“Hey Liana, did you hear the rumours about Ninetail? They say he slipped the perimeter, they’ve lost track of him.”

I sighed. “People will say anything.”

“You say that like we never found out anything useful from rumours before.”

“Don’t talk about work on our day off, Loren. We promised Mom, remember?”

He opened his mouth to make another snide comment, but thankfully the bell at the door cut him off. “Hello?”

I washed flour off my hands before heading out of the kitchen, smiling. “Hi! Welcome to the Sunflower cafe, can I get anything for you?”

The boy looked about seventeen, a tad short with thick black hair hanging just above his eyes. His clothes were all dark grey and black, and he had a sling bag over his left shoulder.  “Hi. I’m looking for a place to stay, I saw your ad online. Is the apartment still available?"

My intuition perked up. This kid’s looking for a place to live? “Yes….may I ask why?”

The boy avoided eye contact. “….I’d rather not say.”

My work brain activated on impulse, eyes sweeping over the boy. He looks so……ordinary.

Nothing really stood out at first glance; not particularly fit or fat or skinny. His hair was a little mussed up, but not so much that he looked messy. He looks tidy enough and his clothes are clean, so he’s probably still staying somewhere with basic amenities. 

The boy shifted uncomfortably and I realised I was staring, averting my gaze and clearing my throat. “Right, sure. Do you want to speak to my mom about it? I’ll have my brother bring her down. Loren!”

Footsteps approached from the door at the back of the cafe,my brother's gaze latching onto the boy. “What do you want? Who’s this?”

I scowled. “Don’t be so rude! This is why you’re not allowed to work front of house. This is…..?”

The boy inclined his head slightly. “Teru Kouto. You can call me Kou if you want.”

“I’m Kito Liana. This is my twin brother Loren, please excuse his rudeness. Loren, go get mom.”

He rolled his eyes. “Whatever he wants, I guarantee-”

“Mrrp?”

Loren froze halfway up the stairs. …what was that? I turned back to the boy, who had frozen up. Movement caught my eye, the half-open zipper on his sling bag shifting slightly. What the- A tuft of black fur sprouted between the teethed edges, then a cat’s head popped out of the bag and meowed.

For a few moments the three of us stared at the animal in shocked silence. Then the cat turned to face the boy and meowed a bit more insistently, and as he took the cat out to hold her he smiled sheepishly. “Um…this is Sumi?”

Loren was still staring at the cat as if Kou had pulled her out of thin air, but I wasn’t doing much better myself. “Uh…I……why is there a cat in your bag?”

Kou’s smile faded and he rubbed the back of his neck, dark brown eyes cast downwards. “I didn’t want to leave her alone in………..there. I don’t suppose this would be a good time to ask whether or not pets are allowed?”

My brother rolled his eyes and went upstairs but I ignored him, smiling slightly. He’s kinda cute.  “Yeah, pets are allowed. Can I….pet her?”

He looked down at the cat. “Um…. I don’t mind, but it’s really up to Sumi.”

I carefully reached towards her head, but the cat began to growl and he shuffled back. “Uh, I think she’s a bit cranky today. Sorry.”

“That thing better not get loose, Mr. Hanajika has a cat allergy.”

I shot my brother a glare. “It’s not that severe, and she looks very well behaved.”

My mother was right behind him, and she smiled. “Good afternoon. I am Kito Kanna, it’s nice to meet you.”

The boy turned and bowed politely in greeting. “Good afternoon. I’m Teru Kouto, but you can call me Kou if you’d like.”

Mother’s gaze landed on the cat and she smiled. “What a cute little kitty. I heard part of your conversation on the way down, her name is Sumi?”

“Yes. I came to ask about renting the apartment upstairs, is it available?”

She frowned. “Renting the upstairs apartment? At your age?” Her gaze flicked over the boy quickly. “‘Kou’…. Do you have siblings? Is there a particular reason you prefer to be called by your first name? Where is your family?”

The boy tensed up and took half a step backward, almost-black eyes avoiding our gazes. “I….um….I’d rather not say.”

Loren narrowed his eyes at the boy. “What, are you a runaway? You get in a fight with your parents and decide to take a hike?”

Mom whirled around. “Loren!”

“Just look at him! It’s obvious he’s been looked after well enough and that he lives nearby!”

What the FUCK-?! I narrowed my eyes. “That could mean any number of things! If you’re going to be an ass, get back in the kitchen and finish your work. Mom and I will handle this.”

He jabbed a finger in his direction. “What, you’re just going to go along with his little games?”

The boy shifted on his feet. “I’m living separately from my parents. We…don’t get along. Can we get back on topic pl-?”

Loren stepped forward, almost frothing at the mouth for some reason. “The fuck is that supposed to mean?!”

I planted myself between them. “Hey! Cut that out, his business is none of yours. Get back in the kitchen before you do something stupid, don’t make me say it again.”

He moved to step around me. “Fuck off, this guy is–”

I shoved him into the counter with a little more force than necessary. “I don’t know who pissed in your cereal today, but you better calm the fuck down.”

He opened his mouth to retort, but his brow furrowed as his gaze drifted past me. “Where did he go?”

What? I turned around. “What are you going on about now you-?”

It took me a second to realise I was looking at empty air. …what? There was a tinkle from the bell above the door, swinging shut in the silence. “...Kou?” 

I rushed outside and scanned the streets on either side, searching for a figure dressed in dark grey and black, but it was no use. He’s gone. I didn’t even see him move. I headed back inside. “Good job Loren, you just ran off a seventeen year old looking for a home.”

I didn’t look back as I stormed out, stalking down the street as he cursed behind me. “Liana! Wait! Hold on a second!”

Piece of SHIT- My fists pounded against the punching bag, the chain groaning and creaking as I slammed my fists into the surface over and over. It took almost ten minutes before I stopped mindlessly bashing the surface and swapped to more constructive forms, practising my jabs. …….he did look like he was running from something. Maybe he did run from home, but he didn’t look angry. He looked….anxious. Guarded. Almost scared.

My mother knocked on the frame of the open door, walking over with a bottle of water. “Still angry?”

I finished off with a right hook and scowled, sitting down on the bench “Yes.”

She sat down next to me. “I’m sure that boy is fine.”

I grit my teeth. “He would be if Loren hadn’t chosen to do his best impression of a talking trash can today.”

She sighed. “Try to make up with your brother later, please? I already gave him a warning about his behaviour today, and I always feel better when you two leave for work on good terms.”

Laughter drifted from Loren’s room, and I narrowed my eyes slightly. Sorry mom, not this time. “It’s about time to start cooking right? I’ll go get him.”

Kyoko smiled as I opened the door, my brother’s fingers entwined with her hair as she waved at me. “Hey Liana! Your brother and I were just catching up, I’m filling him in on all the latest news.”

I scoffed. “He still thinks he can root out ghouls using gossip?”

Loren scowled at me. “Say what you want, I’ll be the one laughing once we catch one.”

I put on a cyanide smile. “The same way you caught a ghoul by screaming at a seventeen-year-old?”

Kyoko frowned. “What? What are you talking about?”

Loren flashed me a warning look, and I just smiled icily. “Go ahead and explain, I’m sure she’d love to know more later. You might want to help with dinner first though.”

I turned on my heel before he could respond, and a few moments later he followed muttering curses under his breath. Mother was already done cleaning the shellfish, and I spun my knife in a circle. At least he can’t fuck this up. 

We didn’t really need to talk to each other while cooking, wordlessly exchanging ingredients and moving between prep areas. It was actually quite relaxing, and despite myself my annoyance at my brother began to fade. I should at least pretend to make up with him, just to make mom feel better. 

After the dishes were done I went to my room, calling Thella as I dropped into the chair at my desk. “Hey Thell, you got a minute?”

I could hear keys clicking on the other end of the line, probably one of her writing projects. “I always got a minute for you boo; what’s up?”

“My brother was being an ass; I need to vent. Some kid came in to ask about the apartment above the café, he mentioned he’d left home cause he had issues with his parents and Loren lost it. He looked like he wanted to sock the kid right then and there.”

The clicking paused. “Shit, really? The kid okay?”

“I guess? I don’t know, he ran while I wasn't looking." I scowled. "I wanted to break Loren's nose again when I realized he'd scared the boy off.”

“Hm……something else happen? Not to fan the flames or anything, but Loren’s always been an ass; this is worse thatn usual, sure, but the guy didn’t get hurt and your brother didn’t do anything to make it worse like chasing the kid. What’s got you up in arms about it this time?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. …why am I still mad? She was right; this was hardly the first time Loren had been an ass to someone. “I don’t know. I mean, he looked a bit young to be living alone; seventeen, maybe eighteen tops. And he seemed…nice. Polite, tidy, he even brought his cat along because he didn’t want to leave her alone wherever it was he was staying.”

Thella made a noncommittal grunt. “I guess it could be a one-time-too-many thing. You think he’ll come back?”

“I don’t know. I kinda hope he does, but at the same time it’s probably best if he stays away from Loren. Who knows what that idiot might have done if my mom and I weren’t there?”

“Woah woah woah, he did that in front of your mother?! I take it back; that IS different. Your brother’s an idiot, but threatening a kid in front of your mom? Something’s up; even Loren wouldn’t normally be that stupid. Maybe you should talk to him? I can’t think of any good reason to justify that behaviour, but you should find out what set him off either way; might help you predict another blowup.”

I hesitated. “That…its a good idea, but if I ask and it turns out to be some bullshit answer – which it probably will be – then that blows my chances of making up with him out of the water. You know how my mom gets when we leave for work on bad terms, I don’t want to worry her if I don’t have to.”

“What if you did it after you left for work? I know you don’t like lying to your mom, but if it means you can stop him from disappointing her again…”

I was already pushing my conscience with the idea of only pretending to make up with my brother; adding onto that deception with the knowledge that I’d probably end up making things worse between us was a stretch. But she’s right; this is only a temporary solution. If I can figure out what set him off I might see it coming next time. I took a deep breath in and out. “I hope you’re right. Thanks for the advice, I’ll update you tomorrow.”

I didn’t have to do much to sell my lie the next morning; all I had to do was offer Loren a coffee in front of my mom, and her smile made my guilt multiply like rabbits. The narrowing of my brother’s eyes told me wasn’t so easily convinced, but I didn’t need him to be; I just needed him to cooperate, later.

The morning was pretty standard, just patrolling the ward and preventing incidents. There were a few Anti-ghoul protesters screaming in the streets, but a stern look was usually enough warning for them to take it down a notch. My brother cast a few looks my way as we walked, but he didn’t say anything even as we headed into the office for our lunch break. I shouldn’t leave it too late, otherwise mom might pick up on it when we get back.

I waited until he’d gotten a few bites down before clearing my throat. “So…are we going to talk about yesterday?”

He paused for a moment, caught off guard, but quickly scowled. “You didn’t want to talk then. Why now?”

“You’re not the sharpest tool in the shed, but pulling that shit in front of mom is something else; wanna tell me what all that was really about?”

He looked off to the side, shoving a clump of rice in his mouth. “Why should I tell you? You’ll be pissed either way.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Yeah, but next time I might be able to help you rethink things before you do something that’ll get you scrubbing dishes at the café for the next two weeks.”

His scowl deepened as he turned to look at me again. “Oh, so you’re worried about me now? Give me a break; you’re more worried about that brat than me.”

I crossed my arms. “We’re gonna have to talk about it eventually, Loren. You wanna do it at home in front of mom, or you wanna get it done now?”

He stuffed the rest of his lunch in his mouth, muttering as he stood to put his tray away. “If I say it in front of mom you’re less likely to break my nose."

Part of me wanted to wring him like a sock puppet until he stopped being a childish little brat and told me what set him off. But this seems more serious than usual. He can be childish and a real pain in the ass, but this is different; he doesn’t usually drag it out and stew on things this long. 

I waited until the end of our shift before checking my list, glancing at my brother. "I need to restock the medical kit. Wanna come with?"

He huffed, turning around. "I'll see you at home."

For a moment I just watched him go before sighing and heading in the other direction. Well, I tried. It wasn't too far, only fifteen minutes from the house to Crata's store. The older woman smiled as I came in, smoothign back her graying hair. “Liana! Good afternoon; here to restock on medical supplies again?”

I smiled back. “Good afternoon. How’s business been?”

“Oh, same old. I did get a new helper to carry all the boxes, a sweet young man. Do you need anything over the counter?”

“Could I get a bottle of Naproxen? My brother broke his nose last month and wouldn't go to sleep without them, the big baby."

I picked out a few items as Crata opened the cabinets under the counter. There was some shuffling and the quiet creak of hinges before she clicked her tongue. “Are we out already? I could have sworn there was a bottle or two left. Teru! Could you get a box of Naproxen pills while you’re back there?”

I paused halfway to the shelves holding the gauze. ……'Teru’? Footsteps approached from the storeroom behind her. “This is the last box. Should I add this to the order for nex-?”

I turned around to find the boy with almost-black eyes standing on the other side of the counter, frozen halfway through the door with a box of pill bottles in his arms.