Chapter 84 - 86
Avara POV
The restaurant is an oasis of exclusivity, sparsely populated but exuding luxury in every detail. Modern finishes gleam under carefully curated lighting, the decor a seamless blend of sumptuous fabrics and cutting-edge design.
Haru strides forward, unbothered, Botan a steadfast shadow. Akio’s gaze scans the room, ever vigilant, as I step out hesitantly, an intruder in this realm of untouchable opulence. The security team lingers behind as they position themselves around the perimeter. A poised hostess greets Haru with an air of reverence as she heralds us to a table set conspicuously in the room’s center. All eyes seem to follow, though none linger long enough to betray their curiosity.
A waiter approaches briskly, menus in hand, but Haru waves them off. He speaks decisively, ordering for the table without input from any of us, his choice of a rare vintage arriving moments later. The bottle is uncorked and the wine is poured into waiting glasses.
As the server retreats, Haru’s gaze locks onto me, and the room’s low hum of conversation seems to fade. His eyes are empty yet relentless, a hollow void that feels charged with something unspeakable. Hatred? Or is it the weight of a question he’s too proud—or too cruel—to ask? The uncertainty tightens my chest more than his unyielding stare.
I force myself to break the tension with a measured sip of wine, its warmth spreading through me like a shield.
"I’ve seen the updates on your charity sites," Haru says, his voice low but his tone threaded with something hard to place. "The objectives met, the aid distributed—it’s impressive."
"Well I have an amazing team." I swallow, uneasy under the sudden spotlight. "People are caught in conflicts they had no hand in creating... it’s not right or fair. Warlords and corrupt leaders tear their lives apart, yet these are the very people they claim to govern."
Haru tilts his head, listening intently, as if dissecting each word. "Would you say this drive to help others is something you inherited from your mother?"
Akio scoffs quietly, draining half his glass in one swallow, while Botan sits rigidly beside Haru, his eyes barely flicking toward me.