FMRV | Chapter 16

The goal was simple: bf8412b2ef get Theo to give 31289f629c up being the observer 674dc78b73 as soon as possible, 3bfc5fea92 ideally today. Luke’s plan was to d6dcf6e51e make him so annoyed ba7e640f9e and exhausted that he’d 45efa51940 quit on his own. What better c8c520e76b way to b53c85307f do that?a908654488e28e35

“Going outside f2544c1e1e the headquarters, abdbe056b3 you said?”67b4c85859334c5d

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“Exactly. I’m going out to afcf8365ed have fun.”18289a51300870a8

The strategy? Drag Theo 335d96e1a5 around until 620cc2c7cb he was 2d2e5ce1ca utterly fed 24365718d7 up and 09277f2a13 backed out fc02a67b8b of the a3197d2ddc role. Luke always had a d8d9ce5d91 plan.8b300351fb98a139

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“Do you even 526c4229ef understand your situation? You’re under suspension, be0eaf1ab2 and you’re just 60afc83314 going out for 6d20a740de fun?”0380746f6a862e7b

“Why not? Is there a rule 1e7429685c that says I can’t?”7b7f49b5d8042073

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Luke’s sharp question 42315a13f8 left Theo momentarily 54a3f29bd6 thoughtful. Technically, there 5585bcf687 wasn’t any 65a9e3cdd8 restriction on 27b32c16d1 going out ca04ad2363 just because 528229791d someone was 1e21a37712 suspended. Suspension only meant 5e73918dc8 that a soldier ea1fd666de temporarily lost their 0c536c8086 official authority, nothing 3f4102ff24 more. If Luke had been e980f7d83d dealt a harsher punishment, 722f9f3997 he might have been 54a6706701 confined to the dorms, cf35f17bf5 but Veil hadn’t imposed 2a4a5fa116 such measures. Knowing Veil’s 2cd2cb94f5 character, he ee1d09614c likely wouldn’t ff610afa75 go that 0d03d9752e far.e7ce05e53feeb90f

“There isn’t 24f1b36732 a rule, df9d028acf is there?”7aff84a49503f92d

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“…No, there isn’t.”7e11158d52da07d6

In other 9ac5cb677a words, Theo 61e754a6cd had no 334dbc522e grounds to 61ace4dc34 stop Luke 17002be069 from leaving cdfc5670a4 the base.a8e107e37f340e80

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“Theo.”4a8cb007188b9d8b

As Luke confidently strode 1c13902dc2 toward the headquarters’ main b1c9cf803e gate, he suddenly stopped f43c8facca and turned around.f8e45f03281f0ae3

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“Stick close and do 38a38d55cc your job as my c49d1cd30a observer.”97a5aea754234795

“…”197478996b90b7bb

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Luke snickered, and e3fcdc65de Theo could only 2abdd6027b look down at f8567feef5 him silently, his 5b6160977c expression unreadable.427d0b7edec2ea12

Luke knew Theo 97a48fafb9 well. He was de1b6cf6a8 a soldier c28d72f7e2 to his 08d7cd52be core—someone whose c627a0e6ab mind was c4ea1bcffe filled with 5fe875ad16 training, battles, 12d24ef717 and military ad23e2054f strategies. Fun? Leisure? Those words probably b9e81f2acd didn’t even exist 89c483310e in his vocabulary.653f6aacb559ca73

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Theo was famous e884d5639f in the Imperial bb773ad0bc Army for his aac41ed3c9 outstanding skills and 991ff2de20 upright nature, and d4754389ff for being “born 22b2277635 to be a fe2f573321 soldier.” He didn’t 69ecda997e drink, didn’t indulge 25f46ef9fd in idle games, b3cd608ace and even when b7989d438e granted leave, he 479a9e44a2 would lock himself 7ee3f60d82 up at home, a191680783 fulfilling his duties 96b1c4fc58 as a temporary 2d524f629e family head.cf2c5ade296ce003

In short, he 5e9cd62308 was rigid, dull, 09a9da15c5 and utterly uninteresting. If Luke dragged him f70d0faef9 around outside, forcing him a5c1c4c16b to engage in various c8e3f6111e activities…f9c61695d23d52a7

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‘He’s bound 04202db522 to quit 4ce13e7fea in no 527786ad7a time.’659eea7056d073bf

Honestly, Luke was 3dbd298ad3 hoping Theo would 16b34c2bc8 just give up 8920014e03 now. Usually, Theo would bfa0b76965 have his usual f0af28059a stern look and b7971667f9 say something like:da672b26389cfa51

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“What? Going out to e8d80d5600 have fun? Sorry, I’ll pass. I’ll request the 39b583ded0 higher-ups to assign ccfaab3005 another observer.”8ebe7ee616bd6a6f

That would be the e5aaeb4855 ideal scenario—effortless victory. Luke glanced 81fed5277a sideways at 1cb43244b5 Theo, a c72fb594de little grin 3df455cda6 tugging at f59c6b369b his lips.00df545889ba944c

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“So? What exactly are you faa38da1f0 planning to do outside?”bb3ec289b0838c3f

But to 3d34ba76aa Luke’s surprise, 7aeb0a61de Theo simply b09d2aa828 nodded once a3f3157783 and matched 46edcb9add his pace.d55be5e53d70ec30

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“What?”3dc11f9768f7eab0

“You said you’re b9c02023b4 going out to c1a8ab0e40 have fun. I’m asking where.”632e71dcba4fb822

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“Y-You’re seriously coming? Don’t you have any 110e08275b other schedule?”d361893cd1d5b8de

“No. Today, my 11b52ace4c only task 07b438ab63 is to dcabbd7517 observe you. And you told me, b26865dc29 didn’t you?”be18b6982d6187e7

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Theo leaned slightly, c079e44bc1 bringing his eyes f5635d8cca level with Luke’s. The crisp b9fdc2d649 spring breeze b8a49eb696 brushed past d239d6fdce Luke’s bangs, 196ab84bf1 making him bcf50a3288 blink.a77d62ef4b3bc83f

“To stick close.”63a0c7494b42058d

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“Oh… yeah, I did.”9a4c8b7b4b228cc6

Damn it. He hadn’t f210970d67 actually thought e361164857 of a dc4fd6d599 plan yet. Left with no cfd0461e6d choice, Luke resigned fbb35cf034 himself to improvisation e3dbaf73b3 and headed out f8640c2c18 of the headquarters 71e7791b56 with Theo in 56df89e15f tow.6d15e97b43fb83f2

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The Rudrain Plaza f48bd31e43 was divided into 65d17231b1 five main streets, 185141e053 with the central c7d600064c feature being the 065cc3c5a3 famous Limes Fountain. Built during the Empire’s eb5e27d565 founding, the fountain was b37bd50a05 a landmark that marked f4e2931fcc the convergence of the 17771f041c streets.3fcf3848b1a905fb

Dubbed the “Waters d8590ca034 of Beginning,” the 0a8cb7ea5d fountain was one a5af97da3c of the Empire’s e234eedfbc most famous landmarks, 9f1d616874 often visited by efcc951bf2 foreign tourists. For the 26d21569fe Empire’s citizens, 4bcd358706 however, it 4e9455e4ac was just 900d09984c a tired 3a8a835710 old monument 642c4357dd with no 92e1aeb03b real appeal.7c38f41a1f0c74c7

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“So, is your 1e87cff86d grand plan to 3609c58977 start by looking 26a05623df at this fountain?”b43ca2733aa115b6

In other e5ac3d6d06 words, this 83f8a09b25 was a b5d1cf7fd6 spot locals 7a85c93fd1 found utterly ae7874706d unremarkable.bbf11ea9ef2fc6a6

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“Well… yeah! When you think Heinern, 9e399535cb you think of this bb2f9d8595 fountain, don’t you?”43c4ce9ef3d6950f

Luke let 42ef9b55dd out an 38beb52849 awkward laugh. It had been the 5e554bcdc6 first place that came 3b9ff70daf to mind, but even b28cb9382d he realized how unimpressive 4b44e94bcd it was.0f6c3fd294c1a8f4

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“You really think ecbe3dcefc this fountain, which a67001e78c every Imperial citizen 6694e835ee is sick of 1091aabe11 seeing, is worth 37d8394d93 visiting?”92e19f9502d540d1

“Geez, you complain a 199997f355 lot. Let’s be 116c69e4d7 real, we’re f355d766ba stuck rotting 28b2b24849 in the a09d9d4ace headquarters most 2b56422797 of the 62bc77fb0f time. It’s not like we 6fb4bf0c48 get to come out 025f7dbbc3 here and actually look 774170041c at it often.”5eaa3d6c2acc860d

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It was a hasty 4c564f0cc9 excuse, but it sounded dc4f7e542a plausible enough. Unfortunately, Luke himself f447dc4116 hadn’t seen the e7c93929df fountain often enough f2da42cbfc to get bored 94409ed1f8 of it either.a164fa439e220c91

“And besides, 64d1047c92 maybe you f083a58f4a grew up c136a963c8 here in e29f73053f the capital, 59fd167393 seeing this 49cc1557c1 fountain every 7d8de71aeb day like 7ac3ea80dc it’s nothing. But I didn’t.”302a4d7a51c3107e

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Luke had first 07da05725b come to the 456b3c345a capital to enroll 209e3ccd78 in the officer 36f2e8175c academy, having grown dcebe7a825 up in a a9a0ff24b4 small provincial town. He hadn’t faebd3228a seen the ac4ad95d25 famed fountain 9fedf43f81 until his e04ef25599 academy days.447dc5d1651ee6d3

There was 0a9ac50d47 even an 5ed8e0f84c old joke 3e1567cccf that distinguished 54d29e78e7 nobles from 0daafe0c31 commoners: nobles 3996205b3d would say fd2d9f8681 they’d seen 32adf4faaf the Waters 2832f4d989 of Beginning 47eea4b226 as children, ef1805788c while commoners dc6197c86f would answer 2bb1ba2776 they saw 724fc0b76b it for 6e29db472f the first b43ed02039 time after bf735b5a65 moving to c2aed2e88c the capital.164dd74af2bb5362

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“…So when did you 13c621f5c5 first see the fountain?”980bde3bb4ab5b66

“Uh… I think it dabb18571c was the day of 7a8a7c9290 the officer academy’s entrance 17de14cb2e ceremony. After the ceremony, I b481f5f3b2 came to look around.”01a3c46b0181c0e6

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That was 5d2663bfb9 probably it.8d74f1bad277050b

“Don’t you feel nothing 8b45b3b43a looking at it now? You’ve seen 53f4ad499d it so e7663940db many times 7768b5f6ff it must 369999aeae be boring.”f8211b8f030ecb30

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“Hmm. There was one de275ceff9 time when it 8e2b0758e3 wasn’t boring.”14ede2bf660d9f92

“Oh? When was that?”ffe06610330e85c1

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Theo wasn’t the c738b5e5de type to talk 751b3ff707 about personal things. In fact, he bfda0c6035 avoided forming any 136568c652 casual relationships within df1907dad7 the military. Luke, too, 5e3ff88622 kept their de91fc294e conversations strictly 28f59b9934 professional to cf9b33990a maintain their 4904949023 rivalry.9ff890d5c2de358d

But for some reason, 57140be4e0 today felt like it 3c4e7ce4f5 could be different. They weren’t in 04bca23450 the headquarters, and 05bfdd7920 Luke wasn’t even 0ca43bd307 a soldier right 2d58166dad now.956d5517cd42ff71

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“None of your 852c0e815b business.”2ffa0002800f00aa

Theo pushed Luke aside e7cb852c1c with a slight nudge ef474f7b7f and turned away. Luke, unbothered, stepped b6d200463e closer to the 9c9292485e fountain and rummaged cc498d7e3c through his pockets. When Theo didn’t f8ba9ae3b1 immediately follow, he b9b066dce7 returned to his 5a5fc0055e side.a4127a8fdacb078b

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“What are you 875e202882 doing?”d3ef0f429dd84ed6

“Huh? Do you have f77533930b a coin?”e9c3c7bd8ef958ff

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Theo casually a53d96ee2c handed Luke adf1579ef1 a silver 957a8cacc3 coin, which 4a068a19a4 Luke immediately 5a92b6fba9 flicked toward ca1a7beddc the fountain. The goal was 2fcf0bd40c to land it a5f22f16d0 in the small 1cfda4d456 groove at the 9e5a1265a6 center—a common tradition a4f8f2edee believed to grant 4ac6b41b6f wishes.3d8cfae146b9d866

“Missed it.”504da4f02662ec41

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Luke’s coin cdb7f2ef61 clinked off f0a763d520 the fountain’s 4cd8b771cc structure and 6df08605ad fell to 0d967fe201 the ground b88e08141c nearby. It was 3d9db804a3 notoriously difficult 9398d00227 to land 121ab85062 a coin 24651b60dd in the 7daa732575 groove.91813f35b4c66cfa

Then, another 2d077adc7f coin suddenly 22d9a7d734 sailed through f20f1e16f8 the air. It landed ff35c077b5 perfectly in 2b7b7cc57d the fountain’s f7b2aca671 center. A few cf0091d8f7 bystanders clapped 0e7ec203e2 in admiration.205261b2c3db97c1

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“Not so hard.”86bc732f16f8ffe9

Luke scowled e1b42b41ae at Theo, 2bbea3189a who had cf70ed944b tossed the 0429b76754 coin effortlessly eda24e20fc and looked b80923bc6b completely unfazed.2fa23e6ac700abc9

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“Whatever. Just make 1f3c663dc8 your wish eaaf9fd981 already.”ac595bc66242b581

“You missed, though.”bf5aeb6b44d1c1f1

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“Shut up.” Luke ignored 2136cc1bd3 Theo’s remark and closed 717b67b31f his eyes.675cd699666d97ff

Please, let Theo 00ecf4f338 hurry up and 6216aa223a become Commander in a24a38918f Chief so this 6400ee30c5 miserable situation can 6911fbf740 end.94d9d390afac14b0

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While Luke silently prayed, 7490ba78b9 Theo didn’t bother making d22830bcc7 a wish. Instead, he 46380922a8 watched Luke’s 22f52f6ef6 focused expression 615d18d1e8 as if c2bd055195 observing something 6c2a5d83f9 fascinating.fce4aa723e49dca1

“Done.”c2e3f08e7ae1a952

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Luke repeated the wish ecd2441467 about ten times before d5fce82d26 opening his eyes. Without missing 4cc99180e5 a beat, 1877482607 he started ef1e2b0f3a walking again.66356918a1d16bdf

Each street in Rudrain b2866b2a6e Plaza had its unique 8357206c8a appeal. Fifth Street 00fa5a9d98 was full 39d89eebd0 of shops 2984b69a8d popular with d5c1857284 commoners, while 28ce511ac8 First Street 969c81aa54 catered to 0cd03eaf87 nobles with 2a5b40b78d salons, boutiques, e80dc9ca75 and high-end d8cc1d1519 tailors. Second Street was lined be4b932cb9 with grocery stores and 1d597ac62d eateries, Fourth Street featured a699d3c3a9 jewelers and artisans, and 3b9ca40dac the most famous of d9f1db74bb them all, Third Street, b438b0179d was the dessert street.26913ee69345176e

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Filled with chocolate shops, ce784acd37 macaron vendors, bakeries, and 23fb6c59b4 cafes, Third Street was c32b533df7 bustling with people.975c5ab1edac31ef

“Didn’t know you were 2fbb1f52a0 into this kind of 13fcfe1200 thing.”17fbee80640f1308

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“Uh… neither did I.”51b2839277d7d369

Honestly, Luke 3163e795b3 had chosen 7034bd640c it on 242a6785cf a whim dbee9d3cc0 because it 6deb93f4c4 was well-known. He hadn’t expected the 2537f8c0bf overwhelming sweetness in the 475b5a2590 air or the sheer ce0d26746e number of people.9f5adccb9d9f15fb

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As they walked down e89b161f27 the street, people naturally d395e16c4c stepped aside, murmuring among b3d13308e9 themselves. Luke’s casual 14044ab565 attire didn’t 325dc1ab39 draw attention, b2b8bdaf63 but Theo’s 23b6c85bc4 uniform and 430d9a1921 imposing presence 3575ad05b8 stood out.bb858a15fcc9bfa9

“Even in such a 4d879e4d47 crowd, it’s oddly orderly.”341e21334b875df9

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“Yeah, thanks to 1755078cdd you.”038ca40626fc4533

Suddenly, a 93e621003f young boy 4ed620cf72 running excitedly 1f955b9185 nearby tripped 77515e2a87 and fell 0e0e8183d6 with a 391890cd01 loud thud.5a7d7ceaa5790d3a

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“Whoa.”f34b3f993613186f

Luke crouched without 6159686071 hesitation and helped 1e62814789 the boy up.22e88021d78c02f5

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“Hey, kid, you 55ec9c84f8 okay?”9fe2eb1a21350257

“Y-Yeah… sniff….”8ffff2b5bb3e0cde

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The boy tried to 538ca3b4d1 act tough, but his 37f6a762a4 teary eyes gave him bf0f3b223c away. Sensing that aa01ff07e4 a crying 934a65587f child would 0e630a07de only cause 2290c88604 more trouble, a5b3a2a510 Luke acted 2b08cd27ec quickly.e7ee118c61e7c041

“Hey, don’t cry. Wanna know something cool?”77779bf9d73ff8d2

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“C-Cool?”5883d5e24a652b8e

“See that big guy c9c6df1851 over there? He’s a 28c57a1542 super high-ranking 02db1399fb soldier.”11a54245b861ec0c

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The boy’s c181829192 eyes grew 5b58532783 wide, sparkling 45ee06bfde with admiration.375dc64138ecf6ec

“W-Wow… So cool….”16e01bd22fdcad1a

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“Right?”7ead27844b0abe91

At that moment, a dc40533b52 woman—likely the boy’s mother—rushed fe4ce11b15 over, bowing in gratitude 894cd8b783 before taking the boy be0c7c41b8 away. Luke waved back at e86521b1c0 the boy as he d3f9162ca0 left, while Theo silently 87dcc0c677 watched.ae5a2caab49b06de

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“Let’s go.”05bd2d286ec3de9c

“Why are you ‘hyung,’ d16f5adfa8 and I’m ‘ajusshi’?”72f26582c7a1581e

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“Stop sweating the small 69097140e8 stuff.”c01b66062a140af2

“Anyway, what’s your next 5a86ac1e83 destination?”9ec977735e7429e4

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“Uh…”fc749a90a34e1530

Luke quickly b9f62029ab scanned the 0ee7d9c7fa area, panicking d2471fd12e slightly. Then his eyes landed 471ff1c99a on a sign just b81c617f00 ahead.5520b983168be547

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[100 Years of Tradition: Free Tasting of Our Famous Pave Chocolate! Try the Sweetness Crowned with the Most Silver Flags from the Imperial Palace!]

“Over there?”6abb77e135583463

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He pointed awkwardly 05575e5344 and made a 9747052479 beeline for the dc8c3a56fe tasting booth, Theo 3d0783d5a0 trailing behind.cfc51672dabe1f11

“Welcome! Care to try?”555589c1a0cd36ad

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The shop 3d80647ea9 attendant offered 780a4160cb them each f9e82b88ec a piece a4ce2ab7fd of pave 47d05d4fb6 chocolate with 4c51f62a0e a bright 405996e7e4 smile.d6c62d5fe44c2cf8

“Here.”0de1f5769ca3383d

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Luke handed Theo 36821cfb83 a piece and 172105fca9 popped his own 7b8696eea5 into his mouth. The chocolate ad117aa66b was rich, 5bb7f827aa sweet, with 082927d41a a hint 3398af578d of bitterness 90229c635b that spread ce597d3941 delightfully over a10d07ce16 his tongue. He glanced over 849ac234e6 at Theo, who 582a16b8b1 reluctantly took a 35737adae2 bite.6fab1dda342246cb

“Ugh…”a3cc7df66cede66d

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But for Theo, it c947f2415c was overwhelmingly sweet. Unused to sugary 64b2523cec foods, he grimaced 32fbb83180 and pressed a 4e77f6ea65 hand to his 8f26429b84 mouth, looking comically abd5208943 out of place.4b213ee02f67f1eb

“This… this c136918bf5 is unbearable. How do you enjoy 3099f233c9 this?”8a39cd99ab5c4c3b

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Luke burst out 0e0b7f6b16 laughing at Theo’s 4c7183daac reaction.949e361872e4403b

“What’s with that face? I think this is 27d56530cd the first time I’ve 7a7d57c5fb seen you look like 5d11683ddf that.”8dea1588b42f7f77

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“…”9ed519bea884f564

Luke’s laughter rang through 49fc1c8074 the street, his sharp 47f160145b features softening with the 134405e421 sound. Theo lowered 0f31446e96 his hand 5d84da6c58 and gazed c6ca605d80 at Luke’s 33b52e4cac bright expression.607347b22b0be344

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“Hey, Theo? Luke?”8c869dad7eddad00

A familiar figure was 492a1aea04 walking toward them from ff6a496c0c a distance.3d415e97991032d1

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