My results sucks, by Shin’s standard at least.

How many A’s you ask? Don’t bother, like I really want to care. I’ll just tell my parents about it and have it be over with.

I need to work on another 2 illustrations for the weekend, it’s kind of rushed.

I packed my bag and was about to leave when xe called me.

“Avner.”

I turned to hir.

“Congratulations,” xe said.

Fidgety, nervous, cute.

“You too. Congratulations on beating Julien, you finally clinched second place.”

You didn’t need to show me such a surprised expression.

“Um.. tonight. You know.. right? Can you come..”

“I’ll be there tonight. I got the permission.”

Randell and Innis managed to persuade not only aether, but also my mom and father, somehow.

“Y-Yes?”

“I’ll be there.”

What a cute creature– shut up Avner. We’re not going to fall for hir.

“S-See you then. W-Wait for me alright..”

Finishing those words, xe dashed right off.

“I lost to hir, who would’ve thought?”

“You still got pretty good marks though?”

I turned to Julien.

“Same to you. By the way, your essay is interesting. Makes me think that maybe you've had a different life.”

“Perhaps.”

“I still find it hard to believe you made it all the way to 5th place. Must be the stress of the finals, finally getting to you, huh?”

“Nah. It’s just how it is. Anyways, I’ll be going now. My etler is waiting.”

I took off from my seat. Without turning back, I heard Julien say.

“Shin, see you around.”

===

“Are you my son?”

“Impossible.”

“Maybe we need to get another NtBM test.”

My mom and father laughed at aether’s joke.

“5 A’s, you’ve improved so much, I’m so proud of you!”

I received my mom’s warm embrace. An unexpected development. I wouldn’t say I’m not happy about it.

“Lia too, 5 A’s.”

“Big bro’s exam is more difficult, so he beats me this time.”

Xe was looking at me with a challenging gaze. I turned away.

When my mom finally parted from me, father asked where we should eat to celebrate.

It was decided that we would go to that restaurant chain with Sanada cuisine. What cuisine is that? It’s like a fusion of Thai and Indonesian, as far as I can tell.

“Oh right, you have a meeting with a friend later don’t you?”

“You should tell us about these things. Now I’m curious, who is xe?”

The food had been ordered, we were waiting for it to arrive. I sucked on my refreshing lemongrass jelly drink. Mom and aether prodded me for answers.

“Pu’er.”

“Don’t know her.”

“It’s hir.”

“Oh. My bad.”

“Is xe someone you’re close to?”

“Not particularly.”

“He’s in love with someone else.”

“Who?”

“Lia, if you say anything else, another tooth will drop you know?”

“It won’t!”

This etler of mine really..

“Then why this meeting? Or you already found two?”

“Avner, adult talk here. I do think it’s too early for you to think about love. There’s still a lot out in this world you haven’t experienced.”

“I know. That’s why I intend to reject hir.”

“I see.”

“So that.. wha?”

“It’s brutal. I know, xe invited me and I’ll be rejecting hir.”

Did I say too much? The mood has turned awkward somehow.

“If that’s how you want to handle it then.. I suppose it’s alright. But tell hir that it’s alright to continue to become friends..”

“Pick your words carefully, Avner.”

“Why didn’t you just reject hir online? That would’ve saved hir a lot of trouble to come.”

Why? I don’t know either. Maybe I just wanted to make a clear statement. Nothing clearer than direct confrontation, right?

“Sometimes it’s better to say it straight.”

Aether nodded in agreement to my words.

The food came, beautifully plated. We dug in, putting our conversation on hold.

===

“Stay safe and be careful. If anything, tell Randell to call for help.”

“I will, thank you mom, father, aether, Lia.”

“Good luck big bro. Film the entire process for me, alright?”

No sir do. Jerk.

My family basically just dropped me at the park, leaving me to handle it alone. The park is located close to my home, so once I’m done with this whatever-confessions. I can just walk back.

And just in case xe doesn’t come, I said that I’ll be returning home by 8:30pm at the latest.

I sat on the park bench and waited. This housing district is located on a hill, and the bench overlooked the cityscape below.

Large buildings with a crazy number of holograms. Some were probably only a few pixels big, and I can’t even make out the message.

I still find it hard to believe I got dropped in this world. I wonder when I’ll get used to it.

I leaned against the bench and looked up to the sky.

[Aquarius can be seen from here.]

Randell created markers and linked the dots. I could barely see two stars, the others weren’t even there.

“Thank you Randell.”

[You’re welcome.]

“Not that. I mean, thank you for existing.”

[Can’t comprehend. Thank you Avner, Shin.]

You’ve been a great help. Really.

I closed my eyes and waited, focusing my ears.

The chilly autumn breeze blew, winter was coming. I was thinking maybe I should’ve brought my jacket.

I would open my eyes and check the time, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes.

Xe’s really late.

Though, it’s not bad to be in silence like this. I got to process a few key pieces of the story and how I should proceed.

I thought to leave in another 10 minutes when I heard footsteps.

Pu’er walking pace is something Avner is familiar with. This wasn’t hir.

I opened my eyes.

Oddly enough, it was hir.

Was.

“Master Avner.”

“Pu’er Julis.”

Now the missing bits add up.

I just didn’t expect it to happen so soon.