Sana woke up, unsure of the time, and stretched lazily. She tied her hair back, brushed her teeth, and headed straight to the kitchen for tea. It was her habit to drink tea as soon as she woke up.
"Goooddd morrrniinnnggg everyone!" Sana greeted cheerfully in a whimsical tone, her voice full of energy. It surprised even her; her body felt lightweight that morning, as if some unseen burden had lifted. For a brief moment, her introverted nature disappeared entirely.
All three of them turned to look at her, their expressions caught somewhere between confusion and amusement.
"Good morning," Isabel replied hesitantly, her tone unsure.
Sana blinked, noticing their stares. "What happened to you all? Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, puzzled.
"Nothing," Levi said, sipping his tea with his usual nonchalance. "Have your tea and get ready. We're going out in a little while."
"Okk," Sana replied, her tone sing-song.
As she sat down with her tea, she realized that such cheerful morning greetings were probably unfamiliar to people living in the underground. The thought tugged at her heart—she wished she could do something to bring a smile to their faces.
After tea, she took a bath and changed into her clothes, which were finally dry. Her outfit felt comforting and familiar, but she wished for an extra pair of clothing. Reflecting on her rest, she realized it was the best sleep she'd had in ages.
Everyone else was also getting ready. Isabel looked particularly lovely, her reddish hair catching the dim light. Sana couldn't resist the urge to see Isabel with her hair styled differently.
"Oye, Isabel, come here," she called out.
Curious, Isabel came closer, and Sana gently undid her ponytail. She brushed Isabel's reddish hair back and clipped it into a half-up style. The long, flowing strands framed Isabel's face beautifully.
"Your hair looks amazing like this," Sana said, stepping back to admire her handiwork.
Levi and Farlan walked over, noticing the change.
"Did you do your hair yourself?" Levi asked Isabel.
"Nah, Sana did it for me," Isabel replied with a grin.
"So, is everyone ready?" Levi asked, looking around. "Let's go."
They left the house and started walking through the underground streets. Sana couldn't help but notice the same grim faces and suspicious glares from the locals. The oppressive atmosphere made her uneasy.
"It's a lowly place," Farlan said, noticing her discomfort. "Don't look at them."
Just then, someone slammed into Sana.
"Sorry, I…" she began, stumbling over her words.
"Don't you have eyes?" the man snapped, grabbing her by the shoulders and yelling in her face.
Before she could respond, someone else grabbed the man by the collar and threw him to the ground with a force that left him groaning in pain.
It was Levi. His movements were so fast that Sana barely registered what had happened. The man lay on the ground, clutching his side, as Levi turned away without a word. They continued walking.
Moments later, another attacker lunged at them from behind with a weapon. In the blink of an eye, Levi had already disarmed him, leaving the would-be assailant writhing on the ground. Levi's hand was bloodied, but his expression remained calm, almost bored. Seeing him in action was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
They arrived at a bustling area filled with shops and stalls.
"It's the shopping district," Farlan explained, pointing ahead.
The lively atmosphere contrasted sharply with the rest of the underground. Crowds of people moved from stall to stall, bartering and buying goods.
Isabel ran ahead, stopping in front of a clothing shop. "Aniki! I want this dress!" she said, her eyes practically sparkling with excitement.
Levi sighed, crossing his arms. "You'll wear it once and never touch it again. It's a waste."
Isabel's eyes turned watery, her bottom lip trembling.
Levi pinched the bridge of his nose. "Alright, fine. You can get it," he said in a softer tone.
They entered the shop, and Sana couldn't help but feel a wave of warmth as she watched the exchange.
"Oye, Sana, how about this dress?" Levi asked, holding up a simple yet elegant outfit.
Sana blinked in surprise. She hadn't expected them to think about her needs without her saying anything. "Yes, it's great," she replied with a grateful smile.
Isabel grabbed a set of clothes for Sana while Farlan browsed for additional items.
"You don't have to stick to a particular style for me," Sana said, noticing they were picking outfits similar to what she was already wearing. "I wear all kinds of clothes, but I can't use 3D gear in a one-piece dress."
They nodded, taking her practical suggestion into account.
As they shopped, Sana stepped back, watching them from a distance. Something about the scene touched her deeply.
No one had ever done this for her before.
Her mind drifted back to her childhood. Her parents had never been a loving couple. Her mother worked tirelessly for the family, but her father was distant, barely acknowledging her existence. She didn't even know what it felt like to have a father's love.
Now, here she was, with people who treated her like family, even if they weren't related by blood. They weren't just buying her clothes—they were making her feel seen and cared for.
Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling over before she could stop them. Her face felt hot as she wiped at her cheeks.
"Ahhhhhhhhhh! Aniki, see, you made her cry! I told you we should've bought another dress!" Isabel exclaimed dramatically.
"Oye, why are you crying, Sana?" Farlan asked, his brow furrowed with concern.
"It's nothing," she said, sniffling and smiling through her tears. "Thank you so much for doing this for me."
They completed their shopping, picking up accessories and other essentials before heading to a nearby restaurant for dinner.
The restaurant was noisy and lively, with patrons crowding every corner. The owner stood in the center, announcing a fistfight contest.
"What's this? So, I've won again, hm? Is everybody in this joint a little weakling? Y'all should be ashamed. Hey, you underground hoods over there, come on and show some guts!" he challenged loudly. "That's right… if ya beat me, not only is your meal free, but I'll give you anything you want! If it comes down to it, ya can even take my old lady!"
"Darling! What a thing to say just because you don't think you'll lose!" his wife scolded.
Levi stood up, walking toward the ring without a word. Isabel cheered him on, while Farlan looked nervous.
The proprietor smirked. "I've been wantin' to test myself against ya. Dunno how strong ya really are, but let's see if that scrawny arm strength o' yours can beat me."
"Don't make us take his old lady," Farlan muttered anxiously.
"Here we go. Ready… Set… Go!"
The fight was over in seconds. Levi won effortlessly.
"Victory is mine," he said coolly, walking toward the proprietor's wife.
The woman blushed.
"Please, don't take my old lady!" the proprietor begged, throwing himself at Levi's feet.
Levi smirked and took the rare tea leaves as his prize. They left the restaurant shortly after.
As they walked, Sana heard the rhythmic sound of hammering from a nearby shop. She stopped, drawn to the sight of a blacksmith at work. The steady clang of metal on metal mesmerized her, and she stood watching for a moment.
"Oye, Sana, we're heading back. Do you want anything?" Levi called.
"No," she said softly, tearing her gaze away and following them back home.