Their steps echoes through the desolate emergency stairs, before they stop right next to the emergency door three floors below the rooftop.
Opening it, they slowly walk until their eyes widen.
The pool was wide, still filled with water, and the view around it? It was beautiful.
Not to forget about the outdoor view, the access to allow one to see the city while they swim looks beautiful in itself.
But... what made their eyes widen wasn't those things.
No, it was Sirius next to Sol right at the edge of the pool, looking over the city, and...
Sirius' shoulder brush against Sol's, and they seem to not mind or notice it.
They simply continue talking with each other as they look at the fallen city.
Anna's lips pursed, eyes wide as she looks at the both of them.
"Oh my."
Ears trained to hear even the slightest disturbance or noise, Sirius whips his head and relaxes upon seeing everyone.
"Oh, it's the others."
Sirius mentions, as Sol raise her brows before looking back.
Seeing the others, Sol smiles and waves slightly at them.
"Hi, how long have you guys been there?"
"Oh, we just came. Anyway, a pool huh? So that's where the two of you were planning on going... why didn't you invite us?"
Anna ask, tilting her head with a smirk as Sol chuckles nervously.
"Well... um, I had something private with Sirius. So... I didn't tell you, plus we didn't expect for you guys to come down here. Also hi Thea! When did you come back?"
Thea blinks before shaking her head.
"Just now..."
"Ah, okay."
Sol looks at Sirius as he looks back at her with a smile.
"Wanna dry up first?"
"Sure."
Sol nods as they stand up on the edge of the pool, Sirius, standing up first hands her his hand as she takes it.
Then, they carefully walk towards the ceramic floor before walking up to the others.
Thea touches her sweater and pants as she activates her Rune.
The Rune glows, and Sirius glance at her as he watch the clothes dry up.
"That's really neat, though it's funny, that kind of Rune being used for a simple dry."
Sirius lets out a chuckle as Sol does too with a nod, before their eyes then glance towards Sirius's crotch.
Well, his boxers, which is still wet.
Quickly summoning the [Boidae Shell], the both of them snaps their head away as Sirius lets out an awkward cough.
Walking silently towards others, they stop as they keep their eyes away from each other, not looking at each other.
'... It's annoying... I want to just take it off... if... no, that's too awkward and weird.'
'... I mean... he's wearing only boxers... wouldn't it be too awkward if I just go ahead and touch his... hips?'
Sirius and Sol are deep in thought as they silently look down at the floor.
Feeling the awkward atmosphere from the two of them, Adam coughs as he lets out a deep exhale.
"Okay... so, I got some news."
Everyone turn their head to look at Adam, listening.
Sirius' brow furrows, the hair covering his eyes as he slick back his bangs.
Sol, glancing from the corner of her eyes giggles as she look back to Adam.
"We've alreasy finished scouting the bats' territory, the gorilla seem to not be doing anything to them. Yet."
Thea nods upon hearing his statement as he continues.
"Though no moves have been made, I am sure that eventually the gorilla will kill the bats to consume their Soul or to empower the army. That's one of the scenario, and if that doesn't happen? I guess the bats will simply be an addition to the army."
Adam finishes as the others nod, agreeing to the conjecture.
"Thea had asked whether should we kill them all in a single operation or separate them into groups for each day until the final group. She thinks we should separate them into groups and slowly kill them all instead of going for a one full sweep. What do you guys think?"
Upon hearing him, some start thinking, while soms seem to already made up their minds.
"On what grounds do you think we should slowly kill them all instead of going for a one full sweep?"
Sirius asks, looking at Thea as the others too look at Thea.
"I'm going for the safest option, which is that. While sure, if we can get them all in one full sweep stealthily, we can get away before the gorilla and its army notice. But if we fail, there's the risk of us fighting the Usurpers."
Thea finishes as Sirius nods, taking her explanation in before speaking again.
"What if the minotaur sends its army and ambushed the bats, or if the minotaur itself comes to the bats? Don't you think it's better to go and do a full sweep? The bats are basically a free for all, it's between us, the gorilla, and the minotaur."
Sirius adds as Thea frowns upon hearing his response.
"Well, it's not like the minotaur and its army are going to kill the bats now are they? Especially when they just finished fighting the gorilla and the bats. The gorilla too, it might lose some army to the bats, so they're not going to kill the bats right away, that is why I think it's best to do it safely even if it takes a few days to fully kill them all!"
Thea barks as Sirius widens his eyes before slowly nodding.
"... I guess your logic is sound, sure then, let's go for it."
The others that were thinking the same as Sirius, to full sweep them instead of extending the killings for days were silent.
Thea takes a deep breath before letting out an exhale as she looks at them.
"My bad. I didn't mean to suddenly raise my voice."
She mutters, but loud enough for everyone to hear as she crosses her arms before looking down at the floor.
Adam looks around before clapping his hands.
"O—kay, now that we've discussed that, let's all take some rest, tomorrow, we'll hit the first group."
Everyone nods, aside from Thea who seem to be lost in thought as Sol walks up to her.
"Sis..? You okay?"
She whispers to Thea as Thea widen her eyes before looking at her little sister.
"Mmh, I'm fine. Maybe I was just tired, or stressed. I'll be fine..."
Thea smiles at Sol as Sol worrily nods before she shyly wraps her fingers around Thea's, further widening her eyes as if the eyeballs are popping out of their sockets.
Thea's face widen with a smile as she grins.
"I love you so much sis, you know that right?"
"I know, it's not you if you never say "I love you" to me at least once for the day."
Thea giggles as she happily swing her hand as Sol smiles upon seeing her sister lighten up.
***
'What was that?!'
Thea asked inside her mind, embarrassment and shame and guilt for raising her voice as the memory resurface.
Back on the rooftop, Thea lays down on the floor next to the edge of the rooftop, hugging her knees as she lets out a sigh.
'He looked very surprised... was it that surprising for me to raise my voice? Don't I look like a stern girl? Mm... should I look less stern...?'
As Thea think to herself, Sirius slowly walks up to Thea before standing right next to her laying down on the floor.
Thea blinks before looking up to see Sirius.
"Hey, you okay?"
Sirius asks, to which made Thea's eyes widen as she slowly sit up before standing with a groan.
Leaning over the edge with Sirius she lets out a sigh before shaking her head.
"No, nothing's wrong..."
Thea lets out a smirk as Sirius glance at her before looking back to the city.
"You know, no one raise their voice unless they are a general preparing for war, or some politician trying to get the people to vote for said politician. Or well, a riot. I'm not sure that the three of them fits you right now, so what's happening?"
Thea raise one of her eyebrows before frowning.
"What are you, cosplaying my sister?"
"Sure, let me be your personal therapist for the night, in case you got something in your mind or stress. I'm here to listen."
Thea turns to look at Sirius, staring at him with wide eyes.
"..."
Thea glance back to the city, letting out a sigh.
"It's nothing much, really. I just feel weird."
True to his words, Sirius stays silent like a mannequin as he waits for Thea to continue at her own pace.
"I feel like... I don't know, it's hard to explain, maybe it's a side effect of all the fights catching up to me. After all, this is my first Abyss expedition. I heard tales from my father about his Abyss expeditions... which involved you too."
Thea watches as Sirius smiles, she lets out a huff before ruffling her hair.
"You know what? I'm a selfish girl, and I know of it. So... I'm going to be selfish again and ask you,"
Sirius turns his head to look at Thea, waiting for her to ask what she wants.
"Can you walk with me? Alone? Just the two of us?"
Sirius blinks for a few time, suddenly feeling a deja vu.
"...You both really are sisters huh? I mean it's obvious."
Sirius laughs as he nods at Thea.
"Sure, let's take a walk. Wanna go down to the pool and talk it out with me?"
"... Yes."
Thea nods as Sirius chuckles before smiling at her.
"Lead the way."