As evening descended, casting long, purple shadows across the city, they found themselves in a cozy, unpretentious Italian restaurant tucked away on a cobblestone side street. The aroma of garlic, herbs, and simmering tomato sauce filled the air, warm and inviting.
Candlelight flickered on their small table, illuminating Audrey's still-reddened eyes and the faint, almost-healed scar on Hoshimi's cheek.
The conversation flowed easier now, a comfortable rhythm settling between them. Audrey, having shed some of her earlier anxieties, continued to recount her impressions of the city, her voice filled with a newfound appreciation for the mundane.
Hoshimi, in turn, shared snippets of his own unusual "homeschooling" with Reina, his tone dry and understated, making Audrey laugh out loud several times.
"You don't know how to drive? Didn't your stepmother teach you that?" Audrey teased, twirling a strand of pasta around her fork.
"She believed in practical skills," Hoshimi replied, cutting into his chicken parmesan with a precise, almost surgical motion. "And an understanding of human nature."
"Huh, like driving isn't a practical skill?" Audrey raised an eyebrow.
"I guess she just didn't want me to drive then, maybe she would prefer if she was behind the wheel instead of me when we go on outings."
Audrey pointed the fork at him. "And what do you mean by an understanding of human nature? What is that supposed to indicate?"
"That everyone is motivated by self-interest," he stated, his voice flat, he stared out of the window, staring at the evening sky.
Audrey's smile softened, a wistful expression stealing across her face. "Do you truly believe that? That everyone is selfish?"
Hoshimi paused, meeting her gaze across the flickering candlelight, twirling a glass of juice. "Not exactly everyone per se, I guess it depends on the type of person."
"But you helped me," she said softly, her fingers tracing the rim of her wine glass. "You kept your promise. You didn't leave me at the zoo. You're trying to separate me from Domino. That doesn't sound very selfish to me, Hoshimi."
[How'd you even fall for this guy? There's no redeeming qualities about him. Look into his eyes, he's a cog in a machine, a domino meant to cause the others to fall as well] Domino interjected, a familiar voice of cynicism. [You're mistaking love with dependence]
"I was tasked to protect you, and you seem…."Hoshimi replied, his voice calm, almost too calm.
"Seem what?"
"Nothing."
Audrey leaned back, a knowing look in her eyes. "You know, for someone who claims to be so cold and calculating, you're really bad at hiding it when you actually care."
A faint, almost imperceptible tremor ran through Hoshimi's hand as he picked up his fork. "Am I?"
"Yep, it's rather entertaining."
As they left the restaurant, the city shimmered under a canopy of electric lights and distant stars. They walked through a bustling night market, the air thick with the scent of incense, roasted nuts, and the happy chatter of people.
Audrey squeezed his hand, drawing comfort from his steady presence.
"This really has really been the best day," she admitted, her voice soft, almost lost in the urban hum. "Thank you, really."
Her face suddenly turned red, as quickly looked away from him as she twirled a strand of her golden hair.
[Should I do it now?]
[Stop being a lil bitch Audrey] Donino retorted. [You said you'd do it, just suck it up]
He didn't reply immediately. His eyes, usually so sharp and observant, were softened by the myriad lights reflecting in their violet depths. He looked down at her, a rare, almost vulnerable expression on his face. "It's… not over yet."
He led her away from the crowded streets, towards a quieter, elevated park overlooking the city. Below them, a sprawling tapestry of glittering lights stretched to the horizon, a breathtaking display.
The two of them sat down on a wooden bench, staring at the sight in front of them.
The wind, cool and gentle, whispered through the trees, carrying with it the faint, mingled sounds of the city.
Audrey leaned against the railing, her breath catching in her throat. "Wow," she breathed, her voice filled with genuine awe. "I can't think of anything else to say other than it's beautiful."
[This isn't a rom com, try not to get too sappy] Domino warned.
"I know," Audrey thought back, a small, defiant smile playing on her lips. "But for tonight, it is."
She turned to Hoshimi, her emerald green eyes reflecting the city lights.
"Hoshimi," she began, her voice barely a whisper, "I know you're trying to help me, and I know why. You see me as a girl in need of help, an object that you needed to guard. And maybe that's all I am to you." She paused, taking a deep breath, steeling herself. "But for me… today, you were more than that, more than just my bodyguard."
Hoshimi remained silent, his gaze fixed on the cityscape, but his ear perked up, his posture, rigid and attentive.
"You gave me a glimpse of what it feels like to be normal," she continued. You made me happy. Actually happy, not just some fleeting relief. And even if it's all fake, even if you're just acting… it meant everything to me." She released his hand, stepping back slightly, creating a small, symbolic distance between them.
"I know you're leaving soon. For your next assignment. And I don't know what will happen to me, thank you for assigning people to work on the case with Domino, really." Her voice wavered. "So, this really is the last time I'm probably see you."
A profound silence descended upon them, broken only by the distant hum of the city. Hoshimi finally turned to her.
"Audrey," he said, his voice raw, stripped of its usual flat affectation. "It wasn't all fake, at least I don't think so."
The words hung in the air, potent and unexpected, shattering the carefully constructed emotional wall she had built around herself. Her breath hitched.
"Maybe I don't feel things the way other people do," he continued, his gaze unwavering, "But today… today I just wanted you to be happy." He reached out, his hand gently cupping her face, his thumb brushing past her skin.
His touch was soft, warm, and undeniably real. "And seeing you laugh, seeing you live… that wasn't a farce, Audrey. That was…" He paused, searching for the right word, a word he rarely allowed himself to articulate. "How do I put this…. wonderful."
[She's going to miss me, at the very least, I'll just act for her one last time]
Audrey's heart pounded in her chest, a frantic drumbeat against the overwhelming reality of his words. Domino was silent for once, an almost stunned quietude in her mind.
She leaned into his touch, her eyes searching his, trying to decipher the true meaning behind his rare vulnerability.
"Hoshimi," she whispered, her voice trembling. "What… what happens now?"
He lowered his hand, the warmth of his touch lingering on her cheek. His eyes, though still holding that newfound depth, began to return to their familiar, guarded state. "It's getting late, you should go reserve a hotel".
The journey back was quiet, a comfortable silence settling between them. Audrey, nestled beside him in the taxi he called, felt a profound peace.
[This isn't what I was hoping for, I would've preferred the romance that I usually see in movies, something more romantic. But this…this was what I needed]
Audrey leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder as she began to doze off.
As they pulled up to the hotel, the two of them got out of the taxi, the bright lights of the cities around them made everything else seem empty, the sound of crickets were loud in the distance.
"Hoshimi," she said, her voice filled with a quiet certainty, her hands twiddling the hem of her skirt. "I have something to tell you, I know that I'm being naive and hopeful, but at the very least, I jjust-."
"You can tell me anything Audrey."
She took a deep breath.
"Hoshimi, I-I li-".
A wet metallic snap cut the word in half.
A thin line of red ran down the side of her head, her golden hair was stained of crimson.
Audrey's body jerked, her eyes lost their emerald green, she collapsed forwards, hitting the pavement with a thud, blood split beneath her. The headlights above flickered once.