【Chocomol】

[The driver dropped me back to the apartment.]
[I am hoping the maid left]

[She did.]
[Eat your dinner and sleep.]

Akira stared at the text from his aunt while walking up the hall. His mind raced for a response. Love you, good night...or...sleep well?

In the end he decided to leave it at 'seen', simply because he knew she would've done the same. 

The clock ticked, its sound echoing in the empty apartment. In the kitchen, the water dripped quietly into the washbasin, the dishes were spotless, and dinner was prepared. He carried his dinner to the dining room and sat down to eat.

Ever since he moved out of the family manor, his days have been rather lonely. His aunt dropped by from time to time, but her visits were mostly limited to when he gulped down every ounce of his pride and called her.

This soup is so good.

Tapping his finger on the table. He pulled out his phone, typed 'good night' and placed it aside. I feel so crappy; she wins again.

The phone vibrated before his ringtone began playing. Glancing at the screen – Nyn_pi – his hands broke into a cold sweat. The embarrassing encounter with her played in his head.

Argh, should I take it? But today was sooo embarrassing. But if I don't pick up, she will know I was embarrassed... Ah, damn.

"Hello!" Akira spoke in an unusually loud tone. 

"Hello, Akira, sorry to call you this late." 

"Aha, no worries, I hope everything is good over at your side." He put the phone on loudspeaker, letting her voice fill the room.

"Everything is... um... Akira, were you sick today?"

"Sick?"

"Yeah, your face was all flushed today. I assumed you were shy; I mean, many people are. But Mitsuru said you aren't the shy type. And even in—"

Akira abruptly cut her off mid-sentence. "Yeah, I was somewhat feverish."
Being feverish is better.

"Oh, are you okay now? Did you eat? You should take medicine."

"I will. What about you? Are you feeling well?" He traced his finger along the edge of his bowl.

"I ate Chocomol; it's a chocolate, and I love it."

"Is that so?" Akira leaned back, placing the phone on the table.

The call lasted for an hour. Filled with her usual way to care even if she wasn't there.

After finishing his meal, he looked at the time. Should I try that chocomol? It's not that late. Without giving it a proper thought, he left for the convenience store nearby. 

A warm breeze swept through the empty street, carrying a distant scent from the food stalls. Akira, dressed in a black jacket, face behind a mask, walked along with his hands buried deep in his pockets. He kicked a pebble – hard, in annoyance. Sending it skittering down the path. 

After buying and eating the chocomol at the store, he was on his way back. 

"Shouldn't have come out at this hour." He looked around, circling the sidewalk. "Arghhhhh...I can't believe this... I am lost... Why me!"

His voice echoed in the empty streets as a fly buzzed around him. 

After a shortcut he decided to take back to his XXX apartment complex, he found himself lost. He was not good at many things, and one was recognising places. A minor change in the usual scene left him baffled. 

As Aunt said, I am not made to be doing these things; I would rather be an entertainer.

He groaned and dropped down on the street, not caring about dirt clinging to his leather jacket. A lone woman walked by, her heels clicking. She glanced his way – a man sitting on the pavement – definitely not a remarkable sight. 

She halted but inevitably walked past him. 

Should I ask her for directions? I hate asking for help, but –

Desperate, He quickly shot up and jogged after her.

"Excuse me, M-ma'am, can you help me? Aha, you see, I am lost~" He tugged his mask.

She turned around sharply, her eyes wide. "Y-You sound like Kyro...the streamer!"

"N-no, ma'am... I—I don't know...." He stiffened, darting his eyes around. Damn it. 

She grabbed his shoulders and yanked him closer. "You sound exactly like him! You even look the same."

What do I do...? She is a fan...

Something twisted in him. He never met a fan in real life. The rush hit instinctively – warm, addictive, familiar. 

He bent closer to her ear and whispered. "I am Kyroxfun—"

She almost shrieked in excitement, but he quickly covered her mouth. Pressing his finger over his mask. "Shhhh... don't blow my cover."

She nodded with her eyes sparkling. "I knew it. The rumours that you live around here were true."

Rumours?  He hadn't seen any online rumours such as these.

"Aha, that's fake stuff." He let out a dramatic sigh and winked.

 "You said you were lost? I can help you."

Her eyes gleamed at him with an unsaid admiration. He couldn't help it. The validation she bore took over him. His reasoning – gone.

I need more of this.

He smiled, tilting his head. "What would you want in return?"

She twirled her hair strands; her hands trembled with anxiety. "Maybe a face reveal." 

"Ahhh, that can't be possible...a kiss maybe?" He poked her head teasingly.

She stared at him as if he were a madman. "Don't mess with me.... A guy like you, kissing an old woman like me..."

Without a word, he reached for her hand, bent down, and gently pressed his covered lips on it. She flushed completely red and let out a nervous chuckle. 

"Don't go around playing with people's hearts." She covered her face, trying to hide it.

"I am only paying you for being my fan." Standing up, he took a step forward, bending down closer to her.

*Honk*

Akira flinched, turning around to face the car. Damn, I lost interest. 

With that the spark died; his emotions flipped, like always. Turning back to her, he asked casually. "Hey, do you know about the XXX apartment complex around here?"

She batted her eyes at him, still flustered from him moving too dangerously close. His sudden jump in behaviour was too drastic. From teasing to almost indifferent. "U-um... yeah—"

"Can you take me there?" He gave her a sly smile. "I'll call a cab from there." 
A lame excuse to try protecting his living place.

After escorting him to the building, which he lived in. He let out a sigh of relief. He managed to have some fun and reached back.

"Now, don't brag about this in the chat." He waved at her and went into the building lobby.

I should work on myself. This was a usual mantra after his antics. 

He turned around the corner. He bit his lip. Though he knew he hadn't explicitly mentioned he lived there. But a thought lingered that she could have figured it out.

Outside she lingered quietly, stroking her hand where he had kissed her. An unconscious smile crept on her face. He was exactly how she had pictured him. 

So he does live in the XXX apartment.