Adrian led Rosaline to a row of claw machines tucked away at the far end of the arcade. Each machine was filled with a single type of plushie—all of them remarkably cute, the kind that girls usually couldn't resist.
"Take your pick," Adrian said, stopping in front of the machines. "Just a point. Which one do you want?"
"Hmm…" Rosaline paused for a moment before pointing at a machine filled with plump, round yellow birds. They had adorable little red ovals on their cheeks, like a soft blush.
"Alright, coming right up." Adrian unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled up his sleeves, revealing his pale, porcelain skin.
Rosaline had expected his arms to look lean, perhaps even frail, but she was surprised to see prominent veins and well-defined muscle tracing beneath his skin.
"Admiring the view, Milady?" Adrian turned to her, hands on his hips, narrowing his eyes playfully as if he'd caught her staring.
"…Just get the bird," Rosaline replied in a flat voice, masking the "not-so-innocent" thoughts that had briefly flickered through her mind.
"Yes, Ma'am!" Adrian answered with a mischievous grin. He stepped up to the yellow bird machine and slotted in a chip. His left hand maneuvered the joystick with practiced ease before sending the metal claw down to snatch one of the chubby plushies.
As it tumbled into the prize chute, a celebratory jingle rang out. Adrian reached down and retrieved the prize.
"Here you go." He walked back and handed it to her. "Want another one?"
Rosaline took the plushie, staring down at its round face, then suddenly lifted it up to cover Adrian's face.
Adrian tilted his head, peering out from behind the bird with a mock-hurt expression. "Hey… is my handsome face really no match for this yellow bird? I'm wounded."
"You're imagining things," Rosaline said, giving him a resigned smile. In truth, Adrian was undeniably handsome, though, strictly speaking, Zenis still held the title for the better-looking man.
"Fine. You chose the bird. I'll go catch ten more. There's bound to be one in there uglier than me eventually." Adrian turned back to the machine, determined.
"Hey, I think that's a bit much," Rosaline called out, watching his back as he focused intensely. By the time he was done, he had plucked five more birds from the machine. "Okay, okay! You're the most handsome. Happy now?"
Adrian glanced over his shoulder as if he had been waiting for that exact sentence. He scooped up one of the yellow birds and wiggled its tiny wings. "Chirp, chirp!"
Rosaline couldn't help but let out a soft laugh at the sight.
Seeing her laugh, Adrian's red eyes softened for a brief moment before he joined in with a chuckle of his own.
The next two and a half hours vanished in a blur of fighting games and alien shooters. Every time Adrian ran out of tokens, he simply went back to the owner for more.
For the first time, Rosaline felt like she was in another world—one filled with fun. Even though the screens were full of battles, gunfire, and war, it felt entirely different from her reality, where a dungeon break or a catastrophic event could happen at any moment.
As midnight approached, they finally left the shop. Adrian walked her to the train station, carrying a bag filled with six yellow bird plushies.
Rosaline felt a twinge of regret that they didn't have time for karaoke, but it was truly late.
It was nearly 1:00 AM by the time she reached home. As she opened the door, the lights flickered on, revealing Leslie standing there with a baseball bat.
"Home late, aren't we, Sis? Was work really that busy today?" Leslie asked, his green eyes drifting toward the bag of yellow plushies.
"Oh, a colleague invited me to hang out. We just lost track of time," Rosaline said, stepping out of her heels and tucking them into the shoe rack. She lifted the bag for her brother to see. "Want one?"
"No thanks. Not really into stuffed animals," Leslie replied, leaning the bat back against the cabinet. "I thought a burglar was breaking in."
"Hmm… since when do burglars have their own house keys?" Rosaline quipped with a shrug.
"Have you eaten yet?" Leslie asked, walking toward the kitchen. "I got back late too, so I missed the supermarket. If you don't mind instant food, I can whip up some ramen."
"That works," Rosaline said. She wasn't picky about food, though she preferred a proper nutritional diet suited for a Hunter whenever possible.
"So, how's the new job?" Leslie set a small pot on the stove and pulled out a packet of bacon-flavored ramen. He checked the fridge for anything that could add a bit more nutritional value for his sister.
"If I pass the probation here for a month or two, I'll probably look for work elsewhere," Rosaline answered. "I'm thinking about looking into some adult education. But don't worry, I won't quit being a Hunter until you graduate."
Leslie paused, his hand hesitating for a second, but he said nothing. He quietly took some pork belly from the freezer and began to slice it.
"It's good that you're finally thinking about yourself. I only have one year left… are you sure you want to stop being a Hunter?" he asked.
"I don't want to live in the world of Hunters anymore," Rosaline replied, resting her chin on her crossed arms at the dining table. "Even if I'm not on the field, if the day comes where I'm called to fight a De-von or close a Gate, I'll have to go. I don't want to live that dangerous life anymore… I don't want to be like Dad. But who knows what will happen to the world tomorrow."
A sudden silence settled over the two siblings. After a moment, Leslie spoke up again as he dropped the pork into the boiling water.
"What did Uncle Drake say?"
"He probably doesn't even know I'm 'The Hermit'… I don't know," Rosaline said, her gaze drifting away, filled with uncertainty. "He told me to try being a trainer for the other Hunters… but I think I'll turn him down. And also…"
{Where did you hide it? The power of the 'Domain of the Perfected'?}
Flowinee's voice from that day echoed in her mind.
Hide it? Rosaline laughed bitterly to herself. If even Flowinee wanted this power, does that mean there are other De-vons out there who know about it too?
Seeing her go quiet, Leslie prompted, "And also what, Sis?"
Rosaline remained silent for a moment before closing her eyes. "Nothing. Just get back to the noodles."