𝙍𝙀𝙎𝙊𝙇𝙑𝙀 | l lawliet

Intrigue

December 12, 1995

"Hikari! Are you ready?" the woman's voice called out.

"Why do I have to come?"

"Because they've invited all of us. Come out quick!"

She stumbled down the staircase, her father's suit getting in the way of each step. Her face was twisted into a weird kind of grimace, but eyes were narrowed in annoyance as they always were.

"Hikari! Wear the dress I got for you!"

Hikari rolled her eyes, playing with the collar. "This is fine, Lily! Let's go!"

"Don't you call me by my name!"

Her father chuckled.

"What're you laughing at?" her mother snapped.

The family reached the orphanage, filled with (as Hikari had expected) obnoxious laughs and a peculiar blend of perfume and sweat. Yet, not even the most stagnant of scents could keep her away from her one true love: Coffee.

She ran over to the coffee machine, sniffing it down like a service dog at a crime scene, but, as if on cue, her mother called her.

"Hikari! Come for the donation!"

"Why? It's not like me being there is going to change the amount."

"Still! You have to show support!"

"Support? Donating so much is your choice, not mine. I'm not obligated to come."

Lily glared at Hikari with all her might, but her daughter was far too occupied with her re-union to notice. So, she eventually stomped away in frustration.

"You know, however true it may be, that is a rather controversial statement to make in society," a husky voice stated from the dessert table.

She took an intentionally long slurp from the cup of coffee in her hand, as if steeling herself for this new argument. In the short amount of time she had, Hikari decided to end it before it got annoying.

"I don't care. And, who are you?"

"Ah, apologies. I'm a part of this orphanage," the man said. He certainly did look as crazy as you needed to be a part of Wammys'

'His eyes stick out...'

"Aren't you supposed to be with the rest of them?" She gestured towards the kids on the stage.

He looked down at the plate in his hands, before looking back up at her, and deadpanned: "Cake."

"Alright... see you, I guess."

"Have you ever heard of de-caf?"

Hikari turned around.

"Eh?"

"De-caf. It's coffee which does not contain caffeine. Consuming that would provide the ability to sleep while maintaining your daily usage."

"How the hell do you know I like coffee?"

"Research. Though, I'd say your obsessive sprint to the coffee machine also gives a lot away."

"You... researched me?"

"Would you like to hear?"

"Hell yeah, I would," Hikari said, raising an eyebrow skeptically.

His shoulders shrunk into what seemed like a small shrug. "Name: Hikari Kurai. Ethnicity: Father is Japanese, Mother is British. Likes: Gory 'J-Horror' movies, black coffee and formal wear. Dislikes: Obligations and mints. Bust, waist and hip sizes are 32-29-35, which makes you... well, attractive."