Returning back to the residence, Kevin made sure that everything has progressed. Over the span two weeks and two days, the city was steadily growing. There was only some new sprout, but from the way things progressed, they might be able to grow nicely.
Days passed as they continued to work for the better future of the city.
"I never knew that Boss really wanted these projects," Neo sighed as he typed on the laptop. He had only managed to snatch a few of them, which resulted in another round of sleepless night to him. Even though Kevin also worked on them, that young man handed most of the work to him.
"He wants to make sure that Ryukalin Clan members can have normal work. The best way to do that is making us busy with a lot of projects," Mike smiled.
"You can say that, but most of the people here only have little knowledge of business matters. At most, they can only work in the mail room, being an errand boy, or the likes."
Neo rubbed his forehead. The changes that happened in the city was a tad too fast for them to adapt. Many of them no longer carried weapons around because that was the new regulation that Kevin enforced. By the next year, they wanted to create a law that forbade ordinary people to carry weapons around.
Only those who had the permission would be allowed to carry weapons.
"Itâs better than nothing," Mike smiled.
Neo flicked a glance at Mike. "Thatâs the same to you. Rather than Bossâs right hand, youâre more like a driver and coffee maker in the company."
"I enjoy this job."
"Really?"
Mike smiled. "Do you think Iâll lie about something like this? Besides, you also love to work under pressure and deadlines, right? Thatâs why you still stay as Bossâs secretary."
"Donât mention it," Neo rubbed his forehead. "By the way, where are Boss and Kanae? I havenât seen them after dinner."
"They head to the court and play basketball together," Mike pointed outside. "After a few days of sleepless nights by working, Iâm sure that theyâre just enjoying a short break."
Neo sighed. He knew that most of the works were finished, but there would be another batch soon enough. "Help me out a little bit, Mike. Can you sort the documents?"
"Sure, but you have to be my sparring partner tomorrow morning."
"Anything but that."
"Sorry, but I need some refreshing fight after the continuous brutal defeats under Elder Patrick."
Neo: "..."
"Is it not possible?" Mike smiled with the smile that used to be famous as the âdevil smile.â
"Fine, just help me out a lot today."
"Alright."
While these two were busy with their work, Kevin and Kanae were busy playing basketball against each other. The ball was in Kevinâs possession. He jerked his hand back right when Kanae tried to snatch it. Rotating his body with one of his legs as the pivot, he shot a three-pointer to the ring.
"Youâre copying my movement!" Kanae glared at the man.
"Thereâs no rule that say that I canât copy your movement," Kevin replied nonchalantly. "Shall we play another round?"
"Iâm already tired. This round is your win," Kanae waved her hand. She walked over to the edge of the court and picked up her bottle. Her brow creased when she realized that she had finished her drink.
Kevin handed over his bottle to Kanae. There was only a bit left, but it should be enough for the time being. "Just drink them, weâll take more on our way back to the house."
"Ok."
For the past few days, Kanae has been staying in Kevinâs residence. She did have a house of her own, but she didnât have the energy to go there. After Mike escorted them to this residence, where she has her dinner most of the time, she didnât have any other intention to go home. As the result, she has her own room that they prepared.
"Are you going to work overtime again today?" Kanae asked when they passed by Kevinâs workroom.
Kevin shook his head. "I have a better idea for today. Iâm sure that you want some rest after a few days of sleepless nights."
"How about Neo?"
"He can have a break tomorrow."
"Ok," Kanae nodded her head in agreement.
In the room, Mike glanced outside the window and saw the two of them walking together. Seeing their close distance with one another, a smile made its way to his lips. When the two of them first got attracted to each other, they kept their distance as they didnât want to be more than partners in work.
Now that there was nothing to stop them, they grew even closer and worked together on many occasions.
"What are you looking at?" Neo asked curiously.
"Itâs nothing," Mike returned his gaze back to the papers. "Letâs finish them quickly so you can have some rest."
"Aye."
Rather than using the front door, Kevin brought Kanae to the back courtyard. Taking a glass of water from the kitchen, the two of them drank some water.
"It feels really good to drink water after a long exercise," Kanae grinned. She placed back the glass. "Letâs stay outside. Itâs no longer snowing because winter has passed, but the temperature is still pretty cool."
"Change your clothes first."
"But..."
"Youâll get sick."
"Fine, you change your clothes too."
After changing clothes, the two of them headed to the back courtyard. As Kanae thought, the feeling of night wind brushing her cheek always felt really good. Whenever she journeyed in the middle of the night, this was the feeling that she loved the most.
Kevin smiled when he saw the comfortable expression on Kanaeâs face. "Is it really that nice?"
"I love night wind," Kanae giggled. "They feel really comfortable."
"Let me take you to a better place."
"What? I donât have any energy to travel again."
"Itâs not far," Kevin pointed to the roof behind him with his thumbs. The roof was not that tall, but it was located in a rather open area. If they stayed there, they could feel the wind better.
Kanae nodded her head. She readied her stance before running to the nearby tree. Kicking the tree, she used it to push her upward and her hand reached out to the edge of the roof. Placing her other hand to the roof, she used it to push her body up and then stood on the roof.
"Your turn," Kanae grinned.
Kevin smiled and jumped directly. He has more power and height, so his jump brought him directly to the edge of the roof. Using the same maneuver with Kanae, he landed on the roof safely.
"It feels much better here, right?" Kevin asked as he walked to the middle and sat down.
"Yes," Kanae nodded her head.
Looking at the sky, there were no stars that night, but the moon was shining brightly. It was a full moon, so the moon looked like a small circle up in the sky, accompanying them.
"You like the night, Kanae?" Kevin asked slowly.
"Yes," Kanae admitted. "I always start my movement when itâs already night, so in my eyes, night is already my friend. The darkness that many people are afraid of is something that makes me feel most comfortable."
"Why do you like the darkness?"
"Maybe itâs because I can shine the brightest when itâs dark," Kanae shrugged. She shifted her position and lied down with her head on Kevinâs lap. "For the past few years, I can only be myself when itâs already night."
"it wonât be like that forever. Youâll be able to shine as bright when itâs bright too. Itâs not like you always stay in the dark forever."
"Thatâll be really fun," Kanae giggled. "At that time, youâll be with me too, right?"
"Yes," Kevin smiled. "Iâll be with you."
"Thatâs good."
The two of them stayed silent as they enjoyed the night breeze. The last three years have been truly a turning point for them because of the numerous events that occurred in the city. The two of them started as individuals with each goal and path before they decided to work together.
Kevinâs eyes landed on the ring in Kanaeâs ring finger. He had promised her that he would stay with her, so he would not break his promise. The two of them would walk on the path of light together. The days when they could only move during the dark was over. There was no need for them to hide and acted so covertly all the time.
"Weâll stay together for a long time and face all the future obstacles together. Iâll make sure that you can spread your wings and not be left behind because itâs not your place to stay in the darkness forever," Kevin caressed Kanaeâs hair tenderly.
"Mhm," Kanae murmured.
Kevin noticed that Kanae had closed her eyes, seeming ready to enter the dreamland. He smiled lightly and continued to caress her hair tenderly. His eyes moved to the sky, where the moon was shining so brightly.
A smile made its way to his lips. Their journey together has only begun, but it would no longer only be accompanied by the moonlight. It would be a completely different future, no longer accompanied by violence and all. The city has changed, and it would continue to change along with the passage of time.
"The future will be different as it is still unknown, but these past memories will always stay the same," Kevin fixated his gaze on Kanae as his finger brushed her hair softly. His lip was showing a gentle smile. "Under the veil of night is your story, Kanae and Iâll treasure it forever."
~fin
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Hey everyone! *author waving hand* Thank you very much for reading up until now. This is officially the last chapter for the main story of this novel. Iâm really glad that you can make it this far.
I... Honestly, I donât know what I should feel at this moment. Iâm happy because I can finish my novel yet at the same time, Iâm also sad that Iâll part from writing about Kanae and all. However, I know that this is already the end of the story from my planning. Adding more will just make it stretch longer than necessary.
And I donât want that. I loved the story so much, and I want to see it have the proper closure.
This is the one that I think suit it the best.
*wipe tears*
Also...
I want to give thank you for all of my readers, especially those who managed to reach this point.
Every comment, votes, and coins (I originally wanted to say spirit stones because thatâs the currency in WN, but they already changed it) given to me are all very precious.
Really, thank you very much.
Itâs been more or less a year and 7 months.
Iâm extremely grateful to all of you who had continued to support me thorough my journey, no matter how small you thought they were. It was these supports that keep me going this far :D
Iâm taking a few daysâ break before I start writing and posting the side stories and epilogue I promised. After some consideration in my part, the updates for those will be irregular and no longer 1 chapter per day. Iâm terribly sorry for this, but I donât think Iâll be able to keep the daily update for the side story and epilogue.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Thank you very much everyone.
With love,
Sorahana \u003c3