Kira’s gaze lingered on Hamuko just a little too long before he plastered his usual grin back into place. He whistled lowly, the sound casual enough but sharp at the edges. “So, you’re the hardcore kind,” he said, even if his smile twitched a little. "I could get behind that honestly. We all have our fair share of dealing with gods."

Yeah. No way she was just this bright-eyed and cheery naturally—not with that story.

But he wasn’t about to push it. He’d seen enough people who masked their trauma with laughter to know when to step back.

Her comment about the cigarette earned a genuine laugh. "Shit, I told you-! Not an impeccable life lesson! Its so overrated."

Almost on cue, Corvus murmured something low and distant: "...So dead people can show up here."

Kira froze, his gaze drifting off for a moment.

Nope. He wasn’t going to touch that thought. It was a maze he didn’t want to wander into right now.

Shaking it off, Kira snapped back to his usual energy. "Sooo, happy Singles’ Awareness Day!" he announced with exaggerated cheer, holding out the basket of chocolates like it was a prize at a carnival. "Feel free to grab one. Yellow if you’re flying solo, red if there’s someone special in your life or something."

His grin widened, mischief sparking behind it. "Don’t worry—all the pick-up lines are terrible on purpose. It’s tradition."

"I bet it would sweeten the foul taste of smoke anyway," his gaze drifts back and forth.