After another failed attempt at activating his new ability, Oliver paused his attempts. He could tell he wasn't as focused as he was yesterday, and the reason wasn't hard to figure out.

"Say, do you know what's going on with the boss?"

The one he turned to with that question was none other than the former gang boss, Riot. Even though their training session was canceled, the big guy still hung around, providing tips while working his way through a beer carton.

"What's not going on with him?" The big guy heaved a long sigh.

Hearing that reply, Oliver felt stupid for asking that question. Their boss had been through a lot in recent times. It should have been obvious that the war against Black Skull had left him with some really deep scars. Going by his actions and motives, he clearly wasn't a psycho who would be unaffected by the carnage he inflicted.

"He must have been through a lot."

Closing his eyes, Oliver tried to focus again, but then an idea spawned in his mind.

"We gotta do something to cheer him up!"

"Ooh boy," Popping another can open, Riot raised it to his mouth. "Now that's a bad idea."

"What are you talking about?"

"He's the type of guy who likes to be left alone. Better not to bother him till he works things out."

Riot was making sense, but that did little to take Oliver's mind off the topic. For some reason, he couldn't help but feel like he had to do something about it, and as he looked for what it was that he could do.

"Ah…"

His body started glowing.

~[ ]~

"What the boss likes?"

Carlos looked confused by the question. More confused than he should be.

"Yeah, don't you know anything?"

"Nope." The lieutenant replied. "We aren't exactly close, you know?"

That was a little strange to hear from Inferno's second in command. Then again, it wasn't like the two had known each other for that long. Carlos just happened to inherit the same position after Red Rage had a leadership change.

"I think you would have better luck asking his little brother."

"The boss has a little brother?" Oliver blinked. "Oh, you mean Finn?"

"Yeah. Come to think of it, he hasn't been over in a while." Said Carlos. "He sometimes hangs around at that noodle shop. Oh, he helps at that school a couple of buildings away, too."

"The noodle shop?" Oliver's eyes suddenly lit up. "Thanks Carlos! I think I got something!"

It should have been obvious from the start, yet it still took him that long to figure it out. With his next destination in mind, Oliver rushed out of the club, but before he could make it far, someone pulled him aside, slammed him against the wall, then pinned him with their arm. For a moment there, he felt ashamed for getting caught despite all the training he went through, but then he saw the one who caught him.

"Heyy, Bella… did you need anything?"

The pale, raven haired woman just stared at him for a while, and going by the angle of her brows and the hands on her hips, it was clear she was more than a little pissed.

"You're leaving awfully early today, huh, Oliver?"

"Well, you know…"

He was pretty sure that she had been in the room when the boss told him they won't have their usual training session today.

"I heard you talk with Carlos." She crossed her arms. "Mind explaining yourself?"

"I don't think I have to…"

That was the wrong answer, it seems. Bella's eyes narrowed further, and she refused to move aside.

"Well, it was nice talking to you. I must get going now."

Oliver tried to slip away, but he was stopped once again.

"You know something." Said Bella.

"I… don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't lie to me! You've seen the boss this morning! He wasn't like that since… since…" As a sudden realization settled in, her eyes went wide, her gaze going down. "Since the funeral…"

"Oh…"

It was only when she mentioned it did the picture in Oliver's mind clear up. That look their boss had, it was the same one he had back then—back when he dealt with Black Skull and everyone connected to it. On the surface, he would appear no different from the usual, but that couldn't possibly be the case.

"You… you don't think he has done something, do you?" Oliver said.

That seemed to earn him a punch on the arm.

"I don't know! That's why I'm asking you!"

"And why would I know!?"

"Because you're his favorite! You're always with him!"

"That's…" Stopping to think about all the time he had spent with their boss, Oliver suddenly got the shivers. "Nope. That's definitely not the case."

He had long since stopped counting the times he almost got his skull cracked by their demon of a boss. Rather than being his favorite, it would be more accurate to say he was the first egg their boss was trying to break while making an omelet.

"Anyway, the boss does a lot of things without people's knowing, so I wouldn't be surprised if something happened while we weren't looking."

"Damn it…"

Even when knowing their boss was having difficulties, everyone still acted nonchalant. Because of that, it was a little surprising to see someone so bothered by it.

"I've been thinking," Oliver said. "The boss is in a really bad mood, right? So… how about we do something to cheer him up?"

Bella gave him a questioning look.

"Are you sure that's…"

"Okay?" Raising an eyebrow, Oliver smiled at her. "Sure, why not?"

They were talking about their boss, not one of their friends, so it felt like they were overstepping their boundaries. Still, who said that they weren't allowed to do something nice for their leader?

"Fine, what do you have in mind?"

Though she sighed at him, Bella still tagged along in the end. The two of them made their way to the bowl of fortune.

~[ ]~

A door slid open, releasing a pleasant shop into the shop's interior. It was two past noon, so the lunch rush was mostly over. The Bowl of Fortune had exploded in popularity around the time Inferno was founded and still maintained most of it since. Because of that, coming any sooner risked finding the place too crowded to talk to the owner.

"Granny Nobara! How have you been!"

Sitting at the counter was the shop's owner and only cook, Kurosaki Nobara. Several emotions flashed on her face as she looked in the door's direction; a hint of anger, then surprise followed by disappointment then more surprise.

"Yellow monkey." She said. "Is this really the place you would want to bring a date to?"

"What are you saying, gran-gran? There is no better place for a date. Not that this is one." Taking the seat near the corner, Oliver glanced at the Raven haired girl beside him. "This is Bella. You could say we're colleagues."

"'sup."

Oliver froze just as he was about to move the conversation. For some reason, he sensed a lot of friction between his fellow Inferno member and the old cook.

"You two know each other?"

"I've seen her around." Nobara said.

"I ate here a few times." Bella added.

Maybe bringing her along was a bad idea after all. Oliver couldn't even begin to guess what it was that caused the bad blood between the two, so the best he could come up with was try to move things forward before they could ignite.

"How about we order first?" He said. "I will have the lamb soup, please."

"I will take the pork." Said Bella.

Nobara stared at them for a couple of seconds before turning to the kitchen door.

"Suzuka! One lamb and one pork!"

"Got it!"

The familiar name brought a smile to Oliver's face, but then he noticed the darkness radiating from his raven haired colleague, and suddenly something clicked in his mind. Though it was a bit of a bummer, he felt quite relieved when the one who came out of the kitchen wasn't the blue haired beauty he had in mind, but a cute little girl with blonde hair.

"Marie!"

The little one was too focused on the tray she was carrying to notice him, so when he called her name, she looked up with a start, her blue eyes sparkling.

"Oli!!?"

"Yea! How have you been!?"

Nobara took the tray off her hands and the little one climbed over the counter, raising her hand and giving him a high five. She then began looking around the shop, and as the seconds passed, her smile dimmed a little.

"Sorry, Marie. Boss isn't with us today." Oliver smiled apologetically.

His response wiped the excitement the little one had, which made him feel quite a bit guilty. Unfortunately, there wasn't much he could do about it.

"What's that idiot been up to?" Nobara asked while placing their orders on the counter.

"Well, we've been training a lot lately." Oliver replied.

He wanted to mention the boss's bad mood from this morning, but now didn't seem like the right time.

"Training?" The word seemed to resonate with the little girl, causing her to regain a bit of her vibrancy. "I've been training, too!"

"Marie," Nobara jumped in. "That's a secret, remember?"

Gasping, the little one quickly covered her mouth with both hands. Turning to him with wide eyes, she said in a hushed voice.

"Secret training."

As much as he wanted to ask, Oliver decided not to pry. He was glad that she was doing a lot better now, compared to how she was a month ago. Maybe the new would help improve their boss's mood, and in turn, it might make him want to visit the shop, cheering up the little girl.

'A perfect positive feedback loop!'

Feeling like a genius, Oliver split a pair of chopsticks, preparing to tackle his food.