it surely hasn't been long ever since shinra met the (h/c)nette, but adjusting to the new surroundings wasn't hard at all. sure, he missed the way his own world works, but he had no choice but to adapt to the new normal.

it was a sunday, which meant that (y/n) had no classes to attend. that information alone told shinra that she's still a hundred percent snoring this early in the morning. it was only 5 am, anyway. she deserves great rest, he said.

"ohayou." he greeted to himself and sighed as he stood up, finally rushing to the bathroom after him just lying around the comfy bed in the room (y/n) lent him. it was about time for shinra to do his morning routine, anyway.

he took a leak, brushed his teeth, and took a quick bath. his first and foremost tasks didn't last long at all, for he really wanted to test something out while his companion was still in deep slumber. he wanted to confirm something. his destiny depends on whether he succeeds or not.

as he put on a plain tee and a pair of shorts, he hurriedly left the room and went outside, but he didn't forget to roam his eyes around the interior of the (l/n) residence on his way to his destination. there's no doubt about it. this is his home, yet in a whole other universe. "i hope that i get to go home soon." he whispered, but when he reached the outdoors, he abruptly stopped by the doorstep.

"but if i leave, what's gonna happen to..." he added under his breath, diverting his crimson-colored hues to where (y/n)'s bedroom window was located. however, he shook the thought off by shaking his head from side to side, but the thought remained. no way. was he getting attached to her in this kind of situation? he knows very well himself that he shouldn't, but the thought of having to leave her behind pricked his mind.

"snap out of it, shinra. you got a test to do." he told himself, and even though the thought didn't vanish, he went on with his test, anyway.

positioning himself in the middle of the grass-filled yard, he breathed in and out, concentrating on the move he's about to make. slowly, he opened his closed eyes and his fingers unhurriedly moved. they moved and moved until his thumb was now across the palm of his own hand while his index one was over the joint of the thumb he moved. it was a hand sign taught by one of shinra's superiors, benimaru shinmon.

tora hishigi. shinra uses this hand sign to direct focus and power to his feet.

he felt it. the same heat inside him. the flame he's always with over the years, and he took that as a sign that it was still there, and so, he jumped with excitement running through his veins.

"here we g– woah!" but unfortunately for him, it ended miserably.

instead of what he anticipated, he got himself lying on the ground with his face first, which changed shinra's expressions in a split second, but unlike on the outside, he was internally panicking. my flames are gone! he shrieked inside his head.

he was about to shed a few tears about the fact that he learned, but he immediately shook it off when he heard a familiar cackle. "nice face plant there, shinra!" she remarked, continuing her obvious giggles as she held on the doorknob tightly for dear life.

all shinra got to respond with was his eyes widening, but it wasn't because of how he was shocked about her sudden appearance, but because of the fact that her unfamiliar laughter was extremely soothing to his ears to the point it relaxed both his mind and his nerves. it was rare for him to feel such a feeling. it didn't embarrass him at all. instead, she laughed with her. what a good way to start the day.

"you really are an idiot, huh?
"shush and share some coffee."