"We can meet my father without exposing our identities," Aera said. "How?" he asked. "Let's go somewhere safe." She stopped for a while, thinking where to go. "Let's go to your apartment. We'll leave from there." "Okay," Zane agreed. They went to his apartment. He felt safer now. "Hang on." Aera held him and they both disappeared. They appeared in front of Eurus, sitting on a couch. "Aera? Zane?" He folded the magazine he was reading and sat up straight. "Dad, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend," Aera said in a straightforward introduction. "Oh, well, you already know him." "Zane, you said you're just friends?" he asked, looking at their hands intertwined. "W-we had a talk and we love each other so... there," he said in a stuttering speech. "I-I promised you before I will not make

