Illumina didn’t waste much time lingering outside. The hotel they chose stood taller than most of the surrounding buildings, its exterior polished and well-kept, lanterns hanging evenly along the entrance casting a warm, inviting glow across the stone steps. Inside, the atmosphere was calm compared to the streets outside, quiet conversations, soft lighting, the faint scent of polished wood and ocean air drifting through the halls. It was the kind of place meant for rest, a stark contrast to the energy waiting just beyond its doors.

Securing a room was quick. Yoshinori handled most of it with efficiency, asking the right questions, making sure they had enough space without overpaying, while the others lingered nearby, their attention already drifting toward what came next. Bags were dropped off, gear set aside, the weight of travel finally lifted from their shoulders, even if only temporarily.

As the others moved ahead toward the exit again, Itsuki gently reached for Shunjiro’s sleeve, stopping him just before he followed.

“Shunjiro.”

He turned back toward her, slightly surprised. “…Yeah?”

She stepped a little closer, her expression soft but steady, her blue eyes meeting his directly. The noise of the city still filtered in faintly through the windows behind them, but here, in this moment, it felt quieter.

“…Tonight,” she said, “you should try to have fun.”

He blinked once, caught off guard by how simply she said it.

“I mean it,” she continued, her voice gentle. “You’ve been thinking about everything nonstop. Takeshi… the city… everything. Just for a few hours… you don’t have to carry all of that.”

Shunjiro hesitated slightly, his gaze shifting for a second before returning to her. “…I’m not that obvious, am I?”

Itsuki smiled faintly. “You are.”

He let out a small breath through his nose, scratching the back of his head. “…Yeah… I guess I am.”

Her hand moved slightly, brushing against his before falling back to her side. “We’re here together,” she added softly. “So just… be here.”

For a moment, he just looked at her.

Then he nodded.

“…Alright,” he said. “I’ll try.”

“That’s enough,” she replied with a small smile.

By the time they stepped back outside, the energy of the Coastal Kingdom had only grown stronger. The streets were fuller now, movement constant in every direction, voices overlapping into a steady hum that pulsed with life. Music echoed from open doorways, laughter spilled out into the roads, and lanternlight painted everything in shifting colors as they walked.

Tetsuo stretched as they moved, already looking more relaxed than he had been all day. “Alright,” he said. “Now this feels like a place that doesn’t sleep.”

Aiko walked slightly ahead of the group, her eyes sharp and alive as she took everything in. “Good,” she said. “Because I don’t plan on sleeping either.”

Ryuji, meanwhile, was distracted.

Very distracted.

His head turned more than once as they passed groups of people, his gaze lingering just a second too long each time.

“…Wow,” he muttered under his breath at one point.

Aiko didn’t even look at him. She just reached back and grabbed the back of his collar, yanking him forward before he could veer off. “Stay with the group,” she said flatly.

“I am with the group,” Ryuji protested.

“You were about to not be.”

“I was just observing.”

“You were about to ‘observe’ your way into a conversation,” she shot back.

Tetsuo snorted. “He’s got priorities.”

Ryuji straightened slightly, trying to recover some dignity. “It’s called gathering information.”

Aiko finally glanced at him, unimpressed. “You don’t gather information by staring.”

“…It works sometimes.”

“Not like that it doesn’t.”

Despite the back and forth, there was a lightness to it now, something that hadn’t been there earlier. Even Yoshinori, walking slightly behind them, didn’t interrupt, though his eyes remained observant, scanning the flow of the streets, noting patterns, exits, the layout of the area.

After a few more turns through the crowded streets, Aiko slowed slightly, glancing back at the group. “Alright,” she said. “We’re looking for Vil’s Bar, right? The ‘most popular place in the kingdom’?”

“That’s what the driver said,” Tetsuo replied.

Aiko crossed her arms. “Then where is it?”

Ryuji smirked slightly, stepping forward. “Relax,” he said. “I’ve got this.”

Aiko raised a brow. “Oh no.”

“Just watch,” Ryuji added confidently.

Before anyone could stop him, he veered slightly to the side, approaching a woman standing near the edge of the street. She was leaning casually against a post, clearly enjoying the night, her presence drawing attention without her even trying.

Ryuji adjusted his posture as he approached, smoothing out his expression before offering a small, confident smile. “Hey,” he said. “Quick question.”

The woman looked him up and down almost immediately, her expression shifting into something amused within seconds.

“…You’re kidding, right?” she said.

Ryuji blinked, caught slightly off guard. “…What?”

She let out a small laugh, crossing her arms as she tilted her head. “You’re what- sixteen? Seventeen?” she said. “And you’re trying to walk up to me like that?”

Behind him, Tetsuo let out a quiet, muffled laugh.

Ryuji didn’t turn around. He straightened slightly, keeping his composure. “Relax,” he said. “I just had a question.”

The woman raised a brow, clearly unconvinced. “Uh-huh,” she replied. “That’s usually how it starts.”

Aiko, a few steps back, was already grinning. “This is going well,” she muttered under her breath.

Ryuji ignored her. “Do you know where Vil’s Bar is?” he asked.

That changed things.

The woman’s expression shifted again, the amusement turning into something more knowing as she let out another small laugh. “Oh,” she said. “So that’s what this is.”

Ryuji kept his face neutral. “Just need directions.”

She looked him over one more time before shaking her head slightly, still smiling. “You do realize you’re not getting in there, right?”

Ryuji exhaled quietly. “I’m not going there to drink,” he said. “It’s for business.”

“Of course it is,” she replied, clearly entertained.

There was a brief pause before she finally gestured down the street. “Keep going straight,” she said. “You’ll find it.”

Ryuji nodded once. “That’s it?”

“You’ll know when you see it,” she added. “Look for the most over-the-top, loudest, most ridiculous building around.”

Tetsuo snorted behind him. “That narrows it down.”

Aiko smirked. “Actually, it probably does.”

Ryuji gave the woman a small nod. “Thanks.”

She waved him off casually. “Good luck,” she said, her tone still laced with amusement. “You’re gonna need it.”

Ryuji turned back toward the group, trying to maintain his composure as he walked back.

Aiko immediately stepped up beside him. “Business, huh?” she said, barely holding back her smile.

Ryuji didn’t look at her. “We got the directions, didn’t we?”

“That’s not the point.”

“It is the point.”

Tetsuo clapped him on the shoulder. “You tried,” he said.

“I succeeded,” Ryuji corrected.

Aiko laughed. “Sure you did.”

Yoshinori gave a small nod. “The information was obtained,” he said simply.

Ryuji pointed at him immediately. “Thank you.”

Aiko shook her head, still smiling as she turned forward again. “Alright,” she said. “Let’s go find this place.”

They didn’t have to walk much farther.

At first it was just the noise, louder than anything they had passed so far, layered and chaotic in a way that stood out even in a city built on movement. Then came the light, brighter, more exaggerated, colors shifting across the street like the building itself was trying to draw attention. And finally, the sign.

Vil’s Bar.

The lettering burned in bright, stylized script above a massive structure that looked nothing like a typical tavern. The building stretched wide across the street, multiple levels stacked with balconies, open windows, and hanging lanterns that pulsed with color. Music poured out from every opening, heavy bass and sharp instrumentals blending into something that could be felt as much as heard.

“…That’s not a bar,” Tetsuo said, staring up at it. “That’s a whole operation.”

Aiko’s grin spread slowly. “Oh yeah,” she said. “This is the one.”

A long line wrapped around the front entrance, people packed shoulder to shoulder, all waiting to get in. Guards stood at the doors, broad-shouldered and unmoving, scanning each person carefully before allowing them through. No one slipped past unnoticed.

Ryuji folded his arms, looking from the line to the guards, then back to the building. “…Yeah,” he said. “We’re not getting in like that.”

Tetsuo nodded immediately. “Exactly,” he said. “So we don’t go to this bar. Problem solved.”

Aiko didn’t even look at him. “Shut up.”

Tetsuo blinked. “…That’s not very cooperative.”

“We’re getting in,” Aiko said, her tone calm but absolute.

Ryuji glanced at her. “And how exactly do you plan on doing that?”

Aiko’s eyes flicked toward the building, then toward the line, her expression sharpening slightly as she thought. “…I don’t need to get us through the front,” she said. “I just need somewhere inside to swap to.”

Yoshinori’s gaze shifted toward her. “You require a fixed point,” he said. “Something with your energy already attached.”

Aiko nodded. “Exactly.”

Ryuji raised a brow. “…And how are you planning on getting something inside?”

Aiko didn’t answer right away.

Because she had already seen it.

Her eyes landed on a familiar figure standing in line.

“…Well,” she said, smirking slightly. “That problem just solved itself.”

The others followed her gaze.

The driver.

He stood a few spots back in line, hands in his pockets, looking far more relaxed than most of the people around him. Like this was routine.

Tetsuo let out a small laugh. “No way.”

Aiko was already moving. “Stay here,” she said over her shoulder.

She slipped through the edge of the line, weaving past a couple of people without much resistance before stopping just in front of the driver.

He looked at her, recognizing her almost immediately. “Well,” he said with a small grin. “Didn’t expect to see you all this soon.”

Aiko smiled, casual but deliberate. “We need a favor.”

The driver raised a brow. “That so?”

She reached into her cloak and pulled out a small piece of cloth, no larger than a handkerchief. There was something subtle about it, a faint shimmer, barely visible unless you were looking for it.

“This is imbued with my energy,” she said, lowering her voice slightly as she held it out to him. “When you get inside, I need you to place it somewhere hidden.”

The driver didn’t take it immediately. “Hidden where?”

“Somewhere no one’s going to touch it,” Aiko replied. “And somewhere with enough space.”

He glanced at her. “…Enough space for what?”

Aiko’s smirk returned. “For a person.”

There was a brief pause.

Then the driver let out a quiet chuckle, taking the cloth from her hand. “You’re not planning on walking in, are you?”

“Nope.”

He looked at the cloth, then back at her. “…You’re confident this works?”

Aiko tilted her head slightly, a confident smirk forming. “Do I look like I’m not?”

That was enough for him.

He tucked the cloth away. “Alright,” he said. “I’ll place it somewhere good.”

Aiko gave a small nod. “Appreciate it,” she said, then added casually, “I’ll cover your first round too.”

The driver raised a brow at that, clearly amused. “Now that,” he said, “is motivation.”

She shrugged lightly. “Consider it part of the deal.”

He smirked. “Alright. You’ve got yourself a plan then.”

He shifted slightly as the line moved forward, then glanced back at her one more time. “Just don’t cause trouble in there.”

Aiko’s smile sharpened just a bit. “No promises.”

The driver laughed under his breath as the line shifted forward, and Aiko turned, slipping back out of the crowd and returning to the group.

Tetsuo crossed his arms. “So we’re really doing this?”

Aiko nodded once. “Plan’s already in motion.”

Ryuji glanced toward the line again, then back at her. “…And we just wait?”

“Not long,” she said. “As soon as he gets in and places it, I’ll feel it.”

Yoshinori let out a quiet breath, his expression unchanged. “This is inefficient,” he said.

Aiko looked at him. “You don’t have to come.”

“I am not here for the bar,” Yoshinori replied calmly. “I am here to ensure none of you do anything reckless.”

Tetsuo smirked. “That’s gonna be tough.”

Yoshinori ignored him. “We will not stay long,” he added. “And we will not engage in unnecessary conflict.”

Aiko waved a hand dismissively. “Yeah, yeah. No fighting. Got it.”

Ryuji glanced at her. “You definitely don’t got it.”

“I said I did.”

“You always say that.”

Tetsuo chuckled. “This is already going great.”

Shunjiro, standing slightly behind them, looked back up at the building again. The music, the lights, the energy, it all felt overwhelming, but in a different way than before. Not heavy. Just… intense.

Itsuki stepped beside him, her presence steady as always. “…You ready?” she asked softly.

Shunjiro let out a small breath, then nodded. “…Yeah.”

Aiko’s eyes flicked slightly as she felt it.

There.

A faint connection.

Her smirk returned.

“…He’s inside,” she said.

The group straightened slightly.

“Alright,” Aiko added, her voice sharpening just a bit. “Stay close.”

Aiko didn’t give any kind of warning.

One moment she stood with the group beneath the glow of the lantern-lit street and the next, she was gone.

No flash. No sound.

Just absence.

She reappeared in darkness.

The shift hit instantly, that brief distortion of space folding in on itself before snapping back into place. Aiko steadied herself as her boots touched solid ground, her eyes adjusting quickly. She was tucked into a tight corner behind stacked crates and large wooden boxes, the scent of alcohol and aged wood thick in the air.

“…Not bad,” she murmured under her breath.

The driver had done his job.

She stepped forward carefully, slipping out from behind the stacked containers and into the open.

And then she saw it.

Vil’s Bar from the inside was something else entirely.

The noise alone hit first, loud, overwhelming, layered. Music pulsed from the center of the room where a live band played, instruments clashing together in a wild rhythm that people were dancing to without restraint. Voices overlapped everywhere, laughter, shouting, arguments, deals being made over drinks.

The space was massive, far larger inside than it had any right to be. Tables were packed tightly across the floor, nearly every seat filled. People leaned against the bar, glasses raised, conversations spilling into each other without boundaries. Lanterns of different colors hung overhead, casting shifting light that made everything feel alive, almost unreal.

Aiko’s eyes moved slowly, taking it all in. “…Wow.”

Even she hadn’t expected this.

For a moment, she just stood there, watching. The movement. The energy. The chaos.

Then she started walking.

Blending in.

But she didn’t get far.

A hand grabbed her shoulder.

Firm.

Uninvited.

“…Hey.”

Aiko stopped.

Her gaze shifted slightly before she turned her head, then her body, slowly, deliberately.

The man standing behind her was already too close. Taller than her, broad build, a drink still in his other hand, a smirk on his face that carried the kind of confidence that came from being used to getting what he wanted.

“Well,” he said, looking her over without subtlety. “Didn’t see you come in.”

Aiko didn’t move his hand off her immediately.

She just looked at him.

“…Then you should probably look harder,” she said flatly.

The man chuckled, not taking the hint. “No need to be like that,” he said. “Just trying to start a conversation.”

His grip didn’t loosen.

That was the mistake.

Aiko’s expression didn’t change.

“Take your hand off me,” she said.

The man tilted his head slightly. “Or what?”

The room didn’t quiet.

No one noticed yet.

But the tension was there.

Aiko didn’t repeat herself.

Her hand came up fast.

The slap echoed louder than it should have.

Not just a casual hit.

Force behind it.

The man’s head snapped to the side, his drink spilling as he staggered half a step back, stunned more than hurt.

That got attention.

Nearby conversations dipped. A few heads turned.

“…You just hit me?” he said, his voice low now, the amusement gone.

Aiko rolled her shoulder slightly. “You’re still standing,” she replied. “Be grateful.”

That didn’t help.

The man stepped forward again, this time not pretending. His posture shifted, aggressive now, his hand curling slightly like he was about to grab her again.

“You’ve got a mouth on you,” he said. “You don’t belong here.”

Aiko didn’t move.

Didn’t flinch.

“…Neither do you,” she said.

He lunged.

And Aiko smiled.

Space folded.

Yoshinori appeared where she had been standing.

The shift was instant.

One moment Aiko was there, the next, Yoshinori stood in her place, already composed, already aware.

His eyes flicked once, taking in everything, the man’s raised posture, the spilled drink, the surrounding crowd that had begun to take notice.

“…This will get us removed,” Yoshinori said calmly.

The man froze for half a second, confusion breaking through his anger. “What the, where did you?”

Yoshinori raised a hand slightly, non-threatening. “Apologies,” he said. “There appears to have been a misunderstanding.”

The man stepped closer again, regaining his footing. “Yeah,” he said. “There was.”

His gaze hardened. “I don’t know how you just did that… but you’re gonna step aside.”

Yoshinori didn’t move. “I will compensate you for the inconvenience,” he said evenly. “A drink. On me. Then we separate, and this ends.”

The man stared at him.

Then laughed.

Not amused.

Mocking.

“…You think that fixes it?” he said. “You and your little girlfriend are gonna apologize. On your knees. Then you buy me a drink.”

Yoshinori’s expression didn’t change. “No,” he said simply. “We will not be doing that.”

Silence pressed in slightly.

The man’s smile faded. “…Then you’re not leaving,” he said.

Aiko’s voice came from just behind Yoshinori, sharp and amused. “Is that a threat?”

She had stepped back into place, leaning slightly to the side, completely unfazed.

The man’s attention snapped back to her. “You really don’t know when to stop talking, do you?”

Aiko smirked. “You really don’t know when to walk away, do you?”

That did it.

The tension snapped.

People nearby started shifting back, giving space. The music still played, but attention had shifted. This wasn’t just noise anymore.

This was turning into something.

Aiko sighed lightly. “…Alright,” she said. “Let’s speed this up.”

Her fingers moved.

And space folded again.

Shunjiro.
Tetsuo.
Ryuji.
Itsuki.

They appeared almost instantly, forming around her in a loose semicircle, the shift in space snapping them into the middle of a situation they hadn’t seen coming.

For a split second no one moved.

Shunjiro’s eyes flicked around immediately, taking in the packed room, the tension, the man in front of them. “…What-?” he started, his voice low, confused.

Tetsuo blinked, looking from Aiko to the man, then to the crowd backing away. “…Why are we inside already?” he muttered, then narrowed his eyes slightly. “…And why does it feel like we’re about to fight someone?”

Itsuki stepped closer to Shunjiro instinctively, her gaze settling on Aiko. “…Aiko… what happened?” she asked, her voice calm but alert.

Ryuji didn’t speak right away. His eyes locked onto the man in front of them, reading the posture, the tension, the aggression still lingering in the air. “…Who’s this?” he asked.

Aiko rolled her shoulder slightly, completely unfazed. “Guy doesn’t know how to keep his hands to himself,” she said. “And he talks too much.”

That was enough.

Ryuji’s expression shifted.

Not explosive.

Not loud.

Just… decided.

The man looked between them, then laughed again, though there was tension in it now. “…Oh,” he said. “So that’s how you want to play it.”

He cracked his neck slightly, stepping back just enough to look at all of them. “That’s fine,” he added. “We can take this outside.”

Shunjiro stepped slightly forward, his hand lifting just a bit. “Hold on-”

Ryuji moved past him.

His fist hardened instantly, the subtle shift in his skin catching the light for a split second.

“You put your hands on her?” Ryuji said.

The man barely had time to react.

Ryuji’s fist connected cleanly with his jaw.

The force was immediate and brutal, sending the man off his feet as he crashed into a nearby table, wood splintering slightly as he hit the ground hard.

The room erupted.

Gasps. Shouts. Movement.

The situation had crossed the line.

Shunjiro’s eyes widened slightly. “…Ryuji-”

But Ryuji didn’t step back. His jaw was tight, his stance solid, eyes still locked on the man as he tried to recover.

“Don’t touch her,” Ryuji said.

The man groaned, trying to push himself up, anger burning now.

And then the air shifted.

A presence.

Someone stepped between them.

Not rushed.

Not panicked.

Just… there.

A tall figure moved into the space between the groups, positioning himself directly in the center of the tension. His presence alone was enough to stall movement, to slow reactions.

The noise of the room didn’t stop.

But it changed subtly.

Attention redirected.

“…That’s enough.”

The voice wasn’t raised but it carried.

Clear and controlled.

The man on the ground froze.

Ryuji’s fist lowered slightly.

Aiko’s smirk faded just a fraction.

Because they all felt it.

Authority.

The man straightened slightly, brushing off his coat as if nothing had happened, his expression calm but his eyes sharp, taking in every detail of the situation in a single glance.

The man Ryuji had sent crashing into the table groaned as he pushed himself up, one hand pressed against his jaw, the other gripping the edge of the broken wood for support. A few nearby patrons had already backed away, giving the center of the room a wide berth, the energy no longer careless or playful but sharp, watching, waiting to see what came next.

And yet, the man who had stepped between them didn’t raise his voice again.

He simply stood there, calm, composed, as if none of this had ever been a real threat to begin with.

“Relax,” he said, his tone even, controlled, cutting cleanly through the lingering noise. “You’re all guests here.”

His eyes moved briefly between Ryuji, Aiko, and the man on the ground, reading the situation in full without needing explanation.

“First round’s on the house,” he added. “As long as we can all get along.”

There was something in the way he said it, not a suggestion, not quite a warning either but something that made the room settle.

The man Ryuji had hit stiffened slightly before straightening up fully. His jaw tightened, pride clearly bruised more than anything else, but he didn’t step forward again. Instead, he adjusted his posture, rolling his shoulders once before looking at the man in front of him.

“…Yeah,” he muttered. “Alright.”

He stepped forward, not toward Ryuji, but toward the one who had intervened, lowering his head just slightly. “Didn’t mean to cause trouble,” he said.

The man gave a small nod, accepting it without comment.

Then the thug turned toward Aiko.

There was hesitation there, just enough to show that whatever confidence he had earlier had been cut down.

“…Sorry,” he said, the word forced but real enough.

Aiko looked at him for a second, unimpressed but satisfied. “…You should be,” she replied.

His gaze shifted next to Ryuji.

That was different.

No apology there.

Just a glare.

Ryuji didn’t react. He held the man’s gaze for a moment, then looked away first, not backing down, just done with it.

The man clicked his tongue lightly and stepped back into the crowd, disappearing as quickly as the tension had risen.

The moment passed.

But the weight of it lingered.

Yoshinori’s eyes followed him briefly, then shifted back to the man who had stopped everything. There was no confusion in his expression, only analysis. “…Interesting,” he murmured under his breath.

Shunjiro caught that. “What?”

Yoshinori didn’t look away. “A man like that doesn’t back down easily,” he said quietly. “Not without reason.”

His gaze sharpened slightly. “And yet… he did.”

That was when the man turned back toward them fully.

Up close, his presence was even more noticeable. Dark skin, sharp features, posture relaxed but controlled in a way that didn’t feel careless. His clothing was refined but not overly flashy, tailored to movement rather than display. His eyes carried something else entirely, awareness. The kind that didn’t miss anything.

He looked at the group, then gave a small, easy smile.

“Well,” he said, “that was more excitement than I usually allow this early in the night.”

Aiko stepped forward slightly, completely unfazed. “He started it,” she said.

“I’m sure he did,” the man replied smoothly.

Tetsuo let out a small breath, rolling his shoulders. “…So we’re not getting kicked out?”

The man glanced at him. “Not unless you give me a reason,” he said.

Aiko grinned. “Good.”

Ryuji folded his arms loosely but stayed quiet, while Itsuki relaxed just slightly beside Shunjiro, the tension in her shoulders easing now that the situation had clearly de-escalated.

The man gestured lightly with his hand toward the bar. “Come,” he said. “Let’s not stand in the middle of the floor like this.”

Aiko didn’t hesitate. “Finally,” she said, already turning.

The rest of them followed, weaving through the crowd as the noise of the bar resumed its full volume around them. Conversations picked back up, music swelled again, and within moments, it was as if the incident had already been absorbed into the chaos of the night.

They reached the bar, a long polished counter lined with bottles that seemed to stretch endlessly behind it, each one catching the colored light differently. A bartender stood behind it, already watching their approach with a knowing look.

The man raised a hand slightly. “Give this group my finest,” he said.

The bartender didn’t question it. She nodded once and turned immediately, already reaching for bottles that weren’t even visible from the front.

Aiko leaned onto the counter with a satisfied smile. “Now this is service.”

Tetsuo chuckled. “I’m starting to like this place.”

Ryuji remained standing, though his posture had loosened slightly, while Yoshinori stayed just a step back, still observing more than participating.

Shunjiro, however, finally stepped forward.

His eyes settled on the man.

“…Alright,” he said. “We’ve gotta ask.”

The man glanced at him.

“Who are you?” Shunjiro asked.

For a brief moment, the man said nothing.

Then he chuckled.

Not loudly. Not arrogantly.

Just… amused.

“I was wondering when someone would ask that,” he said.

He straightened slightly, just enough to shift the presence in the space around him.

“My name,” he continued, “is Vil Noxc.”

A small pause.

Then, with a faint smile, “I own this place.”

Silence followed but not an empty one.

Aiko’s eyes lit up immediately, her grin widening as she leaned her elbows onto the counter. “Wait,” she said, almost laughing. “You’re the owner?”

Vil gave a small nod, amused. “Last I checked.”

“That’s actually insane,” she said, looking around the packed bar again, taking in the scale of it with new appreciation. “This whole place?”

“Every loud, expensive part of it,” he replied.

Tetsuo let out a low whistle, glancing around again as if seeing it properly for the first time. “No wonder nobody stepped in,” he muttered. “You are the one who steps in.”

Ryuji crossed his arms loosely, his gaze more measured. He looked Vil up and down, not disrespectful, just assessing. “…You stopped that like it was nothing,” he said. “That guy didn’t even think about pushing it.”

Vil met his gaze without any change in expression. “People tend to understand where the line is,” he said simply. “Especially here.”

That answer lingered.

Yoshinori’s eyes narrowed slightly, not in suspicion, but in recognition. He stepped forward just a bit, his voice calm but direct. “You didn’t raise your voice,” he noted. “You didn’t threaten him. And yet the situation ended immediately.”

Vil glanced at him. “…Observation like that will take you far,” he said.

Yoshinori didn’t respond right away, but the faint shift in his posture made it clear, he understood what that meant.

This wasn’t just a bar owner.

Itsuki, standing quietly beside Shunjiro, studied Vil for a moment longer than the others. “…Thank you,” she said softly. “For stopping it.”

Vil’s expression softened just slightly at that. “You’re welcome,” he replied.

“…You run a place like this,” Shunjiro said slowly, glancing around at the packed room, the energy, the movement, “and still step in personally?”

Vil gave a faint smile. “If I don’t,” he said, “then it’s not really mine, is it?”

Shunjiro nodded slightly, a small, genuine respect forming without him needing to think about it. “…Fair.”

Vil let the moment breathe for just a second longer before shifting the atmosphere himself, just enough to move things forward.

“Well,” he said lightly, “now that introductions are out of the way…”

He raised a hand toward the bartender.

“Let’s get you that drink.”

The bartender moved with practiced precision. Bottles came down from shelves without hesitation, clear, dark, amber, each poured with exact measurements into six glasses that caught the glow of the bar’s lighting. The scent alone carried something rich and layered, sharp at first, then smooth beneath it, like it had been aged with intention.

She lined them up across the counter.

Six drinks.

Aiko’s eyes lit up immediately. “Now that looks dangerous,” she said, reaching forward without waiting.

Yoshinori’s hand came up not to stop her, just to pause the moment. He glanced at the glass in front of him, then back at Vil. “…I’ll pass,” he said calmly. “I’d rather stay clear-headed.”

Itsuki gave a small nod beside him. “Me too,” she added softly. “I’m alright.”

Aiko blinked once, then slowly turned her head toward them. “…Really?”

Neither of them budged.

A grin spread across her face almost instantly.

“Well,” she said, already sliding Yoshinori’s untouched glass toward herself, “that just means more for me.”

Yoshinori didn’t react, but there was the faintest shift in his expression, something between expectation and quiet resignation. “…Of course it does.”

Aiko didn’t stop there. She picked up Itsuki’s glass next, but instead of keeping it, she turned slightly, scanning the crowd behind them until she spotted a familiar figure near the entrance.

The driver.

Aiko raised the glass slightly, catching his attention, then gestured for him to come over. When he approached, weaving through the crowd with an easy familiarity, she held the drink out to him.

“For the assist,” she said.

He raised a brow, surprised for half a second before letting out a small chuckle. “Didn’t think I’d be getting paid twice tonight.”

“Call it a bonus,” Aiko replied.

He took the glass. “Then I won’t refuse.” He lifted it slightly in thanks before stepping off to the side, clearly content to enjoy the chaos from a distance.

Aiko turned back to the counter, now with two drinks in front of her and a very pleased look on her face.

“This is already my kind of place,” she said.

Tetsuo picked up his glass next, giving it a brief sniff before shrugging. “Smells strong.”

Ryuji grabbed his without much hesitation. “Only one way to find out.”

Shunjiro followed, a bit more cautiously, watching the way the liquid moved in the glass before bringing it up.

Aiko, however, didn’t wait for anyone.

She lifted one of her glasses and took a sip.

Then paused.

Her expression didn’t change right away.

For a split second, it looked like she was processing it and then her eyes widened slightly.

“…Oh,” she said.

That got everyone’s attention.

She took another sip, longer this time, letting it settle before exhaling slowly.

“Okay,” she said, a grin forming. “That’s good.”

Tetsuo smirked. “That good?”

Aiko pointed at the glass. “That good.”

Ryuji took his own sip, his reaction far less expressive but still noticeable. “…Yeah,” he admitted. “That’s not cheap.”

Shunjiro followed, the initial burn hitting first before smoothing out into something deeper. “…That’s… way better than I expected,” he said.

Aiko turned immediately back to Vil, lifting the glass slightly. “What is this?” she asked, clearly impressed.

Vil leaned lightly against the counter, arms relaxed as he watched them with quiet amusement. “Aged Solvaris blend,” he said. “Imported. Not something most places carry.”

Aiko tilted her head slightly. “Solvaris…” she repeated, tasting the word as much as the drink. “That’s from the east, right?”

Vil’s brow lifted just slightly. “You know your drinks.”

Aiko smirked. “I like trying things,” she said. “Different places, different flavors… it’s interesting.”

She took another sip, slower this time, clearly enjoying it.

“One day,” she added, almost casually, “I’m gonna try everything.”

Ryuji glanced at her. “Everything?”

“Everything,” she repeated, completely serious. “Every kind of alcohol from every place in the world.”

Tetsuo let out a small laugh. “That sounds expensive.”

Aiko shrugged. “Worth it.”

Yoshinori, still standing just behind them, crossed his arms slightly. “Ambitious,” he said.

Aiko glanced back at him with a grin. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“It’s not,” he replied. “Just… very you.”

Itsuki smiled faintly at that, watching Aiko enjoy herself.

Vil observed the exchange quietly, his expression thoughtful for a brief moment before he spoke again.

“Then you’ll need more than just nights like this,” he said.

Aiko looked at him. “What do you mean?”

He gestured lightly toward the shelves behind the bar. “Places like this only scratch the surface,” he said. “If you want everything… you’ll have to travel.”

Aiko’s grin widened. “…Good thing we’re already doing that.”

Vil didn’t immediately turn away after the drinks were poured. Instead, his gaze shifted back to Aiko, lingering just a second longer than before, curiosity sharpening behind his otherwise relaxed expression.

“…I’ve got to ask,” he said, tilting his head slightly, “how did your friends just appear in the middle of my bar?”

Aiko didn’t hesitate. She laughed, light and unbothered, like the question itself was entertaining. “You noticed that, huh?”

“I tend to notice things that don’t follow normal rules,” Vil replied.

She tapped a finger lightly against the side of her glass, then gave a small shrug. “It’s simple,” she said. “I fold space.”

Vil didn’t interrupt, but his attention sharpened.

“I mark something with my energy,” she continued, “and then I can swap positions with it. Doesn’t matter where it is, as long as I’ve got a stronger connection, I can swap.” She smiled slightly, almost proud. “People included.”

Vil let out a quiet breath through his nose, something between impressed and amused. “That’s… not simple.”

Aiko grinned. “Feels simple.”

She leaned back slightly, gesturing lazily toward the group. “I only used it so they could back me up against that guy,” she added. “He was getting annoying.”

Vil glanced briefly toward where the man had disappeared earlier, then back at her. “…From what I saw,” he said, “you were handling yourself just fine.”

Aiko smirked. “I was.”

Vil let out a soft chuckle, then pushed himself off the counter. “Just try not to rearrange my entire establishment while you’re here,” he said. “I’d like it to still be standing by the end of the night.”

“No promises,” Aiko replied again, raising her glass slightly.

Vil shook his head faintly, amused, then turned as if to step away. “Stay out of trouble,” he added. “And enjoy your night.”

That was when Shunjiro spoke.

“…Hey.”

Vil paused.

Not fully turning back yet but stopping.

“Do you know a guild called Squad 8?”

The shift was immediate.

Vil didn’t move for a second. Then slowly, he turned back toward them.

The ease in his posture didn’t disappear but it changed.

His eyes settled on Shunjiro, sharper now. “…That’s not a name people usually bring up in here,” he said.

The noise of the bar continued around them, but for a moment, it felt distant.

Shunjiro didn’t look away. “So you’ve heard of them.”

Vil’s gaze flicked briefly across the rest of the group, measuring, weighing. “…Come with me.”

He didn’t wait for an answer.

He stepped away from the counter, moving through a side passage behind the bar, expecting them to follow.

For a split second, no one moved.

Then Yoshinori spoke, quietly. “…Stay close.”

They followed.

The moment they stepped away from the main floor, the noise dulled, the music and voices fading behind thick walls and closed space. The hallway they entered was dimmer, quieter, the air cooler. Doors lined the sides, some closed, some barely cracked, but Vil didn’t stop until he reached one at the far end.

He opened it and stepped inside.

They followed.

The room was smaller, controlled, no crowd, no chaos. Just a table, a few chairs, low lighting, and silence.

The door shut behind them.

Yoshinori didn’t relax.

If anything, his posture sharpened slightly, his eyes tracking every movement, every detail. He didn’t know Vil. Didn’t know his strength. Didn’t know what kind of man controlled a place like that with a single word.

And that meant he was a variable.

Vil turned to face them fully now.

The casual air from before had thinned.

“…Why,” he asked, his voice lower now, more direct, “are you asking about Squad 8?”

Shunjiro held his gaze.

But didn’t answer right away.

Instead, he took a small step forward. “…Before I say anything,” he said, “what do you know about them?”

A pause.

Vil’s eyes narrowed just slightly.

“That’s not how this works,” he replied.

Shunjiro didn’t flinch. “Then maybe we’re not talking.”

The air tightened.

Tetsuo shifted slightly behind him. Ryuji crossed his arms again, watching carefully. Itsuki stayed close to Shunjiro, her presence quiet but steady.

Yoshinori said nothing.

He was watching Vil.

Vil let out a slow breath, then shook his head faintly, a trace of something almost like disbelief passing through his expression.

“…You don’t drop that name lightly,” he said. “Not in a place like this. You say it wrong, to the wrong person, and suddenly you’ve got problems you didn’t walk in with.”

His gaze hardened just slightly. “So I’ll ask again,” he continued. “Why are you asking about them?”

Shunjiro’s voice didn’t rise.

Didn’t harden.

But it didn’t back down either.

“…We’re looking for them.”

Vil’s expression didn’t change but something behind his eyes did.

“Looking,” he repeated. “Or chasing?”

Shunjiro didn’t answer that directly. “…Depends on what we find.”

Another pause.

Vil studied him longer this time.

Then he spoke again, slower. “…If I confirm that you and your friends aren’t a threat to them,” he said, “then maybe I’ll tell you what I know.”

Ryuji shifted slightly. “And if we are?”

Vil looked at him.

For the first time, there was something sharper there. “Then this conversation ends,” he said. “Right now.”

Silence filled the room.

Shunjiro exhaled slowly.

Then stepped forward again.

“…I’m not here to hurt them,” he said.

Vil didn’t respond.

“…I’m here to find them,” Shunjiro added.

Still nothing.

For a second, it looked like that wouldn’t be enough.

Then- “…Why?” Vil asked.

Shunjiro answered. “…Because I need to find my brother.”

Vil’s expression shifted. “Your brother,” he repeated.

Shunjiro nodded once. “…Takeshi.”

The name settled into the room like weight.

And for the first time Vil’s composure cracked.

His eyes widened just a fraction, something like recognition flashing instantly.

“…Tenzai,” he said quietly.

Shunjiro didn’t look away.

“I’m Shunjiro Tenzai,” he said. “His younger brother.”

The silence that followed wasn’t tense anymore.

It was different.

Vil let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, one hand coming up to his face briefly as he shook his head once, almost in disbelief.

“…You’ve got to be kidding me,” he murmured.

Then he looked back at Shunjiro, really looked this time.

And a small, incredulous smile formed.

“…You look like him,” he said.

Another beat.

Then, more clearly- “…I know Takeshi.”

Shunjiro didn’t move for a moment after Vil’s words settled into the room. The confirmation alone, that he knew Takeshi felt like something solid finally forming beneath his feet after days of uncertainty. But it wasn’t enough. It couldn’t be.

“…How?” Shunjiro asked, his voice steady, but only just. “How do you know him?”

Vil leaned back slightly against the edge of the table, folding his arms loosely as if the tension in the room no longer applied to him in the same way. “Squad 8 passes through here every now and then,” he said. “Not often. They don’t stay long. But when they do…” A faint smirk tugged at his expression. “…they make an impression.”

Tetsuo let out a quiet breath. “Yeah, I bet they do.”

Vil glanced at him briefly, then back to Shunjiro. “I’ve served them drinks. Given them space. Heard just enough to know when not to ask questions.” His tone softened slightly. “I’m… well acquainted with them.”

That was enough for Shunjiro to take the next step.

His grip tightened slightly at his side. “…Are they still here?” he asked.

Vil’s answer came without hesitation.

“No.”

The word hit harder than expected.

“They left about a week ago,” Vil continued.

Shunjiro’s composure slipped just a little. “…A week…?” he repeated under his breath, his thoughts already racing, trying to close a gap that had just widened again.

He stepped forward, urgency creeping into his voice now. “Do you know where they went? Anything? Where they were headed, what they were doing, if there’s a way to-”

“The Darkness Continent.”

Vil didn’t raise his voice, but the answer cut cleanly through Shunjiro’s words.

Silence followed.

Even Yoshinori’s eyes shifted slightly at that.

The Darkness Continent wasn’t just another destination.

It was something else entirely.

Vil watched the reaction settle before continuing. “That’s where they were headed,” he said. “Beyond that…” He gave a small, almost dismissive shake of his head. “There’s no trail you can follow.”

Shunjiro didn’t accept that.

“There has to be something,” he pressed. “A route, a contact, a-”

“Shunjiro.”

Vil’s voice changed, not harsh, not loud but firm enough to stop him.

“You shouldn’t chase them.”

The room went still again.

Shunjiro frowned. “…What?”

Vil straightened slightly, his expression no longer amused or casual. “I understand what you want,” he said. “You want to see your brother. Talk to him. Get answers.”

His eyes held Shunjiro’s.

“But a guild like Squad 8…” he continued, “…doesn’t get tracked. Not by anyone. Especially not at your level.”

The words weren’t insulting.

They were factual.

And that made them worse.

Shunjiro’s jaw tightened. “You don’t know what I’m capable of.”

Vil didn’t react to that.

Instead, he said something else.

“Takeshi must have a reason.”

Shunjiro blinked. “…For what?”

“For not contacting you.”

The words landed heavier than anything else had.

Shunjiro’s expression shifted immediately. “…I didn’t say-” he started, his voice catching slightly. “I didn’t say I lost contact with him.”

Vil held his gaze.

“Takeshi talks about you,” he said.

Everything stopped.

His breath hitched slightly, something unsteady breaking through his composure before he could stop it. “…What?” he said quietly.

Vil didn’t look away.

“He brings you up more than you’d expect,” he continued. “Not in detail. Not often. But enough.”

Shunjiro’s voice wasn’t steady anymore. “…Then why?” he asked, the question slipping out before he could hold it back. “Why won’t he see me? Why won’t he come home?”

Vil exhaled slowly, his posture easing just slightly, not dismissive, not uncaring, but measured.

“…He has his reasons,” he said.

“That’s not an answer,” Shunjiro shot back, the edge returning to his voice.

“It’s the only one you’re getting,” Vil replied.

Silence stretched between them.

Then Vil continued, his tone quieter now, more grounded.

“A guild like Squad 8 isn’t just powerful,” he said. “They’re known. Everywhere. Their name carries weight and not all of it is good.” His eyes darkened slightly. “They’re hunted. Actively. By people who want what they have. By people who want to prove something. By people who don’t care who gets caught in the middle.”

Ryuji shifted slightly at that. “…So they’re constantly moving.”

“Yes,” Vil said. “And constantly watched.”

His gaze returned to Shunjiro.

“If Takeshi is keeping his distance,” he added, “there’s a reason for it. And it’s probably not one you’re going to like.”

Shunjiro didn’t respond immediately.

His mind was already moving, already rejecting the idea.

“No,” he said finally, quieter now but more certain. “That doesn’t make sense.”

Vil raised a brow slightly.

“That’s not who he is,” Shunjiro continued. “He wouldn’t just… disappear. Not without a reason that matters.”

“It does matter,” Vil said.

“Then what is it?” Shunjiro shot back.

Vil didn’t answer.

And that silence said enough.

Shunjiro’s hands clenched slightly at his sides, his thoughts colliding with everything he’d just heard.

“…If something’s stopping him,” he said slowly, more to himself than anyone else, “then I’ll figure out what it is.”

Vil watched him carefully.

“I’ll reach him,” Shunjiro continued. “However I have to.”

A faint tension returned to the room.

Vil shook his head once, not in disagreement but in recognition.

“You’re not hearing me,” he said.

“I am,” Shunjiro replied. “I just don’t agree.”

Vil let out a quiet breath.

“…People change,” he said. “Five years is a long time.”

Shunjiro’s eyes didn’t waver.

“Not that much.”

The conviction in his voice didn’t leave room for doubt.

Vil studied him for a moment longer.

Then, slowly, he gave a small nod.

“…You really are his brother,” he said.

The room fell quiet again.

Shunjiro exhaled, the edge in him easing just slightly, not gone, but controlled again. He glanced back at the others briefly, then returned his attention to Vil.

“…Thank you,” he said. “For telling me.”

Vil nodded once.

Shunjiro turned.

“We’re leaving.”