Rayne

Mr. Aba already knew what she wanted before she said anything because Rayne had been eating at his sushi truck since she moved to New York.

"The usual?" He smiled.

"Yes, please."

The sushi man nodded before getting to work on her dinner. She enjoyed watching the grandfather figure as he rolled, cut, and arranged the rice, fish, and fruits.

The pair never spoke much, but there seemed to be an understanding between them - a comfort, an unspoken bond.

She paid him and, as always, gave him a great tip, then hurried home to start eating.

Imp and Jade immediately hopped on the couch and tried to steal her salmon. Miss Purple just stared at them from her bed - well, her box.

Sushi always carried her back to her home country.

It didn't make her think of her parents, no. They rarely ate anything too different from their typical English food.

But it reminded her of her brother and just Japan in general. The splendid restaurants, the lovely people-

Someone rang her doorbell. Who the hell...

“Can we talk?” The boy with the freckles stood on her doorway.

She raised her eyebrows but moved and motioned for him to enter. He stood fidgeting with his car keys in the middle of her living room. The two black cats went sniffing his feet and white jeans, while the orange cat stayed lying down. She sat back down and offered him her sushi. She was glad when he declined it.

“I didn’t know who else I should talk to about this.” He started. “I know we’re not tight, and we’ve only known each other a few months, but it feels right.”

Rayne raised a dark eyebrow but waited for him to go on.

“You come from wealthy parents, too, right?”

She nodded.

“You must also know what it's like when people expect us to be something, then? Something… You’re not.”

She slowly looked in his direction and motioned a reluctant nod. Blue took off his pink leather jacket and sat down on the couch across from her. He opened his mouth to talk… And closed it, before letting down a sigh.

“This is such a rich boy’s problem, it’s embarrassing.” The young man tangled his long slender fingers through his thin curls. “I want to quit this job and be in a band.” He then covered his face with his hands and shook his head.

“Then do it.” Were the first words to come out of Rayne’s lips since Blue’s entrance in her house.

“What if-”

“Communicate with him. If you never try, you will never know.”

“I know, I know. I gave Alliyah similar advice.”

Rayne’s lips tightened as she heard the name, and she adjusted her position on the couch.

“But its easier to say than to do.” He concluded.

“Maybe so. But I talk from personal experience. Why do you think I am here in New York? I could still be living a lie in Kyoto.” She shrugged, gently lowering a shrimp nigiri in soy sauce. “But I had to change. I was only going insane being someone else.”

“Wow, I never heard you say so many words.”

“My advice booth is closed now.” She rolled her eyes, then ate her sushi, as Blue silently weighed her words.