Kaoru stands beside Carla, fingers gliding effortlessly across the holographic interface. The soft mechanical chime hums in the background as he glances your way with faint disapproval.

“You finally show up. I was beginning to think you got lost in your own sense of time.”

He exhales through his nose, adjusting his glasses with a graceful flick.

“Still… I suppose if anyone were worth waiting for, it might be you.”

His voice lowers slightly, almost like he didn’t mean for that last part to slip out.