Chapter 223: I Know What I'm Doing
Waves crashed rhythmically against the rocks, the roar of the sea echoing along the coastline. From between the cracks of a jagged reef, a silent general crab poked its head out, watching two mismatched figures: one tall, one small.
They were currently struggling to push a beat-up little boat into the sea.
There was a dock, of course. But rather than use the official ferry, they had opted to drag out a dusty, long-forgotten skiff—one that had been left by the end-of-duty patrol unit and conveniently hidden in some godforsaken corner.
Whoever the bastard was that dragged the boat onto land in the first place clearly lacked basic human decency. Sayu had spent ages just trying to locate the damn thing.
"You sure you don't wanna bring some fruit?" Bai Luo asked, eyeing her as she hopped aboard and started to shove off.
The trip from Kannazuka to Amakane Island only took half a day at most, but still—under the blazing sun, thirst was inevitable. And when it hit, it really hit. It wouldn't kill you, but it'd make you wish it had.
"Aren't we bringing Sunsetia?" Sayu patted her chest, where she'd tucked away the fruit Bai Luo had handed her earlier. "That should be enough, right?"
To this day, she had no idea how dangerous those Sunsetias actually were. Even back when they were in the water, she just assumed Bai Luo had slipped in some weird ingredient.
Never would she have guessed… that this was just how the fruit tasted.
After all, Sunsetias were supposed to be mildly fragrant and sweet.
Everyone knew that.
"Are you sure about that?" Bai Luo gave her a look. A complicated one.
"Totally! I know what I'm doing!" Sayu puffed up her chest, full of confidence.
"…Yeah no, let's not. Even I don't trust my own fruit."
After spending a bit of time searching, Bai Luo found a water source on the island—one different from the place Sayu had previously hidden out in. After collecting enough for the trip, he returned to the beach.
And found that Sayu had already turned into a rock. Literally.
She had curled up on the reef and was snoring peacefully.
"Wake up. Time to go."
At this point, Bai Luo wasn't even surprised. Her ability to fall asleep anywhere, anytime—he'd just gotten used to it.
After knocking on the "rock" to wake her, the two finally sat themselves down in the rickety boat.
And then…
They locked eyes.
"You… don't know how to row a boat, do you?"
Seeing Sayu already looking half-asleep again, Bai Luo asked bluntly.
"Before we even get into that, aren't you the slightest bit guilty about making me do the rowing?" Sayu raised her small arms and struck a bodybuilder pose.
Except, given the complete absence of biceps, the pose had zero impact.
"Huh? Why would I feel guilty?"
"…"
Forget it. Dogs and cats clearly spoke different languages. Trying to get this guy to understand her logic was a waste of time.
Despite her grumbling, Bai Luo didn't actually make Sayu row the entire way.
He did, in fact, offer moral support. Lots of it. Cheering and everything.
Between the Kujou Encampment and Amakane Island, there was a small, solitary island they could've used to rest. But stopping there would've cost more time. After a brief discussion, they decided to skip it and row straight across.
At first, Sayu rowed with great enthusiasm.
After all, what lay beyond the sea… was freedom!
But that excitement didn't last long. The monotony of open waters soon took its toll.
With nothing but endless blue in every direction, the scenery never changed. No matter how hard she rowed, it felt like they weren't moving at all.
It was soul-crushing.
Eventually, the once confident Sayu—who said there was no need for water or snacks—gave in and pulled out her treasured Sunsetia to "recharge."
"Give me the oar."
Bai Luo let out a long sigh the moment he saw the oversized fruit in her hands.
"Huh?"
He… volunteered?
That was rare. Suspiciously rare.
Still, if he was actually willing to take over, Sayu wasn't about to stop him.
She passed the oar over with a big smile, then happily lifted the Sunsetia to her mouth and took a big bite.
The flavor she remembered so well immediately exploded across her tongue.
She chewed once.
Twice.
Then froze—cheeks puffed up, mid-bite, smile still plastered on her face.
"…Did this fruit get even more potent?" Bai Luo muttered, gently laying the now-unconscious Sayu down in the boat.
He shrugged off his black windbreaker and draped it over her.
The boat continued drifting across the sea.
Only one of them remained conscious.
And the other?
Out cold—all the while smiling like a happy little idiot.
At the same time, Bai Luo found himself puzzled.
When he first started growing those Sunsetias, they were definitely sour—but still within the realm of edible. At most, people would raise an eyebrow and mutter, "Huh… these can be sour?"
He remembered sampling one himself before giving any to Xiao, and back then, it was just… mildly unpleasant.
But as time went on, the taste had grown increasingly indescribable.
It was almost as if… with every new class he unlocked, the acidity of his Sunsetias ramped up a notch.
What started as simple complaints eventually became full-on mind collapse.
At this rate, one day he might be able to remotely make a specific fruit go sour on command.
Once Bai Luo took over the rowing, the boat sped up considerably. The only regret he had was that the fruit had knocked Sayu out way too fast.
He had planned to use their limited water supply to mess with the little tanuki while they were adrift at sea.
Now that fun is gone. Just like that.
. . . . . . . . .
Southwest of Byakko Plain—Amakane Island.
Unlike the emerald fields of Byakko, this island was filled with cherry blossom trees. When the sea breeze passed through, petals would swirl through the air in a pink rain, creating an almost dreamlike scene.
Thanks to its beauty, the island was a common venue for festivals and fireworks displays.
A moss-covered stone path wound up the island's center, leading to a vermillion torii gate.
The gate faced directly toward Tenshukaku of Inazuma City. Legend has it that if one offered a wish there, even the god secluded within the Shogun's palace would hear it.
Whether that divine being actually listened to such prayers, though, was a mystery no one could answer.
Ever since the Sakoku Decree, Amakane Island has lost its lively spirit. Festivals no longer graced its lands.
Aside from the Shogunate personnel stationed there under the Yashiro Commission, the island was largely empty.
After all, who still had the mood to celebrate anything?
One of the local stewards from the Commission, Hirohiko, had the task of maintaining order and overseeing fire safety measures—especially for fireworks events.
But with no festivals being held, his job had gotten way easier.
Each day, he'd do a quick check to make sure no unauthorized people were hanging around, then head home early.
Honestly, as long as certain "restless organizations" didn't stir up trouble, patrols were more of a formality.
However, today—while doing his usual rounds near the coast—Hirohiko spotted something odd beneath a cherry blossom tree by the shore.
A small figure, curled up against the trunk.
Wait a minute…
"Sayu?"
Though she was a member of the Shuumatsuban, Sayu wasn't as elusive as the others.
Thanks to her frequent "missions" assigned by Kano Nana, she often came to Kannazuka.
Which was why Hirohiko recognized her.
"Uwehh—don't give me any Sunsetia! I don't wanna eat Sunsetia!!"
Sayu's first words upon opening her eyes were a wail of terror.
But when she saw Hirohiko standing before her, she quickly calmed down.
"…Where's that guy?"
"That guy?" Hirohiko tilted his head. "When I found you, you were alone. No one else around."
He looked around again to be sure.
Aside from the overturned skiff nearby, there were no other signs of anyone.
"I… I see…"
Sayu blinked in surprise.
He was gone?
That realization hit her with a weird mix of shock and relief.
The exhaustion she'd felt vanished in an instant, like it had never existed.
But as the thrill of freedom faded, silence settled in.
Why… did it feel like she'd been abandoned?
No way… must be just my imagination, she thought.
And yet…
That strange heaviness in her chest—the sinking feeling of disappointment—where had it come from?
. . . . .
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