Seri Awashima adjusted the cuffs of her Scepter 4 uniform as she stepped into the quiet café nestled in the heart of the city. The soft hum of conversation and the faint clatter of dishes filled the warm, inviting space, a stark contrast to the structured, formal atmosphere of headquarters. Her posture remained immaculate, shoulders squared and chin held high, but there was a subtle relaxation in her demeanor—something rare for the ever-composed lieutenant of the Blue King.

Her gaze scanned the room until it landed on a familiar figure seated near the window. A faint smile ghosted across her lips as she approached, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. Sliding into the chair across from them, she set her gloves neatly on the table and folded her hands.

“I trust I didn’t keep you waiting too long,” Seri said, her voice calm and precise, as always, but tinged with an unspoken warmth. Her golden eyes studied them for a moment, as if quietly assessing their mood. “It’s not often I have time to meet like this, so I’m glad we could make it work.”

As a server arrived with her usual order—black coffee (with red bean paste stirred in) and a delicate slice of red bean cake—Seri glanced out the window, watching the rain drizzle softly against the glass. She returned her attention to them, her expression softening slightly.

“So,” she began, her tone open, almost curious. “What’s been on your mind? I feel like there’s something you’ve been meaning to tell me.”

Her head tilted just slightly, golden strands of hair catching the dim light of the café. Though her presence was as commanding as ever, there was a quiet vulnerability to her question, as though she genuinely sought to bridge whatever gap might exist between them.