Three days after the meeting with Hana, another message arrived from Nox. This time not through a phone, but through a brown envelope that had somehow been slipped under their apartment door at dawn. No trace of the sender. No sound. Just the envelope, silent and cold on the floor.

  Its contents were brief: an address, a digital code, and a simple hand-drawn map.

  The old place is no longer safe. Move to this address. Keys and biometric identifiers are already programmed for the three of you. Hana already knows. Leave before sunset.

  —N

  "The three of us?" Akari frowned, reading the letter. "You mean... Hana's coming?"

  As if answering her question, Azure's phone vibrated. A message from Hana, sent through the same encrypted channel.

  I got a message from Nox too. Told to move to a new place. She said it's safer. I've already packed. Heading there now. When are you guys coming?

  Akari sighed deeply. "I thought we'd have some time alone. Turns out Nox has already arranged everything."

  Azure didn't answer. His mind wandered to Hana's apartment filled with books and keychains, and how different that girl's world was from theirs.

  The new place turned out to be... incredible.

  Located in a quieter district, on the northern outskirts of Asterion—an old residential area abandoned by the elite for being considered "less prestigious," but which made it perfect for hiding. The building was a two-story townhouse with exposed brick walls and large windows facing a small garden in the back.

  As soon as the door opened—with a fingerprint scan that instantly recognized Azure and Akari—they were greeted by a sight that made Akari whistle softly.

  A spacious living room with comfortable black leather sofas. Gleaming wooden floors. An open-plan kitchen with minimalist cabinetry and complete appliances still in their plastic wrap. In the corner, three gaming computers with specifications that—even for a machinery expert like Akari—looked like a nightmare for the Federation's security systems. Large curved monitors, liquid cooling, and perfect cable management.

  "Holy..." Akari walked over to the computers, eyes sparkling. "This... this isn't a computer. This is a masterpiece. Latest generation processor, 128 GB RAM, dual GPUs—" she kissed the computer case. "I could cry."

  Azure raised an eyebrow. "You're kissing a computer?"

  "This is an expression of appreciation, Azure. You don't understand."

  From behind them, a small voice was heard. "I'm... already here."

  Hana stood at the doorstep, dragging a small pastel-colored suitcase covered in anime character stickers. On her back, a large backpack with additional dangling keychains swayed. Her eyes widened seeing the room.

  "Wow..."

  She entered slowly, her fingers touching the walls, the table, then—upon seeing the computers—she stopped completely. Her expression changed. Serious. Focused.

  "This... is for us?"

  "Looks like it," Azure replied.

  Hana walked toward the computers, opening a program with swift movements. Her eyes moved rapidly, reading data on the screen. "Quantum encrypted connection. Adaptive firewall. Dedicated bandwidth undetectable by any ISP. And..." she pressed a few keys, "...this route uses an old military satellite that's been deleted from official databases. Untraceable. Unmonitorable."

  She turned around, face glowing. "This is heaven."

  Akari and Azure exchanged glances. Two geniuses mesmerized by machines. They would be fine.

  The problem arose when night fell.

  The house had two bedrooms. One downstairs, one upstairs. Both were fairly large, with queen-sized beds and built-in wardrobes. But still, only two.

  Azure stood in the middle of the living room, looking at the stairs leading upstairs, then at the downstairs bedroom door, then at the long sofa behind him.

  "I'll sleep on the sofa," he said flatly.

  "No."

  Two voices in unison. Akari and Hana.

  Azure turned. Akari stood with hands on her hips, her classic tsundere expression. Hana beside her, shaking her head slightly with a serious face—an expression that looked strange on her cute features.

  "There are two rooms," Akari said. "You don't need to be a martyr."

  "The sofa's comfortable," Azure countered. "I've slept in worse places."

  "It's not about comfort or not!" Akari cut in. "It's about—" she searched for words, then pointed at Azure. "You're part of the team. The team sleeps in decent places."

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  "You're also part of the team. You also need decent places."

  "We already have rooms!"

  "This sofa is also decent."

  Akari growled in frustration. "AZURE. LISTEN. I DON'T FEEL LIKE DEBATING. YOU SLEEP IN THE ROOM. END OF STORY."

  Hana raised her hand, shyly. "I... I have an idea."

  They looked at her.

  Hana looked down, her fingers playing with the edge of her shirt. "There are... two rooms. But they're big. The beds are big too. So... we could... sleep together? I mean—" her face flushed, "—not together together. But share the room. To be fair."

  Akari froze. So did Azure.

  "What Hana means," Akari tried to translate, her voice slightly choked, "we... rearrange. One room for the girls together, one room for Azure alone? That?"

  Hana shook her head. "No. I mean... the three of us sleep in one room, so the other room can be a workspace or storage. Safer if something happens at night. We can watch each other's backs."

  Silence.

  Azure opened his mouth, then closed it again. Akari stared at Hana with an expression mixing shock and... what was that? Embarrassment?

  "Hani," Akari said slowly, "do you realize what you're suggesting is... kind of..."

  "Weird?" Hana looked at her innocently. "But logical. If the Federation suddenly raids at night, we can react more easily if we're gathered. Besides, we can take turns keeping watch at night. And—" she added in a tone of technical explanation, "—collective body heat could save room heating energy."

  Akari covered her face with her hands. "She's calculating energy efficiency as a reason for sleeping together. I can't handle this."

  Azure, on the other hand, could only stare at the ceiling. How did his life suddenly go from a solitary Null in an archive warehouse, to a discussion about sleeping together with two girls in a safe house?

  "I'm still sleeping on the sofa," he said firmly.

  "WHY ARE YOU SO STUBBORN?!" Akari nearly shouted.

  "Because you need privacy."

  "PRIVACY FOR WHAT?!"

  The question escaped before Akari could think. Once the words hung in the air, she immediately fell silent. Her face rapidly turned red.

  "I-I meant—"

  Azure looked at her. "Are you sure?"

  "THAT'S NOT—I DIDN'T MEAN—" Akari took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Her voice dropped a few octaves, but still trembled. "Azure. Listen. We're... a team. We've been through a lot together. You don't need to sacrifice your comfort for us. Besides..." she looked down, her voice nearly a whisper. "I... don't mind. If you're nearby. I mean... just in case. Security."

  Azure was silent. In the corner of his eye, he saw Hana smile slightly—a knowing smile.

  "I don't mind either," Hana said softly. "I've... slept alone for a long time. It feels... calmer when there are other people nearby. Even though..." she looked at Azure, "...you're a boy. But you're kind. I trust you."

  Two pairs of eyes stared at Azure, waiting.

  Azure sighed deeply. "You two really won't give up, will you?"

  "NO!" in unison.

  He scratched the back of his head, frustrated. "Fine. But there are rules."

  Akari raised an eyebrow. "Rules?"

  "First. I sleep on the floor. Not on the bed."

  "BUT—"

  "That's non-negotiable," Azure cut in firmly. "I will not share a bed with both of you. That's... inappropriate."

  Hana nodded understandingly. Akari opened her mouth to argue, but seeing Azure's serious expression, she closed it again.

  "Second. If you need to change clothes or anything, I'll step out. Give me five minutes."

  "That's just basic decency," Akari muttered.

  "Third." Azure looked at them in turn. "If anyone feels uncomfortable, anytime, say so. I'll immediately move to the sofa. Promise?"

  Hana nodded enthusiastically. Akari snorted, but finally nodded. "Okay. But I still protest about you sleeping on the floor."

  "File the protest for later."

  That night, they rearranged the upstairs room.

  The queen-sized bed remained in place—for Akari and Hana. Azure set up a "command post" in the corner of the room: a thin mattress found in the closet, spare blankets, and a slightly deflated pillow. From there, he could clearly see the door and window—a position instinctively chosen by his shadow instincts.

  Hana had already changed into pajamas—a flannel set with cute sleeping bear prints. She sat on the edge of the bed, hugging a body pillow also featuring anime characters.

  "I like this," she said suddenly.

  Akari, who was combing her blue hair in front of the mirror, turned. "Like what?"

  "This. Having sleep companions." Hana smiled slightly. "It feels... warm."

  Akari didn't answer, but her face softened. She put down the comb, then sat beside Hana. "Yeah. Not bad."

  Azure lay on his mat, staring at the ceiling. Outside, the sounds of Asterion city were faint—traffic hum, occasional sirens, and the rumble of holograms that never truly died. But inside this room, there was a different silence. Comfortable.

  "Azure," Hana called softly.

  "Hm?"

  "I'm glad you're here. I mean... in this team. On this mission. In..." she searched for words, "...this house."

  Azure turned his head. Under the dim light of the night lamp, Hana looked like a living doll—fragile but real.

  "Me too," he said honestly.

  "Ah, so sweet~" Akari teased from the bed, her voice full of sarcasm. "Don't forget I'm here too."

  "You too," Azure said. "Even though you get angry easily."

  "I DO NOT—" Akari stopped, took a breath. Her voice lowered. "Okay, I do get angry easily. But you two are too much."

  Hana laughed softly. A small laugh rarely heard, like wind chimes at night.

  They chatted lightly until late. Hana talked about her sister, about sweet childhood memories. Akari talked about her workshop in Zapire, about old machines more loyal than humans. Azure talked about his father, about the Eastern District before everything was destroyed.

  For the first time, Azure realized that sharing wounds wasn't always painful. Sometimes, it made the wounds feel lighter. Like a burden divided into three.

  When they finally slept—Akari and Hana on the bed, Azure on his mat—silence returned. But this time, a warm silence.

  In the middle of the night, Azure woke to the sound of movement. He opened his eyes, alert. But all he saw was Hana, who had somehow rolled until nearly falling off the bed. Reflexively, Azure extended his hand—not to touch, but to guide the pillow so Hana wouldn't fall.

  Hana only murmured in her sleep, "Quantum... encryption... don't forget the key..." then quieted again.

  Azure smiled slightly. Even in sleep, she was thinking about codes.

  From the bed, Akari's voice was faintly heard. "Azure..."

  He turned. Akari was half-sitting up, her eyes still hazy with sleep.

  "You... okay?"

  "I'm okay. Go back to sleep."

  Akari nodded, then lay back down. But before her eyes closed, she said softly, "Thanks... for being here."

  Azure didn't answer. But his smile widened slightly in the dark.

  The next morning, Azure woke with something soft on his face. He opened his eyes—and saw Hana sitting beside his mat, carefully placing an extra blanket over him.

  "Morning," Hana whispered, smiling shyly. "I... was worried you might be cold. The floor is hard."

  From the bed, Akari's half-asleep voice was heard. "Hani... don't embarrass him... first thing in the morning..."

  Hana smiled widely, then returned to the bed.

  Azure lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling. From the kitchen, the aroma of coffee began to waft—probably an automatic machine Hana had programmed. Outside, the Asterion sun began to rise, bringing its characteristic false light. But inside this small room, the light felt different. Real. Warm.

  And for the first time in this long journey, Azure felt... he might have found something more valuable than revenge.

  A home.

  (To be continued)

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