beside her, comfortable with the quiet.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJwcxvP2O6
Finally, he smiled.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9K3orFnDMl
"You're very good at that."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniac51dm7B
She tilted her head.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuE99dgMJ02
"At what?"
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsCviO8Y3u
"Silence."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQa0fx8w6p
He looked out over the glowing city.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqInlphBIZn
"Most people can't stand it. They keep talking until the quiet disappears."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaizESfbhm
His eyes found hers again.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsjLqLro8x
"But you... you make silence feel natural."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4dOtvYWwg
A small, private smile touched his face.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAcOEqis3s
"It's one of the first things I noticed about you."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzn27mrtzK
Rei's cheeks warmed ever so slightly.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡps539Eypm0
"Oh..."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkWYOFC1Y8
The silence returned, softer than before.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSNKgnYiun
After a while, Elias laughed quietly.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBynWqJgo5
"Since you refuse to interrogate me, let me ask one last question."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4GwomJsRy
He raised his glass in mock surrender.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitt1BwClFh
"Tell me about a place you go when you want to be completely alone. Not somewhere impressive. Just... somewhere that feels like yours."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlXeWxgIcb
Rei thought carefully.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7EBfow0L5
"It's not a real place," she admitted.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9a7fplabOG
He waited.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtcktqJSGe
"A forest," she said quietly. "With a waterfall. Peaceful. Somewhere no one expects anything from me."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmFKHPmzal
Elias closed his eyes for a brief moment, as if he could picture it perfectly.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1Z8oWBv6I
"A forest with a waterfall," he repeated softly.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXm5IV6nSVy
"That sounds like enough peace for one lifetime."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Jn0JzCzo8
He leaned back against the railing and looked up at the stars.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3siN8Uvaf
"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."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdK8fcvFZA
Then he smiled.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3SisCJXGI
"I think I'd like that place too."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZaYErgLf2
"Hmm," Rei murmured.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlJwFobnCv
He accepted the simple sound without asking her to say more.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXn9qi0NSA
"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."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcc3AY5iJdB
He looked over the endless city lights.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nZPSmRUCN
"It's funny."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4r9qwFsLz
"We spend our entire lives building walls—careers, reputations, expectations—just so we have somewhere to hide."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOWRv9ObBX
The breeze carried his words into the night.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIwwj1tEHb
Neither of them spoke again .8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXfmiTi4Ta
and then Add to home screen.