"Hacking is not a crime. It's a survival tactic," I reiterated to Kaius, my frustration mounting with each repetition.
"Whatever, I despise your job. Out of all the jobs in the world, you chose hacking, and that too working undercover. It's dangerous," Kaius retorted, his frustration mirroring my own.
"Working undercover is not a bad idea in my opinion," I countered, my fingers dancing across the keyboard in a frenzied blur.
"For goodness' sake, you have a master's degree in medicine. Why not be a doctor?" Kaius's questions bombarded me, piercing through my concentration and leaving me momentarily distracted.
"And why even bother coming here, Rei, when all you do is keep typing whatever stuff I don't understand?" Kaius muttered, frustration evident in his voice as he removed his headgear.
"Could you not talk for some time? I can't concentrate," I snapped, my eyes fixed unwaveringly on the screen before me.
After a few minutes of intense focus, I finally shut my laptop. I had been on the verge of wrapping up anyway.
"I was watching you. I only started working when you reached the finish line, and try to maintain the speed; it's irregular," I remarked, gathering my belongings and preparing to leave.
"And don't talk about my work. If mine is dangerous, so is yours. You could die anytime," I sighed, leaning back in my chair.
Kaius looked visibly offended, a reaction that had become all too familiar in our conversations lately.
His newfound relationship with Cyra seemed to have made him more protective, not just of her but of me as well.
"I don't even know why we're having this conversation now. When's your match?" I asked, attempting to change the subject.
"In two days," he replied tersely, his frustration still lingering in the air.
"Wanna grab a drink?" I suggested, trying to lighten the mood with a half-smirk.
"Rei, it's still too early for a drink. Wanna accompany me somewhere?" Kaius proposed, already dressed in casual attire after shedding his biker gear.
"Sure, where are we going?" I inquired as I started the car.
"I want to get a tattoo," he announced, his voice firm with determination.
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.
.
And that's how we ended up in a tattoo shop, Kaius bravely enduring the needle's sting as the tattoo artist worked diligently on his arm.
He hadn't revealed the design he'd chosen, keeping it a mystery until the very end.
Despite his tough exterior and muscular frame, Kaius couldn't hide his apprehension at the sight of the needle, his stoic facade giving way to the occasional whimper of discomfort.
Meanwhile, I sat nearby, nursing a cup of coffee that seemed to take an eternity to finish.
The aroma of freshly brewed java wafted through the air, providing a comforting distraction from Kaius's occasional yelps of pain.
With each sip, I watched as the tattoo gradually took shape on his skin, marveling at the intricacy of the design he had chosen.
Despite his fear of needles, Kaius remained resolute, his determination to conquer his fears evident in the way he gritted his teeth and endured the discomfort.
And as the tattoo artist put the finishing touches on his masterpiece, I couldn't help but laugh and chuckle of my friend's bravery in the face of adversity.
.
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"Wisteria?" I couldn't help but burst into laughter as soon as I caught sight of Kaius's tattoo—a delicate branch of wisteria flowers adorning his arm, small and charming.
"Cyra told me she liked wisteria flowers when we went to Osaka. She said it symbolizes love and enchantment," Kaius explained, his voice tinged with affection as he traced the outline of his tattoo with a fond smile.
I cringed inwardly at his heartfelt backstory, struggling to conceal my reaction behind a facade of amusement.
"Rei! You look like you're about to puke, are you okay?" Kaius inquired, his concern evident as he scrutinized my expression.
"I'm alright, just trying hard not to cringe at you guys. Love surely makes people do crazy stuff," I chuckled, attempting to brush off my discomfort as we decided to leave the tattoo shop and head for some much-needed drinks.
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.
.
"Oh, baby! You didn't have to, oh my god, I think I'm going to cry," Cyra exclaimed, her voice filled with emotion as she clung to Kaius's arm, examining his new tattoo with adoration.
I pressed my lips into a thin line, resigning myself to the familiar role of the third wheeler. But hey, at least there were free food and drinks involved.
Despite the tempting offer of getting wasted, my mood veered towards hitting the dance floor instead.
Just as the rhythm of the music began to pull me in, I received a text message from Faye, informing me of a breakthrough in our investigation.
Excusing myself from the bar, I made a quick call to Denver, the head of the PEZ agency, to report the news.
"Rei on call, code green," I announced, my tone professional and focused.
Denver's chuckle echoed through the line before he issued his instructions with a sense of urgency.
"Ask Faye to get him before dusk. I want him in my office within dusk," he commanded, his voice deliberate and resolute.
"Understood," I replied before ending the call and relaying the information to Faye.
Finally, some progress. The thought of sleep beckoned to me, promising a much-needed respite from the chaos of the day.
As I made my way home, I couldn't help but smile at the prospect of slipping into bed and surrendering to the blissful embrace of sleep.
After all, there's only one true happiness in this life—to sleep and eat.