Kiana collapsed back into her chair like she'd just been let out of prison. "Finally... we can clock out... I feel like my hands aren't even mine anymore..."
Mei quietly exhaled, stood up, and rolled out the stiffness in her neck and wrists.
Bronya saved all her files and shut down her computer.
Dan Heng began packing up his things with his usual calm.
Stelle, who had been slumped face-down on the desk, jerked awake the moment she heard the words clock out, snapping her head up.
There were still red pressure marks on her face, and her eyes hadn't fully focused yet. "Huh? We're done?"
March 7th bolted upright beside her. "We can actually leave? Finally!"
Kiana pulled herself together, glanced at Mei, then looked around at everyone else, and a little spark came back into her eyes.
"Hey, we all worked ourselves into the ground today," she said. "Actually, scratch that, even dogs get treated better than we did. How about we go out for a real meal? My treat. Think of it as... a celebration. Under the Stellar Sky finally has something to show for itself!"
Mei smiled softly.
"I'm in. We could all use a chance to breathe. I know a nice restaurant that just opened up nearby. Quiet, good food." Her gaze drifted toward Arthur, the question unspoken.
Bronya said nothing, but the way her hands slowed as she packed made it clear she was waiting to see what he'd say.
Dan Heng adjusted his glasses. "Works for me."
Stelle and March 7th shot their hands up at the same time. "Let's go, let's go! We're starving!"
Every pair of eyes landed on Arthur.
Arthur looked around at all of them, tired faces carrying the quiet kind of relief that only comes after finishing something real, and felt something warm settle in his chest.
Kiana waved her hand like she was brushing off any argument before it started. "I said it's my treat! Don't even try to fight me on this, Mei! I'm in a great mood! Think of it as... an early celebration for when our comic blows up!"
Mei shook her head with a small smile. "I'm not letting you pay for everything by yourself. We split it."
"Come on, Mei, you're being so formal with me right now!"
Watching the two of them fall into that familiar back-and-forth, Arthur felt himself relax a little.
"Alright, let's go," he said, a faint smile crossing his face. "But let's be clear: this is a one-time thing. When the project actually gains some traction, we'll do it right."
"Yes!"
Kiana jumped to her feet. "Settled! Come on, everyone, let's move! I know a place with incredible yakiniku!" She had gone from half-dead to fully energized in about two seconds flat, already steering everyone toward the door.
Mei watched her with a mix of resignation and amusement, gathering her things at a pace that was graceful but surprisingly quick.
Bronya quietly shut down her computer and picked up her bag.
Dan Heng had already shouldered his laptop bag and was standing by the door, waiting.
Stelle and March 7th had practically sprinted ahead, making no secret of how ready they were to leave.
Arthur saved his documents and shut down his computer. As he got up from his chair, he let his eyes sweep across the office one more time, taking in all the little signs of a long day's work scattered across every surface.
The first draft of the comic was done.
The website had taken shape.
Things were starting to feel a little less uncertain.
He followed everyone out and pulled the door shut behind him with a quiet, practiced hand.
The latch clicked softly, leaving the day's exhaustion on the other side.
The hallway filled up with noise almost immediately: Kiana's voice, still a little ragged, carrying over everything, mixed in with Stelle and March 7th bickering, Mei gently trying to keep the peace, and the occasional dry comment from Dan Heng.
They walked through a few streets that were starting to fill up with the evening crowd and eventually stopped at a quiet corner.
In front of them stood a neat little building, warm amber light pouring through floor-to-ceiling windows and washing over a tasteful sign by the entrance that read: The Golden Grand Restaurant. The sign looked fresh, the kind that hadn't been hanging long.
"This is it!"
Stelle straightened up a little, clearly pleased.
"Brand new, but the food is absolutely the real deal. And..." She dropped her voice, eyes bright with the look of someone about to share something good. "The owner and a bunch of the staff here are people Arthur and I knew back in college. Arthur, you know every single one of them."
"Old friends from college?" Kiana craned her neck curiously. "Seriously? How come I don't know any of this?"
Mei and Bronya looked mildly surprised as well.
They had known Arthur long before college; the four of them went back to childhood. After graduation, everyone had gone their separate ways, some chasing their own paths, some dealing with family. They had gradually fallen out of regular contact, and the friends Arthur had made during those years were people they simply hadn't crossed paths with.
Dan Heng pushed his glasses up and didn't say anything. He had never been much for crowds or social events.
March 7th, meanwhile, was spinning in a slow circle taking everything in. "This place looks so fancy! Stelle, you actually know the owner?"
"You'll see once we're inside!" Stelle was already pushing open the heavy glass door.
A wave of warmth hit them on the way in, carrying the smell of food and a faint, pleasant hint of something like incense. The interior had a modern, minimal feel with just enough vintage detail to keep it from feeling cold.
The lighting was soft, the music was slow and easy, and the whole atmosphere was noticeably calmer than most restaurants. It was still early for the dinner crowd, and the place had plenty of open space.
"Welcome to The Golden Grand!" A clear, cheerful voice rang out.
A young woman in a well-fitted uniform came forward to greet them, her smile warm, her eyes lively. When she spotted Stelle, her expression brightened a notch. "Stelle! You brought the whole crew out to show some love!"
"Hyacine!" Stelle grinned back. "How's it been tonight? I brought the whole studio out for a proper dinner!"
"Welcome, all of you! Aglaea is going to be so happy to hear it!" The server, Hyacine, let her gaze travel across the group, lingering just a beat on Arthur's face.
Her smile shifted into something a little warmer. "We've got your table ready, the quiet spot by the window."
Then she leaned in just slightly, giving Stelle a conspiratorial look. "Oh, and Aglaea was actually just saying the other day that she could really use someone with a good eye and a head for planning. If you ever get tired of the studio grind, the door here is wide open. Good pay, too."
Stelle waved it off. "Not a chance. I've still got plenty of fight left in me. Besides, Arthur's been making all kinds of big promises, and I haven't seen any of them pay off yet." She slid a sideways look at Arthur as she said it.
Hyacine let it go with a smile and led them over to a wide booth by the window.
They had barely gotten settled and hadn't even touched the menus yet when the kitchen door swung open and a tall, broad-shouldered figure stepped out. He had on a clean white chef's coat, and he moved with the easy, unhurried confidence of someone who knew exactly where he was going.
Up close, he had sharp, striking features and steady, deep-set eyes. What stuck out most was the way he looked at people: openly, warmly, with a kind of unguarded sincerity that seemed almost at odds with the serious chef's coat he was wearing. It was a disarming combination.
He walked straight to their table and found Arthur first, breaking into a wide grin. "Arthur! It's been way too long!"
He reached out and clapped Arthur firmly on the shoulder, the kind of grip that said they went back a ways. "You've been dodging me! I had Stelle call you I don't even know how many times, and every time it was 'busy, on a deadline.' But you're finally here!"