While Hyoubu was infiltrating Babel's medical facility, Senzo, Yugiri, and the others were leisurely walking through Tokyo. Admiring all the cherry blossoms that were in full bloom.
"Wah…!"
"Wow," was the only thing that came out of Yugiri's mouth while she was admiring the beautiful scenery of the cherry blossoms in full bloom; their petals drifted down around her, settling gently on her shoulders and hair.
"Fufu, it's rare to see Yugiri in such high spirits." Momiji stated, readjusting her glasses while also looking at all the falling petals.
"Probably because it's the first time she's seen cherry blossoms." Yo casually added.
Magi also had a relaxed expression on his face looking at the little girl enjoying herself.
Andy and Senzo were walking next to each other, minding their own business.
And while Andy had a blank expression on his face looking at all the relaxed attitudes from all of them, he couldn't help but wonder why they were here.
"Hey, After fighting so intensely against Babel, did we really come all the way to Tokyo just to see some flowers?"
"Pfft."
Yo couldn't help but chuckle at the stupid question he had just heard.
"You're such an idiot, newbie. It's because of that that we have to let things cool down for a while." Yo explained while rolling his eyes.
"Plus we have to repair the ship."
Then Magi jumped in, a look of disdain in his eyes.
"Of course that's not our true objective."
"Our true objective?"
Andy raised his eyebrow, waiting for Magi to explain further.
But nothing came; Magi and the others just kept walking forward, all minding their own business.
"Hah..." Andy sighed dramatically, but he couldn't do anything about it.
"Heh, don't worry about it too much; even I don't know the true objective, you know." Senzo suddenly said, with a smile on his face.
He quite liked this guy now; it was painfully obvious what he was thinking, and his behavior was so straightforward it was very refreshing compared to most other people he knew.
"Hoh, so they didn't even tell the super newbie Senzo, huh?"
"..."
"Pfft!"
Momiji couldn't contain her laughter, and she suddenly burst out laughing.
Yo and Magi were also chuckling but were able to keep it on the low.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh all you want."
Senzo muttered, but he wasn't mad or even annoyed; he quite enjoyed this vibe.
That's when they arrived at an old shrine; it stood quietly in between all the blooming cherry blossoms. The front gate at the entrance framed the path of worn stone steps, leading visitors toward the main hall.
Faded lanterns hung from the eaves, swaying gently in the breeze, while the faint scent of incense drifted through the air. Before the shrine stood a wooden box lined with copper slats, where people tossed their coins with a clink before bowing in prayer.
Beside it, small racks of paper fortunes fluttered like white leaves in the wind, tied there by countless hopeful hands seeking blessings or hoping for a better fate.
"Wow..."
Yugiri was speechless; her mouth hung open slightly while she took in the impressive sight of the shrine in front of her.
The others also admired the shrine from a distance; Senzo stood next to Yugiri, holding her hand so she wouldn't get lost.
"Beautiful, right?" he asked her.
Yugiri vigorously nodded her head up and down while still staring at it.
"This is why we love coming to Japan. Shrines like these are always a sight to see." Magi added.
Momiji and Yo both nodded their heads.
"That's right, Yugiri, now that you're one of us, we will show you even more fantastical sights," he exclaimed, a grin on his face.
"Really? You're going to show me more things like this one?"
She could hardly believe it; this was the first time she had seen such beautiful trees and such a large shrine, but he was saying they were going to show even more things like it.
She clenched her small hand tightly into a fist and thrust it into the air.
"Yay!" she shouted.
Senzo chuckled seeing the little girl act like an actual little girl instead of acting so reserved to ensure she wouldn't be in anyone's way.
"That's right, Yugiri. We will show you even cooler and more beautiful things; just you wait."
While patting her head, he affirmed what Yo had said and even went a step further.
Yugiri was practically bursting with anticipation, nodding her head vigorously up and down with a massive smile on her face.
"Shall we try out some food stalls, Yugiri?" Momiji suddenly asked, pointing in a certain direction where tons of people were leisurely walking around enjoying all kinds of different foods.
"Nnn!"
Yugiri quickly let go of the hand of Senzo she was holding and ran toward Momiji, grasping her hand tightly while almost drooling, seeing all the different kinds of street foods that were being served there.
"..."
"I don't get it. Why would she be so excited to try food stalls?" Andy muttered while leisurely walking behind Yo and Magi with Senzo next to him.
"Well, this is her first time seeing them, so that's probably why." Senzo casually replied.
Andy sharply turned his head toward Senzo after hearing his reply.
"Seriously? Isn't she like, what, 5 or 6 years old? How come she's never been to one?"
Senzo, Magi, and Yo's expressions all darkened at the same time hearing Andy's question.
"You explain it, Senzo; we will keep an eye on those two." Magi casually said.
"Sure, see you in a bit."
Then Magi and Yo quickly made their way toward Momiji and Yugiri, while Senzo slowed his pace to make sure the little lady wouldn't hear him.
"Never talk about this in front of her, understood?"
"Ah, sure..."
Andy couldn't understand why the atmosphere took such a 180 after a singular question. But he had a hunch.
"Yugiri has basically been in that prison all her life; she isn't just a regular little girl as well, but I won't go into detail about that, or we'll be here all day." Senzo explained with a pained expression on his face while he remembered everything she had been through.
"So whenever she asks something that isn't a bother, please just do it. She is very shy and introverted also because she has spent years inside that prison being treated as nothing more than an ingredient for those super soldiers..."
Just thinking about it made his blood boil—those disgusting pigs using a little girl to make artificial monsters whose only purpose is to engage in war.
"..."
Andy clenched his fist tightly; just from hearing what she's been through, he could tell that no one ever deserved to experience something like that.
Especially not a literal child; he himself had also been through a lot of discrimination because of him being an esper, but it was nothing compared to her.
"I understand, and thanks for telling me, man."
"Don't worry about it; it was you who wanted to know. That's the first step in forming a proper bond, in my opinion." Senzo said, extending a firm hand toward Andy.
Andy took it without hesitation, and the two exchanged a firm handshake; the resolve in both of their eyes was clear—they would do anything to protect Yugiri's happiness.