The night was quiet as Kazuichi slipped through the narrow streets of the stronghold, his boots making soft crunching sounds against the gravel path. Himeno had already veered off, disappearing into the shadows like she always did before they reached the stronghold. Despite their growing camaraderie, she wasn’t quite ready to reveal herself to his party.

Kazuichi couldn’t blame her. Trust was hard to come by in these times, and Himeno’s reasons for staying hidden were her own. Still, as he neared the lodge, he couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to introduce her to the others.

Maybe one day, he thought, pushing open the wooden door to their lodge.

The moment he stepped inside, the warm light of the hearth bathed his face, and familiar voices filled the air. Seated around a low table, Arisu, Ayaka, Lea, and Jurou were deep in discussion. They looked up as Kazuichi entered, their expressions shifting from concentration to relief.

"Kazuichi!" Ayaka called, standing up first. Her voice was tinged with concern, a softness in her brown eyes. "You’re back. We were worried."

"Yeah," Jurou added, his tall frame leaning back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. "You didn’t exactly leave in top shape. Thought you’d be out for a while longer."

Kazuichi waved a hand dismissively as he pulled off his jacket, tossing it onto a nearby chair. "I’m fine. Just needed some fresh air, that’s all." His tone was light, trying to brush off the worry in their eyes, but the subtle weariness in his movements gave him away.

Arisu studied him from her spot at the table, her sharp gaze noticing the smallest details as always. "You sure about that? You don’t look all that—"

"I said I’m fine," Kazuichi interrupted, forcing a grin. "Trust me. I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t."

A small pause settled over the room before Lea broke the silence with her usual energetic tone. "Good! Because we’re gonna need you tomorrow." She leaned forward, tapping a map spread out on the table. "Tomorrow’s the last day for mission points, and we need to make it count."

Kazuichi’s interest piqued as he approached the table, glancing at the map. Red circles were drawn all over the northern regions, marking key locations. His eyes settled on one word written boldly near the top.

"Sendai?" he asked, brow furrowing. "That’s pretty far. What’s up there?"

Ayaka, still standing, gestured toward the map. "There have been sightings of powerful Aberrants in the area—mutated ones. Ryuunosuke’s scouts have been keeping an eye on them, but they haven’t moved in yet. Too risky without enough firepower."

"And we’re supposed to handle that?" Kazuichi questioned, his tone skeptical.

Jurou chuckled darkly, leaning forward. "Not supposed to, no. But we’re gonna do it anyway. Tomorrow’s our last chance to rack up enough points to get first place. You know what that means."

Kazuichi knew exactly what he meant. The prize for securing the top spot was something everyone in the stronghold had been gunning for: a chance to see the great meteorite, a rare artifact stored deep within the stronghold. Ryuunosuke had promised that whoever secured the most mission points would be granted access, and for Hybrids like them, it was more than just a reward.

It was power.

Lea’s voice cut through his thoughts. "We’re already second place, but first is within reach if we take out enough of those Aberrants. Ryuunosuke himself confirmed it."

Arisu, still scrutinizing the map, nodded. "It’s a long shot, but if we take out a nest of those Aberrants, it’ll give us the points we need. The other teams won’t stand a chance."

Kazuichi frowned, running a hand through his messy hair. "And we’re heading north to face these Aberrants with what? Just the five of us?"

Jurou smirked, rising from his seat. "The five of us are more than enough. You, me, Arisu, Ayaka, Lea—we’ve handled worse.

Kazuichi’s hand flexed instinctively, feeling the faint crackle of electricity beneath his skin. Himeno had helped him get a handle on his elemental powers, but they were still volatile, unpredictable. He wasn’t sure if he was ready to unleash them in a high-stakes mission like this.

"Yeah," he said after a moment, his voice quieter.

Ayaka placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch light but reassuring. "We trust you, Kazuichi. You’ve never let us down before. Tomorrow’s gonna be tough, but we’ll do it together."

Lea pumped her fist in the air, her usual fiery enthusiasm bubbling over. "Yeah! We’ve got this! Those Aberrants won’t know what hit ’em."

Kazuichi couldn’t help but smile at her energy. Even in the face of danger, Lea’s optimism never wavered. It was infectious.

Arisu stood, folding the map carefully and tucking it into her bag. "Get some rest, everyone. We leave at first light. The northern route is dangerous, and we need to be sharp."

With that, the team dispersed, each of them retreating to their own corners of the lodge. Kazuichi lingered for a moment by the table, his mind buzzing with thoughts of tomorrow’s mission. The weight of the upcoming battle pressed heavily on him. Aberrants in Sendai... mutated ones at that.

The crackle of the fireplace filled the silence, its warmth doing little to chase away the unease that gnawed at him.

"Kazuichi," Jurou’s voice called from the doorway. The tall man stood there, his expression softer than usual. "Get some rest. You’re no good to us if you’re burnt out."

Kazuichi sighed, nodding. "Yeah, I know."

Jurou gave him a small grin before disappearing into the hall.

Alone in the flickering light of the fire, Kazuichi stared down at his hands, watching as a small spark of electricity danced between his fingers. Tomorrow would be a test—not just of his strength, but of his control. He needed to be ready.

With a final glance at the crackling flames, Kazuichi headed toward his bed, the weight of tomorrow’s battle settling in his chest.