The blue car pulled over beside the pavement, making the grass bend to the soft breeze.

It was a nice late summer afternoon.

A meek wind was moving the crown of the trees, and the cicadas were filling the air with their sing.

Lotte pouted at the window, eyes immediately captured by the glimpse of the sea, barely visible miles against the horizon.

«Stop moping and get out.» the man in the driving place grumbled, making then his way in the open.

«I don't really understand why I need to move.» the girl muttered.

She almost fell out of the car when her companion suddenly opened the door.

«Because you're too old to live in a dorm.» he brusquely said, waiting for the glaring woman to finally step outside.

«So what? It's close to work, it's cheap, someone else cleans it for me and–»

«It's a hole.» he cut her out, heading towards the complex across the street «Come on.»

With a frustrated click of her tongue, Lotte adjusted the purse on her shoulder and closed the door of the car, following then his cousin. By the time she reached him, he had already ringed at one of the apartments.

«Hello?» a voice chimed from the other side.

«We're here to see the flat, we made an appointment.» the raven-haired male announced, returning the glare his cousin was shooting at him.

«Sure, come up!»

The door opened and the two of them got inside.

«Why do you even care this much, Law?» Lotte huffed, bouncing up the stairs behind him.

«Because Cora-san is making a drama out of it, and I can't take his worried complains anymore.» Law plainly replied without turning «You have to pull yourself together, Lot-ya.»

She pressed her lips against each other, burning holes in his cousin's back with her eyes.

«I'm fine.»

«Sure.»

Law stopped in front of one of the entrances on the second floor, but the door burst open before he could knock.

«Good evening!»

A man in his forties was standing on the threshold, a flashy grin plastered on his tanned face, bright red locks falling around it. He was wearing a white shirt, loosely buttoned on his chest, and kaki pants.

Beside him, a young woman stood with her arms crossed on her claret hoodie, her gaze already scanning the two newcomers. She had a piercing on her right eyebrow, long crimson hair, and she didn't look impressed.

Lotte blinked, surprised by their sudden appearance.

«Hum, hi.»

«I'm Akagami Shanks, the owner of the apartment.» he introduced himself «And this is Kyo. She just moved in this week.»

Him and Law briefly shook hands.

«I'm Trafalgar Law. This is my cousin Lotte, she's actually the one interested in the apartment.»

The brunette's eyes slid from Shanks to Kyo, before flicking back to the man.

«My god, you must have been a teenager when you had her!»

The redhead woman frowned at the comment, while a grimace traversed Law's face.

«...she talks too much.»

Thankfully, Shanks let out a hearted laugh at that, before shaking his head.

«Did you hear that, Kyo? She thinks we're related~»

«I heard.» she plainly said, her gaze never leaving Lotte's face «He's just a family friend, though.»

«Uops, sorry.»

The brunette returned her look and her eye twitched for a moment.

Suddenly she was very self-conscious of her high-waist jeans and vintage superheroes T-shirt. Was that girl planning on staring at her forever?

The answer was negative, apparently, because when they walked past the threshold, her focus shifted to Law.

Law locked gazes with her while stepping inside, his eyebrows slightly rising.

«Please, come on in!» Shanks chimed, closing the door behind them «Let me show you around!»

Lotte let out a silent breath and decided to drop her resistance and go along with the visit, for now. Her cousin had a point, after all, she couldn't stay in the dorm forever, and her uncles were becoming quite insistent about her finding an apartment.

It didn't take long for Shanks to show them her bedroom and the rest of the flat. There was only one other room beside that and Kyo's, after all, with kitchen and day area joint in a wide space.

A big wooden table was placed right below the main wind, benches on its sides, opposite to the kitchen. The rest of the space was occupied by a big sofa, a coffee table and two armchairs.

As for the bathroom, it was spacious, with an old tub and light blue walls.

«So, what do you think?» Shanks smiled, turning to Lotte.

She nervously fiddled with the handlers of her purse.

«It's cute, actually...»

«And the price is reasonable.» Law concluded «I think you should take it.»

Lotte shot a glare to him, but before she could say anything, the redhead jumped in.

«Excuse me, why are you here again?» she asked.

Law turned to her, his raven eyebrow lifted.

Lotte knew how her cousin could be pretty intimidating, especially for young women, but Kyo look totally unfazed as she continued to stare at him from her modest height.

«She's the one searching for a place, isn't she? Are you here to make sure she doesn't get screwed over?»

Law's eyes sharpened a little, now appearing to study her.

«What if that's the case?»

«Isn't she able to take care of herself?»

Surprisingly, the comment had a crooked smirk curling Lotte's lips, as she turned to Shanks.

«...and they say I'm the one who talks too much.»

The man let out an amused sigh, waving his hand to Kyo and Law, who were now apparently involved in a staring contest.

«Come on, Kyo. Law, you are a nice cousin. There could have been a pervert waiting here.» his cheerful expression glided back to Lotte «Are you interested in this place?»

«She is.» Law blurted, still staring at the redhead.

Lotte huffed.

Her cousin was clearly not looking forward visiting more apartments with her. Not that she would even ask, but they both knew that Corazon would. And if Law were to refuse, Rocinante would have come himself – which was better than having her other uncle coming along and scaring the shit out of landlords, but still not the ideal scenario.

«I guess I am.» she finally admitted.

«Splendid!» Shanks clapped his hands «Since Kyo is here, what if we get over with the interview immediately, then?»

«Huh, sure?»

Kyo hummed, moving to sit on one of the benches. Shanks took place beside her, while Lotte and Law sat in front.

The raven-haired man sent her a quick "don't-screw-this-up" glare before taking his seat.

«What kind of job do you have, Lotte?» Shanks asked with a smile.

«I'm in the middle of my PhD in marine biology. I work in the research centre by the shore.»

«Wow! Kyo here works as a night guard at the history museum, so you wouldn't fight over the bathroom in the morning.»

He laughed at his own remark, while both the girls frowned.

«Any pets?»

«No.»

«I see. Crazy friends that might come over?»

Lotte opened her mouth to reply, but the words turned into a cough as Law kicked her under the table.

She quickly brought a hand to her mouth to muffle a grunt.

Someone clearly didn't want her to mention her green-haired best friend, who ran a street gang in his spare time.

Lotte raised her eyes to the landlord, but her brown irises met Kyo's first.

The girl was looking right back at her, the corner of her mouth maybe slightly curved upwards in a subtle smirk.

«No. My friends are all nice, respectable people.» Lotte recited with a lovely smile, the whole thing sounding so fake Law had a hard time supressing a scoff.

Shanks didn't seem worried over it though.

After some other routine questions, Lotte filled the application and shook his hand, exchanging a nod with Kyo.

«We will call you soon!~»

«Thanks. See ya!» the brunette lazily greeted, walking out the apartment.

«Thank you, Mr. Akagami.» Law said, before turning to the young woman «Kyo-ya, isn't it?»

Lotte stopped to send a glance over her shoulder.

Law wasn't the kind of guy who loses time learning people's name, usually.

«It is.» the redhead nodded «Trafalgar.»

He indulged one second before turning.

«I guess I'll see you around.»

Once back into the car, Lotte finally quirked an eyebrow at the raven-haired guy, relaxing against the seat.

«Sooo... you want me to take this place, right?»

«If that means Cora-san can sleep at night without stressing over you rotting in a dorm, yes.»

«I see. No other particular reason?»

Law started the car, looking straight ahead.

«No.»