The dimly lit room was suddenly transformed into a vibrant party zone. Van, Nara, and Hina scurried around, decorating the space with colorful streamers and balloons.
"Come on, Code! Get ready to party!" Hina exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Code, still feeling a bit dazed from his earlier ordeal, watched in amusement as the trio worked their party magic.
Nara, meanwhile, was busy setting up a makeshift DJ booth, his fingers flying across the controller as he mixed a lively tune.
Van, donning his signature mask, was... well, being his usual enigmatic self, lurking in the shadows and observing the chaos with an air of quiet amusement.
As the music pulsed and the lights flashed, Code couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards his new friends. Who would have thought that a party would be the perfect antidote to his troubles?
Little did Code know, however, that this party would be more than just a celebration...
Finally, after all the ruckus of the party preparation, everyone sat down to eat in the parlour. The warm glow of the lanterns cast a cozy ambiance, and the delicious aroma of the food wafted through the air.
Nara, seated beside Code, let out a loud "Itadakimasu!" and dug into the steaming hot noodles. Code glanced at Van, who sat across from him, his mask glinting in the dim light. Code wondered, as he always did, what lay beneath that enigmatic mask.
Hina, seated opposite Code, smiled mischievously. "Don't bother trying to catch Van without his mask, Code. You won't succeed."
Code chuckled and shook his head. He turned his attention to the food, which looked like a complex web of noodles and spices. He picked up his chopsticks, and as he took his first bite, his eyes widened in surprise. The flavors exploded on his tongue, a perfect balance of spicy and salty.
"Wow," Code breathed, his eyes locked on the food. "This is incredible."
Hina grinned, pleased with herself. "Told you it's good." She leaned in, a mischievous glint in her eye. "You know, Code, this dish is called 'Dragon's Breath'. It's a specialty of our town."
Code, still savoring the flavors, looked up at Hina with tears-stained cheeks. "It's... it's incredible!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine enthusiasm.
The group erupted into laughter, and even Van's mask seemed to gleam with a hint of amusement. For a moment, they all just enjoyed the warmth and camaraderie of the meal together.
As they ate, the conversation flowed easily, with Nara regaling them with stories of his culinary adventures. Van listened intently, his mask glinting in the light, while Code and Hina chatted and laughed together.
The meal was a warm and lively affair, filled with good food, good company, and plenty of laughter.
The festivities died down, and Van's voice cut through the silence. "Code, welcome to the group."
Code's grin faltered for a moment before he replied, "Thanks."
Nara clapped him on the back, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "So, Van, what's the real reason we're here?"
Van's expression turned somber. "Code is a Zero."
The room fell silent, the only sound the soft hum of the music. Nara's eyes widened in surprise, and he took a step back. "Whoa, that's heavy."
Hina's eyes narrowed, her expression skeptical. "And he's got the Aidra?"
Van nodded. "Yeah, I confirmed it yesterday."
Nara's face lit up with excitement. "That's amazing! I've never met a Zero before."
Code felt a surge of relief at Nara's reaction. He had expected fear or hostility, but instead, Nara seemed genuinely enthusiastic.
Hina's expression turned thoughtful. "This changes things. We need to be more careful."
Van nodded. "I know. WAS will stop at nothing to capture Code."
Code's heart sank in fear, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios.
Nara clapped him on the back again. "Don't worry, Code. We've got your back."
Hina nodded in agreement. "We'll protect you, no matter what."
Van's expression turned serious. "We need to be prepared. We don't know what WAS will do next."
The group fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts. Code felt a sense of gratitude towards his new friends, but the fear still lingered, a constant reminder of the danger that lay ahead.
Nara broke the silence, his voice curious. "So, Van, why did we come to Bucharest?"
Van shrugged. "I'm not entirely sure. I just knew we had to get out of there."
Code raised an eyebrow. "You didn't know?"
Van chuckled. "Let's just say I had a hunch."
Code felt a pang of guilt for doubting Van's sanity. Hina's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing as she cracked her knuckles. "You really want to die, don't you? You mean you asked us to come all the way here, because of an hunch?" she asked, her voice low and menacing, her words dripping with a hint of frustration.
Van trembled, his hands raised in surrender as he took a step back, his eyes darting between Hina and Code. "Alright, alright... I sensed a strange signal from this place. It was unlike any demonic energy I've encountered," he explained, his voice laced with a mix of excitement and caution.
Nara's eyes lit up with excitement, his face alight with curiosity. "This is getting interesting!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with anticipation. "I mean, who doesn't love a good mystery?" he added, grinning mischievously.
Code's heart skipped a beat as he processed the revelation. "So, that's why we're in Bucharest," he stated, his voice barely above a whisper, his mind racing with questions.
Hina's expression turned serious, her eyes clouding with concern. "Does WAS know about this?" she asked, her voice firm, her gaze locked on Van.
Van's voice was grim, his words weighted with a sense of urgency. "Not yet, but they will soon. We need to act fast," he warned, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for potential threats.
Nara turned to Code, his curiosity evident in his gaze. "So, what's your sorcery style?" he asked, his voice filled with excitement, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Code hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "I-I don't know," he stammered, his face flushing with embarrassment.
Nara's eyes widened in surprise, his face alight with wonder. "Nani?" he exclaimed, his voice filled with surprise. "Like your tenzen affinity?" he added.
But Code shook his head, and replied, "I don't know."
Van intervened, his tone calm and soothing. "Code doesn't have tenzen. He's a special case," he explained, his eyes locked on Code, his expression reassuring.
Nara's face lit up with surprise, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Whoa, that's cool!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with wonder. "I mean, you're really special!" he added, grinning.
Code smiled, feeling a sense of wonder wash over him. He was still trying to wrap his head around the revelation.
Van stood up, his eyes locked on Code. "He's going to train with me. Code, come with me," he instructed, his voice firm, his gaze commanding.
Nara clapped Code on the back, his grin mischievous. "Don't die, okay?" he joked, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Code's heart skipped a beat as he processed the warning. "Die?" he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios.
Hina shot Nara a warning glance, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "Nara, don't scare him," she chided, her voice firm.
Nara grinned mischievously. "Just telling the truth," he retorted, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
As Code followed Van into the next room, he couldn't shake off the feeling of uncertainty that lingered in the air. What lay ahead? Only time would tell.
"I hope I don't die," Code whispered to himself, his heart racing with anticipation and fear.
Nara's voice echoed from behind, "Don't worry, Code! We'll protect you... unless you're allergic to training. Then you're on your own!".