This was supposed to be easy, after many adventures I just wanted to see ... Skylor.

It's been a while without seeing her, and seeing how her sister Nya goes out with Jay many times just makes her think that he's wasted a lot of time with her, just thinking that he ... well, he wasn't very faithful to her . They stopped seeing each other after saving the city from a giant stone colossus created by Garmadon, and since then he has not seen it, not even when he goes to the city to guard or stop a crime, they have only called or sent each other messages, but honestly, Kai thinks this has already turned into a long-distance relationship, and he's heard from Jay that those relationships hardly work. Because, what is the use of having a partner if you are not all day with her face to face and able to speak normally?

And he also thought that maybe it was time to tell her how he really felt about her. Maybe that way they have an agreement that they can see each other more often and not be calling and texting all the time. The only problem was ... he didn't know how to tell Skylor how he felt about her.

I try to practice in front of a mirror, but that was kind of silly for him. Then I try to talk to Jay, or Zane at least about how I can talk to the girls. Which was kind of weird since he was the typical flirt with the girls on the team, but when he was with Skylor, the "flirtatious Kai" was not present, rather it was "normal Kai" the flirtatious and self-centered of himself. I was very far from him. Which seemed crazy and weird to him.

The opportunity to speak with Skylor may be today, after all today they had to watch the city with the Ship, it may be a good opportunity to speak with her at the restaurant. But so that the boys would not suspect her desperation to go with her, she invented the excuse of going out to the city for a while at night to take a moment. The others had no problem with it, after all they were having at least normal times on the Ship and in the city. But Nya had told him not to arrive so late to the ship, if Kai did not know her he would say that at that moment she had behaved like an overprotective mother with him.

Well, it wasn't the first time that she had behaved like this with him. He had already had moments like this with her, even since they were children.

But something had bothered him the moment he got off the ship and walked directly to Chen's restaurant, he felt like he had a million angry bees in his stomach, (he would have been calmer if he felt better butterflies like normal people) She was even sweating a little, the truth had been a long time without seeing her head on again. And he didn't think about what she would say to him, that was what scared him, her "answer." Would you accept it? That I did not know, I even, would you tell him that it is not a good time? She had a job, a different one than hers, what she did was normal, and it was something she wanted while she was still a "prisoner" of her father's evil plans while she was living on the island. And what he was doing was something ... dangerous and daring, the opposite of normal. And if he was honest with himself, he would also like to at least live the life of a normal boy his age, have a job or live with his friends, that they forget for a moment that they are ninjas and that they will live the good life that their youth offers them.

As soon as I get to the restaurant, he still hasn't entered. He just stood on the other side of the street looking at the restaurant. And through the windows I could see the employees and ... Skylor, serving the customers. He was still trying to think about how he should start by going in there and talking to her. But that uncomfortable and heavy feeling did not stop presenting itself in his body, his stomach turned a lot and made him feel that he was sick, he even felt frozen in his place, he could not cross the street to get to the restaurant if he wanted to. Just the idea of ​​being rejected scared him a lot, this was the first time he felt like this, it was not what he felt when flirting with the other collisions in the past, this was already very different, and he knew it.

She was worried that if Skylor went in there she would tell her other things, she would tell her that maybe she didn't have time because she was so busy with her work. Or that they couldn't do that as it would tell him that since they worked very differently, maybe things were not going to get better with the two of them in their relationship, and possibly it would distance them even further from each other.

Just looking at Skylor from the window made him feel ... happy for her. She had a quiet life at least, away from danger. Away from the threats that he and the others made or brought into the city every time a twisted mad villain showed up to have a diabolical plan to apparently destroy them or the city.

Taking a long sigh, Kai started to walk away from the restaurant walking in the opposite direction while looking down, maybe this is for the best, if they saw each other more, that might mean putting Skylor's life at risk. And she deserved to have a quiet life at least. Maybe it's even better to keep that distance between the two of you, keep texting and receiving calls from each other. So that she ... at least would be safe and think she's living a normal life.

Walking in the dark through the streets of Ninjago he hadn't realized which way he had taken, but he didn't even care, all he wanted was to be away from everything apparently for not fulfilling his mission in the first place. He felt like a failure. And shame was apparently what weighed on his chest, and his conscience apparently.

But that was where he passed by the place that he never thought he would see again after a while. Laughy's Karaoke Bar, or formerly better known as the Slither Pits. The bar where he started his underground fighting league, calling himself the Red Shogun ... the only place where he was going to vent after believing Zane was dead. Just seeing that place sometimes made him remember all the bad times that had happened there. It was the only place where at least the boys and Nya would not see him in his depressed state ... where he just fought, flirted like crazy and took everything he could without limit only to forget everything he ... apparently knew and what bothered him.

He could feel a kind of temptation inside him, the shame of not talking to Skylor made him feel like it was better to forget her very quickly. Looking directly at the bar, the feeling that he felt before, in his time of depression, returned. And he didn't know what to feel, whether to worry or ... try ...?

He did it anyway.

The bars had a certain smell that made you feel strange, but satisfied and carefree at the same time. It wasn't nice, but it wasn't bad, just one of those smells that tells you where you are. It was little like alcohol that way. It didn't taste bad or good, just very distinctive. It doesn't matter how much sweet syrup you tried to coat it with, (I knew that very well, I had already tried).

Kai took another small drink. The taste was not easy to get used to once you taste it and drink it for a while, but when you leave it for another time you forget the taste and when you taste it again, again the taste tastes sour and unfamiliar to you. When Kai started drinking is when the old burn, which he thought he had hidden from everyone, had been discovered again. Except it wasn't a burn, Kai knew how it felt to burn better than most, he also knew how to drink, it felt better than most. It hadn't been burned, as people would like to say, it just feels awful to fall. Sour, dry, a little sour, but mostly you can feel a chill down your entire throat. It was a feeling that many learned to love, including Kai.

Drink after drink, bottle after bottle, he seemed almost to forget his failure to "talk" with Skylor. He knew that Laughy's Karaoke Bar was already Dareth's property, he was very surprised by the remodel he did to the business. The bar went from being a place of clandestine struggles of criminals to a place of singing where anyone can gather, even criminals.

His head began to go elsewhere apparently, and the pains in his heart began to numb as he no longer thought of Skylor. The nearby party cheered as the song changed to a more energetic one that caused everyone to raise their glasses in the air in celebration, Kai raised his glass with them. He also liked the song. He sang a few lines out loud with a few other people before taking another drink. Somehow he had managed to obtain a tenth bottle. When all the bad thoughts were shut down because his body was too busy with alcohol to bother.

Kai's head spun every time he moved it, and maybe he was doing it on purpose, as he swayed to the beat of the music. He even drank too much of the sweet drinks he also drank before just to balance his alcohol and sugar amount as he believed. But for the moment his thoughts, the sad, angry and sorry thoughts were gone and the happy, sweet and pleasant thoughts were all he could feel.

And he didn't even care how many photos and videos were being taken of him partying with the bar patrons.

While in the monastery, the other boys were still relaxed in the living room, but not a certain Water Ninja, who was still worried about the whereabouts of her older brother, who has not returned for hours, and was beginning to worry.

"I should have returned by now," Nya said as she walked from one side to the other.

- Nya - says Jay - Take it easy, I'm sure and that's fine. I think he just entertained himself with something -

- It's too late. And we know that the city is not safe at night, not when various criminals seek to do some misdeed at this time - he said crossing his arms as he stopped walking from one side to the other.

- You just have to give him his space. Lately I've seen a little thoughtful - Lloyd said as he continued checking his cell phone.

- If he does not arrive in an hour or so, I will go look for him myself - she says using a fairly sure and determined tone while hiding the anger she had towards her brother for having made her worry too much.

While Lloyd was checking his phone, he was struck by a message that Dareth had sent him, which was strange, since it had been a while since he had not received messages from him in a long time. With curiosity he read it, and was very surprised by what he had read, and seen, it seems, in the message.

- Um ... Nya? - Lloyd caught the attention of the water ninja - I think you should see this -

Nya arrived with Lloyd and saw what was on his phone, which widened her eyes from the supposed surprise she saw from the message Dareth sent her.

- I don't think so ... - He said using a tone that was quite impressive, and somewhat annoying at the same time.

On Lloyd's phone you could clearly see a live video filmed by Dareth himself, and below he put the message that said: "I thought you better find out, it has been like this since I left I came back from my break."

In the video, you could see Kai celebrating like a degenerate with so many people inside Dareth's bar, it was also possible to see how the red ninja drank as many bottles of alcohol and sweet drinks as he could without stopping, and even the states put the ninja as "The Red Ninja partying at Laughy's Karaoke bar"

At that, the other ninjas went to see the video that showed Lloyd's phone, and they were very surprised to see what their friend was doing in Dareth's bar.

- By Ninjago, is that Kai? - Cole exclaims when he sees Kai celebrating like crazy and drinking alcohol uncontrollably for the video.

- But what the hell is he doing there? - Jay wondered as he watched the video in disbelief where he saw Kai uncontrollably.

- And what is he drinking? - Zane asked when he saw the drink that Kai had in his hand. Zane still did not know what an alcoholic drink was since neither in the monastery nor in the ship has one been seen.

- Believe me - Lloyd says - At the moment you don't want to know -

In that Nya sighs frustrated - Not again ... - she murmured as low as she could so that they couldn't hear her, but only Lloyd was the only one who could hear her apparently - It's over I'll go for him, and I'm going to hang him - she said sounding very annoyed as she started to walk towards the door.

- A-Ahm, Nya! Waiting! - Jay tried to stop her as he followed her.

- Nya, I'm sure and that there is an explanation behind what Kai is doing! Lloyd yelled as he tried to stop her as well.

But apparently, that didn't help as Nya stormed out of the room, leaving the others somewhat worried and surprised. Cole shook his head as he sat down in one of the couches, and Zane still didn't seem to understand why Kai had that attitude in the video he saw.

- I'll go prepare things for when Nya returns with Kai - Cole said again as he got up from his place and also left the room - Zane, come help me, okay? -

- That? Why? - I ask somewhat confused.

"Don't worry, I'll explain it to you," he said as soon as the two left the room, leaving Jay and Lloyd alone in there.

Lloyd sighs irritably at the thought of how he saw Kai in the video. He thought he had already put that down in the past, having believed in Zane's death. Apparently it was not. Now it will take more help than you imagined to get through this again. I just hoped and that Nya didn't murder Kai sooner.

Kai laughed too hard and moved too fast along with the others while continuing to dance with everyone. He had been trying to avoid the dizziness that was beginning to form in his head, he was going to have another drink so he could feel better. Nobody stopped him. That was his favorite part after all. Nobody paid much attention to him. No one noticed that he was already too drunk to know. Nobody cared if he got sick anyway.

But at that Nya immediately arrived at the bar as she passed through the huge crowd.

"Kai," he spoke seriously as he made his way with Kai to the drink service table.

"Oh ... Nya," Kai choked out as he turned to her, but he staggered a bit as he did so.

- For the love of the First Master, but what the hell are you doing, Kai? - He said as he snatched Kai's drink from his hand.

- Oh, my sweet little sister ... why don't you relax and enjoy the party? - He replied showing a silly smile as he took another gulp of his drink.

However Nya snatched it back and put the drink on the table - Kai, enough, we're leaving here now - she said sounding seriously in the last part.

- Because...? Don't you see that I'm having a good time? - He replied smiling while Nya could smell his breath closely reeking of alcohol, and at that he made a face at the strong smell of his brother's breath.

- I can't believe it - Nya denied seeing Kai's attitude - I thought you were over this after Zane. How come you ended up here again? -

- That matters...? - He spat with contempt as he leaned back on the service table.

Nya sighed in frustration at this negative attitude from her brother. However, he was unaware of the huge street-looking, feisty guy who was approaching with a small group of gang members behind him that consisted of three. The huge guy pushed several people and approached Kai and Nya in a threatening way, but when he reached the brothers, he brusquely pushed Nya aside and stood in front of the red ninja.

- Hey! - Nya replied feeling outraged at being pushed by the huge guy.

- Red Shogun! He growled menacingly as he crossed his arms.

"I don't respond to that name anymore," Kai replied as he reached for another drink served by Dareth, who crawled over to Nya now.

- I thought you would come with the others, Nya. My substitute said he's been like this for 5 hours now, and he hasn't stopped drinking like crazy - Dareth whispered with Nya as he watched as the gang members were with Kai.

- I came in a hurry - explains Nya - And who are they? - He said pointing to the gang with Kai.

- A-Amm, good. They are a gang that previously worked here before I bought the place, they were part of the clandestine league of fights that was here. I have tried to prevent them from coming back here after buying the bar, but ... - He sounded nervous while still looking at the gang - He may have had no luck with that -

- Clandestine fighting? -

- Yes, sometimes they come here to recover payments from the old fights -

"And it seems that Kai owes them money," Nya growled as she kept looking at her brother.

- Kai worked in the underground fighting league? - He asked somewhat confused towards the ninja of the water.

- Long story, better forget it - Nya denied.

"Sure," Dareth said as he returned to work.

- I still haven't forgotten you, Red Shogun, at that time you had beaten me and I lost a lot of money because of you - the huge guy, who seemed to be the leader of the gang, answered angrily.

- Well, it is not my fault that you have been a very weak opponent. Nobody could defeat the Red Shogun anyway, remember? - He says nonchalantly while showing a smug smile.

- I think it's a good time for a rematch, don't you think? - He said holding a fist with his hand and cracking his fingers.

- Not if I make you ashes before - he says at the moment of crashing a bottle on the head of the huge muscular guy and then giving him a tremendous punch as he fell hard to the ground.

Nya was very surprised to see her brother's unsuspecting attack on the huge gang member. The other three tried to hit Kai as well but, even in his drunken state, Kai easily beat them by using his fists.

The other people gathered around in a circle as they watched Kai's fight as he stumbled senselessly around. The huge guy got back on his feet and looked like an angry bull as he ran straight towards Kai so he could knock him down, the gang member caught up with him, but Kai didn't fall to the ground and was dragged towards the wall as the people around cheered in excitement for the fight.

Kai received a tremendous punch on the left side of his face from that huge gang member, and that left him with a tremendous bruise plus a slightly deep cut, since Kai did not mention that he wore a gold mitten between his fingers as an additional ornament like gangster. Also, the guy hit him again causing his lower lip to bleed slightly and leaving a slightly red and half black bruise forming on his cheek. However, Kai used his own fist to be able to hit the huge guy directly in the face, he even meekly flew to the other side of the bar area, the other three grabbed him from behind, one managed to hit him on the stomach making him He let his breath out completely, but managed to free himself by crouching down and throwing the guy who was holding him from behind causing him to fall on his partner. The third ran towards Kai to be able to knock him down again, but Kai managed to give him a tremendous kick that made the guy fly to where his boss was, leaving him unconscious. At that time I took the two men and the courage with his boss made unconscious by the four gang members remain stacked.

- And that's how gang members end! - Kai cheered as he got another bottle. Now the other people around him clapped and cheered around Kai as he drank his drink thoroughly.

But Nya had enough and went straight to Kai as she grabbed him by the arm and dragged him away from everyone.

- Okay gentlemen, the party is over. Come on, Kai, let's get out of here -

- Thanks for the party, friends! Haha! - Kai laughed as he followed Nya towards the exit.

- Sorry for the disaster Dareth! - Nya apologized as she reached the door.

- Don't worry, Nya, I'll take care of these guys - Dareth assured him when he got to the phone and called the police.

Leaving the bar, Nya got rid of Kai's drink again and dragged him all the way.

- Oh, sister, why are we leaving if the party is not over yet? - He answered as he let his sister guide him down the street.

"It's over for you," he answered seriously as they stopped near an alley and Nya checked the already almost beaten face of her drunken older brother. But now I could see that Kai's whole appearance looked horrible, his clothes were already somewhat dirty and wrinkled, and his hair was messier than usual, also his smell was horrible, he smelled a lot of alcohol - You are a mess. What do you not see yourself in a mirror or what? - He said as he adjusted his clothes a bit and took his brother's beaten face in his hands, but Kai tried to look his sister in the eye.

Now he was preventing embarrassment from reappearing on himself as he tried to avoid the disappointed look from his younger sister. He was sure and that she was truly disappointed in him since this is the first time she had seen him this way, and it was for that reason that he did not communicate with everyone during his absence after Zane's death. He did not want everyone to see him disappointed in him for how he looked at that time.

- Well ... thanks for the praise, sister ... - He said disgusted while grunting in frustration.

- Why did you do this? I mean, look at you Kai. I thought we had already forgotten this - I scold him as he tried to get his brother to focus on his sight, but he was avoiding her at all costs, as he was only looking somewhere other than Nya's eyes.

- Well, breaking news, Nya ... don't forget, why do you know why? I am not as good as everyone believed, I the great Red Ninja, Master of Fire, I am a loser who when he feels this crushed he goes to bars and becomes a drunken fool for no reason - he spat while pointing to himself, but in that felt nausea in his stomach that forced him to lean away while violently vomiting, he must have assumed that the guy who hit him in the stomach was more serious than he thought.

When he finished vomiting, he grunted and groaned in pain as he felt an immense burning run down his throat plus more pain in his stomach. He leaned against the wall and slid to the floor as he sat down, ignoring that Nya was still there with him. But at that she sighed softly as she let the anger slip from her mind as she leaned over to her brother and gently rubbed his back in gentle circles at him.

- Are you OK? - She asked worriedly about him as she helped him to stand firm.

- No ... - he admits harshly to himself - I'm not okay, Nya ... I can't even control myself ... nor can I do anything right ... - he said as he leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes tight, as he felt waves of shame and self-loathing.

- That's not true - Nya tries to cheer him up, but it doesn't seem to work. Even so, Nya takes her brother's hand and puts it around his neck as she helps him up off the floor where he is sitting, he lets out a little tired snort as he feels his little sister carry him while resisting his weight. "Since when did my little sister get strong ...?" - Come on, let's go to the ship. The boys must be worried about us -

Nya had no problem carrying Kai all the way back to the ship, of course he wobbled a bit at first but at least his weight was reduced as soon as Nya saw that he had fallen asleep after saying some inconsistencies of how. his whole body ached.

But Kai didn't remember anything after that, but he was too surprised when he woke up in a bed in the ship's infirmary, at one point he was on the street with Nya and now he was inside the ship's infirmary. That was because he had fallen asleep and did not remember how Nya arrived with him at the Ship while he was helped by the others and then installed him in one of the free beds in the infirmary.

However, the nausea did not stop surrounding Kai's head, and he felt his head throbbing strongly as he let out a weak grimace, for the moment he saw that he was alone, but when he tried to sit up, the nausea hit him harder than it should. That he did not imagine, that made his stomach a little, but at least he did not feel like vomiting again, but he better decided to lie back in bed to at least lessen those horrible nausea and headaches.

Suddenly he hears how someone enters the room, and he can see that it is Zane with a tray in his hands with some things, he could see how happy he was to see Kai somewhat awake.

- Kai, I'm glad you finally woke up. How you feel? - He said as he left the tray on one of the tables near Kai's bed.

- Disgust ... - he moaned as he covered his face with his forearm.

- Yes, I imagined it - Zane laughed a little as he sat next to Kai on the edge of the bed he was lying on - Cole said that maybe this will make you feel better. I don't know much about alcohol, but I'm sure this will help you feel better; water, some aspirin and some coffee to relax -

- I think it is better to submerge my head in cold water ... - he moaned as he sat down a bit on the bed.

Zane smiled, but concern was reflected in Zane's bright blue eyes as he looked at Kai's state. Since he remembered what Cole had told him, yes, he knew what the boys did after their "death" when they faced the Golden Master, he never believed that his friends would separate and go their different ways, of course he knew that those were his ways to face loss. He wasn't concerned that Cole was a lumberjack, Jay was a show host, and that Lloyd was still a ninja, but he was concerned that Kai was mixed with criminals and fought in an underground league in the old Slither Pit bar. Which, if it was very serious. Zane, he knew that this type of behavior in Kai was not the norm, he knew that his death affected him a lot, but he never thought that he would take a tortuous path that almost led to bad intentions.

Also, it worries him more to know that Kai almost fell into a vice of alcohol and other bad things.

He never thought that one of his brothers was involved in this kind of thing.

- Hey, the boys told me what happened to each of them after my ... "explosive death" with the Golden Master. But you didn't talk to me about it, I know why, and I don't want you to think that I'm disappointing you, on the contrary, I'm worried, that kind of vices will get you nowhere -

"I know ..." Kai mentioned as he dropped back onto his pillow when he snorted from his mouth.

In that Zane takes a damp cloth and begins to clean the bruises on Kai's face, which did not turn out to be very serious as he thought, it was just a matter of cleaning them and covering them with gauze and bandages, which Zane did after cleaning the bruises and cuts on his face.

- Well, this will do. By the way, Nya told me that they also hit you in a part of the stomach, does it hurt? - I ask something worried I was doing with him.

- Not so much, it was just a blow ... - He answered resting his hand on his stomach.

"Well, take at least one aspirin before you sleep again, it will make you sleep better," he said as he got out of bed as he left the infirmary room, leaving Kai alone to sleep a bit later.

After Zane left the room, Nya entered right away as Zane left and walked towards Kai as she sat next to him on his bed, she saw how suddenly Kai took an aspirin and put it in his mouth while later taking some of water to be able to swallow it. He made a face when he swallowed and then settled back on his bed.

- I think I'd better have had my coffee first ... - He said when he saw how his sister sat next to him.

- At least that will help you calm your headaches in the morning - she said trying to sound somewhat smiling - Are you better? -

- Something like that ... I think I'll just need to sleep -

- Well, that will help. And try to take a bath after you take your nap, I tell you for your own good -

"Yeah, yeah, whatever ..." he groaned as he leaned back in place.

- Rest - he said at the moment of getting up and walking towards the door.

- Nya ... - Kai called her before she left the infirmary.

Nya stopped and looked at her brother - Yes? -

"I ... just wanted to apologize ... for what happened at the bar ... sorry for causing trouble and ... that you saw me in this state ..." he replied using a sleepy tone.

- Hey, it's okay. Just try to control yourself next time. But could you tell me why you went to that bar? - I ask putting a hand on her hip.

"I ... tried to talk to Skylor ... but I didn't have the courage to do it ..." he said, looking down.

- Because? -

- I ... - He tried to get the words out of his mouth, but his huge ego prevented him from being able to still maintain the image of a tough and strong older brother. But I knew that wouldn't work now, not when I was like this - It's just that I ... wanted to tell her if she ... agreed to be my girlfriend ... -

- That? - Asked raising an eyebrow.

- It's just ... I've seen that you and Jay spend a lot of time together as a couple, just like Pixal and Zane ... so I thought I wanted to officially make my relationship with Skylor, but I didn't tell him ... I didn't arrive Restáurate and better I fled to the bar to vent my sorrows in the drinks ... -

- Aww, Kai, if you wanted to talk to her, please tell me first to at least help you. And why didn't you go into the restaurant with her? -

- I was afraid to hear her answer apparently ... and also ... I thought at the same time that ours would never work ... not when I go to many missions and she was left behind ... aside, I thought it would be better that she would be safer living her normal life than risking her life like us ... she didn't want to do that to her, not when she finally saw that she lived like a normal girl ... - she turned on her bed and stood on her side while He avoided Nya's gaze on him - Maybe he's that scared for her safety after what happened with the Garmadon colossus, after seeing her poisoned by the dark power ... I was too scared ... -

Sighing Nya again approached her brother - I know what you think Kai, but Skylor is a strong girl like us. Whether she is with you or not, I am sure and that she could take care of herself. Also ... she missed you so much while you and the others were in the first realm, she kept thinking about you. Also, she had to impersonate you while taking care of Lloyd, I was surprised I wasn't the only one who acted like his older sister at the time -

Kai laughs weakly - Thank goodness ... that boy ... occupies a daily tracker every day ... - His laugh turned into a weak cough.

- Hey, just rest okay? - She said wrapping him up a bit with a blanket.

Kai glanced at his sister - How could I end up being the brother of a wonderful sister ...? - He asked himself only so that in the end he plunged into a deep sleep. Even his snoring could be heard, but Nya cared about him, as he looked amused at her older brother.

- Good night brother - he said to later leave the infirmary and leave him alone to sleep.

The next morning, Kai woke up a bit hungover, he felt half sober now but at least now his head didn't hurt as much as it used to. He gently rubbed his head and sat on his bed as he again took the glass of water and took another aspirin for his head.

Then he heard someone else enter the room with him, only to see Lloyd, the green ninja, entering with two cups of tea in his hands.

- Good morning party boy - he joked as he left the cups on the table at night next to the bed with Kai and sat next to him - Tell me how do you feel now? Cooler? Or even with some alcohol in your system? -

- Ha, ha, very funny - he said as he rubbed his head a little - I really feel a little better now, just a little tired and with a great hangover that I would like to forget -

- I get it, I guess this is your what? Your hangover number 40 or did I miscount? -

- You would be surprised if I told you the truth ... but I would not want you to find me this way anymore, I would not like to be a bad example for you and disappoint you -

- Of course you don't disappoint me, well, I know this is wrong, but at least you try to get over it, and that's fine -

- But this is the second time you see me this way -

"Actually ... the third," Lloyd corrects with some nervousness in his voice as he shows a silly smile.

- That? - Kai will be confused.

- Well, do you remember the time, when you were still a child, you were late to the luxury apartment while you and the others worked to pay the rent? -

- Yes ... I was late because I stayed in two extra parties ... - That was when the memory appeared in Kai. The time he arrived late to the apartment and discovered everyone asleep and he had arrived almost like midnight, as he was tired the temptation to see the multiple drinks that were on the dining room shelf caught his attention. So he thought that maybe a bottle or two wouldn't hurt as long as it was just so he could at least relax. That was when Kai buried his hands in his face in shame - You saw me take the bottles, didn't you? -

- A little ... is that I got up to go to the bathroom and that was when I heard that you had arrived at the apartment at midnight. At first I wanted to greet you, but I saw that you were very tired and I just looked at you secretly while I watched you take one of the bottles that were in the apartment -

Grunting in embarrassment and frustration, Kai looked up at Lloyd as his gaze softened. "Sorry about that." I had no idea you were there -

- Hey, it's okay. I do not judge you for what you did, it is just that I worry to see why you did that again -

- It's somewhat complicated ... -

- If you have problems, you know you can talk to us right? We are brothers, a team, and a family. And you know that we help each other right? -

- Yes ... it's just that this was something I had to do on my own ... you understand, right? -

- Yes. Just talk to us if you feel that way again, okay? -

- Yes ... I will, don't worry, dwarf - he said as he ruffled his little brother's hair - Okay, I'll go take a shower - he said as he got up and left the room.

As he walked down the hall, he still wondered why even his friends accept him. Anyway, he will never know, since he is surrounded by very good people who even forgive his stupid mistakes. And that made him happy at least. Maybe it's not too late to talk to Skylor again, after all.