Return.

Riquet: “Fufu. Well, Shylock does train me every day.”

Riquet: “Thanks to his kindness, I am always prepared for any sort of emergencies.”

Riquet: “If, by chance, anything should happen, I’ll be here to protect you. So please follow me with confidence from now on, Akira.”

Riquet seemed almost radiant as he puffed out his chest proudly. His age made no difference to his attitude. Even in a town like this, he was still fully capable of standing his ground.

Akira: “You’re amazing, Riquet. I haven’t done anything useful since waking up here…”

Riquet: “I believe the same is true for everyone at first. I never used to be able to do anything either.”

Riquet: “I would look out of the window in my hospital room and say ‘I want to do this, I want to do that’... Wasting away my days in bed dreaming of everything I couldn’t do.”

Riquet: “But the reason I’m so happy now is precisely because I couldn’t do anything back then.”

Riquet: “Now I can practise martial arts, study cryptography— and do whatever else I want to do, too.”

Akira: “Study cryptography?”

Riquet proudly pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and unfolded it.

Riquet: “Special orders from the boss, such as the one I told you and Shylock about earlier, are unreadable to the average person.”

Akira: “…Wow, you’re right! I can’t read this at all.”

Riquet: “I’m the only one who was taught how to read this encrypted language by the boss. And he sends letters written in that encryption to my house through the use of carrier pigeons.”

Riquet: “It really is a dream come true for me. Sometimes I still can’t believe that I was entrusted with such a special job, seeing as I was barely able to read regular writing before joining the organisation.”

Smiling, Riquet hugged the letter to his chest happily.

Riquet: “Therefore, I don’t think there’s anything for you to feel anxious about, Akira.”

Riquet: “I’m certain there will be many things only you can do in your future, as well as lots of fun activities to enjoy too.”

Akira: “Riquet…”

Riquet: “…Ah, the road ahead will be slightly wider than the one we’re on now. Stay close to me, Akira—”

Snow: “Whoops.”

Riquet: “…Ah!”

Riquet’s face quickly went pale. The young man he’d almost bumped into at the street corner was none other than—

Akira: (Don Snow…!)

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Shylock: (I do hope those two have arrived at Riquet’s home in one piece…)

Shylock: (…I’m sure my concern is unnecessary. Akira will be more than safe with Riquet at their side.)

Shylock: “I, too, shall focus on playing my part.”

Shylock: “…Hm?”

???: “…Excuse me for disturbing you. Is this establishment open?”

Shylock: “…I believe there should be a closed sign hanging on the front door, if you’d like to take a second look.”

Shylock: “As you can see, this is a speakeasy. These sorts of establishments are most sophisticated opening only at twilight, just as the sun is about to kiss the earth.”

???: “Forgive my discourtesy. I just so happened to catch sight of this building as I was passing by, and it felt like a shame to simply carry on walking without taking a look inside first.”

???: “I wouldn’t want a sophisticated person such as yourself to think of me as tactless, but…”

???: “Would it be a problem for you if I were to ask for just one drink anyway?”

Shylock: (Could this be an assassin on the hunt for Kirsche Persche? Or simply a mere visitor? …I’ll appear suspicious by acting too stubborn, regardless.)

Shylock: “…I suppose I have no choice in the matter. You may come in for one drink, and one drink alone.”

Heathcliff: “Thank you very much. It truly is a lovely establishment.”

Heathcliff: “…Ah…!”

Shylock: “Is something the matter? Whyever are you looking at me like that?”

Heathcliff: “…Aren’t you… No, that’s impossible…”

Shylock: “…Well, regardless. Please, come closer. You wanted a drink, did you not?”

Heathcliff: “Oh… Ah, right… Forgive me, I’m being tactless again…”

Shylock: (What strange behaviour. He’s acting as though he’s seen some sort of ghost…)

Shylock: “Now then, what would you like to order?”

Heathcliff: “…”

Heathcliff: “I’d like some Kirsche Persche, please.”

Shylock: “…Fufu.”

Shylock: “I’m afraid that’s one request I am unable to fulfil!”

Heathcliff: “Urgh…”

Heathcliff: “That rope dart… This is just like that time you protected me…”

Heathcliff: “…I knew I recognised you…”

Shylock: “I’ve never seen someone repel my darts with a cane before. You’re clearly rather skilled.”

Shylock: “Nevertheless, I cannot afford to back down now—”

Heathcliff: “Please, put down your weapon! I swear to you that we are not enemies!”

Shylock: “…”

Shylock: “…Is this some sort of trick?”

Heathcliff: “I’m no Ventisca spy. My name is Heathcliff Blanchett, of the Panthera Family.”

Shylock: “Heathcliff…”

Heathcliff: “…Do you not remember me…?”

Heathcliff: “Maybe I have the wrong person after all. Regardless, it’s reckless of you to try and take Ventisca on all by yourself…”

Heathcliff: “Come on, let’s go. I’ll take care of everything from now on, alright?”

Shylock: “…”

Heathcliff: “…That’s what you said to me, back then. When I was still just a child.”

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Riquet & Akira: “…”

Snow: “Oho, how convenient. It’s terribly fortuitous for me, bumping into you here…”

Snow: “You wouldn’t happen to know what Kirsche Persche is, would you?”

Akira: (Ah…!)

Riquet: “I’m afraid I’ve never heard of it.”

Snow: “Ah, alas. What a terribly quick rejection.”

Snow: “‘Twould normally be rather disgraceful of me to act so cold-hearted towards pretty little things such as yourselves, but…”

Narrowing his golden eyes, Snow looked at us as though we were both simply food he was inspecting at a market stall.

Snow: “…”

Akira: (W-What was that? He just made eye contact with me…)

Snow: “Ohohoho. You seem nervous. Your pupils are dilated, if only slightly.”

Snow: “…Is there something you’re neglecting to tell me, perhaps?”

Akira: “…Nh…”

That was the moment Snow reached out as if to try and grab me.

Riquet: “Don’t you dare touch them!”

Just then, something flew out of Riquet’s sleeve at the speed of light.

…It was a rope dart. Exactly the same as Shylock’s beloved weapon.

Snow: “Tch.”

Despite how close he’d been standing to us both, Snow still managed to dodge Riquet’s attack by taking a big leap backwards.

Then, he smiled a bewitching, terrifying smile that sent shivers down my spine.

Snow: “Oho, are you the sort of person who never finishes listening to what others have to say?”

Snow: “A naughty, mannerless child such as yourself needs to be taught how to behave.”

Akira: (Why did Snow just put his hand on the hilt of his sword…? He’s not going to draw it on Riquet, is he?!)

Riquet: “…I’ll deal with this. Please run away while I keep him distracted, Akira.”

Riquet casually shoved a piece of paper into my pocket as he spoke. When I took a peek at it, I saw it looked like a hand-drawn map.

Riquet: “Please wait for me there. I’ll be sure to catch up with you.”

Akira: “But…”

“I can’t just leave you here by yourself” — I swallowed the words down before they even had a chance to leave my mouth.

I’d already realised earlier that I’d only be a hindrance to him.

Akira: “Riquet, please just stay safe…!”

Riquet: “Hah!”

Rather than replying to me, Riquet sent his rope dart flying at Snow instead.

Snow: “Hmph…”

Snow pulled his sword out, using it to flick away Riquet’s dart.

With the shrill sounds of metal colliding behind me, I started running back the way we’d just come, but—

Cain: “Whoops, can’t let you get away that easily. I’m sure you’re not interested in losing your life so soon, right?”

Cain: “You’d be better off just keeping quiet and chatting with us for a while.”

A young man was standing in my way, his long and flowing red hair tied back into a low ponytail.

Akira: (…Nevermind, other way—...)

But the way behind me had been cut off as well.

Mithra: “…”

Another man with flaming red hair was already there, ruining any hope of escape.

Akira: “No way…”

Cain: “…You don’t look so good.”

Cain: “Where’s your weapon? If you’re the kind of person who can live in a town like this, then you’ve gotta be someone who can shed blood to survive.”

Akira: “I-I’m sorry. You’re talking about swords and stuff, right…?”

Akira: “Um, I really don’t have anything to fight with, so…”

Cain: “Huh? Are you really just some random citizen…?”

Akira: (I’m not sure… I mean, I’m a member of Luna Piena, but I can’t fight the way Riquet and Shylock do…)

Bewildered, I nodded my head timidly. Though the young man’s face had previously held no warmth, now his expression quickly changed.

Cain: “Ahh… Got it. I see.”

Cain: “Sorry, I shouldn’t have tried to threaten you when you’re just going about your day.”

The young man introduced himself to me as “Cain” with a friendly, charming expression on his face, as if the way he’d been acting moments ago was some sort of lie.

I could see one crimson eye peeking out at me through the gap in his long bangs. The one he kept uncovered gleamed a golden-yellow colour in the light.

Akira: (His eyes… They’re the same as Owen’s…)

Cain: “Let’s start over, yeah? I’m Cain. Who are you?”

Akira: “Ah, um… It’s nice to meet you. I’m Akira.”

Somehow I got the feeling he wasn’t really a bad person, so I gave him my name.

Mithra: “…Ah, does this mean I am expected to introduce myself as well?”

Mithra: “Mm… My name is Mithra.”

Cain: “We’re both part of the Ventisca Family. That’s our boss, Don Snow.”

He pointed over at Snow, still in the middle of fighting viciously with Riquet.

Snow: “You’re more than just some ordinary child stationed here to keep me occupied, aren’t you?”

Riquet: “My teacher is an incredibly skilled rope dart master. I’ll make you regret underestimating me!”

Snow: “Ohohoho! How amusing — please, do try your best!”

Snow’s eyes were sparkling as he lept directly into the gap between Riquet’s ropes.

The darts shot towards him at high speed, but Snow dodged and repelled them with ease. Riquet was caught in the range of his sword before I could even blink.

Riquet: “…Ah!”

Suddenly jerking himself backwards, Riquet barely managed to dodge Snow’s sword as it slashed towards him.

Golden strands of Riquet’s hair fluttered down to the cobblestone road beneath, cut by that blade where he himself had just been.

Nervously I watched their battle rage on, unable to tear my eyes away, saying to Cain—

Akira: “Um, is there anything we can do to get your boss to stop…? At this rate, Riquet’s going to…”

Cain: “The boss is pretty desperate, you know. If you really wanna stop him, you’re gonna need to tell us whatever you know about Kirsche Persche.”

Cain: “You do know something, right? I’ll let you go help that kid if you talk.”

Cain: “Anything’s fine, even if it's only something small. I don’t wanna put you in a hard position if I can help it.”

Cain’s voice was sincere and gentle as he questioned me.

…But I knew that if I told them where they could find what they were looking for, there’d be absolutely no way I could make it up to Shylock — still back at the hideout — for putting him in that position.

???: “You guys look like you’re having fun over here. Wanna let me play too?”