Shunjiro froze.

The name didn’t just sit on the page, it hit him. Hard. Like something buried deep had been dragged violently to the surface. His fingers tightened slightly against the edge of the ledger, his breath catching without him realizing it.

Itsuki saw it immediately.

She knew that name.

Knew what it meant to him.

But the moment didn’t belong to that realization.

Her eyes flicked toward the shelves behind them, then toward the direction the official had gone. Time was moving, whether Shunjiro was ready or not.

She reached out and grabbed his shoulder, giving it a firm shake.

“Shunjiro,” she said, low but urgent. “We need to put it back. Now.”

He didn’t respond at first.

His eyes were still locked on the page.

Then, almost instinctively, he moved.

Not away from the name but forward.

He turned the page.

Itsuki blinked. “Shunjiro-”

“Just one more thing,” he muttered, his voice quieter now, but sharper. Focused.

His eyes scanned quickly.

Recent entries.

Dates.

Locations.

Then he found it.

“…SS-ranked mission… Coastal Kingdom… Light Continent…”

His voice slowed.

“…four days ago.”

The words hung there.

Four days.

That was nothing.

For someone like that. For a squad like that.

It meant they could still be there.

Or close.

Or reachable.

Shunjiro’s grip on the page tightened for just a second longer.

Then he snapped the ledger shut.

“Let’s go.”

Itsuki didn’t argue this time.

They moved quickly, lifting the heavy ledger together and sliding it back into its place among the others. It fit perfectly, as if it had never been touched.

No evidence.

No trace.

Then they turned and walked just fast enough to be urgent, not fast enough to draw attention back through the rows of shelves, out of the SSS section, past SS, past S, back into the safer familiarity of the lower ranks.

By the time they reached the front of the archive, the official had already returned.

He glanced at them briefly.

“All finished?”

Shunjiro nodded immediately. “Yes.”

Too quickly.

But the official didn’t press.

“Then you’re free to go.”

“Thank you,” Itsuki said calmly.

They didn’t wait.

The moment they stepped out of the archive and into the quieter hallway beyond, their pace quickened.

Then again.

Until they were almost running.

Only when they reached the main guild hall did Shunjiro finally stop.

And when he did it hit him.

His hands were shaking. Not from fear. Not exactly. Something else. Something heavier.

His breathing was uneven, his thoughts racing too fast to settle. The noise of the guild hall blurred around him, voices becoming distant, indistinct.

Four days.

Coastal Kingdom.

Takeshi.

Itsuki stepped in front of him.

Without hesitation, she took his hand.

Her grip was firm.

“Shunjiro,” she said softly. “Look at me.”

He barely looked.

“Breathe.”

He exhaled shakily.

“In.”

He followed.

“Out.”

Again.

Slowly.

The tension didn’t disappear but it loosened just enough.

His shoulders lowered slightly, his breathing evening out as he focused on her voice instead of the storm in his head.

“…Four days,” he said quietly.

“I know,” she replied.

“He could still be there.”

“I know.”

He swallowed.

“If I don’t go…” His voice tightened. “…If I just stay here-”

The words didn’t come out cleanly.

But she understood them anyway.

He shook his head slightly.

“I won’t be able to sleep,” he admitted. “Not knowing I had a chance… and didn’t take it.”

Itsuki didn’t interrupt.

Didn’t try to stop him.

Because she already knew there was no stopping him.

Not this time.

Not about this.

She stepped a little closer, her hand tightening gently around his.

“Then we go,” she said.

Shunjiro looked at her, surprised. “Itsuki-”

She shook her head lightly.

  “You weren’t going to stay anyway,” she said, a faint, knowing smile touching her lips. “So I’m not going to pretend I can talk you out of it.”

He opened his mouth then closed it.

Because she was right.

She always was, when it mattered.

Her expression softened, but her voice stayed steady.

“Wherever you go,” she continued, “I go with you. And if you’re going to find your brother…” she added quietly, “…then you’re not doing it alone.”

Shunjiro’s grip tightened around her hand. “…The others…” he started.

“They’ll come,” Itsuki said without missing a beat. “You know they will.”

Shunjiro let out a slow breath.

This one steadier.

“…Yeah,” he said.

His grip on her hand tightened slightly.

“Thank you.”

Itsuki smiled, just a little.

“You don’t have to thank me.”

But he did anyway.

Because in that moment with everything shifting beneath his feet, she was the one thing that made it feel steady.

And now there was only one direction left to go.

Forward.

When they returned to the others, the energy around the quest board hadn’t changed but something about Shunjiro had.

Tetsuo noticed it first. “…You look like you just saw a ghost,” he said, lowering his arms from behind his head.

Aiko tilted her head, curiosity sparking instantly. “Or found something interesting.”

Ryuji’s gaze sharpened slightly, reading the tension in Shunjiro’s posture. Yoshinori didn’t speak at all but his attention was already locked in.

Itsuki didn’t say anything.

She let Shunjiro do it.

Shunjiro stepped forward, his usual energy quieter now, focused into something tighter.

“We’re leaving,” he said.

The words cut cleanly through the noise between them.

“Leaving?” Aiko repeated. “Like… right now leaving?”

“Not this second,” Shunjiro said, shaking his head. “But as soon as we’re ready.”

Tetsuo raised a brow. “And where exactly are we going?”

Shunjiro didn’t hesitate.

“The Coastal Kingdom.”

That got a reaction.

Ryuji’s posture shifted slightly. “That’s not exactly a short trip.”

“No,” Yoshinori added calmly, eyes narrowing just a fraction. “It isn’t.”

His gaze stayed on Shunjiro.

“Why?”

There it was.

The real question.

Shunjiro took a breath.

Then answered it directly.

“My brother’s there.”

The air stilled.

Aiko blinked. “Wait what?”

Tetsuo straightened slightly. “Your brother?”

Ryuji’s eyes flickered with interest now, more focused than before. Yoshinori didn’t move but something behind his gaze sharpened.

“How do you know that?” Yoshinori asked.

Shunjiro met his eyes. “I saw it,” he said. “In a guild ledger.”

That alone was enough to shift the tone.

Yoshinori’s expression didn’t change but his attention deepened.

“You accessed your ledger?” he asked.

“…Not exactly.”

Aiko leaned in slightly. “That doesn’t sound reassuring.”

Shunjiro exhaled lightly. “We found another one. SSS-ranked.”

Tetsuo let out a low whistle. “You went digging.”

Ryuji smirked faintly. “Of course he did.”

Yoshinori’s eyes didn’t leave Shunjiro. “What did you see?”

Shunjiro didn’t look away.

“A guild,” he said. “Squad 8.”

The name sat heavy.

“Its leader…” he continued, voice tightening just slightly, “…is Takeshi Tenzai.”

Silence followed.

Real silence this time.

Aiko’s eyes widened. “Wait… your brother is leading an SSS-ranked guild?”

Shunjiro shook his head.

“…I see,” he said.

Shunjiro continued before anyone could interrupt.

“They were on a mission. SS-ranked. Coastal Kingdom. Four days ago.”

Yoshinori’s response came immediately. “Then they’re gone.”

Blunt.

Logical.

“An SSS-ranked squad doesn’t stay in one place longer than necessary,” he continued. “By the time we reach the Coastal Kingdom, they will have already moved on. Likely to another continent.”

Shunjiro nodded once. “I know.”

Yoshinori watched him closely. “Then what’s the objective?”

There was no hesitation this time.

“I’m going anyway.”

The words were simple.

But absolute.

Shunjiro’s hand clenched slightly at his side. “I don’t care if there’s a chance he’s gone,” he said. “I don’t care if we miss him.”

His voice didn’t rise.

But it carried weight.

“This is still a chance,” he continued. “And I’m not letting it pass.”

His eyes didn’t waver.

“Not this time.”

The meaning behind that didn’t need explanation.

Yoshinori held his gaze for a few seconds longer.

Then he exhaled softly. “…Understood.”

Aiko’s expression shifted into a grin. “So we’re going on a trip across the continent?”

Tetsuo smirked. “Sounds better than sitting around here.”

Ryuji shrugged lightly. “Coastal Kingdom’s not a bad destination either.”

Itsuki stood quietly beside Shunjiro, but her presence said everything it needed to.

Yoshinori finally stepped forward slightly. “If we’re doing this,” he said, “we prepare properly.”

  Shunjiro nodded. “We will.”

Yoshinori’s mind was already moving ahead. “Travel time alone will take several days. Longer if we run into complications. We’ll need supplies, route planning, rest points…”

He paused.

“…And we should assume we’ll be gone for at least two to three weeks.”

Tetsuo stretched his shoulders. “That long, huh?”

“Minimum,” Yoshinori replied.

Aiko clapped her hands once, energized. “Then we should start packing!”

Ryuji let out a quiet breath. “Guess we’re really doing this.”

Shunjiro looked at each of them. One by one.

There was no hesitation. No resistance. Just acceptance. Support.

He didn’t smile widely. He didn’t need to.

But something in his chest settled. “…Thank you,” he said quietly.

Tetsuo waved a hand. “You can thank us after we actually find the guy.”

Aiko grinned. “Or after we get into trouble. Whichever comes first.”

Ryuji added, “Probably both.”

Even Yoshinori allowed the faintest hint of a smirk.

“Three hours,” he said. “We regroup here fully prepared.”

Shunjiro nodded.

“Three hours.”

They didn’t scatter immediately.

For a moment, the six of them remained near the quest board, the noise of the guilds continuing around them while something more focused settled within their circle. This wasn’t a mission handed down to them. There were no instructions, no outlined objectives, no guaranteed outcome.

Which meant they had to organize themselves.

Yoshinori was the first to speak. “If we’re leaving within a few hours, we need to divide responsibilities. Efficiently.”

Tetsuo crossed his arms. “Here we go.”

Aiko leaned forward slightly, already interested. “I call something fun.”

Ryuji smirked faintly. “You’d call anything fun.”

Yoshinori ignored the comment, already thinking ahead. “We need supplies first. Travel provisions, emergency equipment, spare gear. Enough to last at least two to three weeks.”

Shunjiro nodded. “Right.”

“I’ll handle that,” Yoshinori continued without hesitation.

There was a brief pause.

Then Itsuki stepped forward. “I’ll go with you.”

Yoshinori glanced at her.

She held his gaze calmly.

“If this is something we’re relying on to keep us alive,” she added, “we shouldn’t leave it to chance.”

Ryuji let out a short laugh. “Translation, we’d mess it up.”

Tetsuo placed a hand on his chest dramatically. “I would not mess it up.”

Aiko glanced at him. “You’d buy snacks.”

“They’re important.”

“They are,” Ryuji said. “Just… not that important.”

Yoshinori gave a small nod. “Then it’s settled. Itsuki and I will handle supplies.”

He didn’t say it outright but everyone understood.

That was the most critical task.

And it was going to the two people least likely to make a mistake.

Aiko clapped her hands once. “Alright, what about us?”

“We’ll need transportation,” Yoshinori said. “Preferably something fast enough to cut travel time, but durable enough to handle long-distance terrain.”

Ryuji straightened slightly. “Carriage, then.”

“Not just any carriage,” Yoshinori replied. “Something reinforced. We’re not traveling light.”

Aiko’s eyes lit up. “Ooo, can we get one of the nice ones?”

Ryuji glanced at her, amused. “You mean the expensive ones?”

She grinned. “Exactly.”

He shrugged. “Fine. Let’s go spend Shunjiro’s money.”

Shunjiro blinked. “Wait what?”

Tetsuo laughed. “You said we’re going, not that we’re going cheap.”

Yoshinori didn’t intervene.

That alone was approval.

“…Just don’t get scammed,” Shunjiro muttered.

Ryuji smirked. “Relax. I’m good with people.”

Aiko tilted her head. “That’s one way to put it.”

And just like that: “Ryuji and Aiko handle the carriage,” Yoshinori finalized.

That left two.

Yoshinori’s gaze shifted to Shunjiro.

“You and Tetsuo.”

Tetsuo raised a brow. “What’s left?”

Shunjiro already had a feeling.

“We need to notify the guild,” he said.

“And the kingdom,” Yoshinori added. “Extended absence. If we leave without logging it, we risk penalties. Or worse being flagged.”

Tetsuo rolled his shoulders. “So we go talk to someone official. Easy enough.”

“Don’t treat it casually,” Yoshinori said. “Be clear. Be direct. Don’t give them a reason to delay you.”

Shunjiro nodded. “Got it.”

Tetsuo glanced at him. “You talk. I’ll stand there and look intimidating.”

“You don’t look intimidating,” Aiko said.

“I feel intimidating.”

Ryuji smirked. “That’s not the same thing.”

Tetsuo shrugged. “Close enough.”

Yoshinori exhaled lightly, satisfied.

“Then we’re set.”

He looked between all of them one last time.

“Three hours,” he repeated. “No delays.”

Itsuki gave a small nod.

Aiko gave an enthusiastic thumbs up.

Ryuji stretched his shoulders slightly, already turning toward the exit.

Tetsuo cracked his neck.

And Shunjiro-

Shunjiro stood there for just a second longer.

Taking it in.

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Shunjiro and Tetsuo didn’t have to go far.

They found them just outside the main stretch of the guild district, where the noise softened into something calmer, morning light spilling across the stone streets, a gentle breeze drifting in from the direction of the coast. It was quieter here. Slower.

And standing near the edge of the road was Kaito Ishiro and Yumi Kurosawa.

Shunjiro slowed without meaning to. “…Wait.”

Tetsuo followed his gaze. “…Oh.”

Neither of them looked like they usually did.

Kaito wasn’t in his standard attire, the composed, authoritative look he carried inside the guild replaced with something far more relaxed. A deep blue kimono draped over his frame, the fabric clean and refined, paired with a red scarf wrapped loosely around his neck. His hair was slightly less rigid than usual, the overall look… lighter.

Yumi stood beside him in a soft pink kimono patterned with delicate white flowers. The colors suited her, giving her an almost gentle glow beneath the morning light. Her posture was still reserved, but there was something softer about her presence too, less guarded.

Shunjiro blinked once.

Then again.

“…I’ve never seen them like this,” he muttered.

Tetsuo smirked faintly. “They look like actual people.”

Shunjiro stepped forward, calling out, “Kaito!”

Kaito turned at the sound of his name, his usual composed expression shifting slightly when he saw who it was.

“Shunjiro,” he said.

His gaze moved briefly to Tetsuo. “Tetsuo.”

Yumi gave a small nod beside him, her eyes flickering between the two of them.

Shunjiro approached, still looking them over.

“…What’s with the outfits?” he asked, unable to hide the curiosity in his voice. “I didn’t even recognize you at first.”

Kaito glanced down at himself briefly, then back up.

“A change of pace,” he said simply. “We’re off duty.”

Yumi added quietly, “Just for the morning.”

Kaito gave a small nod. “We were heading toward the pier.”

Shunjiro tilted his head. “The pier?”

“A walk,” Kaito clarified. “It’s… quieter there.”

Then, after a brief pause, he added, “And it’s good to look presentable when you take time for yourself.”

Tetsuo raised a brow. “Presentable?”

Kaito adjusted the edge of his scarf slightly. “We have an image to maintain.”

Shunjiro let out a short laugh. “Of course you do.”

That sounded exactly like him.

Tetsuo, however, wasn’t done.

He glanced between the two of them, then smirked.

“…So this is like… a date, right?”

Yumi froze.

Color rushed to her face almost instantly.

“I-it’s not-” she started, her voice catching slightly.

Kaito didn’t react outwardly, but there was the faintest shift in his posture.

Yumi tried again, a little more composed this time. “I-it’s just… a-a short break. Before our next a-assignment.”

Tetsuo crossed his arms, clearly not convinced. “A ‘short break’… just the two of you?”

He leaned slightly closer, grin widening.

“Not bringing the rest of the guild sounds kinda suspicious.”

Yumi’s blush deepened. “I-it’s not like t-that-!”

Shunjiro stepped in, grabbing Tetsuo lightly by the shoulder and pulling him back a half step.

“Alright, relax,” he said, half amused, half exasperated.

Tetsuo blinked. “What? I’m just asking-”

“You don’t understand things like that,” Shunjiro cut in. “Because you’re an idiot.”

Tetsuo frowned. “Hey-”

Kaito let out a quiet laugh.

“It’s fine,” he said, waving it off lightly. “You’re not entirely wrong.”

Yumi glanced at him, startled. “K-K-K-Kaito-!”

He didn’t elaborate further, but there was a calmness to him that made the tension dissolve almost immediately.

Shunjiro smiled faintly, shaking his head. “…You two look different,” he admitted. “In a good way.”

Yumi looked down slightly, still a little flustered. “…Thank you.”

Tetsuo smirked again. “Yeah, yeah. You clean up nice.”

Kaito adjusted his scarf once more, composed as ever but there was a faint warmth lingering beneath it now.

“Now,” he said, shifting his attention back to them, “I assume you didn’t come out here just to comment on our appearance.”

Shunjiro’s expression changed.

The lightness faded.

Something more serious settled in its place.

“…Yeah,” he said.

“We didn’t.”

Kaito studied Shunjiro for a moment after that shift in tone, the faint warmth in his expression settling back into something more attentive.

“Then where are you heading?” he asked.

Shunjiro glanced briefly at Itsuki in his mind, then back at Kaito.

“We were actually on our way to find an official,” he said. “We need to report that Illumina will be leaving the Kingdom of Radiance for a while.”

Kaito’s brow lifted slightly. “Oh?”

Tetsuo stepped in beside Shunjiro, hands resting behind his head again like this was all casual. “Yeah. We’ll be gone for a bit. Figured we should make it official so no one freaks out.”

Kaito’s gaze returned to Shunjiro. “How long?”

“About a month. Maybe less,” Shunjiro answered.

There was a brief pause.

Kaito seemed to weigh something silently, eyes narrowing just a fraction as if he were considering more than what was being said.

“…And the reason?” he asked.

Shunjiro didn’t hesitate. “We’re taking a trip,” he said.

Kaito didn’t respond immediately.

Shunjiro added, just a little more lightly this time, “To the Coastal Kingdom.”

Tetsuo grinned. “Beach trip.”

Kaito looked between them once more.

Then, unexpectedly, he smiled.

Enough to show he understood more than they were saying.

“I see.”

His tone didn’t challenge it.

Didn’t question it further.

If anything, there was a quiet acceptance in it.

“Well,” he continued, adjusting the edge of his sleeve slightly, “it’s a good thing you found me.”

Shunjiro blinked. “What?”

Kaito gestured lightly with one hand. “I’ll take care of the notification,” he said. “There’s no need for you to go searching through officials and paperwork when you’re already preparing to leave.”

Tetsuo’s grin widened instantly. “That easy?”

Kaito glanced at him. “It can be.”

Shunjiro let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “…That helps a lot,” he said.

“It does,” Tetsuo added. “You just saved us from a very boring conversation.”

Yumi, still standing beside Kaito, gave a small nod. “We’ll make sure everything is properly recorded. You won’t have any issues leaving.”

Shunjiro looked at both of them, a bit more seriously now. “…Thank you.”

Kaito gave a small nod in return. “Be careful,” he said simply.

It wasn’t a warning.

Just… a statement.

Yumi added quietly, “Safe travels.”

Tetsuo gave a casual wave. “Yeah, yeah. We’ll be fine.”

Shunjiro nodded once more, then turned.

“Let’s go.”

The two of them began walking back toward the main road, the tension from earlier replaced with something lighter.

“…That was way easier than I expected,” Tetsuo said.

Shunjiro let out a short laugh. “Yeah. I thought we were about to get questioned for ten minutes straight.”

Tetsuo smirked. “Or denied.”

“…So,” he said, glancing sideways at Shunjiro, “you’re really not gonna mention it?”

Shunjiro didn’t look at him. “Mention what?”

Tetsuo gave him a look. “Come on.”

He tilted his head slightly.

“Your brother.”

That got Shunjiro to slow down.

Tetsuo continued, tone more thoughtful than before. “You had the perfect chance back there. Kaito would’ve listened. Probably even helped.”

Shunjiro exhaled quietly. “…Maybe.”

Tetsuo raised a brow. “Then why didn’t you?”

For a moment, Shunjiro didn’t answer.

His gaze stayed forward, fixed on the road ahead as people passed by, unaware of the weight sitting behind such a simple question.

Then he spoke.

“…You remember when we first made Illumina?”

Tetsuo blinked once, caught off guard by the shift. “Yeah. What about it?”

Shunjiro’s expression tightened slightly, not visibly strained, but more focused.

“I asked Kaito something back then,” he said.

Tetsuo’s attention sharpened. “What?”

Shunjiro hesitated for just a fraction of a second. “…I asked him if he knew who Takeshi was.”

That was enough to change the tone.

Tetsuo’s smirk faded. “And?”

Shunjiro finally glanced at him. “It wasn’t a normal reaction.”

Tetsuo frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”

Shunjiro looked forward again. “…He didn’t answer right away,” he said. “And when he did it felt off.”

He searched for the right words. “Like he knew more than he was saying.”

Tetsuo stayed quiet.

Shunjiro continued, voice lower now. “It wasn’t just recognition. It was…” He paused briefly. “…worry.”

That hung heavier than anything else.

Tetsuo let out a slow breath. “You think he knows something about your brother?”

“I don’t know,” Shunjiro admitted.

And that was the truth.

He shook his head slightly. “But whatever it was… it didn’t feel like something I should push.”

Tetsuo crossed his arms, thinking it through. “…So you didn’t bring it up again.”

Shunjiro nodded. “And I’m not starting now,” he added. “Not when we’re already leaving.”

Tetsuo glanced at him again. “…You think he would’ve tried to stop us?”

Shunjiro didn’t answer immediately. “…I think there’s a chance,” he said.

Tetsuo huffed lightly. “Then yeah. Probably better you didn’t say anything.”

A brief silence followed.

“Well,” Tetsuo added, his usual tone creeping back in, “good thing we went with the beach trip.”

Shunjiro let out a small laugh. “Yeah.”

“Very convincing.”

“Shut up.”

They kept walking.

The guild district slowly giving way to the quieter paths leading toward their dorms, the atmosphere shifting once again into something more familiar.

But not for long.

Tetsuo stretched his arms behind his head as they turned down the final path. “So what now?”

Shunjiro glanced ahead. “We help Itsuki and Yoshinori,” he said.

“Packing?”

“Packing,” Shunjiro confirmed.

Tetsuo groaned lightly. “That sounds way less exciting than what Aiko’s doing.”

Shunjiro smirked faintly. “You’ll survive.”

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The room was quieter than usual.

Where there was normally a steady rhythm of conversation, laughter, or Tetsuo’s constant noise, there was now only the soft sound of movement, fabric shifting, bags being opened and closed, items being sorted with careful precision.

Yoshinori stood near the table, a spread of supplies laid out in front of him in clean, deliberate rows. Food rations, medical kits, spare bindings, tools, everything had a place, and everything was being evaluated before it was packed.

Itsuki worked beside him, kneeling near one of the travel packs. Her movements were just as careful, though softer in nature. Where Yoshinori focused on efficiency, she balanced it with awareness making sure nothing essential was overlooked.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

But eventually Itsuki broke the silence. “…He’s not going to slow down,” she said quietly.

Yoshinori didn’t look up from what he was doing. “No,” he replied. “He won’t.”

There was no judgment in his voice.

Itsuki adjusted the strap on one of the packs, her hands pausing for a moment longer than necessary.

“He was trying to stay calm,” she continued, “but… I could feel it.”

Yoshinori nodded once, still focused on the items in front of him. “I saw it,” he said.

Then he added, “It’s not just determination.”

Itsuki glanced at him.

He finally looked up.

“It’s pressure,” Yoshinori said. “Internal. Personal. The kind that doesn’t ease once it starts building.”

Itsuki’s gaze softened slightly. “…Because of Takeshi.”

“Yes.”

The name sat heavier between them than it did with the others.

They both understood why.

Itsuki exhaled slowly, her fingers tightening slightly against the edge of the bag.

“I’ve never seen him like that before,” she admitted. “Not even in the dungeon.”

Yoshinori’s expression remained composed, but his eyes shifted slightly, thinking, analyzing.

“The dungeon tested his limits,” he said. “This…” He paused briefly. “…this tests something else.”

Itsuki lowered her gaze. “…What if he’s not there?”

The question came out quieter than anything else she’d said.

Yoshinori didn’t answer immediately. Because there wasn’t a simple answer. “If Takeshi has already left,” he said after a moment, “then Shunjiro will have to confront that outcome.”

Itsuki’s hands stilled. “And if he doesn’t handle it well?” she asked.

Yoshinori met her eyes. “Then we make sure he doesn’t face it alone.”

The answer came without hesitation.

Itsuki studied him for a second then nodded. “…Yeah.”

She returned to packing, but her movements were slower now, more thoughtful.

“We need to watch him,” she said. “Not obviously… but…”

“Closely,” Yoshinori finished.

She nodded again.

“Especially if things don’t go the way he hopes.”

Yoshinori turned back to the supplies, securing one of the kits before placing it neatly into a pack.

“I’ll monitor his behavior,” he said. “Changes in decision-making. Risk tolerance. Focus.”

Itsuki smiled faintly at that. “You make it sound so clinical.”

“It is,” Yoshinori replied simply. “But it doesn’t mean I don’t understand what’s behind it.”

That earned a small, genuine smile from her. “…I know.”

Another brief silence settled between them.

But this one felt different.

Less uncertain.

More resolved.

Itsuki tightened the final strap on the bag in front of her. “Then we stay close,” she said. “No matter what happens.”

Yoshinori gave a small nod. “No matter what.”

They didn’t say anything else after that. They didn’t need to. Because the decision had already been made. Whatever waited for Shunjiro in the Coastal Kingdom, whether it was answers… Or disappointment… He wouldn’t face it alone.

By the time Shunjiro and Tetsuo returned, the room had already shifted into that quiet, finished state that came after preparation was complete. The bags were packed, straps tightened, supplies organized with careful precision. Nothing was out of place. Nothing left to chance.

Itsuki stood near the table, one of the travel packs resting beside her, while Yoshinori remained close by, giving one final glance over everything as if committing it all to memory. 

The door opened. Tetsuo stepped in first, stretching his arms slightly as if the walk back had somehow exhausted him, with Shunjiro following just behind. The moment they entered, Itsuki’s eyes lifted immediately, her attention locking onto Shunjiro without hesitation. Yoshinori followed a second later, his gaze sharp, already searching for any shift in posture, any detail that might tell him how that conversation had gone.

“You’re back,” Itsuki said softly.

Shunjiro nodded once, closing the door behind him. “Yeah.”

Tetsuo dropped his hands behind his head, grinning. “And we didn’t even have to deal with paperwork,” he added. “Best outcome possible.”

Yoshinori’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Explain.”

Shunjiro stepped forward a bit, his posture more relaxed than before, though there was still that underlying focus that hadn’t left him since the guild hall. “We ran into Kaito,” he said. “Outside the guild district.”

That alone was enough to shift Yoshinori’s attention fully.

“And?” he asked.

“He took care of it,” Shunjiro continued. “Said there’s no point in us wasting time going through officials when we’re already preparing to leave. He’ll handle the notification himself.”

Tetsuo gave a small shrug. “Basically told us to go enjoy our ‘trip.’”

Itsuki blinked slightly, a hint of surprise crossing her face. “…That easily?”

“Yeah,” Shunjiro said, a faint smile forming. “He didn’t question it. Not really.”

Yoshinori studied him for a moment longer than necessary, clearly aware that there was more beneath the surface of that interaction, but he didn’t press. Instead, he gave a small nod, accepting it for what it meant.

“That removes one complication,” he said.

Itsuki’s shoulders relaxed just slightly at that, the smallest release of tension. “That helps a lot,” she murmured.

Tetsuo glanced around the room, then back at the two of them. “So… you guys done here?”

Yoshinori gestured toward the packs. “Everything is prepared. We’re only waiting on transportation.”

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

Aiko and Ryuji didn’t rush. Not because they had time to waste, but because neither of them was willing to settle for something that would fall apart halfway across the continent. If they were going to the Coastal Kingdom, it wasn’t just a trip, it was distance, terrain changes, unpredictable roads, and long stretches where comfort and reliability would matter more than speed alone.

They moved through the outer district of Radiance where transport vendors lined the streets, each one advertising in their own way. Some called out loudly, waving potential customers over with exaggerated promises. Others stood quietly beside their stock, letting the quality speak for itself.

Ryuji ignored the loud ones immediately.

“If they have to yell that much,” he muttered, glancing at a brightly painted stall, “it’s probably trash.”

Aiko tilted her head, watching a vendor practically beg a passing group to rent one of his carriages. “…Or they’re desperate.”

“Same thing,” Ryuji replied.

They kept walking.

The first place they actually stopped at looked decent from a distance. The carriage had a polished frame, dark wood reinforced with metal lining, and a pair of sturdy-looking horses hitched at the front. It wasn’t flashy, but it looked functional.

Ryuji crouched slightly, running his hand along the lower frame. His fingers pressed against the wood, testing for weak points.

“…Too light,” he said after a moment.

Aiko walked around it once, peeking inside. “It’s cramped,” she added. “Tetsuo wouldn’t fit without complaining.”

“That alone makes it unusable.”

The vendor started to approach, already forming a sales pitch, but Ryuji stood up before he could speak.

“We’re good,” he said flatly.

They moved on.

The second place went in the opposite direction.

The carriage there was massive. Reinforced plating, thick wheels, heavy suspension, it looked like it could survive a war zone.

Ryuji raised a brow. “This one’s built like a fortress.”

Aiko stepped inside, then immediately stepped back out. “And feels like one too,” she said. “No space to actually relax. It’s all structure, no comfort.”

“Too slow,” Ryuji added. “And we’re not hauling cargo.”

They didn’t even bother asking the price.

As they moved deeper into the district, the noise thinned out. Fewer vendors. Fewer distractions. The kind of place where people who knew what they were doing set up shop.

That was when they found it.

It wasn’t loudly displayed. No banners. No shouting. Just a clean, well-kept carriage sitting slightly off to the side of a modest stable.

Aiko noticed it first. “…That one.”

Ryuji followed her gaze.

At a glance, it didn’t stand out but the longer you looked, the more it did. The frame was solid but not bulky, reinforced at key points without unnecessary weight. The wheels were thick, built for distance rather than short trips. The structure itself had a slightly elongated body, designed with space in mind.

Ryuji stepped closer, his attention sharpening.

He checked the joints first.

No looseness.

No shortcuts.

The metal reinforcements were clean, not overdone, just enough to protect the critical areas. He crouched slightly, pressing against the side.

Stable.

He nodded once. “…This is good.”

Aiko didn’t wait. She climbed inside.

The interior was exactly what they needed.

Seating that could be adjusted into a resting position. Enough space for all of them without feeling cramped. Storage compartments built into the sides, not just thrown in as an afterthought. Even the cushioning was firm enough to support long travel without becoming uncomfortable.

She dropped into one of the seats, leaning back slightly, testing it. “…Okay,” she said, clearly approving. “This is nice.”

Ryuji glanced toward the front.

Two horses stood ready.

Not overly large, not overly aggressive, but strong. Their posture alone told him enough, trained, disciplined, built for endurance.

“…Fast enough,” he said quietly.

A man finally approached from the side of the stable, calm, unhurried.

“You’ve got a good eye,” he said.

Ryuji didn’t look at him immediately. “How long can it run?”

“Without pushing them too hard?” the man replied. “Consistent pace for days. Rotate rest properly, and they won’t fail you.”

Ryuji nodded slightly. “And the carriage?”

“Built for long-distance travel,” the man said simply. “Balanced for speed and comfort. Not cheap.”

Aiko leaned out from the doorway, grinning. “Good. We don’t want cheap.”

Ryuji shot her a glance. “We don’t want overpriced either.”

The man smirked faintly. “Fair.”

There was a brief pause.

Ryuji looked over the carriage one more time.

Everything checked out.

No obvious weaknesses.

No unnecessary risks.

Exactly what they needed.

“…We’ll take it,” he said.

Aiko’s grin widened instantly. “Knew it.”

The man nodded once, already moving to prepare the reins.

As Aiko stepped fully inside again, settling comfortably into one of the seats, she stretched slightly, completely at ease.

“This is way better than walking,” she said.

Ryuji leaned against the side of the carriage for a moment, arms crossing as he looked it over one last time.

“…Yeah,” he said.

Then his gaze shifted back toward the direction of the guild.

“Let’s go get the others.”

Because now They were ready to move.