"So, the two of you live here alone"?

It was a rhetorical question, but Raiha didn't want to answer it now. Instead, she busied herself with extricating an unused tablecloth from one of the cabinets and laying it out on the table, hoping Max would drop the question and forget about it.

Which turned out to be a big mistake.

"We've been here for some time now, and I haven't seen any of your parents around", he continued, his tone now sounding a bit more desperate for answers. "Where are they"?

Sayuri was still fast asleep, so she didn't answer him, but Raiha turned to stare at him hard, eyes fixing the purple EVA with a magnetic gaze only girls were capable of. He really didn't know when to stop, did he?

"That's the fifth time you asked me that question", she hissed at him in annoyance. "Don't you know when to quit already"?

She expected him to fire back an angry remark, or laugh off her irritation and try again, but the only emotion she detected in those narrow white eyes of his was, surprisingly, concern.

"I don't mean to be rude. I'm just confused", he replied, dipping his head slightly as he lifted a stack of plates and put them back in the rack. "I don't see your parents around, and I've never heard you talk to them over the phone either. Do they live far away? Are they...gone"?

Raiha lowered her gaze at the last word, unwilling to look at him. She knew he was only curious, but his questions felt like they were coming out of the mouths of her bullies years ago. It was only a matter of time before the insults and mockery came flying...

Though they never did.

A soft chirp brushed the insides of her ears before she felt the swipe of a warm, wet tongue against her forehead. She looked up to see Max kneeling in front of her, his warm exhales blowing her bangs back and his eyes narrowed to white slits. His feathered wings were enclosed around her, drawing her closer to his chest, and for a moment she wondered what would happen if Klavdiya walked in on them right now.

"She won't mind", Max murmured, a for a moment, Raiha was startled by just how low his voice was now. "The majority of my friends are girls rather than boys".

"Why"? she asked him back.

"Igor never liked me much, as you already know, and there weren't many boys who lived around my place growing up", Max explained, horn twitching as he recounted his memories. "The girls found me endearing, however, so they stayed as my friends instead".

"Though I can assure you, with the exception of Diya, we're on platonic terms", he clarified, in response to the puzzled look on Raiha's face.

"I see".

"Well, what's up here then"? he asked. "Are your parents working out of Tokyo"?

"Well...they are"...Raiha murmured, though her voice got lower with every word. "As EVA pilots"...

"You don't say", Max mused. "Why're you so reluctant to admit it"?

"I have my reasons", Raiha stated firmly.