[10 MINUTES LATER IN A RESTAURANT]
The quiet hum of the restaurant was a strange kind of peace. Dim lighting, the soft scent of roasted herbs, and the faint clinking of glasses filled the private room. Outside the window, Tokyo shimmered under the glow of a thousand city lights.
Ado leaned lazily against her chair, flipping through the glossy menu while Tippsy, the tiny catball, sat like a crown on her head.
"Hmm… ramen, steak, dessert platter…" she murmured, as if the fate of the world depended on her choice.
Across from her, Chino sat upright, her gold hair reflecting the soft light of the chandelier. Beside her was Alice — the Warden of Lust — draped in a black silk dress that looked far too elegant for the humble establishment.
Alice's purple eyes flickered toward Chino. "As I said, an S-rank monster has appeared again. The readings are off the charts."
Chino nodded, her expression grave. "And it's hiding inside a dungeon?"
"Yes. Deep within one that opened nearby."
Dungeons started showing up a million years ago after the first catastrophic S-rank monster emerged.
"It's truly annoying to deal with this thing alone, which is why I've come to seek your help," Alice said, tracing her finger around the rim of her wine glass.
Chino's voice softened, thoughtful. "The dimensional fractures must be thinning again…"
The two women exchanged a serious look — both of them knew the full terror of an S-rank monster.
The strongest one in this world currently was the Warden of Pride, and she was half a step into the realm of S-rank —
which was also known as the Realm of Gods.
Beings like that could slaughter the entire planet in a single week.
No, a day would be enough at this rate. The S-rank monsters they dealt with in the past were only half-step as well.
Chino sighed softly and rubbed her forehead, already stressed about such a matter.
Meanwhile, Ado was still staring at the menu without the slightest care in the world. "Can I order the strawberry parfait and the spicy udon? Oh, and Tippsy wants tuna,"
she said while looking up.
Tippsy meowed approvingly, flicking her tail across Ado's forehead.
Alice blinked, speechless about her lofty attitude as if an S-rank monster was nothing much. "Are you seriously—"
"She's serious," Chino interrupted with a sigh, rubbing her temple once more.
Ado looked utterly unfazed. "What? You guys can handle the 'world-ending monster' talk. I'm handling our order. It's called teamwork."
Alice chuckled, amused. "Tell me, Pride, when are you going to stop pretending?"
Ado simply stared at her as if she was an idiot. "Pride? Like the Seven Deadly Sins Escanor? I'm surprised you watch anime too."
Chino:…
Alice:…
The food arrived shortly after Ado placed the order. Steam rose from the bowls, carrying scents of garlic and spice. Ado wasted no time — she picked up her chopsticks and started eating with quiet contentment, while Tippsy perched on her shoulder, nibbling a small piece of grilled fish.
For a while, the room was filled only with the sounds of rain outside and the gentle clatter of utensils. Alice and Chino watched Ado carefully as she ate without any manners.
No one would believe that she was one of the strongest beings on the planet.
"So, Pride," Alice finally said, swirling her wine, "what do you think about this S-rank monster issue?"
Ado paused and swallowed a mouthful of noodles with an intoxicated expression. Clearly, she loved the food.
"Sounds like a you problem," she said while licking her lips.
Alice tilted her head, smirking. "Tell me, where's your actual body?"
Chino too was intrigued by this question.
Any Awakener, even among the weakest, had a faint aura surrounding them.
People could determine the class you were in based on that aura.
The aura on Chino and Alice's bodies was clearly that of a C-rank. Anyone who knew their real identities would realize they were using clones to interact with society —
their real bodies hidden somewhere secret.
The Wardens and Sovereigns were even worse.
Sovereigns had a holy aura like divine beings — just looking at them felt like blasphemy.
The Wardens, on the other hand, had a bloodthirsty type of aura. Even a glance from one of them could crush someone's soul.
Ado's body had no aura whatsoever, as if she were a completely ordinary girl who wasn't an Awakener.
"Me?" Ado pointed at her face with an innocent expression. "I'm just a typical, normal, cute, and lovable girl,"
she said with no shame.
Chino choked on her drink, stifling a laugh. Tippsy meowed as if disagreeing with that statement.
Alice stared with a slight smile. "I must say you've changed. A few thousand years ago you were always so cold and detached, as if nothing mattered. It's nice to see that you've become so cute, pookie bear."
"Don't use that name!" Ado glared at her.
"Oh? But I used to call you that in the past," Alice said, leaning closer.
Chino's hands clenched under the table. Her heart pounded in her chest. She stood abruptly, her chair scraping softly against the floor.
"I-I need the restroom," she muttered, turning before anyone could stop her.
Ado blinked, watching her go, confusion flickering in her crimson eyes. Tippsy tilted her head with a soft meow, as if saying, "You messed up."
Alice chuckled, finishing her drink. "Well, that was fun." She stood gracefully, brushing back her hair. "Tell Chino I'll be needing her in three days. We need to kill that S-rank beast."
She winked, her smirk soft but knowing. "Try not to break her heart before then, hmm?"
Ado frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Alice smiled, turning to leave. "You'll figure it out. Pride always does, eventually."
The door shut behind her, leaving the faintest trace of perfume in the air.
Ado sat there for a moment, chopsticks in hand, mind strangely quiet.
Tippsy hopped off her head and pawed at her sleeve, meowing softly.
"I know," Ado muttered. "I should check up on her."
By the time Ado got up, Chino was already walking back toward the table. Her expression had changed — calm and blank. The faint warmth she always carried was gone.
Ado blinked. "Uh… are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
Her tone was flat.
Ado scratched her cheek awkwardly. "Okay… fine-fine or pretend-to-be-fine fine?"
Silence…
She tried a joke. "Did the bathroom mirrors show you your past life or something?"
Still nothing…
Even Tippsy looked uncomfortable, curling into Ado's scarf.
"Hey." Ado leaned forward slightly, her teasing voice softening. "You're mad, aren't you?"
Chino looked away. "I'm not."
"Then look at me."
When Chino finally met her gaze, Ado's chest tightened. Her eyes glimmered with a faint feeling of loneliness and jealousy.
Ado sighed softly while staring at her. "Was it because of Alice?"
Chino didn't reply.
"I swear there was absolutely nothing between us a few thousand years ago," Ado said.
Chino turned her face away with the same expressionless look. "It's not that. You can talk to whoever you want."
Ado fell silent for a moment. Then, quietly, "You're jealous."
Chino froze. "I'm not."
Ado leaned closer, smiling softly. "You are."
"I—"
"Chino." Ado's voice was low, gentle, and sincere. "You don't need to hide that. You're adorable when you're jealous."
Chino's cheeks turned slightly red. "Ado, this isn't funny."
"I'm not joking," Ado said. "You're actually the only one I've ever looked at and thought about for several hundred thousand years."
The air stilled. The city lights outside the restaurant reflected in her blue eyes — warm and loving.
"I only love you," Ado said, her tone trembling slightly. "Not Alice. Not anyone else. Just you."
Chino's lips parted, stunned. "You… you can't just say things like that."
"Why not?" Ado tilted her head, hands holding onto Chino's tightly. "We've lived a thousand lives, saved worlds, and destroyed them. Why can't I say what I feel?"
Chino's breath hitched. "What will the people think—"
"Fuck the people." Ado rolled her eyes. "We're the strongest on Earth. Why should we care about what society thinks?"
Tippsy meowed loudly as if agreeing with her.
Both Ado and Chino stared at Tippsy for a moment before laughing.
"Anyways, how about we get married?"
Chino: Eh?! (☉｡☉)
Tippsy: (・o・)
..........
Thanks and sorry for the one week delay
I'll upload more later on