The departure from Shimotsuki Village was quieter than their arrival.
No celebration.
No goodbye speeches.
Just footsteps on wood—
and the sea waiting below.
—
Carina leaned against the railing as the village slowly shrank behind them.
"…So that's it? We come back after five years and leave just like that?"
Kuina didn't look back.
"…We didn't come back to stay."
Tashigi stood beside her.
Same posture.
Same calm.
"…We came back to understand."
Carina groaned.
"…That still sounds like something that becomes a problem later."
—
Kevin stood at the bow.
The wind hit his face directly.
This time—
he didn't close his eyes.
He let it stay.
"…We're not the same group anymore," he said quietly.
Kuina glanced at him.
Tashigi listened.
Carina tilted her head.
"…Is that good or terrifying?"
Kevin paused.
Then answered honestly—
"…Both."
—
Silence settled.
But it wasn't empty.
It was comfortable.
—
Behind them, Shimotsuki Village disappeared completely over the horizon.
And something in Kevin shifted.
Not calculation.
Not logic.
Recognition.
"…That place," he said slowly.
A pause.
"…It made us real."
Kuina nodded once.
"…It reminded us what we were before the sea."
Tashigi added softly:
"…And what we chose to become after it."
Carina crossed her arms.
"…I chose snacks and chaos. Still valid."
No one disagreed.
—
The wind flowed steadily.
No sudden shifts.
No pressure.
Just movement.
—
For once—
nothing was approaching.
—
Carina stretched.
"…So what now?"
Kuina rested her hand lightly on her sword.
"…We move forward."
Tashigi nodded.
"…And keep improving."
Carina sighed.
"…You two really need new hobbies."
—
Kevin turned slightly.
"…Training is consistent."
Carina stared at him.
"…That was the most boring answer you could've given."
—
A pause.
Then—
"…We could fish," Kevin added.
—
Silence.
—
Carina blinked.
"…Did you just suggest something normal?"
—
Kuina looked at him.
"…You know how?"
Kevin shook his head.
"…No."
—
Tashigi adjusted her glasses.
"…Then it will be inefficient."
—
Carina burst out laughing.
"…Perfect. Let's do it."
—
Minutes later—
they were sitting along the side of the ship.
A simple line dropped into the sea.
No technique.
No strategy.
Just… trying.
—
Kuina watched the water.
Still.
Focused.
—
Tashigi mirrored her.
Same posture.
Same patience.
—
Carina leaned back lazily.
"…You two are taking this way too seriously."
—
Kevin held the line.
"…Observation improves results."
—
Nothing happened.
—
More nothing.
—
Then—
Carina suddenly pulled her line.
"—WAIT I GOT SOMETHING—"
—
The line snapped.
—
She froze.
"…I hate this activity."
—
Kuina exhaled slightly.
Not quite a laugh.
But close.
—
Tashigi adjusted her glasses.
"…Your grip was incorrect."
—
Carina pointed.
"…I didn't ask for analysis."
—
Kevin looked at the broken line.
"…We can improve."
—
Carina dropped the rod.
"…No. We can stop."
—
The wind carried their voices across the deck.
Light.
Unburdened.
—
Time passed.
Slowly.
Naturally.
—
Kuina stood again, resting her sword at her side.
"…We'll need supplies soon."
Tashigi nodded.
"…A town within a day or two."
—
Carina perked up.
"…Food. Finally something I can contribute to."
—
Kevin stepped forward.
Looking at the horizon.
Not searching.
Not calculating.
Just… looking.
—
"…We continue," he said.
—
No weight behind it.
No hidden meaning.
Just direction.
—
Kuina stepped beside him.
Tashigi followed.
Same timing.
Same presence.
—
Carina joined last.
"…Yeah, yeah. We continue."
—
The ship moved forward.
Cutting cleanly through calm waters.
—
No one chased them.
No one watched them.
No one knew them.
—
Not yet.
—
For now—
they were just a small ship on a wide sea.
—
And for the first time in a long while—
that was enough.