Stars in that City

Third

Arc One: ACES and JOKERS

"It seems you're awake." Calm, and collected was what Kai can describe on the voice of a girl that he first heard ever since he woke up -- or better yet, regained his consciousness.

He positioned himself and looked around the room he was sleeping: simple, yet has a sense of coziness. It was like a cozy home everyone wants, he wants. Sitting on a chair beside his bed was a girl with short bob hair. She also wore round glasses and a barrette.

The girl was wearing a formal office attire. Kai was staring at her curiously, she looked like she wanted to start a conversation but cannot.

Without any sound, she stood and went outside the room, Kai can't help but stare at her very curiously. Kai was left alone in that unfamiliar room. Yes, it was unfamiliar, yet it was strangely nostalgic for him. The silence forced him to think and ask several questions in his mind.

What happened?

Where am I?

But before he can try to answer his own questions, a knock on the door got his attention. He shifted his gaze on the door that slowly opened to the inside.

Kai was looking clearly at the man that walked in of the room. His ebony cane, his kind and dignified demeanor somehow made Kai a little overwhelmed. Behind the man was the girl from earlier.

"I'm glad you're awake." The man greeted him with a smile, both hands were holding his own cane.

The confusion made Kai unable to speak. It wasn't because he couldn't speak, but he doesn't know what to speak. Mustering up courage he asked, "W-where am I?"

The man's aura was justified. It was totally leader-like.

"You're at the workers' dorm, just a floor above the diner." The man's voice was slightly on the lower pitch, but it wasn't too low at all.

Diner? Kai thought.

"We were worried that you wouldn't wake up," The man's eyebrows showed that he was worried, "After all, you were unconscious for 2 days."

2 days?! Kai mentally exclaimed.

Kai tried to remember the events before he lost his consciousness... Before he was struck by a vicious lightning. Then he remembered someone.

"D-did you happen to find a girl?" Kai was stuttering while he asked, "Uh-uhm She was wearing this mask? She has golden hair? Did you happen to see her?"

Kai was frantically describing the wounded girl that he met on that alley 2 days ago...

The man was listening at him but it also seemed that he signaled the girl behind him an errand or something. The girl, as a reply, bowed slightly and went out of the room.

Kai noticed that they were alone. There were only two men on the room that time, the man with a cane and Kai himself.

"Yes." This brief and concise reply by the man holding a cane made Kai listen to him attentively.

"It seems that she suffered too much wounds though." The man continued, at which Kai felt a tiny prick in his heart.

The man saw Kai look shocked and worried, but he never minded it, "Look, I'm not here because I want to share you some bad news..."

"I'm here to invite you to join our group."

***

"Iris Aria."