Nero woke up, with Kōri still asleep beside her, breathing peacefully. Her hair fell over her shoulders, and the morning sun barely illuminated her face.
Rose had already left for school and had left a note on the table: "Buy rice, meat, bread, and beans." Nero picked it up and read it with a sigh.
Ten minutes later, Lux, Axel, and Kōri woke up. They stretched lazily and went to the bathroom to brush their teeth as the first rays of sunlight streamed through the window.
A firm knock sounded on the door. They all stopped for a moment.
"Who is it?" Lux asked, cautiously approaching.
Axel frowned and went to open the door. To his surprise, there was no one there, just a box leaning against the doorframe. He carefully picked it up and carried it to the table.
"What could this be?" Nero asked, curious.
They opened the box and found 65 lokg inside, perfectly organized.
They looked at each other, impressed. Carefully, they counted them one by one, making sure none were missing.
"Everything's here," Lux said finally, closing the box with a soft tap. "Good, that solves that mystery for now."
After making sure the box was safely stored, Lux and Nero went out to buy what Rose had asked for: rice, meat, bread, and beans. The city was already starting to fill up with people, and the fresh morning air encouraged them to start their day.
Axel had given them exactly 14 lokg to buy.
Lux and Nero walked through the alleyways, streets, and narrow passageways until they reached the market. Lantern lights flickered on the damp cobblestones, and the murmur of vendors mingled with the aroma of spices, freshly baked bread, and fresh meat. Between the stalls, vendors called out their wares, while children darted through the crowd, dodging the wheels of carts and baskets of fruit that looked ready to tip over.
First, they approached the rice stall, where Lux carefully paid for the sacks, while Nero discreetly kept an eye on the passersby. Then they walked to the butcher shop; the smell of fresh meat filled the air, and the butcher offered them freshly prepared cuts. Nero chose with precision while Lux made sure to pay. Further on, they picked up freshly baked bread from a bakery, crusty on the outside and soft on the inside, and finally, beans from a small stall, whose earthy aroma mingled with the others in the market.
With the rice, meat, bread, and beans secured, they prepared to return. However, the feeling that something was watching them lingered. Each alley they crossed seemed darker, quieter, as if the market held secrets only they could perceive.
"Hey Nero, do you want to be my friend?" Lux's voice sounded childlike.
"Sure, why not?"
Nero shrugged, carrying the heavy bags of rice.
Nero and Lux walked down a narrow, dark alley, alert to every movement. Suddenly, a Smiler appeared from the shadows and, with a swift motion, sprayed a poisonous green liquid at them. Instinctively, they both dodged it, but their shopping bags fell to the ground, scattering rice, meat, and beans everywhere.
Without wasting a moment, Lux distracted the Smiler while Nero crafted a card.
With a single punch from Lux, the Smiler was sent flying against the wall.
Wham!
Nero threw his card at the Smiler's head. Its mask shattered, and the card lodged in its face.
Lux and Nero gathered what they could from the shopping.
They returned to the house, watching every shadow in the distance.
Nero and Lux entered the house, the echo of hurried footsteps still ringing in their ears. Their clothes were somewhat dirty and torn, and the tension on their faces betrayed what they had just faced. They approached Axel, who was waiting for them by the table, observing them with a mixture of curiosity and seriousness.
"We were attacked by a Smiler," Nero said, his voice firm, but still with a hint of concern.
Axel nodded, showing no surprise. "Don't worry too much. In a few days, we'll meet up with another team like ours. They won't be enemies, but we need to coordinate."
They all sat around the table, and Axel began to explain the plan with precision. He spoke of the strategy for controlling the entire eastern region, how to divide up the key points, and how to maintain constant vigilance against potential threats. Every word was laden with intention, and Nero and Lux listened intently, aware that every detail could be vital to their survival.
The plan wasn't simple, but Axel made it seem possible. The idea of having to maintain control of the entire region seemed daunting, but also exciting. For them, this wasn't just another mission: it was a chance to prove they could face whatever came their way, together.
...
"There will be another comrade joining our team... someone very mysterious."
Nero and Kōri exchanged curious glances.
"Mysterious?" Kōri asked. "What do you mean by that?"
Axel sighed and leaned back slightly in his chair. "I only know his first name. I don't know his last name or much about him. I just know his name is Sunday."
"Sunday…" Nero repeated, as if savoring the novelty, "sounds… strange."
"That's not all," Axel continued. "Before the test, he was already a Sinner. He's not a rookie like you. And he has his own artifact."
Kōri frowned, now clearly intrigued and somewhat worried. "His own artifact? That means he has experience… and power. Is he someone we can trust?"
Axel looked at them seriously. "I don't know. That's why he's mysterious. But we need his strength. The important thing is that he'll be on the team's side. Beyond that, we'll have to figure it out as we go along."
A silence settled over the room as the three processed the information. Sunday's arrival added a layer of uncertainty: he could be a valuable ally… or someone who would bring more trouble than they could handle.
Nero leaned back, pondering the implications. "So we're not just facing Smilers and controlling the area... now we also have to adapt to a partner who could change everything."
Axel nodded slowly. "Exactly. But I trust you. If you work together and keep a cool head, we can handle anything... even Sunday."
Lux managed a strained smile. "This is going to be interesting," he murmured.
Just as Axel finished speaking and Nero and Lux were beginning to relax a little, a sharp knock sounded at the door.
"Who could it be at this hour?" Lux murmured, getting up cautiously.
Axel approached slowly, his footsteps silent on the wooden floor. "I don't know... but it seems we're not done for the night yet," he said, his fingers brushing the doorknob.
Axel opened the door...