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Miki's PoV

"It's now or never...." I said as an encouragement to myself in a whisper.

It's the day when we steal the oil painting from the mansion. A party's going on right downstairs, and Baba's distracting the guards for me while I sneak into a room where all the most precious things they owned are kept.

Understandably there were a bunch of combinations and security systems, I wasted some time cracking them all.

There it is. On the very top of the high room, there hung the painting. It was probably more than ten feet off the ground. How should I get it...?

I scan the room, then huff a short breath. I leap up, jumping off of a small counter without moving the diamonds placed on it, with the help of a push off the wall with my hand, I air flipped while my other hand snatched down the painting. I land back down as quietly as I could with the painting in my right hand.

The frame was only six inches across, it was easy to tuck inside my cardigan that I wore over a dress. I have a gun that's stuck on a leg band on my upper thigh, the skirt easily hides it from view. I rub my ankles slightly from the impact of such a big jump.

I knew it was already unsafe to head out the door, so I slid open the only window there was in the big room, then jumped out from the fourth floor.

"Oof!" I landed squarely into a pair of arms. I look up expecting to see Baba, but another familiar face came into view.

"The heck are you doing here?" his grip on me tightens, as if not intending to let me get off. This was my first time seeing Nolan in formal suit wear. He looked undeniably hot. Though I would die first before admitting that to his face.

He peered at the painting that I held tightly in my arms, then his eyebrows relaxed, "oh, on a steal I see?"

"Thanks for catching me, love. I owe you one, but can you let go now?" I wiggled around a bit, but I should know now that I can't get out of his grasp.

I almost screamed when he intentionally let loose a little, but he caught me again. My arm flew around his neck on instinct so I won't fall. The cocky look on his face told me he did it on purpose.

"Wipe that stupid smirk off your face." I mutter and click my tongue, "Where... are you taking me?"

He started walking further away from the mansion. I was about to tell him that I'm not alone when he spoke up first.

"I already informed Mr. Baba about this, don't you worry your pretty little a--"

I clapped a hand over his mouth with a glare. I felt him smile against my hand.

How much does this guy know? Jeez.

I perked up when I start to hear police sirens.

"Damn that Ayase, his information is quicker than I thought." I mumble to myself. I was busy focusing on where the sirens were coming from, I was startled when I was suddenly stuffed into Nolan's limousine once again.

The entire ride was silent, but he didn't seem to find it awkward.

"Here." He said simply when the limo stopped in front of the hotel. Again, I don't know how he knows where I live.

"Thanks for the ride." I bow slightly at him when I got out.

"You...you're going to prom, right?" I look up at him, his face showed nothing of what he was feeling. He was just looking right at me.

I nodded twice. Why?!!!!!

I swear a flash of relief crossed his features for a second. He smiled at me. A smile. Not a smirk, not a blank look, not his temperamental reaction, but a soft welcoming smile.

"I'll see you, then." He waved once before rolling up the heavily tinted window. I watched as the limo drove away into the distance.

Crap. Why did I nod? I wasn't going. I already gave my prom dress to Satomi anyway. 

"Miki! Eh, where's Baba?" Ota greeted me first.

"A rich bastard sent me back on his limo." I scoff lightly as a joke, "And uh, Baba's probably dealing with Aya right about now."

"A rich bastard?" Eisuke asked, probably feeling like I'm talking about him.

"Another rich bastard. His father's a great business partner of yours, Nolan." I say. An 'o' formed on his mouth.

"Why did you even decide to become a thief?" rarely, Soryu joins the conversation.

I bite onto my bottom lip. I debate on whether I should tell them or not.

Nah...now's not a good time, I'm not sure I trust these people that much.

"I'm kinda tired." I put on a weak smile, "we'll talk...some other time?"

Without waiting for an answer, I left the lounge to Baba's suite.

Asher's PoV

There isn't a single business or sports magazine in this country that doesn't have the picture of my brother all over them.

I tossed them all into the trash.

The following week came by uneventfully. Except on Sunday Nolan came back with a stupid smile on his face.

Miki must've said she'd be going to prom.

"That's not helping you in any way, Asher."

I snap back to present at Hanazawa's voice beside me. He was writing math equations.

"You're such a nerd, Hana." I sigh, but I knew it wasn't true. Each of us specializes in a sport or two.

"Unlike you, I wanna have a good future." He sounded a little bit harsher than he intended. He really knows how to push my buttons.

He's an only child, so he's the only heir to his family business. But I'm second-in-line. Left or right, I got nothing as much to worry about.

"Nolan, hurry up!" I shouted towards the stairs instead, to avoid the topic.

Prom was two hours from now. Both Hana and I are in suits. But Nolan's taking forever.

"Oh look. I've finished the entire textbook now." Hanazawa closes his notebook. I can tell how he skipped two grades.

I hear footsteps coming down the stairs.

"Finally!" I spun around, but then cut short. His hair was down in a hot mess way, he hasn't worn his hair like that in a year. His black suit was ironed without a single crease, his tie was the deepest shade of purple that was basically black. I could smell his cologne now that he's in front of me.

"Never went to this length to get a girl's attention, did you?" Hanazawa remarked.

"Hush." He straightened his tie one last time before walking past us. I roll my eyes with a grin. I'll tease him about it later.

The chauffeur bowed as he opened the limo door for us.

I almost laughed out loud when Nolan let out a small breath when we arrived at the school. He's really looking forward to this.

The three of us walked into the main auditorium of the school, where music was already playing and some people were dancing to it.

Just then, I spot the back of the dress that Nolan gave to Miki. Her hair was up into a nice bun. Huh, I didn't know her hair was long enough to do that.

I tap Nolan on the shoulder and point to her.

Hanazawa and I watched as Nolan walked up to her. She turned around.

But it wasn't Miki.

Isn't that her friend? Satomi, was it?

"Oh, hi...." I greet, at a slight loss for words while Nolan was just dumbstruck. "You look great tonight." I smile slightly. I thought that dress would've fit Miki better, but she suits it nicely too.

She smiled brightly, "thank you!" she turned to look at Nolan, visibly becoming more nervous.

Yup, this girl likes him.

One would've thought he still would let her down gently?

"...You look fucking hideous...where the hell did you get that damned dress?!" he nearly shouted. Without another word, he turned and stormed out of the building.

"Tsk, and he was looking forward to this day so much." I shook my head in pity.

"She must've gave it away to this one." Hana nodded towards the girl who now looks incredibly shocked and hurt.

"We should let him cool down." I sigh. He nods in agreement.

Pretty soon many girls clung onto my arms. Even if I wanted to leave, I couldn't.

Nolan's PoV

Why...Why...?

Why does she have to do this?

She said she'd be there. I'm a hundred percent sure she got the dress.

How dare she give away something I gave her..!

I dialled her number on my phone, I had my sources to obtain her phone number.

"Get out here now."

"Nolan? How--"

"I'm right in the hotel lobby."

"I'm not at the hotel."

"Where are you?"

"Look, this is my personal matter and it's none of your business, okay? I apologize for not going to prom, I'm sorry, but I'm currently busy."

She hung up.

First time a girl's ever hung up on me.

I turn on my phone's tracking system and located her phone at a hospital.

~~

When I opened a door to a hospital room, sure enough, Miki was there. But she was sitting on a chair beside a bed, where a woman laid, whom I guess is her mother.

"Nolan?" her jaw almost dropped to the floor at the sight of me, she stood up from her chair.

Her mother looked at me curiously.

"I'm sorry I missed prom, but you didn't have to come all the way here."

"So you haven't had dinner yet?" both of us were surprised when her mother spoke up. "Why don't you stay for a bit?"

"Oh, thank you very much." I took a seat right next to Miki.

"Here. I made this." Her mother smiled motherly at me. I felt a pang against my chest. How long has it been... since a motherly smile was directed at me..? How long have I lost it now...?

I take over the plate and chopsticks with a slight bow of my head, "thank you for the meal."

I stared at the substance rested on the plate. Uh...what is this?

Miki nudged me, "it's my mom's homemade omelet with salmon stuffing."

"Um, so are these eggs?" I ask.

"You act like you've never had omelets." Miki tilts her head.

"My family always had Eastern breakfasts, like pancakes, waffles or bacon." I say, I took a bite of the so called 'omelet'.

"How is it?" her mother asked. Her voice is so gentle and soothing.

"It's...really good." I put on a perfect smile and nod. I ate the whole thing despite how I can't take the taste at all. I've never liked salmon, but since she offered and I already ate it, I have to show that I'm appreciating it.

Sure enough, she smiled happily.

"Sorry, the taste must be different from your house. I can't compete with master chefs." She said with a small laugh. She knows about my family. Does Miki talk about me?

"No. This may taste even better than they could make. Everybody specializes in their own things." I say with a natural smile.

Miki's PoV

I actually was beginning to talk about how Nolan and I were now when he literally barged in. 

I observed him as he and mom talked.

He's always doing whatever he wants at school, I'd never think he could have so much self-control, too. He's acting so polite.

No wonder he's a complete boss at school. He acts like this around appropriate people, he's balancing himself out.

I could tell by the twitch of his eye that he couldn't go with the taste of the salmon omelet. It's quite understandable.

He quietly put down the plate and chopsticks, "thanks for your offer, but I'm okay. You should leave more for Miki."

Ten more minutes later, both of us close the door of the hospital room and start to walk out. I thought at first he'd immediately start questioning me about why I didn't go to prom, I already had all my answers prepared.

But he was silent. He didn't seem angry at all either.

I take glances at him from time to time, his expression seemed a bit lonesome.

"You have a nice mother." He murmurs. So that's what he's been thinking about.

"I'm sure yours is too." I say. He didn't say anything back.

We walked down the street, when he slowed down just a little, then walked around behind me and outside to the part of the sidewalk that's closer to the road.

I caught this small gesture of his. He always switched to the outside of the side walk whenever we turned, letting me walk on the inside.

He can be a gentleman automatically, huh....

Mom was smiling the entire time he was there, she really liked him.

"Yeah. She was." His sudden statement caught me by slight surprise.

'Was'?

I didn't know what more to say, and he didn't elaborate either. Maybe his life wasn't as perfect as everyone thought it was.

"I'll see you at school tomorrow." He smiled a small smile as he walked me all the way to the front of the hotel. I waved at him once before going inside.

I glance back several times. He watches me go even as the double doors of the elevator closed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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September 13th 2015

Instagram - seika_akashi

--Lily ❤

Edited: July 17, 2016