Morning light spilled across the marble courtyards of Yurelda, glinting off rooftops and banners left from the celebrations the night before. Kazuo tightened the straps of his fingerless gloves and adjusted the marine-blue jacket that never quite sat straight on his shoulders. His sword hung at his side — familiar weight, familiar comfort.
He stepped into the corridor when a quiet voice stopped him.
Setsuna leaned against a pillar, arms folded. "Heading to the Lower Crescents already?"
Kazuo met his eyes. "I've waited long enough."
Setsuna's usual smirk softened into something almost fatherly. He stepped close and ruffled Kazuo's hair with a gloved hand — completely ruining the careful styling. "I'm proud of you, Kazu."
Kazuo tried to flatten his hair back down. "Could've just said that without messing it up."
"You have three full days off." Setsuna pretended not to hear him. "If I need you, I'll send a spirit sparrow. They're reliable — unless they get distracted by bread crumbs. Take care of yourself. And no problems for your Gramps. Got it?"
Kazuo nodded, though a faint anxiety still sat behind his ribs.
Descending from the upper city felt like walking between worlds. Clean marble gave way to uneven stone. The air changed — richer with scents of cooking and the noise of real life.
Kazuo slowed, uncertain where the alleys twisted next.
A hand tapped his shoulder.
"Took you long enough."
Rei grinned at him before pulling him into a hug that nearly crushed his ribs.
Kazuo laughed breathlessly. "Hey— I still need those ribs to live."
"That's debatable," Rei replied, eyes bright. "Come on. You owe me lunch. Then a hot spring bath. Then we see the old man. Don't argue."
Kazuo sighed as if it were the greatest burden in the world. "Fine your highness"
He smiled. because this is actually what he was waiting for. Unrestricted Rei mooments.
They walked together through the crowded market streets — the Lower Crescents alive with shouts of vendors and the clatter of carts. Scents of spice, fresh dough, and river herbs drifted on the air. Rei bought two steaming loaves from a bakery stall as they passed a familiar scene:
A pear vendor, arranging green fruit into neat stacks, exactly where Kazuo remembered. The colors, the smell, the same quiet energy of this lower market corner — it hit him with a wave of comfort. Nothing had changed. And yet everything had.
He didn't stop. He didn't speak.He just let the sight sink in — a small reminder of a life that once felt normal.
They found a low stone wall and sat. Steam curled from the bread as Kazuo tore into the crust, savoring warmth that tasted like weeks he never got to live.
No hood. No need to hide. His mismatched eyes caught the daylight without fear.
Whispers followed him — soft, curious, disbelieving.
"Is that him?"
"The one who fought in the palace?"
"Look at his eyes…"
Kazuo tried not to stiffen under the attention.He wasn't a criminal.Not a pawn in a cage of gold.Just… Kazuo. Eating bread with his best friend.
Rei bumped his shoulder. "Careful. At this rate, you'll need a disguise just to buy breakfast."
Kazuo breathed out a quiet laugh. "Let them stare. I'm hungry."
Inside, though, something eased.A knot that had lived in his chest since the night he was exposed — slowly unwinding.For the moment, he felt like he belonged again.
Kazuo spoke first — the wish, the battle, the bargain with the Crown. He told as much as he dared. Rei listened without interrupting, eyes flicking between surprise, worry, and a hint of envy.
When Kazuo finally paused, Rei elbowed him lightly."You could've wished for a mansion. Or a tavern with cat waiters. Or some maidens for me! But no… you choose political chaos. Classic Kazuo."
Kazuo brushed crumbs from his jacket and tried to sound casual. "So… any news about that woman with the brown braid? The one we met before everything went crazy?"
Rei's smile faltered, the brightness slipping from his expression. He stared down at the half-eaten loaf in his hands for a moment before answering.
"I… really liked her," he admitted. "She was strange, sure. But kind of mesmerizing, you know?" He forced a weak laugh. "And if I wanted to find her — where would I even start? She just disappeared."
He looked away, the humor drained from his voice. "Gramps told me something about a King. Said she might be dangerous in ways I shouldn't try to understand. So I stayed out of it." His fingers tightened around the bread, knuckles paling. "And the weird part? After I backed off… she never showed up again. Almost like she knew what Gramps told me. Like she was listening."
Kazuo felt a chill. "A King?"
Rei leaned closer, whispering, "The Forest King."He glanced around as if the wind itself might be eavesdropping. "I'll tell you more once we're alone, at the hot springs. No crowds. No ears."
Kazuo nodded slowly, uneasy curiosity stirring beneath his ribs.
"Still…" Rei forced a small, fragile smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I keep looking. Just in case."
Kazuo felt tension coil inside him.
"We both seem to attract the dangerous ones," he said.
Rei nudged him with a half-hearted smirk. "Yeah, but yours is princess-dangerous."
Kazuo nearly choked. "It isn't like that. I don't even know what I feel about her. If anything at all."
Rei raised a brow, unconvinced. "Uh-huh. And I'm the King of Yurelda."
After finishing the bread, they didn't rush anywhere. The city felt alive in a way Kazuo had missed — messy, loud, imperfect. Rei tugged him from stall to stall like a tour guide who didn't know the map himself.
They stopped at a small armory, where sets of old gear were displayed outside.Before Kazuo could protest, Rei shoved a massive dented helmet over his head.
Kazuo's voice echoed from inside the metal."I can't see."
"That's because you have no vision," Rei said, stroking his chin like a wise master.
Kazuo pulled it off and dropped it onto Rei's head instead. The visor slid down instantly.
Rei spun blindly. "Who turned out the sun?!"
He stumbled into a barrel of wooden spears, which toppled with the grace of a collapsing barn.
"This," Kazuo said, "is why you aren't allowed actual weapons."
Rei dusted himself off. "Rude. Also true."
They browsed more stalls — clothes, painted trinkets, food carts that smelled dangerously addictive. Rei stopped at a tiny wooden carving stand and bought a small cat figurine, tossing it to Kazuo.
"For your future tavern," he said. "Theme: cats. Customers: also cats. Especially Lady Nekomaru"
Kazuo pocketed it with a content smile."One day," he replied quietly.
Then came roasted nuts, a game involving stacked stones that Rei swore was rigged, and a runaway cart pulled by a goat who seemed personally offended by Rei's existence.
Kazuo laughed until his stomach hurt.He hadn't realized how much he needed this.
The sunlight drifted lower. Rei stretched his arms dramatically.
"Alright. If we don't soak soon, my spine is going to develop its own magic element."
Kazuo raised a brow. "Element of whine?"
"Element of handsome," Rei corrected.
Steam curled in the distance — soft, inviting, peaceful. Rei pointed.
"Hot springs. Then Gramps. Deal?"
Kazuo nodded — and the simple warmth in his chest felt like a victory against the world.
"Deal."
***
The hot springs were quiet — sheltered beneath a curved stone roof where steam drifted like pale clouds. Lantern light shimmered across the water, casting soft reflections on the smooth walls. Kazuo and Rei slipped into the warmth, muscles relaxing as heat melted away the weight they carried from the world above.
Kazuo exhaled as he lowered himself deeper.
"Alright," he said, as the steam curled upward, "I remember now — when you visited me, you said she sang a song about the lotus and the Forest King. So what is up with that?"
Rei leaned closer through the steam and quietly explained what Gramps had once told him about the Forest King.
When he finished, Kazuo exhaled slowly. "That's… a lot to unpack. But do you think he has anything to do with the Inverted Lotus? The rumors I mentioned?"
Rei shook his head. "No idea. But people whisper that word on the streets."
Kazuo pressed the back of his head against the stone. His mind churned. Does this has some kind of meaning? if this is in the past...then why does this appear now?
He breathed in the warm steam and forced himself to let the thoughts drift away. "Later," he murmured. "Not now. Now is for relaxing."
Rei finally cracked a grin. "Good. Because I am done talking about ominous mysteries while naked."
Kazuo smirked. "Fair point. Speaking of mysterious figures… what was her name again? Solayne?" He exaggerated the pronunciation dramatically.
Rei choked on air. "Don't say it like that!"
Before Kazuo could tease further, he flinched. "Hold on — something moved in the water."
Rei's eyes went wide. "Where?"
Kazuo leaned forward, eyes narrowed, then looked at Rei with mock horror. "Oh no. Is that your little friend reacting to the mention of Solayne?"
Rei sank lower into the water, ears turning red."He has nothing to do with this! And hey—since when are you making jokes like that? That's always been my line!"
Kazuo burst into laughter — loud and unrestrained.
Rei splashed a wave at him. "Careful. At least mine can maintain a reaction. Not like your poor, lifeless little worm."
Kazuo put a hand to his heart. "A worm? Excuse you. He is merely… gathering strength."
"Yeah? For what — the shortest battle in history?"
Kazuo leaned in with mock seriousness. "I'll have you know, when the time comes, he will rise like a hero of legend."
"Only if legends are two seconds long."
Kazuo flicked water into his face. "Oh, you're brave now? You were pretty quick to dive under when I said Solayne's name."
Rei's ears reddened again. "I was just adjusting to the water temperature!"
"Sure. Let's call it temperature."
Rei groaned, sinking down until just his eyes peeked above the surface. "I hate you."
Kazuo rested his head back against the edge, smiling. "You love me, and you know it."
Rei grumbled something unintelligible — definitely affectionate, definitely annoyed.
Their bickering softened into comfortable silence. Heat soaked into their bones, steam easing away the weight of the last days. For the first time since the arena, Kazuo let himself unclench — muscles, thoughts, all of it.
Kazuo closed his eyes against the rising steam.
Soon, they would visit Gramps.
Soon, the realities of the Crown would return.
Soon, choices would chase him again.
But right now…he allowed himself to breathe.