Winter let the silence linger, then turned his gaze to Kyo, who was awkwardly pretending interest in the ceiling, clearly trying not to listen in.
Winter arched an eyebrow. "Alright, Kyo. Your turn. What's your story?"
Kyo blinked, caught off-guard. "Huh? My what?"
Winter smirked, not unkindly. "C'mon, you've been eavesdropping the whole time. Normally I wouldn't pry, but even I noticed you and No. 1 had some history. Want to tell us what that was about?"
Kyo hesitated, glancing down at his hands. He took a deep breath, the room waiting on him. Varia and Volio watched quietly from the corner, Elliot curled up protectively at Kyo's feet. Finally, Kyo spoke.
"My story, huh...?" He paused, as if searching for the words. "I'm from a village called Ranweis. It's... well, it's small, but not backward. Not huts and bonfires or anything, but not a city either. My dad—he was the glue, the handyman. If something broke, he'd fix it. If someone needed help, he was there. Everyone knew him. Everyone loved him."
He swallowed, voice tightening. "He was all I had. Charismatic, funny... a genius, really. Always tinkering with something. But there was this project he was obsessed with. Said it would change everything. He'd tell everyone that, standing in the garage, grinning like a kid on his birthday. And the whole village believed him. I did too."
Kyo drew a shaky breath, his eyes shining. "But then, one night... the wrong people found out about that project. I guess word got out. And suddenly—" He closed his eyes, fighting the memory. "Our house was on fire. It happened so fast. I remember the smoke, the heat, the way everything glowed orange."
He forced himself to continue. "My dad... he had this special jacket. Bright orange, heat-resistant, with these signature safety goggles he'd always wear. He threw the jacket and goggles at me, told me to help him save as much of his work as we could. But the fire... it was everywhere. And he... he wouldn't leave. He said he couldn't let his life's work go. Told me to run. Just run."
Kyo's hands shook, knuckles white. "I wanted to drag him out, I swear I did. But I knew...this thing he was building, it was everything to him. So I grabbed what I could, Elliot, the blueprints that he'd stuffed in the jacket pocket, and ran."
He fell silent for a moment, lost in the memory. "And outside... he was there. No. 1. Middle of the night, wearing shades, looking right at me. Grinning like he was watching his favorite show." Kyo's voice dropped, haunted. "He saw the blueprints sticking out of my jacket. I didn't even know I had them. Told me to hand them over."
Kyo's face twisted. "People from the village came running when they saw the smoke. It gave me a chance to run. He, No. 1—started tossing flaming bombs everywhere. Chased me through the village, burning everything in his way. I barely made it to the edge of town before reaching one of my dad's friends who had a UTV parked nearby and yelled for me to jump in."
He stopped, squeezing his eyes shut. "We took off down the dirt path, through the forest. I thought we were safe. But then, just as we started to calm down, something hit the back of the UTV. A cigarette lighter. The whole thing exploded. We crashed into a tree, and my dad's friend, he shoved me and Elliot out. Told me to run, to find the old fishing cabin up ahead. Said a friend of his lived there."
Kyo's voice was barely a whisper now. "I ran, holding Elliot so tight I thought I'd crush her. The rain was pouring, and I could hear him...No. 1 behind me, laughing. I ran until my legs gave out, praying he didn't see me. Eventually, I made it to the cabin. That's the night I met you, Winter. And Eldo."
He wiped at his eyes, a small, sad smile breaking through the tears. "I guess I've been running ever since."
The room was silent, the weight of Kyo's story settling over everyone. Winter's expression softened, and even Sapphire looked away, eyes shimmering sympathetically.
Elliot jumped onto Kyo's lap, purring and nudging his hand. Kyo stroked her absentmindedly, voice steadier now. "I still ware his jacket and goggles. And as for the blueprints... well there are around here somewhere. But they're all I have left of him."
Varia reached over, placing a hand on Kyo's arm. "You're not alone anymore," she whispered.
Winter nodded, his voice quiet but firm. "Well hey, You survived. That's gotta count for something."
Kyo managed a real smile through the tears. "Yeah... Yeah you're right."