The wind slipped through the clearing—soft, restless.
No one moved.
All eyes settled on Itsuki.
Waiting.
A step broke the stillness.
Not loud—
But it cut through everything.
Shinju.
He moved forward.
His shoulders squared, breath steady.
"…I'll help him."
The words fell into the space between them.
Quiet—
But final.
Ina's brows lifted, just slightly.
"…Shinju?"
Rin turned toward him, her breath catching as if she'd almost called his name too late.
Raizo's eyes narrowed, studying him.
Renji didn't move—but his gaze shifted, sharper now.
Itsuki didn't react.
Not yet.
Shinju's fists tightened at his sides.
Not trembling.
Just… firm.
"…I know what you said," he continued.
"About orders. About not interfering."
A faint exhale left him.
"But I'm still going."
Something shifted.
Not visible—
But felt.
Itsuki's gaze lifted to meet his.
Direct.
"…You're making that decision on your own?"
His tone was calm.
Too calm.
Shinju didn't flinch.
"…Yeah."
His jaw tightened slightly before he answered.
"I'm done waiting."
Rin took a step forward, hesitant.
"Shinju…"
Her voice was soft—fragile, almost.
He didn't turn.
Not because he didn't hear her—
But because he couldn't afford to.
"I said I'd get stronger."
His voice dropped, quieter now—
But heavier.
"…and I meant it."
For a split second—
That white space flickered in his mind.
A voice.
"…Then become strong."
His fingers curled tighter.
"…If I keep doing the same thing…"
"…I'll stay the same."
He stepped forward again, closing the distance.
Now standing between Itsuki and Elric.
"I don't understand politics."
A small shake of his head.
"I don't care about it either."
His gaze shifted briefly toward Elric—
Then back.
"But I do understand this."
His voice hardened.
"…The weakness of not being able to protect people when it matters…"
A flicker of memory—
The old couple he could not protect.
Unmoving.
Too late.
"…people are going to die."
Ina's lips parted slightly,but no words came out. Her eyes slid back to Itsuki.
Waiting.
Itsuki closed his eyes.
Just for a moment.
A slow breath in.
Then out.
"…I see."
His eyes opened again.
Clear.
Decided.
"…Don't jump to conclusions, kid."
A faint pause.
"I was going to agree."
Ina blinked.
"…Really?"
Itsuki adjusted his coat slightly, gaze drifting past them for a second before returning.
"I'm surprised," he said.
"All you've talked about is stopping the Shadows."
Shinju didn't look away.
"Like you said… I've been repeating the same thing."
A small breath.
"…Then this is me changing it."
I was talking about training, but I guess it applies to this too.
Itsuki smiled.
Faint.
But real.
"…Good."
Raizo let out a quiet scoff, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"…About time."
Ina shaked her head slightly.
"…Never thought I'd see this."
Itsuki glanced at her.
"Not a bad mentor, am I?"
Rin hesitated—
Then stepped forward, closing the gap between her and Shinju.
"…You're not making a mistake."
Her voice was steadier now.
Certain.
Behind them—
Renji remained where he stood.
Arms loose at his sides.
Saying nothing.
Elric hadn't moved.
But something in his expression shifted.
Subtle—
But undeniable.
Not relief.
Not gratitude.
Something quieter.
Heavier.
As if for the first time—
He wasn't standing alone.
After the Decision
The wind eased.
Not gone, but lighter.
The tension had shifted.
Itsuki glanced at Elric.
"…Then it's settled."
A brief pause.
"But don't misunderstand."
His tone sharpened slightly.
"We're not doing this for you alone."
Elric gave a small nod.
"I wouldn't expect you to."
His voice was calmer now, more grounded.
Raizo stretched his neck slightly.
"…So what now?"
Renji finally spoke.
Quiet.
"We can't all move together."
All eyes turned to him.
He stepped forward slightly, hands crossed at his back.
"If the entire squad goes… we become easy to spot."
A glance at Elric.
"And right now, you're the biggest one."
Itsuki rested his hand on his chin.
"Correct."
He looked at his squad.
"Renji, you'll take part of the squad back to headquarters."
"We need to report this," Itsuki said.
Renji gave a small nod.
"…Understood."
The squad turned to leave.
"Wait." Itsuki raised his hand.
Shinki, Tashi… Kazan, you're with us."
"Okay captain!" they said in unison.
Itsuki turned to Raizo. "Raizo, I need you to secure two carriages for our leave, and make sure you know who is in one of them."
"Understood."Raizo nodded and vanished.
Rin looked at Shinju.
"I guess I should be going."
Shinju's gaze shifted.
"No. Stay."
A beat.
"With me."
Rin's face went red. She looked away from his eyes.
"No… if I… stay with you, I'll only slow you down."
Rin took off toward Squadron 6, then stopped and turned.
"I guess it's… bye for now, Shin."
She lingered for a second—
Then turned.
Shinju didn't know how to react.
But he felt two crushing pressures on his shoulders. Shinki and Kazan, grinding their teeth.
"Hey, Shinju," Shinki said, voice pitched high.
Kazan put a hand on Shinju's shoulder.
"You think it's cool flirting with a girl in front of your superiors?"
Shinju stared. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Nnghh," they both ground out, louder.
"You guys should stop bothering Shinju," Tashi said.
"Shut up, Tashi," Shinki snapped. "You have no idea how it feels."
Tashi adjusted his hair, and his ring caught the light. "I guess I can't understand how it feels to be single."
Tashi words replayed in their minds.
I guess I can't understand how it feels to be single.. single… single… Single.
Shinki and Kazan's jaws dropped.
A vein popped on Shinki's temple.
Kazan's aura went dark.
"GET HIM."
*BOOM.*
Dust exploded.
Shinki launched first. Kazan half a second behind him. They slammed into Tashi like a boulder hitting a cart.
"WAI—"
All three hit the ground in a tangle of limbs. Smoke and dirt billowed up, swallowing them whole.
Coughing. Groaning.
Shinju just stood there, staring at the cloud where his squad used to be.
From inside the smoke: "I WAS JUST—"
"SHUT UP!"
"MY HAIR!"
The dust settled. Tashi was flat on his back. Shinki had him in a headlock. Kazan sat on his legs.
Tashi, wheezing: "...married... life... is... tough..."
"GET HIM AGAIN!"
FWOOM. Another cloud of dust.
Ina exhaled quietly.
"Fools."
Itsuki turned to Elric.
"We should get going."
"…That's it? Just seven?"
"If too many move, we become easy to track."
"Besides, this team here can take out any problem we might face." Itsuki smiled.
"That I promise."
Shinki, Tashi, and Kazan stood shoulder to shoulder. Chests out. Hands on hips. Heads tilted up like heroes.
Except Tashi was in the middle. Nose bleeding. One eye twitching. Being held up by Shinki and Kazan so he didn't fall over.
Shinki, dead serious: "Don't worry. Three mosquitoes will protect you.'
Kazan, nodding: "Yeah. Three mosquitoes."
Tashi, blood running down his face: "...no one calls us that, you fools..."
Ina shook her head.
"Before we move."
Itsuki paused.
"first"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Introductions."
"Aokami Itsuki."
He gestured slightly to himself.
"Captain of Squadron 6."
"Kisaragi Ina, Second in command."
She crossed her arms lightly.
Raizo appeared out of nowhere as dust drifted.
"Mikan Raizo."
Shinki stepped forward slightly.
"Amamiya Shinki."
Tashi hesitated for half a second—
Blood running down his nose.
"… Ryuzaki Tashi."
Kazan nodded slowly.
"Ryuzaki Kazan."
Shinju remained still for a moment.
"…Shinju."
The moment settled.
Names now carried weight.
Raizo glanced at the bandit.
"…What should we do about them?"
One of the bandits flinched.
"W-we won't say anything!"
Another quickly followed—
"Please—just let us go!"
Their voices cracked.
Desperate.
Raizo's expression didn't change.
"They Heard everything."
His gaze sharpened.
"Should we kill them?"
The air tightened—
but not chaotic.
Just… serious.
One of the bandits dropped his head to the ground.
"Please… we were just trying to survive…"
Another spoke, voice shaking—
"We needed money… our families—"
"We didn't even know who he was!"
Elric watched them quietly.
"Valko, untie them."
Valko frozened, confused.
"Are you sure about this, young prince?"
Elric's gaze didn't waver.
"If survival is your reason…"
He stretched his hand towards the bandits.
"…then prove it."
Raizo frowned slightly.
"…What are you thinking?"
Elric stepped closer.
"You wanted money."
His voice was calm, but controlled.
"I can give you more than you've ever seen."
The bandits stared at him.
Uncertain.
Hope fighting fear.
"In return—"
A slight pause.
"You work for me."
Seren's eyes narrowed slightly.
Now interested.
"…Temporary," Elric added, after a brief pause.
"…When this is over, you walk away with enough to take care of your families."
Silence, but not empty.
This time—
It was choice.
The bandits looked at each other.
Then quickly they nodded.
"Yes—yes, we'll do it!"
"We swear, we won't betray your trust!"
Vlako flinched.
"…You're trusting them?"
Elric didn't look at him.
"I'm using them."
Seren gave the faintest nod.
"…That works."
By the time the sun dipped, they moved.
Not as soldiers.
Not as royals.
Just travelers.
A small village took them in for the night.
Nothing special.
Wooden walls with dim lanterns.
In one room, they all gathered .
Shinju leaned against the wall.
Itsuki stood near the window.
Valko sat, arms resting on his knees.
The others gathered around.
Elric remained standing.
"…We need a plan."
The words settled heavily in the room.
No one answered immediately.
Because this wasn't just about moving forward—
It was about surviving what came next.
Elric's gaze moved across them.
Slow.
Measured.
"…Let me be clear," he said.
"What we're trying to do."
He took a step forward.
"We're going back to the capital without being noticed to find proof against my uncle."
Itsuki's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…And how are we supposed to do that?"
Elric's voice didn't waver.
"…We expose him."
Silence.
Not disbelief—
Just the weight of it.
Shinju shook his head slightly.
"…You say that like it's simple."
"It's not," Elric replied.
Another pause.
Then—
"…That's why we need a way in."
His gaze shifted.
"Seren."
All eyes followed.
"…Any ideas?"
Seren didn't answer.
Not yet.
His gaze lowered slightly.
Thinking.
Valko spoke instead.
"…What about the route we used before?"
Seren shook his head.
"We can't pass there anymore, it's probably compromised."
That caught them.
"I hate to say it… Kurogane Village has already been taken over."
Raizo clicked his tongue.
"…So we're locked out."
"…No," Seren said quietly.
"Just blocked from the obvious path."
The room fell silent again.
Seren leaned back slightly.
Eyes closing.
Thinking deeper now.
"…Let's say we do get in," Ina said.
"Then what?"
Her gaze sharpened.
"You walk up to the capital and tell them the king is a fraud?"
A faint scoff.
"They'll laugh and call you a traitor."
Elric didn't respond.
Because she wasn't wrong.
"…Even with proof," she continued,
"How are we going to expose him?"
That hung in the air.
Heavy.
Real.
Seren's fingers tapped once against the table.
Then stopped.
"…People don't listen to the truth," he said quietly.
His eyes opened.
"They listen to spectacle."
That shifted something.
Itsuki's gaze sharpened slightly.
"…Go on."
Seren leaned forward now.
"…In a few days, the capital holds its
annual gathering for the tournament festival."
"…A festival?" Itsuki said.
"More than that," Seren said.
"Warriors. Nobles. Crowds. Eyes everywhere."
Itsuki's eyes narrowed.
"That sounds like an opportunity."
"It is," Seren replied.
A pause.
"…unless we use it right."
Silence.
Understanding began to form.
"Security will drop," Raizo muttered.
"…No," Seren said.
"It stretches."
Now the room was still.
Everyone thinking the same thing.
Openings.
Blind spots.
Elric's voice came low.
"…And him?"
Seren didn't hesitate.
"He'll be there."
That was the moment.
Itsuki finally moved.
Just slightly.
"…So that's the only window we have."
No one disagreed.
Because there wasn't a better option.
Seren exhaled slowly.
"…It's not perfect."
A beat.
"…And it could fail."
Another.
"…But right now—"
His gaze lifted.
Clear.
Focused.
"…it's the only plan that gives us a chance."
"…Then we better hope," Elric said quietly,
"…he doesn't see us coming first."