Eleo and Timmy sat at the rail, both with their chins resting on the wood, staring at the distant sea with big, hopeless sighs.
Tony stood nearby, arms crossed, leaning dramatically against the mast like he was born to brood.
"Ah, cheer up, lads," Tony said, voice smooth like silk dipped in chaos. "I'm pretty sure Kenji and Olorun are fine. Probably got distracted punching clouds or yelling at birds, knowing those two."
Amai, arms folded, leaned against a crate with a subtle scowl. "Yeah, they're strong… even if I haven't seen them fight." She side-eyed Kawai. "Right, Kawai?"
"Meep," Kawai replied with a solemn nod, like he'd seen war.
Eleo and Timmy sighed again in perfect sync.
"…You're right," Eleo finally said with a weak smile. "They're gonna be okay."
"I hope you're right, Eleo…" Timmy murmured.
Eleo suddenly grinned, punching the air. "I know I am! And Timmy—how about me and you eat?!"
Timmy ears perked up like a wolf hearing "free food."
"We're eating too," she said flatly, already walking. "C'mon, Kawai."
"Meep!"
Tony chuckled, waving them off. "I'll keep guard. Try not to burn down the kitchen!"
Eleo spun around, threw up a thumbs-up… which immediately smacked into his own forehead.
"Ow—thumbs up success!"
They entered the kitchen—
DISASTER.
Sponges were stuck to the ceiling. Water was everywhere. A pot was spinning on the floor for no reason. Plates and mugs were scattered in every direction like they were launched out of a cannon.
Amai's body trembled. A twitch formed in her eye. Her hands clenched.
"I'M GOING TO KILL OLORUN AND KENJI WHEN I SEE THEM!!"
She started punching the air with rapid-fire fists. Kawai, panicking, jumped up and tried to hug her from behind.
"Mweep! Mweep!!"
Timmy looked around calmly, then smiled. "Well… at least they cleaned some of the plates?"
"LIKE ONE!!" Amai snapped, punching a sponge in half.
Eleo opened the cabinet, and his eyes widened.
"NO WAY… THE SACRED… THE LEGENDARY…!"
He held it up like it was treasure.
"A BAG. OF. CARROTS!!!"
GLOWWW—SPARKLE—SHINE
He immediately started stuffing them into his mouth like a starving rabbit.
Amai smacked him upside the head with a metal spoon. "Don't eat it all, you greedy bastard!"
Eleo stopped mid-chomp, carrot hanging from his lips. "Sowwy…"
Timmy hopped onto Amai's head and pointed like a food critic. "Oh wow! You guys have beef stew, veggies, pickled mushrooms, seaweed riceballs?! This is heaven!!"
Amai crossed her arms proudly. "We've got loads of meat. Only problem is…"
She glanced aside.
"…I'm too young to cook."
Eleo raised a hand. "Amai's twelve, just like me, right?!"
Amai nodded. "Uh huh."
Timmy puffed out his tiny chest. "Then let's ask Tony!"
They all turned and marched back out of the kitchen like an angry union of starving misfits.
Tony turned his skull to face them, deadpan.
"Uh… do you guys need something?" he asked slowly.
"Cook for us!" they all demanded.
"Meep!" added Kawai.
Tony took a dramatic step back, placing a hand on his chest like a villain in a soap opera. "Excuse me?! I'm guarding this ship, thank you very much. You think meat cooks itself while Ascendants are out there with lasers and magic swords?!"
Eleo puffed up. "As leader, I COMMAND YOU TO COOK FOR US!"
Amai smirked devilishly. "You heard him."
Tony looked at them for a moment… then groaned long and loud.
"…Fiiiiiine. But if we get caught, I'm blaming all of you."
They all cheered.
"FOOD!!" Eleo screamed, hugging Amai out of nowhere, who immediately karate chopped him into the floor.
"DON'T. TOUCH. ME."
Back in the kitchen, Tony opened the freezer and pulled out a massive hunk of frozen meat.
Eleo's face twisted. "Ewwww! No! I want carrots!"
Timmy patted him gently. "Come on, Eleo, at least try it."
"Fine…" he muttered, turning away like he'd been betrayed.
Tony tossed the meat into a pan with a wild grin. "Trust me, Eleo. You'll love it…"
A beat of silence.
"…annnnnd the meat's still frozen solid."
Amai squinted. "Is that a problem?"
Tony's eye sockets twitched with irritation.
"No. But it is going to take forever to cook. Like—reviving an extinct volcano long."
Amai leaned back in her chair. "I can wait."
Tony lit the stove with a flamboyant flick of a match. "Alright then… let the flavor battle begin!"
Eleo raised a carrot in the air. "TO FOOD!"
"TO FOOD!" Timmy echoed, tiny fists high.
"Meep!" said Kawai.
Tony grinned as the pan sizzled to life.
"Let's see if I can make a meal… worthy of legends."
Tony was a whirlwind in the kitchen—grabbing spices off the shelf with the speed of a lightning strike, tossing pinches into the sizzling pan. He moved fast, grabbing another skillet with one hand while expertly slicing sausage with the other. The sound of chopping filled the air in a rhythm, like he was playing drums on the cutting board. Flames danced under the pans, and the smell of seared meat and spice filled the room.
Eleo sat at the edge of the counter, munching on a carrot. He turned to Amai, eyes curious.
"…So, Amai… can you, like… explain why you can't leave the ship?"
Amai didn't look up. She just stirred her tea.
"…Why do I need to?" she replied flatly.
Eleo tilted his head. "I mean… we've known each other for a little while now. I never really asked but… I just thought it was weird. You've never stepped off even once."
Timmy's ears perked up. "Wait… you can't leave the ship? Were you… were you put under a spell or something?"
Amai stared down at her cup.
A beat of silence passed.
"…Yes," she said quietly. "Because…"
She closed her eyes. Her voice dropped, softer than usual.
"…This is my dad's ship. He was a genius. An inventor. He built everything you see here, piece by piece. It was just me and him. When I was eight, we set sail together… just us."
Her fists tightened around her cup.
"One night… I found this woman on board. She had snuck in somehow. Late. My dad was asleep… and there she was—eating our food. I was confused. Scared. I told her to leave."
She paused.
"She begged me to let her stay."
Everyone was silent now, even Tony. The only sound was the soft bubbling of stew behind them.
"…I said no."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"She got angry. Said I was a selfish little brat. Said I didn't understand kindness. Then…"
She looked up, eyes dull, distant.
"She put a lock in my heart. A curse. Told me I would never leave this ship. Not until the day someone stronger than her forced it to break. Then…"
Amai's hands trembled.
"…She snapped her fingers. And my dad—he just…"
Her voice disappeared.
"…He was gone. Like he never existed."
Timmy's lips quivered. He hugged Kawai, tears falling down his cheeks. Kawai clung back tightly, eyes wide and shimmering.
Eleo's carrot dropped from his hand.
"…Amai…"
He slid off the counter and walked over, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm… so sorry."
Amai didn't say anything at first. Just took a shaky breath.
"It's fine. I was the one who let her in. It's my fault."
"No it's not," Timmy whispered, still holding Kawai. "You were just a kid…"
Amai forced a small smile. "I've made peace with it. I'm used to being stuck here."
Then her eyes narrowed with interest.
"…But now I have a question for you, Eleo."
Eleo blinked. "Huh? Me?"
She nodded. "Why are you recruiting people?"
Eleo rubbed the back of his head, grinning. "Well… I plan on fighting the strongest man in the world."
Amai raised an eyebrow. "Ohhh, you want that. Wait—let me say it like he does: You'll get a trillion gold. The strongest sky ship. Mythical weapons beyond your imagination. Magic scrolls containing spells lost to time. And best of all… the power to create your own domain."
Eleo shrugged. "Ehh. Nah. I don't really care about all that."
Amai blinked. "Wait, really?"
Eleo smiled—but it was different this time. Softer. Almost sad.
"There was a friend of mine… Abby. She used to get bullied a lot. And one day I tried to protect her…"
He looked down at his hands.
"…But I lost."
The room was quiet again.
"I was weak. And I couldn't stop them. Abby cried. And I just… in the Snow. Beaten."
He clenched his fists.
"That's why I wanna become the strongest. Not for treasure. Not for glory. But so I'll never lose again. Not to anyone who tries to hurt my friends."
Timmy wiped his eyes and gave a small, emotional smile. "That's… really noble, Eleo."
Kawai squeaked and nodded, still sniffly.
Amai stared at Eleo for a long moment. Then… she gave the faintest, most genuine smile she'd shown in a while.
"…You're such an idiot."
Eleo grinned wide. "I know."
Tony flipped the sausage into the stew, shaking his head with a chuckle.
"Dinner's ready," he said. "Hope y'all brought an appetite…"
"Yahoooo!" Eleo cheered, throwing his arms in the air as Tony handed out the steaming plates of food. The warm aroma of spices and roasted meat filled the room, making everyone's mouths water.
Tony passed the food around with a nonchalant flick of his bony wrist. "Alright, dig in before it gets cold."
Eleo bit into the meat like he hadn't eaten in days. His eyes sparkled. "WOW! You guys were right! This stuff's amazing!"
Timmy wiped his mouth with a tiny napkin, already looking satisfied. "I know, right? I'm already full. My little body can't handle this much."
He turned and looked shyly at Kawai. "Um… Kawai, would you like some of mine?"
Kawai, who still clearly disliked Timmy, glanced at the plate, rolled her eyes… and snatched the food anyway without a word.
Tony crossed his arms, his empty eye sockets shifting toward Eleo. "Alright, next question, since no one else has the guts to ask… Eleo, where the hell are your parents?"
Eleo froze mid-bite. "…Uhhhh, what?"
Amai narrowed her eyes. "Eleo… please don't tell me you don't know what parents are."
Eleo scratched his cheek, looking genuinely confused. "I mean… I kinda know what they are? But I don't really know who mine are… and I don't really care."
Everyone around him fell silent.
Timmy stood up on the table, arms flailing in shock. "ELEO?! How could you not care about your parents?!"
Eleo shrugged, totally unbothered. "Like I said… I've never met them. The only people I know are Gou—my grandpa—Kuma, my master… and Bojack, my brother."
Amai blinked. "Wait—you have a brother?"
Eleo grinned proudly. "Yep! He left the island a while back to join some group of people I've never even heard of. I don't know what he's up to, but he's strong. Kuma was the second one who trained me and gave me the S-Orb. That's how I got my ink powers."
Timmy leaned forward, completely intrigued. "And Gou?"
"My grandpa," Eleo said, smiling. "He's the one who got me into training in the first place. Real tough guy. Old, wrinkly, but still can knock out a tree."
Amai crossed her arms, slightly impressed. "Wow. You've got quite the backstory…"
Eleo puffed his chest. "Yep. That's why I'm pretty strong."
Amai glanced down at her plate and paused. Her eyes narrowed.
"…Hey."
Eleo froze again, mid-chew.
"…Are you eating my meat?"
Eleo gave a sheepish smile with food in his mouth.
"…It looked lonely…"
Amai balled up her fist and punched him right in the head.
"You greedy bastard!"
"OW! Come on, Amai! I've never had meat before, and I liked it!"
Tony didn't even turn around as he headed toward the upper deck. "You guys should get some sleep. It's night now."
Eleo rubbed his head. "Yeah, yeah, fine."
Amai scowled. "But he ate all my food!"
Tony waved a hand over his shoulder. "Eh. Not my problem."
Amai grumbled under her breath. "Ugh… come on, Timmy, Kawai."
She scooped Kawai up into her arms and lifted Timmy onto her head with one hand, stomping off after Eleo toward the lower deck.
Tony climbed up to the steering wheel of the ship, gripping it with both hands. The moonlight bathed the deck in silver. The stars were bright, and the sea was calm.
He stared ahead, deep in thought.
"…To think I thought these kids weren't supposed to be special…" he muttered to himself.
Back below deck, the wooden floor creaked under their feet. Eleo stretched with a big yawn as they reached the hallway.
"Goodnight, Amai, Kawai, Timmy."
Timmy gave a sleepy smile. "Night, Eleo…"
Kawai let out a tired, soft "Meep."
Amai crossed her arms and gave him a half-hearted glare. "Night… meat thief."
They all entered their separate rooms.
Eleo opened the door to his. Empty. Cold. Just the dull echo of the waves outside.
He sighed and lowered himself onto the wooden floor. No pillow. No blanket. Just a creaky plank beneath his back.
He stared up at the ceiling. No Kenji. No Olorun. No Tony. Just him.
He placed his hands behind his head, staring up at nothing.
"…Dear God," he whispered.
"…Please bring Kenji and Olorun back to us. I don't know if there dead or not. But I miss them."
His voice was small now. Lonely.
"…Please…"
He shut his eyes and waited for the next day, the soft sound of the sea rocking the ship to sleep.