Unclassified; Zero and Still Standing

The journey to Arrow’s estate felt unusually long.

Rain poured relentlessly against the windshield. The wipers swept back and forth in steady rhythm.

Inside the car, only the rain and the soft hum of the radio could be heard.

Neither of them spoke.

It wasn’t an awkward silence, it was the comfortable type. The sort that didn’t need to be filled.

It simply... fit.

Yesu had spent the beginning of the journey watching Arrow drive.

He handled the steering wheel with effortless precision, every turn smooth, every movement deliberate, as though the vehicle was merely another part of him.

After a while, she grew tired of watching him and so she switched to watching raindrops race one another down the window.

That entertained her for all of three minutes. Now she was growing increasingly bored.

The radio wasn’t helping.

Earlier it had been playing music. Now the news had started.

"...For the past two weeks, protests have continued outside the Supreme Court..."

Yesu rolled her eyes and sank deeper into her seat.

"...against the newly approved law proposed by the High Regent regarding the allocation of mass resources into Rank Empowerment..."

She let out a silent groan.

Arrow’s attention never left the road.

"...Most protesters are supporters of the Null Alliance alongside recently active ZCP movements spreading across the city..."

At the mention of ZCP, Yesu frowned slightly.

"...There have also been multiple reports of violence during these demonstrations. Citizens are advised to refrain from direct involvement with these groups..."

Yesu’s eyes wandered around the car instead.

A music album case sat neatly inside one of the compartments.

She leaned over.

"...CCD officials continue to assure the public that violence will be contained and that everyone can continue living peacefully here in the heart of Central City."

Yesu reached for the album.

The moment she lifted it—

Clack.

Several cassette tapes tumbled out and scattered across the passenger footwell.

Arrow’s eyes flicked toward her.

"Sorry."

Yesu quickly bent down. She gathered them onto her lap one by one.

Then paused.

Pleasant surprise spread across her face. She looked at Arrow.

"I didn’t think you’d be into this kind of music."

She held up a romance album.

"Actually, I didn’t think you’d be into music at all."

Arrow remained completely unfazed.

"They’re not mine."

A mischievous smile crept onto Yesu’s face.

"Are you sure about that?" She picked up another cassette. "I can see your name clearly autographed on this one."

Her smile grew wicked in teasing. She squinted at it.

"Who is this... Stella Ro..."

Arrow glanced sideways.

Then, without saying a word, he calmly reached over, took the cassette from her hands and slid it into the compartment above his head.

A laugh escaped Yesu before she could stop it.

Arrow looked at her again.

Not annoyed, just looking.

Yesu immediately cleared her throat, turned toward the window and forced herself to stop laughing.

Silence returned.

Only the rain and radio remained once again.

It lasted another few minutes before Yesu sighed dramatically.

"I can’t take this anymore." She looked at Arrow. "Can I play something?"

He spared her another brief glance.

"With discretion."

Yesu almost laughed.

"Discretion."

She repeated the word under her breath. Then selected one of the cassettes resting on her lap.

She switched off the radio and slid the tape into the player.

A gentle melody flowed through the speakers.

Soft.

Warm.

Unhurried.

Yesu relaxed into her seat almost immediately.

Outside, the forest had faded into darkness beneath the evening rain.

The drive somehow felt quieter, more peaceful.

She kept watching the window.

"You know," she said after a while. "For a boring-looking guy, you’ve got pretty good taste in music."

Arrow’s lips curved into the faintest smirk.

***

Yesu stepped out of the bathroom, warmth rising from her skin.

Steam drifted from her damp hair as she rubbed it absentmindedly with a towel.

The moment she entered her room, she stopped and looked around.

The neatly made bed, the bookshelf,the wardrobe,the desk, the window.

It still felt unreal.

Her room.

Her own space.

She walked over to the window and rested both hands on the sill.

Beyond the glass stretched the neatly trimmed lawn, rows of trees swaying gently in the rain, and the estate gate standing quietly in the distance.

She smiled to herself.

Well, if there was one good thing that had come out of everything that had happened...

She now had a room.

She let out a small sigh and headed downstairs.

***

Greta had already finished setting the dining table.

Spaghetti. Meatballs.

A simple dinner.

Arrow was already seated at the head of the table, a mug of coffee in one hand.

Yesu glanced at it and wondered if he always drank coffee during meals.

She pulled out the chair beside him and sat down.

The meal began in silence.

Only the soft clinking of cutlery filled the room.

Yesu slowly twirled spaghetti around her fork.

"So..."

Arrow paused for only a second.

"After dinner."

Then, almost as an afterthought—

"Please."

Yesu made a face.

"But you’re always cooped up in your office." She pointed her fork at him. "I know that’s exactly where you’re going after this."

Arrow rubbed his forehead.

"Get on with it then."

Yesu blinked. She hadn’t expected him to give in that quickly.

"Go on." Arrow repeated.

She straightened in her seat.

"I want to visit a friend tomorrow."

"No."

The answer came immediately. No hesitation. No consideration.

"Why?"

"You have an appointment to keep with Doctor Heckman."

Arrow glanced at her briefly.

"I was informed about your escapades with his security during the Trials."

Yesu looked completely unbothered.

"They started it first." She stabbed another meatball. "Kidnapping is a serious crime, you know."

Arrow had just lifted his coffee. He stopped halfway.

He lowered the mug back onto the table, very carefully. The kind of care that somehow felt more dangerous than anger.

Yesu, as always, noticed none of it.

"It seems," Arrow said evenly, "that you’ve forgotten your current status."

His eyes settled on her.

"Do you need reminding?"

Yesu frowned.

"Is that why you intended to hide calls from me?"

"I hid nothing."

His reply was blunt.

Her frown deepened.

"You said I’d be allowed to exist as normally as possible. Normal people visit their friends, don’t they?"

Arrow was quiet. He seemed to be considering her words.

Slowly, he picked up his coffee again.

He took one sip.

Then another.

Yesu waited patiently for his answer.

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