Chapitre 39: 39: Just talks
The school day had finally come to an end, and Aiden was gathering his things, getting ready to leave. He sighed as he made his way towards the school gates, his thoughts lingering on the day's events. He noticed Celeste approaching him, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"I'll be staying with you for a while, my prince," she said, teasing as she gave him a dramatic bow, clearly enjoying herself.
Aiden raised an eyebrow, though not entirely surprised. "Of course you are," he muttered with a smirk, half-expecting it all along. "Might as well make yourself comfortable then."
As they continued walking, Aiden glanced over at Toru, who was nearby, packing up her things. An idea popped into his head.
"Hey, Toru," he called out, catching her attention. "I've got a ride. Want me to drop you off at home?"
Toru blinked, her clothes floating in the air like always, making it hard to read her expression. "Oh, um... that's really sweet, Aiden, but I wouldn't want to—"
Before she could finish, Mina and Jiro overheard the conversation and eagerly jumped in. "Wait, you're offering rides? We're in!" Mina said with a playful grin.
Jiro nodded. "Might as well take advantage of the royal treatment," she added, her usual deadpan humour shining through.
Celeste chuckled softly at the growing excitement. Aiden, unable to hold back a small laugh himself, shrugged. "Well, looks like everyone's coming along. All right then, let's go."
As they made their way to the sleek black car that was parked just outside the gates, they found Nimbus already waiting in the back seat, looking as regal as ever for a pet. The girls practically squealed at the sight of him, their faces lighting up as they entered the vehicle.
"Oh my gosh, Nimbus is adorable!" Ochako gushed, reaching out to pet him gently.
"He really is," Momo added, her eyes twinkling as she stroked his soft fur. "So fluffy!"
Jiro, who usually kept her cool, couldn't help but smile as Nimbus leaned into her hand, soaking up all the attention. "Yeah, okay. He's cute," she admitted, her voice softening.
Nimbus, for his part, was basking in the affection, content with the new admirers surrounding him.
As the car pulled away from the school and they started the drive through the city, the conversation shifted. Aiden, casually leaning back, decided to mention the renovations he was overseeing at his villa.
"I'm having some renovations done at my place," he said, glancing out the window before turning back to his friends. "Decided to hire a local company... Ochako's parents' construction company, actually."
Ochako's eyes widened in surprise, her mouth opening slightly before she quickly covered it with her hands. "Wait… you hired my parents?" Her voice was filled with disbelief and gratitude.
Aiden nodded, smiling. "Figured it would help them out, and you know, support local business."
Her reaction was instant. Tears welled up in Ochako's eyes as she struggled to keep her emotions in check. "Aiden... thank you. I don't even know what to say. This means so much to me, to my family." She wiped her eyes with her sleeve, her voice quivering with emotion. "You have no idea how much this will help."
Mina and Jiro exchanged glances, touched by the sincerity in Ochako's voice. Momo, who had been listening quietly, spoke up as well.
"That's really generous of you, Aiden. We've worked with small orders before, but nothing this big," she said. "My family's company will also be involved in supplying the materials. It's the biggest order we've received in a long time. It'll help a lot of people."
Aiden smiled at the gratitude radiating from his friends. "Well, I'm just glad I can help. Besides, you guys know me. I like to go all out."
The conversation flowed easily after that, with everyone sharing stories and chatting as the car moved from neighbourhood to neighbourhood, dropping off his friends one by one.
First, they dropped off Toru, whose parents' house was on the outskirts of the city. She gave Aiden a small wave, still processing all that had happened today, especially their earlier conversation. There was an unspoken sense of relief in her goodbye, but also a subtle hopefulness.
Next was Jiro, who, despite her usual aloofness, gave Nimbus one last pet before hopping out and giving the group a nod of appreciation.
Mina was next, and she gave them all a huge smile as she bounced out of the car. "Next time, Aiden, we're totally hanging out at your place! I need more Nimbus in my life!"
Lastly, they arrived at Ochako's home. She was still emotional, her hands trembling slightly as she thanked Aiden again before getting out. Her parting words were soft but full of warmth. "Really, Aiden… thank you so much."
As the last of his friends were dropped off, Aiden finally settled back into the car with Celeste, the two of them sharing a knowing glance as they drove towards the villa.
"That was kind of you," Celeste commented, her voice quieter now that it was just the two of them. "I didn't know you were so... generous."
Aiden chuckled softly, shrugging. "It's just who I am. Besides, it's not a big deal."
Celeste smiled slightly, leaning back in her seat. "Maybe not to you. But to them, it is."
The car continued its journey, the city lights reflecting off the windows as they neared the villa. Despite the long day, Aiden felt content, his heart lighter from the connections he had made, both old and new.
As they arrived at the villa, Aiden stretched and stepped out of the car, Nimbus at his side. He glanced at Celeste, who gave him a small smirk.
"Ready to settle in?" he asked her.
Celeste nodded, following him inside. "Always, my prince," she teased once more, earning an exasperated sigh from Aiden.
"Just don't get too comfortable," Aiden warned with a playful smirk. "It's going to get busy around here soon enough."
-
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As Aiden and Celeste stepped out of the car and made their way to the grand entrance of the villa, the heavy doors swung open to reveal Erena, the ever-dedicated maid, standing there with her usual serene grace. She offered a polite bow, her eyes briefly flickering to Celeste before smiling warmly.
"Welcome back, Master Aiden. Lady Celeste," Erena greeted, her tone filled with a calm warmth. "It's a pleasure to have you here."
Celeste, unfazed by the formalities but appreciating the gesture, returned a polite nod. "Thank you, Erena. It's good to be back."
Aiden gave Erena a light wave. "So, what's the status? I'm guessing a lot came through today."
Erena pulled out a small tablet from her apron pocket, ready with her detailed report. "Indeed, sir. The delivery crew brought all the materials you requested for your new workshop. Metals, rare parts, and the state-of-the-art equipment you ordered from Yaoyorozu's company have been placed in the storage facility as instructed."
She swiped the screen to the next section. "As for the construction team, they've begun laying the foundation for your workshop extension. They're progressing ahead of schedule and estimate they should be done with the structural frame by the end of the week. Mr. Uraraka is overseeing the crew and mentioned they'll require your input once the frame is up, to ensure it meets your specifications."
Aiden nodded, impressed with how smoothly everything had gone so far. "Sounds good. I'll check in with them later this week."
Erena continued, "Additionally, I've set up a few temporary rooms in the west wing for Lady Celeste. I assumed she would prefer something close by. If there are any additional requests for her stay, please let me know."
Celeste, looking slightly amused, turned to Aiden. "You have everything figured out, don't you?"
Aiden shrugged nonchalantly. "Gotta stay organised."
The three continued their conversation as they walked deeper into the villa, with Nimbus trailing behind lazily.
Erena provided more details on minor shipments, but Aiden's thoughts were already shifting toward the next steps.
He was excited to start building, tinkering with his inventions, and exploring new ideas.
And he had plenty of ideas.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone