When we slept together again that night, I moved a little closer to him, but not too much.
I didn't want him to feel like I was pushing things. I wanted our relationship to grow slowly, naturally.
Sometimes at night, my hand brushed against his arm or shoulder.
Lumi woke up before me. Half-asleep, I could hear him taking a shower, then moving around the kitchenette, making breakfast.
I stayed under the blanket, not sure if I wanted to get up or just keep enjoying the warmth.
I wanted to start the day with Lumi again – talk, laugh with him – but the cozy blanket and the smell of spices in the air made me feel so comfortable...
I almost drifted back to sleep, if not for Lumi's phone ringing.
The first time, he couldn't pick it up since he was standing by the stove, but when it rang again, it seemed like he was just ignoring it on purpose – like he already knew who was calling.
Unfortunately, whoever it was didn't give up. The phone kept ringing, again and again. It was starting to get on my nerves. I yawned and got up.
"Want me to answer it for you?" I asked.
"No."
"Can I at least mute it? Sorry, that sound looping nonstop is annoying me a bit."
"Oh, sure. Sorry if it woke you up."
"It's fine. Thanks for basically serving me breakfast in bed, though. I-I don't deserve this. You keep helping me, and I give you nothing in return."
"You're wrong. Maybe you don't notice, but I'm really happy you're here."
Was he trying to tell me something? I felt my face heat up immediately.
I hesitantly reached for Lumi's phone on the table. Just as I was about to hit the volume button, it started ringing again, vibrating in my hand. It surprised me so much I nearly dropped it.
I caught it at the last second and sighed in relief. I glanced toward Lumi, wondering if he'd seen my clumsy move – luckily, he was too busy cooking. He was humming softly to himself as he stirred something in the pan.
Then I looked at the phone screen. The contact name was weird:
"HERO GROUP H/G — DO NOT ANSWER!"
I decided to ignore it. Maybe Lumi would tell me about it someday.
As I muted the ringtone, I couldn't help wondering what had happened between him and that hero group.
Did they kill innocent insectoids in front of him, and that's why he left?
It sounded like something that could've happened to him, but… my intuition told me otherwise.
More than that, it also told me this wasn't the time to ask such difficult questions.
So I trusted that feeling.
Meanwhile, Lumi brought two colorful plates, each with a serving of omelette.
"Wow, that looks delicious!" I said, amazed.
"Enjoy," he smiled.
"You too," I replied, starting to eat.
The golden-brown eggs, the fresh chopped veggies, and just the right mix of spices – it all made me feel like I was in heaven.
Just as I finished eating, the doorbell rang. I had a weird sense of déjà vu.
"I'll get it," Lumi said, standing up.
He didn't even finish his food. Does he really put others first, even in small, everyday things like this?
While he went to the door, I decided to help out somehow. I got up, washed my dishes, and set them on the rack. It wasn't much, but…
…something great always starts with small things.
"Lumi! Long time no see, man!" a rough female voice called out.
"Oh, Echo, it's been ages," Lumi said, a bit awkwardly.
"Huh? What's with you? Don't be so stiff! We've known each other forever!"
Just as I stepped out of the kitchen, the woman entered the living room. Our eyes met.
Echo had short blue hair, lime-green eyes, black shorts, and an oversized white T-shirt. She wore a lemon-yellow puffer jacket, pink cat-ear headphones around her neck, and a guitar the same color as her hair slung over her back.
"Ohoho, I see what's going on here! You've got yourself quite the cutie – and she is an insectoid, too! Not bad. Hey there, I'm Echo," she said, reaching out her hand.
"A-A-Asael," I stammered shyly. "A-and I-I'm a guy, actually."
"No way! You look better than me!" Echo said in shock.
"Oh, stop complimenting him, or I'll get jealous," Lumi joked. "Look, you've already made him blush."
"For real! Oh my god, you're such a shy sweetie! Ooooh, and that fluffy fur – can I touch it?!" she asked, eyes sparkling like stars.
"Y-yeah," I replied quietly.
Echo ran her hand over the soft fur around my neck.
"It's so soft! Jeez, even my plushies don't feel this nice! Come here, I can't resist!"
She hugged me like we were old friends.
I was surprised – I hadn't expected anyone to react to me like that. Her enthusiasm caught me off guard. I didn't dislike it, it just felt… new. So new that it made me a little strange.
"Alright, enough of that, or Lumi's gonna smash another one of my guitars if I keep clinging to you," she said, letting go.
"Oh, come on, that was five years ago. And I did buy you a new one," Lumi said.
Echo stuck out her tongue at him. Lumi sighed. They really did act like siblings.
"Now make me some coffee, mister serious," she said, then in one fluid motion sat down on the nearest chair, grabbing her guitar. She put one earcup of her headphones on.
Only then I noticed her red-and-white sneakers and nails painted to match the headphones.
Lumi made her coffee and asked if I wanted anything too. I asked for tea.
"Oh, and food too? Awesome!" Echo only just realized the half-eaten omelette in front of her. Without asking, she finished Lumi's portion with his fork. I wanted to say something, but she was too quick.
"So, how've you been?" Lumi asked as he brought over our cups and sat next to me.
"Same old. Writing songs, lyrics, sometimes saving random people on the street," she said, plucking a single note on her guitar. "Hmm…"
"What? Something off?" Lumi asked, sounding worried.
I glanced at her curiously. Did she have some kind of sensing ability?
"The energy in this place feels… off," she said seriously.
"Oh, that's probably because I got fired," Lumi said casually.
"No way! You were good at that! What happened?"
Lumi sighed and explained everything – how he had to save me, and how Atan told him about the inspection at his apartment.
I lowered my head.
"I'm sorry… it's my fault."
"Oh, don't be silly," Echo grinned. "It's that glasses guy's fault. If I ever see him, I'll whack him on the head with my guitar, I swear. Anyway, looks like I showed up just in time, huh?"
"Oh? You've got something in mind?" Lumi asked.
"Well, since we both left Hero Group H/G for the same reasons," she said, constantly shifting on her chair, "I've been looking for a job – something where we could still feel like heroes but without having to kill anyone."
How long had they known each other? How long had Lumi been a hero before he became a cleaner and…
…met me?
I wanted so badly to know more about him, but I also knew it wasn't the right moment. So I just stayed quiet, happy to listen to them talk – happy just to be near him.
"I'm guessing you finally found something," Lumi said with a smile. "You wouldn't have dropped by otherwise."
"Oh, trust me, it's more than that. When I tell you, you'll fall off your chair so hard not even your beautiful moth here will be able to wake you up with his hot kisses, hahaha!"
My cheeks burned instantly just at the thought.
"It's not like that! We've only known each other for a few days, and –"
"– then what are you waiting for?" she laughed. "Relax, I'm just teasing you. Anyway, aside from that, I also found out some rumors about the insectoids."
"R-rumors about insectoids?" I repeated curiously.
"Apparently, it's a bigger mess than it looks. It's not that the government can't build housing fast enough – they probably could've done it long ago."
"H-huh?!" I gasped. "S-so you're saying our suffering could've been avoided, but someone wants us to suffer? B-but why?"
"More or less," Echo said, suddenly serious. "Anyway, Lumi – what if I told you there's a way for you to be a hero again, and protect insectoids too? You wouldn't make more money than you did as a cleaner, but I know that was never what mattered to you."
"Wow…" Lumi muttered, surprised. "How long have you known about this? And you're only telling me now?"
"Well, I had to make sure they were legit first. It's a new organization fighting for insectoid equality. I was skeptical at first, but they turned out to be just regular folks who want to help. They've heard about former heroes who quit because they refused to kill, and they're recruiting them – people like us. I just happened to be one of the first they found. I've always had a talent for spotting the right chances, heh. So, what do you say? Interested?"
"Tell me everything," Lumi said immediately.
I looked at him. His face was full of surprise, hope, and excitement.
I saw a spark in his eyes I hadn't seen before.
It must've been because Lumi truly wanted to help others – that thought alone made me smile wide.
Echo took a sip of her coffee, then a deep breath.
And then, she began her story.