The morning after the chaos at the tavern, Rafiz was confined to his room. Rafael, their father, had grounded him until his injuries fully healed. 
The punishment wasn’t harsh, but being stuck inside grated on Rafiz’s temper—he hated feeling useless while the world went on without him.
Kairi, on the other hand, had been warned to be extra careful with the dishes. With Rafiz out of commission, he now had to shoulder double the work alongside the remaining waiters.
The staff was already small—only eight in total: three in the kitchen, one cashier, and four waiters if Rafiz had been there. 
Now, serving a tavern packed to the brim with customers felt nearly impossible, especially when groups arrived in droves.
By evening, Rafael had the employees set up extra tables and chairs outside to accommodate the growing line of people waiting to get in. Among the familiar faces, one visitor from yesterday returned: Virgo. 
Not seeing Rafiz anywhere, he called for Kairi, who was scurrying through the crowd. Startled, Kairi paused mid-step, his heart skipping a beat.
“Yes, Mr. Virgo? Your order will be out shortly. Sorry for the wait,” Kairi said, still remembering how Virgo had helped him with the armed customer yesterday.
“Just call me Virgo. Don’t need the ‘Mr.,’” Virgo replied, smirking. “I don’t see that waiter… Rafiz, was it? He’s not here today?”
“No… He hurt his hand yesterday. Dad told him to stay in until he recovers,” Kairi said, a faint edge of frustration in his voice. 
Rafiz’s recklessness yesterday had left him injured—and now the tavern was short-staffed.
“Oh… so it’s just you then?” Virgo’s grin widened, clearly amused.
“You really think I needed to tell you?” Kairi muttered under his breath, brushing off the comment.
Virgo chuckled softly at Kairi’s irritation, enjoying the little show.
“Yeah, we’re short-handed, but… what can you do? No part-timers right now. I’ll get moving!” Kairi called back to the counter before hurrying off to deliver the meals.
Kairi weaved through the crowded tavern, balancing trays of steaming dishes as sweat dotted his forehead. Every step had to be careful—one wrong move and he could recreate yesterday’s disaster.
From a corner table, Virgo leaned back in his chair, casually licking his ice cream. His eyes followed Kairi like a hawk, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
“Careful there,” Virgo called lightly, though his tone was teasing rather than serious. 
“Wouldn’t want a repeat of yesterday… though I have to admit, it was entertaining.”
Kairi froze mid-step, a blush creeping onto his cheeks. “I-I’ll be fine!” he muttered, trying to ignore Virgo’s amused gaze while continuing to deliver the meals.
“Sure, sure,” Virgo said with a small chuckle. “Just promise me you won’t spill anything else… at least not on purpose.”
Kairi’s hands shook slightly as he reached the first table. “Y-Yes, I promise!” he said, forcing a smile at the customers, who were too busy eating to notice the small drama unfolding nearby.
Virgo leaned back again, unbothered by the bustle of the tavern, watching Kairi scurry back and forth with a quietly amused expression. For him, the busy night was a perfect little show—and Kairi was the star.
Virgo’s smile vanished, and his eyes widened when he noticed the chain around Kairi’s neck.
“Wait… that can’t be… Is that the Pegasus Star Emblem?” he muttered to himself, astonished.
He didn’t approach Kairi right away—he didn’t want to disturb him while he was busy. Virgo waited patiently until the last customers had left. 
Once the tavern quieted down, he stepped closer. Kairi had paused to catch his breath, sitting near the counter. Some colleagues were still tidying up, while others were changing into their street clothes.
“Hm? You’re still here? Do you… need something?” Kairi asked, his voice a little shaky, a hint of nervousness in his tone.
“It’s Virgo,” he corrected calmly, no teasing this time. “And I need to ask… that emblem you’re wearing—can I take a closer look?”
“This… uh, sure,” Kairi said, his fingers trembling as he carefully took off the chain. He held it out, hesitating, his gaze darting away, unable to meet Virgo’s eyes. Already, a flicker in Virgo’s expression told him the man knew the emblem.
“Where did you get this?” Virgo asked, his frown deepening. A quiet tension hung in his voice, and the way he studied the emblem made Kairi’s stomach twist.
Kairi swallowed hard. “It… got carried by the river and… it just stuck to my hand while I was washing. Came from the north river woods.”
Virgo’s hands closed gently around the emblem. He turned it over slowly, his brows furrowed, his calm confidence replaced by quiet unease—he knew instantly this was far more than a simple trinket.
Kairi’s chest tightened with guilt; even for a moment, he hadn’t meant to take it, and now he dreaded having done something wrong.
Virgo held the chain in his hands, eyes widening as he sensed a faint pulse of energy only he could perceive—a subtle glow that reminded him of a soaring Pegasus.
“It’s real…” he murmured, a mix of awe and worry tightening his chest. “What happened to him? Did… did they find him?!” His heart throbbed with unease.
“…Did you see a man?” Virgo asked Kairi. “Dark green hair, waist-length, about 1.9 meters tall.”
Kairi shook his head. “No… I didn’t see anyone like that.”
“That’s a tall man… even taller than Rafiz by a few inches,” Kairi muttered quietly to himself.
Virgo went silent for a moment, focusing on the emblem in his hands. He whispered a quiet prayer for the safety of its owner—whose name was the same as the emblem itself: Pegasus.
“V-Virgo?” Kairi stammered, trying to say the name without “Mister,” still tripping over the words.
“Hm?” Virgo looked up at him, quickly masking the anxiety flickering across his face.
“You… you know who owns this emblem, right? I’m sorry for taking it without checking around. You can keep it,” Kairi said, offering it back.
“Thank you. This emblem belongs to my friend. It’s very important,” Virgo said, his gaze lingering on the chain. He carefully tucked it under his jacket, hiding it from view.
“I’m… I’m sorry, Virgo,” Kairi admitted, feeling guilty for taking something so significant without knowing the full story.
“It’s alright,” Virgo replied gently. “You didn’t know. And… thank you for returning it, Kairi.” A faint smile appeared on his face, appreciation shining through.
Kairi didn’t remember telling Virgo his name, but he replied with a simple nod.
For a moment, the two fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts. Eventually, Virgo left the tavern, muttering a quiet prayer to himself.
“I hope he’s safe…” he whispered under his breath.
Three days passed quickly. Rafiz still hadn’t fully recovered, leaving Kairi to work harder than ever. Meanwhile, Virgo continued visiting the tavern.
He found himself drawn to Kairi—his presence, his quiet diligence, and his unassuming nature intrigued Virgo, even though he didn’t fully understand why.
After all, finding Pegasus was still his priority, and the emblem’s appearance left many questions unanswered.
When Kairi headed to the counter, Virgo approached with a teasing grin.
“Working hard again today, huh?” he remarked. “Better buff up later, haha!”
Kairi let out a small chuckle. “If you want me to compare to you and Rafiz… I’m not quite there yet.”
He couldn’t help but notice that Virgo, like Rafiz, had a strong, lean physique—not bulky, but subtly muscular, muscles hidden beneath the frame of a tall, agile body.
Virgo leaned casually against the counter, eyes scanning Kairi as he wiped down the surface. “You move pretty fast for someone your size,” he remarked, a sly grin on his face.
Kairi rolled his eyes, though a faint smile tugged at his lips.
“I’m just trying not to burn the soup this time,” he muttered, glancing at the steaming dishes behind him.
“Hm, so careful… I like that,” Virgo said, tilting his head slightly. “But don’t tell me you’re scared of spilling something again?”
“I’m not scared!” Kairi snapped, then immediately realized how defensive he sounded and added quickly, “…I just don’t want to cause trouble for anyone.”
Virgo chuckled, clearly enjoying the rare flustered side of Kairi. “Relax, I’m not here to scold you. Actually, it’s kind of fun seeing you so focused.”
Kairi felt a small warmth in his chest at the comment but quickly looked away, busying himself with clearing a tray.
“You know,” Virgo continued, leaning a little closer, “if you keep working this hard, I might start thinking you’re trying to impress someone.”
Kairi froze, a faint blush creeping up his neck. “…I’m not!” he said too quickly, almost spilling the water he was carrying.
Virgo smirked knowingly. “Sure, sure. But keep it up—I like watching you in action.”
Kairi shook his head, half annoyed, half amused, as he moved off to serve another table. Virgo followed at a casual pace, watching quietly, a faint curiosity and admiration in his gaze.
“When will Rafiz be back to work?” Virgo asked.
“I don’t know… Today’s the fourth day he’s stuck in his room. I hope he recovers soon,” Kairi replied, a little frustrated. 
He missed working with Rafiz, though having Virgo around every day made him feel less alone.
“Heh… finally,” Virgo said suddenly.
“Huh? Finally what?” Kairi tilted his head, confused.
“You’ve stopped being so formal with me,” Virgo said with a smirk. “And… who would’ve thought we’re actually the same age?”
Coincidentally, they were both twenty.
“Really? I thought you were older,” Kairi admitted.
“Tsk! Do I look that old?” Virgo asked, mock-offended.
Kairi hesitated, then nodded slowly. “Well… maybe a little. But you also look… mature,” he added carefully, a faint grin on his lips as he looked away.
“You’re impossible… so you are teasing me,” Virgo muttered, frowning slightly while watching Kairi’s expression. “Hmph… whatever.”
“Hey, Kairi…” Virgo said slowly. “Do you need help?”
“Huh? Help with what?” Kairi asked, puzzled.
“This…” Virgo tugged gently at Kairi’s waitress sleeve.
“What? You want to… be hired? Voluntarily?” Kairi blinked, surprised.
“Yes. I’m willing. Besides, I don’t have anything to do right now. You don’t mind if I take Rafiz’s place for a while, do you?”
Virgo had his reasons. Working as a waitress might let him gather information, hear news about his kin. And while his main goal was finding Pegasus, he also wanted to stay close to Kairi a little longer. It was unusual for him—this sense of attachment to a stranger.
Who was Kairi? He felt as if he had known him for a long time, yet had never actually met him. It was… mysterious.
Kairi stayed silent for a moment. He didn’t have the right to hire someone; he would need to ask Rafael first. Before he could speak, Rafael appeared behind them, surprising both of them. He patted Virgo on the shoulder with a wide grin.
“Good, good! You’re hired! We desperately need employees right now! Perfect timing! Haha!” Rafael exclaimed.
Before Virgo could think or reconsider, he was handed a waitress uniform and instructed to begin immediately.
Kairi stared as Virgo slipped into the outfit, trying not to laugh. 
“Wow… you actually look… okay in that,” he said, disbelief clear in his voice.
“Okay? Okay?!” Virgo glanced down at the uniform, frowning dramatically. 
“I look like a professional! A professional!”
Kairi snorted. “Professional? You mean… a very unusual professional.”
Virgo shot him a mock glare. “Ha! Jealous of my efficiency, are you? Watch and learn, rookie!”
Kairi rolled his eyes, though a small smile tugged at his lips.
“Yeah, yeah… just don’t spill anything, okay?”
“I’ve got this,” Virgo said confidently, lifting a tray with an exaggerated flourish. “If anything goes wrong, it’s your fault for doubting me.”
Kairi shook his head, amused despite himself. “You’re lucky Rafiz isn’t here… he’d probably challenge you to a cooking duel or something.”
Virgo chuckled, moving smoothly to deliver a tray. “Well, if he does, I’ll gladly take him on. But for now… let me show you how it’s done.”
As the night went on, Kairi couldn’t help but notice how naturally Virgo adapted. He moved with confidence, balancing trays, interacting politely with customers, and teasing Kairi lightly in between tasks.
Despite being a stranger, Virgo’s presence made the busy tavern feel more manageable—and unexpectedly entertaining.
“Hey, Kairi,” Virgo whispered as he handed a tray to a customer, “you really keep busy, huh? I can see why Rafiz has such high standards for you.”
Kairi chuckled softly, shaking his head. “You have no idea. Even with you helping, it’s still a lot to handle.”
Virgo smirked, delivering another tray with ease. “Then let’s make it a little easier… together.”
For the first time in days, Kairi felt a small sense of relief. With Virgo around, even the chaos of the tavern didn’t seem quite so overwhelming.
“Hey, Kairi! Before I forget, I want you to hold this. Keep it safe and don’t lose it.” Virgo pulled out the Pegasus chain and handed it to Kairi.
“Eh, why?!” Kairi exclaimed, wide-eyed, surprised to have the chain back.
“Before we meet the owner of this emblem, I want you to keep it. After all, you were the one who found it. You’ll need to explain it to the owner later, got it?” Virgo’s grin was teasing, almost mischievous.
Kairi’s eyes widened. He could feel Virgo deliberately passing responsibility onto him. 
“Wait! Why should I explain? I already gave you the details!”
“True…” Virgo nodded. “But look at this pattern on the emblem—I have one too, though it’s different.”
Virgo unclasped his own chain and held it up.
“This is called Virgo Star. And don’t ask why my name matches it—that’s a secret,” he said, winking.
“Huh? But… aren’t you a man?” Kairi tilted his head, puzzled. 
He knew Virgo was one of the twelve main zodiac stars, but Pegasus wasn’t. What did that mean about their connection?
“Of course I’m a man,” Virgo explained. “But in my lineage, whoever is chosen to be the owner of this chain is called Virgo. Gender doesn’t matter—the name stays the same. Understand?”
“Oh… okay…” Kairi deadpanned, frowning slightly.
Didn’t Virgo just say his name was a secret?
He had many questions, but stayed quiet, staring at the Pegasus emblem in his hands.
“So… the owner of this emblem is called Pegasus?” he asked, beginning to piece things together.
“That’s right,” Virgo confirmed. 
“Okay… I don’t understand everything yet, but if I’m correct, someone named Pegasus did stop here a few days ago. Maybe he—”
Before Kairi could finish, Virgo’s eyes widened, and he suddenly shouted,
“What?! Really?!”