"Not having any here?" Lucka asked as he watched Zero take all his take-aways.
Zero shook his head.
"Why not?" pressed Lucka.
Zero didn't answer him and just walked off.
Edward tsked and said, "He's back to normal, at least."
Yume pursed his lips and just said one word, "Kai."
Realisation and understanding dawned on the others, and they chorused together, "Ooohhh. Yes. Kai."
"Do we need to …?" Akira looked at Edward hesitatingly, not finishing the question.
Did they need to follow Zero? Would he go overboard?
Edward shrugged, not really bothered as to Kai's fate "If he can't even get past Zero, is he even worthy?"
It's not like Zero would kill him.
While the others were talking and getting their food to go to the table, Lily sat back down at the counter. She couldn't help but smile, thinking about earlier.
So, Zero is his name, huh?
She looked at the happy bunch talking and laughing away at the table.
Zero may be a man of few words, but it looks like he had good friends. Then she remembered how one of them said Zero always had someone buy things from her cafe for him to start the day.
She brightened up and started thinking of having something new every week. She normally had two types of wares in her store. There would be five 'regular' items that one would be able to find everyday, and two items that were different - depending on the day.
So now, she would add a brand new item every Sunday and then have that rotate during the week. If she had that gimmick, would he come personally every Sunday just to check it out?
Just imagining him eating it made her smile.
If he did come, she could ask him his preference and tweak some recipes to fit it.
Lily's eyes widened when she realised what she was thinking. She hit herself on the cheeks several times, telling herself, 'he has a girlfriend. He has a girlfriend.'
Admiring him was fine.
Having more thoughts than that, however, was not.
Lily took several deep breaths and let it out slowly.
Definitely not good.
Not good at all.
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Zero headed over to the orphanage that he grew up in.
Even after Kyle had chosen him and the others to start training under him, Zero had chosen to stay at the orphanage. It was only after they had reached 18 that they left and stayed in an apartment provided by MIB.
He liked coming by here to reconnect and remember his roots.
He had been the quiet, rebellious (in his own way) type and if it hadn't been for Kyle, it was unlikely that he would have amounted to much. Somehow, Kyle had known how to reach out to him and how to help him.
For that, Zero's loyalty was sealed.
Now, Zero would try to help others just like him.
MIB would always look for new recruits amongst the children at the orphanages and the streets for potential members. As one who was now in charge of choosing such recruits, Zero always wondered how Kyle had done so when he first started.
Considering that he had been just a kid at that time.
It was a mystery that was never solved but Zero had stopped trying to figure it out.
Kyle, was Kyle.
Which is why he was rather annoyed and frustrated that the one person he trusted completely … seemed to be okay with Kai.
Kai, that pretentious, narcissistic and problematic boy.
Who dared to think Lianne was someone that he could covet.
Just thinking about it made Zero's blood boil again.
Why was Sir okay with Kai??
Despite the many hours of him lashing it out at the practice dummies, he could not figure it out. After Edward's reminder that their dummies were running out, Zero had stopped and figured it would be a good time to check out the progress of the new recruits.
Who would have thought they were all out?
Released early?
Zero figured where they went and he got on his motorbike to go there. As the others had used the car, they took slightly longer to reach due to the traffic jam. Zero just weaved in and out of traffic and managed to reach just a few minutes after they did.
Which was good, since he now got his breakfast settled for the next two weeks.
Right now, since there was nothing much to do in the office and he had basically vented out frustrations, he might as well drop by for a visit. Just as he reached the gate, one lone shout sealed his fate.
"It's Brother Zero! It's Brother Zero!!"
There were some squeals, which then increased in volume and soon, the yard was filled with excited kids rushing over.
Zero smiled softly, putting his hands up so that the bags in his hands wouldn't get squashed.
"Kids, enough," one stern voice said from the doorway, "Let him through."
They were practically surrounding Zero, their eyes shining and a couple were even hanging on his legs. He still walked slowly though, bringing those two kids along slowly as they giggled and hung on tightly.
Zero handed the bags over to Ms. Annie, the Administrator (the one who runs the orphanage). She took it carefully and admonished him, "You shouldn't have."
"I've ordered pizza for the kids dinner," Zero told her and the kids screamed in happiness. Since he arrived just near lunch time, their meals would already be prepared for lunch. Thus, he got the pizza for dinner, which would only be delivered later.
"Ethel, Jughead," Annie said sternly to the two kids on Zero's legs, "If you don't let go of Brother Zero's legs, no pizza for you."
They quickly let go, blinking innocently.
"Now, back to class everyone," Annie told them, clapping her hands. They auwwww'ed and noooooo until Zero told them that he'd be staying for lunch.
Annie gave the bags to an assistant, who then started plating it. Zero had gotten it for the ones who took care of the orphanages, and the sweets would often be used as a reward to the kids who were good, or did well.
Of course, he kept his favourite among the lot.
He was generous, but not *that*generous.
"So what is it this time? Annie asked Zero kindly.
"What? I can't come for a visit?" Zero asked sulkily.
Annie smiled, "You know you're always welcomed, dearie, but you don't usually come with this heavy cloud over your head."
Zero shook his head.
Annie just smiled, got up and patted Zero on his shoulder, "It's fine, dearie. Just take your time and relax."
Zero nodded.
Annie left him alone to his own devices, knowing that that was the best thing to do for Zero. All he wanted, was just to immerse himself in the atmosphere.
Zero just sat at one corner, watching the younger kids in the living room, doing their activities. Annie couldn't help but wish he would go out there and find someone. She viewed all the kids in the orphanages like her own children and like any mother, she wished he would settle down and find his own happiness.
Zero started munching on his secret stash, as he leaned back on the chair. He was much calmer now and decided.
Since Sir seemed to be okay with Kai, and let him know about it … yet, not say anything else could only mean one thing.
Zero started to smile.
He had been so agitated that he had missed that point.
Sir never told him to stop.
Looks like he should pay a visit to this ... Kai person.