Page 116 of Light Leech

I looked at Naoma, hoping she would tell me how to best proceed before I revealed everything about myself. I thought I was smart for disguising the truth, but I was well on the way to revealing it like a stumbling man with a bowl full of liquid.

“I’ve been paying for his Okrepinate,” Naoma responded.

Kyo winced. “And you’re sure you’re not just holding onto him because you pity him?”

Koro backhanded Kyo’s arm.

“I’m sure,” Naoma said.

Kyo’s smile stretched to her eyes. “Good. That’s kinda cute.”

“Why the SocStans over the Memory Runners or an Entertainment industry like Reef? That is your girlfriend’s party.”

“No,” Naoma was quick to speak. “It actually isn’t.”

“Naoma’s back to bite just like before!”

Koro backhanded Kyo’s arm again. “Shut up.” She shot Naoma an equally frustrated glare. “What do you mean?”

Kyo backhanded her sister’s arm with less intention. “She’s going off to do her own thing, don’t you remember?”

“I don’t mean–Nay, the zeg are you coming to this party for?”

“Know your competitors.”

“So what, you can outsell them?”

“That’s what we’re all trying to do, right?”

“No! Not at all.” She pointed at me. “Did your zegging anarchistic boyfriend push his ideals on you once he forced you to quit your job?”

“No. I decided I can think for myself rather than conform to my job’s political alignment.”

“Are you really that narrowminded?”

Kao reached over Kyo to push Koro back. “We love you Naoma, but don’t you dare say anything like this at the dynasty or–”

“What, or Zhou will off me?”

“Yeah. I think he would. Someone with your influence openly opposing the order we need while Haven zegs this country up is something he can’t have.”

Naoma’s voice was a burning blade. “Since when do you all bow down to this shac? No one owns a political party.”

Koro shook her head with a patronizing smirk. “Wow, Anton really did shelter you, huh?”

Kyo reached out to touch Naoma’s hand but was quickly rejected. She settled by placing her palm on the table. “You have a lot to learn, girl. It’s okay to admit that you don’t understand everything.” Her too-kind look and pitch made her sound as if she was talking to a child.

“You can’t mean–”

Kao cut her off. “You underestimate the influence he has. These aren’t just parties.” She paused to look out the window as the skyride descended. Violet spotlights shot up from the pink glow below. “Just… take it easy. Stay with us–”

“I’m not a child.”

“Then why don’t you understand what you once did?”

“What, just because I didn’t have the courage to question things before I left?”

Kyo nods from side to side. “She is right, Nay. I don’t want to blame it all on your new boy, but something’s off.”