At 7:13 AM, Rhodes left the Sajyou residence located in Suginami Ward, Tokyo.
At 8:03 AM, Rhodes arrived at a private residence in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.
Let me digress for a moment.
Although in the real world, East Asians are often considered to retain a youthful appearance, this rule operates a bit differently in the world of anime, where individuals with striking, vibrant features can appear remarkably timeless.
The foreign beauty standing before Rhodes now, Elsa Saijo, was a perfect example.
Of German and Japanese descent, she possessed fiery red hair and emerald green eyes.
Despite being a mother and nearing thirty years old, her elegant, youthful visage could easily rival that of someone much younger.
“Even her slender figure remains unchanged,” Rhodes muttered under his breath as he stepped past the entrance, following behind her.
“Ara ara, Rhodes. What did you just say?”
Feeling a sudden, playful chill emanating from ahead, Rhodes quickly shook his head.
“No, nothing.”
One shouldn’t be fooled by Elsa Saijo’s smiling, gentle demeanor; she was actually a formidable individual capable of immense resolve—the kind of hidden strength that, under different circumstances, could drive a person to push past ordinary human limits.
“Elsa.”
Sitting on the sofa, Rhodes took a thick envelope from his bag and placed it on the coffee table.
“This is this month’s share. I probably won’t be able to visit for a while after this.”
“Thank you for your trouble.” Elsa carefully put the resources away, offering a soft, appreciative bow mixed with a hint of reluctance.
“I’m sorry. If only I could be more supportive, or handle more on my own…”
“No, you’re already doing more than enough. I should be the one expressing my gratitude, since I’m the one who asked you to look after this arrangement,” Rhodes replied smoothly.
Hearing his words, Elsa showed a bright, warm smile.
“I don’t think of this situation as a burden at all, you know? Having her around has brought so much life back into this home. I really don’t know how to thank you, Rhodes. If it weren’t for you…”
“—Ah, the benefactor is here… how rare.”
A monotone voice cut through from the next room.
Rhodes turned to look at the young girl who had just pushed the door open.
Pure white skin like first snow, deep and rich golden pupils, and luxurious silver wavy hair paired with a simple black dress.
The young girl standing there looked less like an ordinary youth and more like an exquisitely crafted, detached presence far removed from the mundane world.
Her name was Caren Ortensia.
This girl, whom Rhodes had brought away from a remote sanctuary in Southern Europe a year prior, had endured a remarkably isolated childhood.
Left to the care of a strict institution from a young age, she had been denied a proper upbringing or education, overlooked until her unique spiritual aptitude began to manifest.
However, due to Rhodes’s impulsive intervention, the trajectory of the girl’s life had been completely disrupted.
Initially, Rhodes had sought her out with a sense of morbid curiosity, wondering if her fabled spiritual physique—said to attract and naturally neutralize anomalous energies—would have any effect on a core of pure darkness like his own.
As it turned out, it had no active effect at all.
In Rhodes’s view, she was simply a remarkably observant, taciturn youth who looked upon the adult world with a sense of quiet scorn.
His decision to bring her to Japan had been entirely spur-of-the-moment.
“Little girl, do you want to come with me? I’ll take you somewhere far more interesting than this place,” he had told her back then.
Caren had wordlessly approached him and taken his hand.
And so, two parallel lines that should never have intersected finally converged.
Elsa, a protective guardian who had suffered a profound loss years ago, and Caren, a youth seeking a place to belong.
Through Rhodes’s arrangement, the two now lived together in Tokyo, forming a deep, silent bond akin to mother and daughter.
“Hey, Rhodes. Are you leaving Tokyo?” Caren asked, stepping forward and taking a seat on the sofa beside him.
Those deep golden eyes gazed directly at his face.
“Oh my… what’s brought this on? Caren, are you actually asking me to stay?”
Caren shook her head, her brilliant silver hair swaying slightly.
“Rhodes, just don’t get into trouble. And remember to take me out when you return.”
It seemed that in her eyes, Rhodes was simply someone who traveled frequently to stir up unnecessary complications.
Rhodes smiled faintly.
“It’s a promise.”
“…Okay.”
A subtle glimmer appeared in her expression.
Deftly retrieving an allowance from the table, she turned toward the entrance.
Both Elsa and Rhodes looked at her in surprise.
“Caren, where are you going?”
“I promised a friend I’d head to the park,” she replied calmly, slipping into her footwear.
Elsa sighed softly, a bit disappointed.
“Caren, Rhodes rarely visits. Can’t you stay a little longer?”
“Knowing he is fine is enough,” the sharp-witted girl replied without looking back.
“Besides, you two clearly have important, private matters to discuss without me lingering around. It is better if I leave you to your conversation.”
“Wh-what are you implying?!”
Instantly, Elsa’s elegant face flushed a brilliant crimson, matching the deep red of her hair.
She stammered slightly, “Caren, don’t tease your elders!”
“Elsa, Rhodes, I am heading out.”
With the soft click of the door, Caren departed.
No sooner had the room fallen silent than Rhodes prepared to stand up from the sofa.
“Well, I should head toward the station as well. My train is scheduled for mid-morning.”
“—I will drive you there myself,” Elsa said suddenly, her voice dropping to a softer, more deliberate register.
Rhodes paused, slightly caught off guard.
“Huh? There’s no need to go through the trouble.”
“But… we finally have a moment of absolute quiet,” Elsa murmured, her gaze locking onto his.
Moving with a sudden, captivating grace, she reached out and caught Rhodes by the wrist, pulling him back down toward the cushions.
Stepping closer, the elegant woman leaned over the youth, tilting her head as a warm, heavy atmosphere settled over the room.
Her gaze drifted over his features, and she leaned in close, her breath warm against his ear.
“I’ve waited a whole month for us to have the house to ourselves… haven’t you?”