…every question that Aoba asked only raised more complicated questions instead of solid answers. The chopping motions of Aoba’s knife stilled and he stared down at the diced bits of onion without seeing them. When he turned his head a bit, he did see that turquoise-shaded stone, though.

Fought. Declan had been gone a night, going all across the planet—and beyond?—and fighting, and he’d still seen a pretty stone and picked it up because it had reminded him of Aoba. He’d hurried home for breakfast, and told Ghost to wake him up so he wouldn’t miss it. This guy…he was just unreal.

“Then I better not disappoint him,” was all Aoba said, pushing aside the little pile of onion and moving on to the cheese instead. After that, he had nothing else to ask of Ghost for the moment. He focused on the last bits of prep work, waiting for Declan to join them.