Noah notices Ouran's drop in mood and tries to lift their spirits by asking more questions. "So, you're saying Judas told you all of this himself? Have you two become friends?"
"Ha! Friends? No, don't insult me. I'm no more interested in being friends with that jerk-off than he is with me. We're just mutually beneficial to each other's desires. We both want to see the world burn, and working together is the best way to do it. Though I've already declared that when the time comes, I won't be letting you go without a fight. He wants to kill you, but I want you to be mine, so he and I will have to settle that. But that's not going to happen for a while, so it's all good. It's actually because of him that I enrolled at the academy. He was able to help me get approval for transfer as a foreign exchange student—as far as the council was told, anyway—all for the purpose of watching you and introducing you to your history and our world when the time came. That time is now, and that's why we're here. Though, this is also for my own desires as I've been dying to get your attention. You've always ignored me every time I tried to approach you in school."
"You've approached me? I've never met you before that day in the clinic."
"Aw, that's so terrible, Helios. You really don't pay attention to anyone, do you? I've talked to you several times and flirted as well. You always just acted like I wasn't there, spacing out and acting all emotionless. We're also in different classes, so I guess there's that factor as well."
"Wow, I seriously don't remember you. I'm sorry. I'm just not the friend type of guy and also, no offense to you, but I'm not really into guys either. I know you're technically both, but…well, either way, I'm not interested in relationships with anyone right now. Love isn't something I do."
"I figured as much, but that's not going to deter me. I'm interested in you, Helios, and I'll do whatever it takes to make you like me. If that means being a girl for you, then I will. You can refer to me as 'she,' and I'll even change my appearance to look even girlier. I have the necessary part already; you can just ignore the other part if it's easier. I'll even cut it off if it'll make you happy."
"Whoa, hold on there, Ouran. I don't want you to do any of that. Wasn't it you who just said that defining yourself as one or the other would be denying who you are? You shouldn't change who you are for anyone, not even me, no matter how much you love me. It won't change how I feel."
Ouran's face falls, their expression tinged with sadness and disappointment. Noah almost feels guilty about being so blunt, but he knows it's for the best. He doesn't want to lead Ouran on or give them false hope. Ouran doesn't seem like a bad person, but they live within darkness.
"Here we are! Sorry about the wait, you two. We just wanted to make sure you received only the finest cut of meat as our special guest of the evening. Here's a nice slab of premium cut meat for you, Helios, and a large jug of the finest juice around. For you, Ouran, we have your favorite meat pie and ale."
As Sheila places the plate down in front of them, Ouran's glum expression brightens up, and they're excited again. Noah chuckles. "I guess you bounce back fast, huh?" Then, he looks at his plate. It's a huge slab of meat, with a side of potatoes and broccoli. "Wow, this looks delicious!" He takes a bite and his eyes light up. "Delicious!"
Sheila smiles. "Well, I'm very happy you like it; I'll be sure to let the chef know. Can I get you anything else?" Noah looks up to see that Sheila has yellow, slit-like eyes. She must be some kind of snake creature, he thinks.
Ouran answers for them both. "I think my friend is gonna want more of that, and you can keep his juice coming. I'm sure he's going to want a lot more. I think I'm fine, thanks a lot, Sheila."
"Of course. I'll have the chef prepare more right away, and I'll keep the juice flowing. Enjoy!"
Noah eats his meat so quickly that he's more than halfway done within minutes. He takes several large gulps of juice, then finally takes a break to look at Ouran. "This is freaking delicious! This is the best I've had!"
"Of course it is. There's not a Junsui alive who wouldn't relish such deliciousness. You've never had anything like this because those uptight humans would never offer such treats. So enjoy it."
"Yeah, that's true. I'm definitely not getting steak as good as this when I'm back. Tahno's a cheap ass, so he's always getting the discount stuff. My tomato juice has nothing on this either."
Ouran just smiles, deciding to let Noah enjoy his meal for now. They enjoy their meal as well.
"Here we are, another round of meat and juice for our friend Helios." Sheila places it down and takes his empty plate.
"Thank you, it seriously is delicious! Oh, and please call me Noah—it's the name I'm used to, you know?"
"Oh, my apologies. Of course, Noah. Can I get you anything else? Another serving?"
"No, this is fine. I could have another, but I won't. Definitely keep that juice coming, though."
"Of course." Sheila smiles and then walks away to tend to her other tables.
As Noah and Ouran continue to chow down, the atmosphere around them seems to become more comfortable, almost serene. It's as if the food and drink have momentarily lifted the heavy weight of their earlier conversation. The warmth of the inn, the low hum of conversation from other patrons, and the clinking of cutlery against plates create a soothing backdrop.
Noah takes a moment to look around the inn, noticing the diversity of the patrons. It's a mix of creatures he's never seen before—some with scales, others with wings, and a few who look almost human, but with an eerie twist. It's a strange and fascinating world he's stepped into, and for the first time in a long while, he doesn't feel entirely out of place.
He turns back to Ouran, who's savoring their meat pie with a contented smile. "You really love this place, don't you?"
Ouran looks up, their eyes gleaming. "Yeah, I do. It's one of the few places where I feel…normal, I guess. No one here cares about what I am, they just accept it. It's nice to have that, you know?"
Noah nods, understanding the sentiment. "Yeah, I think I get it. This place…it's different, but it feels kind of right."
Ouran smiles softly, a glimmer of something deeper in their eyes. "I'm glad you're here, Noah. Even if you don't remember all the times I tried to talk to you before, I'm glad we're finally talking now."
Noah feels a pang of guilt but pushes it aside. "I'm glad we're talking too. It's…nice, to have someone to talk to about all this. Even if it's a lot to take in."
Ouran's smile widens. "You'll get used to it. I'll be here to help you, every step of the way."
As they continue to eat, a cloaked figure watches them from across the room, their gaze fixed intently on Noah. The figure's presence goes unnoticed by both Noah and Ouran, but there's a sense of foreboding in the air—a quiet tension that lingers, unnoticed but present.
Noah is too engrossed in the conversation and the food to notice the figure, but something about the atmosphere of the inn has shifted. He can't quite put his finger on it, but there's an undercurrent of unease that he can't shake. As he takes another bite of the delicious meat, he tries to push the feeling away, focusing instead on the here and now, on the strange yet comforting world that Ouran has introduced him to.
But deep down, he knows that this peaceful moment is fleeting, that the world outside this inn is full of dangers he's only just beginning to understand. And as much as he wants to believe he can trust Ouran, a part of him remains wary, uncertain of what lies ahead.
For now, he'll enjoy the meal, the company, and the brief respite from the chaos of his life. Whatever comes next, he'll face it when it comes. But in the back of his mind, he can't shake the feeling that something—or someone—is watching him, waiting for the right moment to strike.