.

.

.

The four discussed their plan of action and decided that Kaveh and Al Haitham would return to question Thoma about the events that transpired. Meanwhile, Paimon and Lumine would continue their search for you in the surrounding area.

-A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE HIDEOUT-

You

"Agh!"

You burst through the door with a loud bang, causing Scaramouche to jump in surprise. He was sitting on the old, worn-out couch, engrossed in a book, and your sudden entrance caught him off guard.

Scaramouche

"What the fuck was that for?!-"

You

"I saw him! Going out was a mistake!"

Scaramouche

"What?! You saw Thoma?!"

You

"Yes!"

As you were overwhelmed with emotion, you raised your voice in a cry that echoed through the room, your sobs shaking you uncontrollably. In a fit of anguish, you forcefully removed your shoes and flung them aside, the impact of their landing muffled by the intensity of your despair.

You were panicking.

Head aching, fingertips numbing, swollen face from tears — everything was going out of place.

Scaramouche

"Oh, no, no, no..."

"Y/N, you've gotta stop that..."

Despite his desperate attempts to communicate, you remained inconsolable and continued to sob, completely disregarding his words.

You

"I don't know what's wrong with me! I saw his stupid face and I just didn't kill him! I just ran!"

As Scaramouche turned the brass doorknob, the heavy wooden door blast open, revealing a sprawling landscape set against a tumultuous backdrop. 

He ran down the narrow hall that led outside. 

The ominous clouds rolled and churned in the sky, darkening the horizon as flashes of lightning illuminated the impending storm. 

The air crackled with electricity, and the distant rumble of thunder echoed through the entire nation, serving as a prelude to the impending tempest.

Scaramouche

"Okay, Y/N, you've gotta stop that! People are going to know you're here!"

Scaramouche turned around just as the howling winds forced the heavy door shut behind him. It was clear that the weather had not been tampered with for quite a while, leading to the current chaos.

You

"I can't fucking stop!"

Scaramouche

"Fuck!"

Scaramouche's heart raced as he paced around in tight, anxious circles, feeling overwhelmed by the gravity of the current situation. His mind was a whirlwind of uncertainty, desperately searching for a way out of the perplexing predicament. 

Suddenly, a glimmer of inspiration pierced through the fog of confusion as an idea materialized in his mind.

He hurried into the bathroom, quickly grabbed a small cloth, and submerged it in icy cold water until it was thoroughly drenched.

.

.

Smack!

.

.

.

As you gazed at Scaramouche in bewilderment, he firmly pressed the chilly, damp cloth against your forehead, holding it in place despite your resistance.

Scaramouche

"Okay... Yeah, that's it..."

"Calm..."

You just stared at him, feeling the tears streaming down your face. As you glanced down at your hand, you noticed that he was gripping it tightly. 

Both of you were kneeling in front of the front door, with one of his hands occupied holding a cloth to your forehead, and the other hand holding onto yours firmly.

You

"..."

Scaramouche

"Everything's okay."

Scaramouche released your hand for a moment, gently pushing the door ajar to peer outside. He ran down the narrow hall once more, huge boulders from the mountain enclosing on him.

It was apparent that the peculiar weather had finally passed, leaving behind a sense of calm and relief in the air.

He placed one hand on the back of your neck, allowing you to recline on the floor, while the other hand firmly held yours. He then proceeded to gently place the cold cloth on your head once more. As you lay there, you gazed at the ceiling without a single thought crossing your mind.

.

.

.

Scaramouche

"It's a thing my mom used to do to help me when I got like that."

.

.

.

-MEANWHILE-

Kaveh

"Hey, you!"

Kaveh pointed to get Thoma's attention, and Thoma, who was in the middle of taking someone's order, looked up and awkwardly chuckled in response.

Thoma

"Just one second."

He informed his workers that he was taking a break and arranged for someone else to take over the task.

Thoma fumbled with his belongings as he awkwardly made his way from behind the counter. He then approached Kaveh and Al Haitham with hesitant steps.

Thoma

"... Am I in trouble?... Or..."

Al Haitham

"Let's have this talk outside."

As they stepped outside, the sun's warm rays after the thunderstorm enveloped them. The three gathered under the oak tree by the cafe and commenced their discussion.

Thoma

*Sigh*

"Is this about that customer who ran out the door?"

Kaveh

"Hm. Good eye."

Thoma

"Well... Of course, I'd notice, I was upfront and close with that person."

Kaveh

"... Right."

The three of them stood in awkward silence, unsure of what to say or do next. Kaveh, feeling the need to break the tension, started nudging Al Haitham gently with his arm.

Al Haitham 

"What?"

Al Haitham whispered quietly, a frown of complaint etched on his face.

Kaveh

"You tell him."

Kaveh stood frozen in fear, his voice barely above a whisper as he hesitated to reveal the truth to Thoma. He hid behind Al Haitham.

Al Haitham

"Seriously, Kaveh?..."

Kaveh

"Yes."

Thoma

"... I really have to get back to work, y'know... So..."

"If you won't say it, then let me go back."

Thoma's patience was wearing thin, and frustration was beginning to build within him.

Al Haitham

"Wait."

Thoma

"...?"

Al Haitham

"That person..."

.

"Was Y/N."

Thoma

"..."

.

.

.

"Hahaha!"

Kaveh

"... Huh?"

Kaveh and Al Haitham exchanged puzzled glances as Thoma couldn't contain his laughter.

Thoma

"Oh- Haha! Y/N? What a joke!"

"What are you talking about?"

Thoma was completely oblivious to the fact that Kaveh and Al Haitham were also aware that you had managed to escape. Thoma was doing everything possible to keep the information about your escape as discreet as possible.

Al Haitham

"You don't have to pull that act."

"We're with Lumine. We know they've escaped."

Thoma wiped the smile right off his face.

.

.

.

Thoma

"No."

Kaveh

"... Excuse me?"

Thoma

"That's not Y/N."

Al Haitham

"How do you know that?"

Thoma

"I would've felt their presence."

Kaveh

"Oh please. Don't bring up that shit — that's not real."

"It's been three years, Thoma. People change."

Thoma

"No- No, no, I'm telling you! I would've known if that was Y/N! For sure, I would've known!"

Kaveh

*Sigh*

"Stop acting like you know Y/N so much."

Thoma

"Acting like it?... No- I do know Y/N that much."

"And I know for a fact, that was not Y/N."

Kaveh let out a heavy sigh, feeling a deep sense of disappointment wash over him.

Kaveh

"Well. That's not what I expected."

Al Haitham

"He's in denial. Let's just leave this to Lumine and Paimon."