After the dinner.
Everyone was gathered in the spacious living room.
It was Ichiro's first time seeing their new house and was genuinely impressed.
It was way different from the previous cramped apartment.
On TV, A Irio's News Station was telling today's weather, and it was supposed to be a clear blue sky whole afternoon, with slight snowing at the end of the day.
After the News, a usual Christmas Show will be shown.
Alena talked with Azumi and Iris about things that didn't interest the men.
Azura was sitting among Ayako and Leia, who were trying to know her better, but it looked like they were interrogating her.
Ichiro grabbed the bags from the floor and said, ''I am gonna go unpack.''
''I am gonna come with you,'' Lucas said and stood up.
Ichiro nodded and rushed towards the second floor, where their rooms were.
The second floor had six doors; two of them were bathrooms and four bedrooms.
One of the doors was open, and it was precisely Ichiro's room.
Once he entered the room, it had a lot of similarities with his previous room.
A bed that could only fit one person right next to the wall and a wooden desk in front of the window.
The walls had different kinds of posters, while a large wardrobe covered 10% of the room.
Even the bed had the same blankets Ichiro used when he was still living in Irio.
Outside the window, he could see the building's backyard, which had a tree planted in the middle of the backyard, and right next to the building, thick bushes were nicely maintained.
The backyard's ground had snow gathered that was slowly melting away but still managed to cover most of the tree's leaves and the bushes.
*Thud*
Ichiro dropped the bag down on the ground and opened the window.
The chilly wind brushed past his hair.
Back in Coldland, he wouldn't dare to open windows without dangering himself, but in Irio, the cold wasn't that grave.
Lucas entered the room and stopped in the doorway.
Looking at Ichiro's powerful back, he could barely recognize him as the same youth that was having fun with him and Slych back in Ramu.
Ichiro closed the window and unzipped the bag.
The bag, clothes, laptop, phone, and charger came visible.
''You have become strong.'' Lucas suddenly said and uncrossed his arms, ''How did you do it?''
Ichiro raised his head and looked at him with his gray eyes.
''Wait… Since when did you have gray eyes?'' Lucas frowned and rubbed his eyes, but after seeing him again, he saw it correct.
Ichiro smiled mysteriously and changed the topic, ''Well… How are you doing?''
Lucas shrugged and sat down on the bed, ''Fine, I guess… Still frog in the well.''
Ichiro carried the bag next to the wardrobe and asked after hearing his words, ''Hmm, what do you mean?''
''I am still stuck here while you, Slych, and many others are already moving further.''
''Mm…'' Ichiro understood what Lucas was talking about, ''Do you… Regret?''
Lucas sighed and nodded ''Little bit.'' After remembering the reason why he stayed behind Irio, his thoughts were clouded.
''You made your decision, which wasn't an easy one.'' Ichiro opened the wardrobe doors and started unpacking, ''I respect your choice. I wouldn't be able to make such choice.''
Lucas wryly smiled and nodded, ''I don't know whether you are lucky or blessed by Gods. You managed to be a person with Talent that has rarely been seen in the world and you also have a very beautiful girlfriend; I am sure everyone would kill their mothers to be you.''
Ichiro's body froze, 'If they only knew…' He shook his head, and if the things he had been doing came out in the light, he wondered what kind of reactions everyone would have.
They will be mixed for sure.
Ichiro shook his head, erasing those memories from his mind.
''How is it going?'' He asked with curiosity.
''Well… Very good, actually.'' Lucas smiled and took a phone from his pocket, ''We have been talking every day.''
''That's progress.'' Ichiro chuckled, ''I am happy for you.''
''Thanks…'' Lucas stuffed the phone back into his pocket and asked, ''What will you be doing during your time in Irio?''
''I plan to get stronger.'' Ichiro replied, ''I have a lot of things I have to fix with my Martial Arts Style, and that's what I am planning on doing.''
Lucas nodded and then remembered one thing, ''I wonder how everyone will react once the news about you returning starts spreading.''
''I doubt anyone cares,'' Ichiro said and soon finished the unpacking.
''Haha…'' Lucas laughed.
Seeing Ichiro's confused look made him laugh even harder.
Lucas had to wipe the tears, ''You have no idea…''
Ichiro stuffed the bag inside the wardrobe, ''Well, I would like to visit your school for fun.''
''Why?'' Lucas asked curiously and was sure that it wasn't anything special compared to the legendary High School of Fighting.
''For fun.'' Ichiro replied and closed the wardrobe's doors, ''But, I will probably focus on training.''
Lucas nodded, but then his ears perked up as he heard footsteps nearing the room.
Soon, a beautiful black-haired girl with an energetic look appeared.
''Wow.'' Azura looked at the posters and saw a few of the posters had a picture about Night's End.
''Hello.'' Lucas greeted her.
''Ah, hi.'' Azura smiled and nodded, ''You are..?''
''Lucas.'' He replied and pointed at Ichiro, ''I used to be his Captain.''
''Ahem.'' Ichiro sneakily shook his head.
''Ah.'' Azura nodded vigorously, ''He talked about you once.''
''You did?'' Lucas raised an eyebrow.
''Yes, he said that you are a big-headed pervert!'' Azura said with a giggle.
Lucas' face quickly turned into bright red, ''ICHIRO!''
''Heh.'' Ichiro smugly smiled, ''It's true. Isn't it… Peeping To—'' His words were cut off after Lucas appeared next to him with an incredible speed!
Even Ichiro had a hard time seeing his movements, and soon his head was slammed into the pillow.
Azura covered her mouth and giggled.
''Ichiro, you haven't changed one bit!'' Lucas screamed and rubbed Ichiro's face on the pillow.
''Heh…'' Ichiro still managed to chuckle, which caused Lucas to become even angrier.
''ICHIRO!''
