"Are you sure you're not coming?.."
Tomori stood over Kirashi as he lay on the floor, hands on her hips.
"Meh, I prefer to sleep!"
Tomori raised a brow.
"O-ok... sleep well, I guess..."
She leapt toward the door, hand on the handle. Before closing it, she looked back and smiled.
"We'll be right back!"
Kirashi lifted his head and waved goodbye, grinning.
"Hoshizaki smells so good~~~"
A sudden bonk made him flinch. Ayro appeared, tea in hand.
"That's some perverted smile you got there."
"Oi! Let me enjoy myself!"
Ayro shook his head and walked away.
"Try not to enjoy too much."
Kirashi sat up.
"Are you not coming with them?"
Ayro settled beside him, sipping his tea.
"Nah... I'd like to prepare instead..."
"For Saga?"
Ayro hummed, taking another sip.
"Mhm."
"Ah..."
Kirashi let out a small sigh before collapsing back onto the floor, completely passed out.
On the other side of the door, Tomori wore her old shoes, her usual fit of shorts and a hoodie.
She hopped onto the door that led outside, rushing down the hallway and then down the stairs.
Stepping out of the apartment, she saw Kara waiting in the SUV.
"Tomo-san!"
She called, waving.
Tomori ran toward her as everyone settled inside the vehicle.
"Everyone ready?"
Miss Gigi asked from the driver's seat.
"Yes!"
Came the chorus—everyone except Ayro and Kirashi, who chose to stay behind in the apartment.
Miss Gigi pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering to herself.
"I can't believe we're actually doing this..."
She straightened up, glancing at the dash beside her—a device scanning for Seele.
"Alright... seems like these kids could enjoy themselves before they're sent into war..."
She thought.
Looking at the rearview mirror, she watched everyone chatter quietly, Ryujin beside her, observant as always.
Then she turned to him.
"Seems like it's eighty percent..."
She took a deep breath and switched on the electric engine.
As the squad's vehicle disappeared around a turn, a man watched closely, blending into the shadows. His eyes lingered on the SUV, tracking its movement with quiet calculation.
"They're actually having their time here?.."
He muttered, almost in disbelief.
He shifted his gaze back toward the apartment, lips curling slightly.
"Hmm... Interesting."
A faint pause, then his fingers tapped lightly against his side. He wasn't just observing—he was planning, weighing his next move.
It was the Ronin.
And with that, the squad's little tour around Fukuoka began.
They traveled two kilometers north, toward Fukuoka Zoo. The vehicle stopped in the parking lot, and everyone stepped out, officially starting their last tour of the city.
"Let's go!"
They all cheered.
Jayu bounced on the spot, turning to Kara and Itoshi.
"Let's go see the monkeys!"
"Pff... monkeys... they're just humans but more stupid..."
Itoshi scoffed.
Aldrin heard him.
"Hey, Itoshi, stop looking down on yourself..."
He teased.
"Wanna die?!"
Itoshi shot back.
Aldrin raised a hand, cheeky smile in place.
"Let's go! jayu-chan!"
Kara agreed.
They started walking. Tomori followed behind, hands buried in her hoodie pockets, blowing her gum.
Itoshi let out a sigh as he moved forward.
"This is gonna be hella boring..."
The exact moment they reached the macaque enclosure...
"UWAH... UWAHH WAH WAH!!!"
Itoshi went full-blown monkey, kneeling and jumping like one.
Everyone around stared, baffled at his antics. The squad, in particular, had mouths wide open, shocked at what this "creature" was doing.
"Son... that's what happens when you don't study..."
A stranger muttered, covering his little son.
Jayu, unfazed, copied Itoshi, mimicking the monkeys, jumping and smiling behind the fence.
"WAHH! UWAH UWAH!!"
Tomori couldn't contain herself and burst out laughing. She pulled out her phone, stepping closer to get a better shot, while Aldrin and Kara exchanged worried glances.
"Jayu-chan is cute... but Itoshi..."
Aldrin muttered.
"It's alright if they act that way... but... not with this many people..."
Kara thought.
Then Ryujin stepped forward.
"They're simply enjoying their time..."
His tone shifted as he watched the three goof around.
"After all... We're still at war. You never know when this might be the last time you see those smiles."
Kara and Aldrin turned to him.
Aldrin smiled.
"Our leader is right, Kara-san... I know it well."
Kara glanced at Aldrin.
"Let's enjoy our time... just not the way they do."
Aldrin continued.
As they all walked together, Tomori had an idea.
"Oh! Let's take a picture together!"
"A picture?"
Itoshi asked.
Without warning, Tomori snapped a photo of Itoshi—the flash hitting his face.
"OI!"
The smile on Tomori's face faded.
"What the hell is this..." she muttered.
Itoshi peered at the screen, brows furrowed.
"OI! DELETE THAT!"
Tomori held her phone out of reach.
"NO WAY!"
"You son of a—"
Itoshi started.
Before he could finish, Kara tugged on his ears, smiling.
"Let's do it! Where should we take it?"
"Let's put the monkeys too!"
Jayu chimed in.
Just like that, they got their first photo. A stranger nearby snapped it for them and returned Tomori's phone.
"Thank you so much!"
She said, bowing with a smile as she looked at the image.
They all gathered around, sharing smiles as they admired the photo.
"Hoh!! It's so cute!"
Jayu hushed.
Kara nodded.
"Indeed!"
Itoshi puffed up his chest, proud.
"Sheesh, a stranger takes better pictures on your own phone... Hoshizaki!"
"Shut up... you're just..."
Tomori paused, thinking.
"Unattractive."
Itoshi blinked, unable to process it quickly.
"OI?!"
In the photo, they stood in front of the macaque enclosure.
Itoshi on the far left, arms crossed, smiling proudly. Kara beside him, flashing a peace sign, with Tomori mirroring her with both hands. Jayu jumped in front, grinning, while Aldrin smiled quietly at her. Ryujin, as always, stayed cold-faced on the far right.
They walked around the entire park—zebras, giraffes, tapirs—and finally arrived at the botanical garden, taking a rest before their next adventure.
Tomori snapped hundreds of photos along the way: flowers, animals, scenery, Jayu, and the whole squad.
Sitting quietly in the garden as noon approached, Tomori muttered while taking more photos.
"This place is huge!"
Itoshi and Kara shared a seat as Jayu rattled off her excitement.
"The tapirs are so cute! And the zebras are so cool!! The black-and-white stripes are better up close than in pictures!"
She said, bouncing.
"The giraffes are so tall!!! And the baby one was so cute too!!"
Itoshi and Kara smiled, enjoying her cheerful voice. Strangers passing by were moved by her energy, though a few recognized her for other reasons.
When Jayu finished, Ryujin approached.
"It's almost noon. Let's take our lunch."
Kara nodded.
"We'll take a bit more rest!"
Ryujin gave a small nod.
"Ok... sure. I wanna walk around a bit either. Just contact me, alright?"
"Yes sir!"
Kara and Jayu replied.
Then suddenly, Tomori joined the same seat as Kara and Itoshi.
She plopped down without a care, pushing Itoshi aside.
"Wooh! I'm beat!"
She hushed.
"Oi,"
Itoshi muttered.
Kara tilted her head.
"Having fun?.. Tomo-san?"
Tomori faced her.
"Indeed! It's my first time touring like this!"
"Oi..."
Itoshi's voice echoed again.
"I'm glad you're having fun!"
Kara replied, smiling.
"Oi! I'm 'boutta fall!"
Itoshi said aloud.
Tomori stopped pushing, flashing another peace sign and smiling cheekily. She settled properly on the seat and noticed Jayu watching a bee land on a rose.
Tomori snapped a photo.
Kara and Itoshi leaned in to see the screen, like curious kittens spotting a laser for the first time.
Seeing them lean, Tomori handed the phone to Kara.
"Here you go! Check them out!"
"Ouhhhhhh,"
They hummed in unison, scrolling through the photos, while Tomori kept an eye on Jayu.
Eventually, Kara reached their first group pictures.
"This is so cute!" she muttered.
The next photo horrified Itoshi.
"PFFFF!!"
Kara burst out laughing.
Itoshi shot upright, pointing at Kara.
"DELETE THAT!"
"Hmm?"
Tomori hummed, leaning closer to the screen.
"PFFT AHHAHAHHAHAHAHA!"
It was a photo Tomori had snapped of Itoshi mid-flash: eyes squinting, mouth wide open, face bright red from the sudden light.
He turned crimson, shoving at her.
"DELETE THAT SHIT!!"
"NO WAY!!!"
Kara and Tomori shot back in unison.
After that, their little tour continued. Before heading off for lunch, the squad made a short stop at Sumiyoshi Shrine.
Tomori wandered around taking more photos—the old wooden gates, the stone lanterns, the trees that framed the sky just right.
Kara and Jayu followed her lead, tossing coins into the box before bowing, while Itoshi stood at the side with his arms crossed, unimpressed but quietly respectful.
Once they finished, they headed toward the nearby mall—Canal City Hakata. The moment they stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted.
Bright lights, chatter, the faint echo of fountains, and a mix of perfume and food smells filled the air. It felt alive, crowded, but peaceful in its own way.
They walked around, looking for a place to eat. Jayu's eyes wandered everywhere—storefronts, decorations, even the ceiling fountain show.
Tomori was glued to her phone again, capturing anything that caught her attention. Itoshi and Aldrin walked behind them, just quietly observing the flow of people.
Eventually, they found a spot by the canal on the lower level of the mall. The fountains danced beside the tables, and the sun filtered in through the skylight above. It was calm enough for them to breathe after a long walk.
Tomori immediately took out her phone again, crouching down for angles.
She photographed the canal, the shimmering water, the faint mist from the fountain, and of course, Jayu—who was posing without even realizing it.
Before anyone could touch their food, Tomori leaned forward and took another round of pictures.
"OUH! Appetizing!"
She hushed, holding the phone close with a wide grin.
She turned to Kara.
"Thank you for covering me, Kara-san!"
She paused, raising her hand like a salute.
"I'll pay you back the moment I get my cut!"
Kara smiled and waved it off.
"No!.. Thank Ryujin-sama!"
Tomori blinked and turned to the leader, sitting two seats away.
"Thank you! Leader!"
Ryujin nodded casually as he took a sip from his cup of coffee.
"No need for a payback. Your hard work is already the payment."
Tomori gave a small nod, slightly flustered by his tone. The moment didn't last long though—Itoshi leaned back, tapping his chopsticks impatiently.
"Can we eat now?"
Tomori's smile disappeared instantly.
"Bruh... this kid," she muttered under her breath.
Ryujin chuckled quietly.
"The creature is hungry."
Kara giggled. Jayu joined in, repeating Ryujin's words proudly like she'd learned something new. "Creature!"
They all laughed, and in unison, shouted,
"Let's eat!"
With that, they finally dug into their food. The table filled with quiet chatter and the sound of utensils clinking.
Jayu hummed happily as she chewed her food. Aldrin handed her a napkin, while Tomori kept snapping small pictures of the view beside them.
As they ate, Ryujin reached for his comms, checking in with Ayro out of habit.
The faint static from the speaker caught Kara and Jayu's attention. They looked at him curiously, their smiles fading for a second.
Ryujin noticed their stares and raised a brow.
"What?"
They both shook their heads and sighed softly.
"Ah... the comms,"
He explained, lowering the device.
"Don't worry. I just want an update from Ayro."
The two relaxed again. Kara nodded with a faint smile while Jayu returned to her plate, quietly humming as she ate.
Eventually, they all finished eating—plates empty, bellies full, and the last bits of conversation fading into lazy silence.
Everyone leaned back in their chairs, satisfied, except for Ryujin, who sat as composed as ever.
"I'm so full..."
Aldrin muttered, rubbing his stomach.
"Yeah... same..."
Tomori added, her voice half-drowsy.
"I need more!"
Itoshi suddenly blurted.
Ryujin didn't even look at him.
"You pay for it."
"Hell no!"
Jayu chuckled, nearly spilling her drink as she listened to their back-and-forth.
A few minutes passed before Tomori pushed her chair back, the wood scraping softly across the floor.
"I'll head out real quick! Be right back!"
Kara straightened up immediately.
"Oh! Let's go together!"
She turned to Jayu.
"How about you, Jayu-chan?"
Jayu smiled, setting down her glass of water.
"I'm all good!"
"Oke~,"
Kara said cheerfully, then turned toward her idiot brother with narrowed eyes.
"Ryujin-sama... look after Koya."
Without hesitation, Ryujin nodded once.
Itoshi frowned.
"H-hey? Ain't that supposed to be 'Koya, look after Jayu'?"
As Tomori and Kara walked off, Kara looked back over her shoulder with a grin.
"Nope! What I said is what I wanted to say!"
"The heck..."
Itoshi muttered, turning toward Jayu, who was calmly nibbling on a biscuit.
But her calm vanished instantly when she saw the look on his face—a grim, mischievous smile spreading like an evil dragon spotting prey.
Jayu froze. Her biscuit trembled in her hand as Itoshi leaned closer.
Before he could open his mouth, a sharp bonk landed right on his head.
Ryujin didn't even look away from his coffee.
"You wanna receive another scolding from your girlfriend?"
Itoshi scratched his head, pouting.
"I'm just teasing!"
Ryujin sipped again.
"Exactly my point."
Jayu giggled quietly behind her hand, while Aldrin leaned in from across the table, smirking.
"Face it, man... even the kid's got more discipline than you."
Itoshi sighed, slumping in defeat. The air around the table relaxed again, laughter rippling softly through the group as the mall's fountain hummed nearby.
~~~To be Continued~~~