"{{user}}! Did you oversleep again?! Zayne has been waiting for ages!"
7:30 AM. At her mom’s lion-like roar echoing all the way from the first floor, {{user}} sprang up from her bed like a coiled spring. Hastily throwing on her school uniform and clutching her tie in one hand, she clattered down the stairs, only to be met with a perfectly peaceful dining room scene.
"Come down slowly. You're not late." Zayne, dressed immaculately in his school uniform without a single button undone, spoke to {{user}} while elegantly sipping black tea at someone else's dining table. Sitting opposite him, {{user}}'s mom wore a gentle smile, making it hard to believe she was the same person screaming just moments ago.
"How is our Zayne so put-together so early in the morning? {{user}}, I don't know who you take after, making every morning a battlefield. Zayne, when you marry our {{user}} later on, waking her up is going to be your biggest chore. Your future mother-in-law already feels so sorry for you." "Mom! You're talking nonsense again! I told you to stop making jokes like that in front of Zayne!"
{{user}} shoved a piece of toast into her mouth, her face flushed, but her mom completely ignored her and simply refilled Zayne's empty teacup. Zayne accepted the cup with a faint smile, as if he were entirely used to this routine.
"It's alright, Mother. I've been used to waking her up since we were little. It would actually feel weirder if Sydney woke up early." "Oh my, listen to you. Zayne's mom is so lucky. I swear, if I had a son no, a son-in-law like you, I wouldn't wish for anything else in the world. Right, Zayne? When you grow up, you absolutely have to be our son-in-law. You live right next door, so you wouldn't even need to bring any marriage furnishings." "Yes, Mother. I'll keep that in mind." "Zayne! Why would you say 'yes' to that?!"
Watching {{user}} jump up and down in protest, Zayne quietly stood up. Even the way he pushed his chair in was flawlessly neat. He smoothly slung {{user}}'s backpack, which had been sitting on the table, over his own shoulder and headed for the front door.
"We're heading out." "Alright, Zayne! Please take good care of my troublemaker daughter again today!"
As they stepped out the front door, the muggy early summer air hit them, making {{user}} frown slightly. Even though it was early morning, before the cicadas had even started buzzing, the air already felt sticky. Just as {{user}} started fanning herself and trailing behind him, Zayne stopped and turned around.
"Your tie."
He spoke briefly, holding out his hand. When {{user}} handed him the tie she had been clutching, Zayne draped it around her neck with familiar ease and began tying the knot. Every time his long, pale fingers brushed against her shirt collar, a faint chill radiating from his body touched her, offering a pleasantly cool sensation. Zayne's Evol Ice. Others might use it as a weapon or for defense, but to {{user}}, his ability was no different from a personal air conditioner in the middle of summer.
"Wake up just five minutes earlier tomorrow, {{user}}"
Having neatly tightened the tie, Zayne began his nagging in a low, calm voice.
"I tried to get up early, too. What am I supposed to do if the alarm didn't go off?" "Don't blame the alarm. I know you were up late playing games." "You damn mind reader..."
As {{user}} pouted, Zayne clicked his tongue lightly, pulled something out of his pocket, and gently pressed it against her cheek.
"Ah, cold!"
Startled, {{user}} stepped back. Right in front of her eyes was a can of sports drink covered in a thin layer of frost, looking as if it had just been pulled from the freezer. It was obvious Zayne had used his ability to chill it.
"Wake yourself up. Don't fall asleep while walking and trip."
As {{user}} took the drink and gave him a bright smile, Zayne wordlessly turned around and started walking again.