Chapter - 2
Warm water washed away the exhaustion from Nani's long journey.
After his shower, he stood in front of the mirror, drying his hair with a towel.
A few minutes later...
He walked out wearing soft pink My Melody pajamas, complete with tiny ears on the hood.
Comfortable.
Cute.
And completely out of place inside the headquarters of North City's most feared mob boss.
Several guards looked away, pretending not to stare.
"..."
"..."
One whispered under his breath.
"Is he really walking around Boss's mansion dressed like that?"
Another sighed.
"I've accepted that nothing about him makes sense."
---
Nani wandered through the enormous hallways, completely fascinated.
"This hotel is huge..."
"I wonder how many stars it has."
Eventually, he spotted a man in a black suit.
"Excuse me."
The guard turned around immediately.
"Yes?"
"I'm hungry."
The guard blinked.
"...Hungry?"
"Very."
"And I'm picky."
The guard had dealt with gunfights.
Explosions.
Hostage negotiations.
None of those had prepared him for this conversation.
"...I'll prepare dinner."
---
The dining room looked grand enough to host royalty.
The long table was filled with expensive dishes prepared by the mansion's chef.
Nani sat down happily.
"Ooh..."
"This hotel has a buffet."
He picked up his chopsticks.
He tasted one dish.
"Hm."
Another.
"Too salty."
Another.
"Too spicy."
Another.
"Texture is weird."
The chef standing nearby looked personally offended.
After carefully selecting only the dishes he liked...
Nani finished barely half of one plate.
He gently placed his spoon down.
"I'm full."
Everyone stared.
That was it?
The chef had spent hours preparing dinner.
Nani smiled politely.
"Thank you."
"It was... acceptable."
The chef looked like his soul had left his body.
---
As Nani stood up, he noticed the tall man from earlier entering the dining room.
The same cold expression.
The same unreadable eyes.
He leaned toward one of the staff.
"So..."
"Is he the owner of this hotel?"
The room instantly became silent.
A few guards almost answered-
"Sk-"
"You don't need to know."
Sky's calm voice cut through the room before anyone could finish.
No explanation.
No introduction.
Just four cold words.
Nani blinked.
"...Oh."
He puffed his cheeks ever so slightly.
"So secretive."
As he walked past Sky, he muttered just loudly enough for himself to hear-
"Rude..."
"...Cold ice cream."
Without waiting for a response, he yawned, rubbed his sleepy eyes, and shuffled back toward his room in his pink pajamas.
The guards stood frozen.
"...Did he just insult Boss?"
"With... cold ice cream?"
Sky didn't react.
His expression remained blank.
But his gaze followed the retreating figure until Nani disappeared around the corner.
For the first time in years...
Someone had called the ruthless ruler of North City...
Cold ice cream.
And somehow...
They were still alive.
---------------
Morning settled quietly over the estate.
The mansion was as disciplined as ever.
Orders were given.
Deals were arranged.
Weapons were checked.
Everything followed its routine.
Except...
Sky.
He stood by the dining room window, his expression as cold as always.
Yet his thoughts refused to stay where they belonged.
Instead...
They drifted back to a certain loud-mouthed runaway in pink pajamas.
"..."
His brows barely moved.
What is happening?
He had never wondered whether a guest had slept well.
Never noticed what someone liked to eat.
Never cared.
He found the thought irritating.
"I don't have time for this."
His own mind remained silent.
For the first time in years...
It wasn't obeying him.
---
A few minutes later...
The chef was called.
Sky spoke in his usual emotionless tone.
"For breakfast..."
He listed several dishes.
The chef blinked.
Those were...
The only foods the young guest had actually eaten yesterday.
"...Yes, Boss."
The chef hurried away.
Sky watched him leave, his face unreadable.
"It doesn't matter."
He told himself.
"It's practical."
Nothing more.
---
Outside the kitchen...
His right-hand man leaned against the wall.
Another guard whispered,
"Did you notice Boss personally changed the breakfast menu?"
"He did."
"...Those are the kid's favorite dishes."
The third guard lowered his voice dramatically.
"Our anti-romantic boss..."
"...Didn't suddenly become romantic over a stranger, did he?"
The others stared at him.
"...Impossible."
"Our boss doesn't even smile."
"Exactly."
"So why does he suddenly care what someone eats?"
Before anyone could continue-
A sleepy voice interrupted them.
"What are you all gossiping about...?"
The guards nearly jumped.
Nani stood there rubbing one eye, still half asleep.
His fluffy hair stuck out in every direction.
He yawned.
The My Melody pajamas made him look even younger than he was.
"N-Nothing!"
"Absolutely nothing!"
"We were discussing work!"
Nani narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"Hm..."
"You all look guilty."
The guards laughed awkwardly.
---
Breakfast was already waiting.
Nani happily sat down.
His eyes widened.
"Oh?"
"They improved today's menu."
He picked up his chopsticks.
One bite.
His eyes sparkled.
"This is good."
Another bite.
"And this."
"And this!"
For the first time...
He finished an entire meal.
Even the chef looked relieved.
Nani patted his stomach.
"I'm full."
"Now that's a proper breakfast."
---
As he reached for his phone...
The screen lit up.
47 Missed Calls.
Most were from his father.
Several from unknown numbers.
Nani's smile slowly faded.
He stared at the screen in silence.
"..."
He sighed softly.
"I can't keep running forever..."
His fingers tightened around the phone.
"But..."
"I'm not marrying that old guy either."
He rested his chin on the table.
"There has to be another way."
Across the room...
Sky silently watched him.
The cheerful, noisy guest who had spent the last two days complaining about pillows and hotel food...
Looked unusually quiet.
And for reasons he couldn't explain...
Sky noticed.
-------------
The morning passed quietly.
Nani had already made up his mind.
Running forever wasn't an option.
He would go home.
Fight with his father if he had to.
Argue.
Yell.
Refuse.
Anything...
Except marrying Niran.
"...I'll figure it out."
He zipped his suitcase shut.
His skincare pouch?
Packed.
Phone charger?
Packed.
My Melody pajamas?
Folded neatly.
He looked around the luxurious room one last time.
"This hotel was actually pretty nice..."
Then he smiled.
"Time to check out."
---
Dragging his suitcase behind him, Nani walked into the grand hall.
Several guards immediately noticed him.
"...He's leaving?"
Nani smiled politely.
"Yep!"
He placed both hands on the suitcase handle.
"I'm checking out."
The guards exchanged confused looks.
"...Checking... out?"
"Yeah."
He looked around.
"So..."
"Where do I pay the bill?"
Silence.
"I stayed two nights."
"Ate food."
"Used hot water."
"Oh, and the blanket was really soft."
"So what's the total?"
No one answered.
Nani frowned.
"Don't tell me this is one of those hotels that secretly adds hidden charges."
One guard almost laughed before remembering where he worked.
Another quickly looked away.
---
The heavy footsteps echoing through the hall made everyone straighten immediately.
Sky.
He walked toward them without hurry.
His cold gaze landed on Nani.
"Leaving?"
"Yep."
Nani nodded confidently.
"I've packed everything."
"I'm going home."
"I'll deal with my family myself."
He crossed his arms.
"And I'm definitely not marrying Niran."
Sky remained silent.
Nani tilted his head.
"So..."
"How much do I owe for the room?"
"The food."
"The electricity."
"The water."
"The fancy cotton blanket."
"And the pillows."
"There were lots of pillows."
The hall fell completely silent.
Sky looked at him for a long moment before speaking.
"...You owe nothing."
Nani blinked.
"Huh?"
"It's free."
Nani gasped dramatically.
"This hotel has a free stay promotion?"
Several guards nearly choked.
Sky's expression didn't change.
"...Something like that."
Nani's face lit up.
"Five stars!"
"I'll leave a good review."
The guards collectively stared at the floor, trying very hard not to react.
If this truly were a hotel...
It would probably be the only one where the owner was the most feared mob boss in North City.
Nani happily grabbed the handle of his suitcase.
"Well..."
"Thanks for letting me stay."
"Even if you're kind of a rude, cold ice cream."
He gave Sky a small wave.
"Bye, Manager Sky."
Without another word, he turned toward the massive iron gates, completely unaware that everyone in the hall had stopped breathing.
No one...
Simply walked out of Sky's territory.
And no one knew what their boss would do next.
Sky watched the small figure walk farther away.
His face remained unreadable.
But his eyes never left Nani.
Not even for a second.