The market had mostly returned to normal.
Stalls were rebuilt where they'd fallen. Vendors swept away broken crates. The smell of smoke faded, replaced again by roasted meat and sweet bread.
Kaito stood in front of the game vendor, arms crossed.
"This one," he said.
The vendor hesitated. "You're sure? It's… complicated."
"Yes."
Ryo leaned in. "That one deletes your save if you lose too badly."
Kaito stared at the disc for a long moment.
"…Good."
Mira snorted. "He took that personally."
Aria sighed but didn't stop him.
Kaito paid without comment, then picked up another game. And another. A small stack formed in his hands—strategy games, fighting games, things that promised hundreds of hours and far too much frustration.
Dex sat beside him, watching the vendor's hands like it was a performance.
"You want the expansion crystals too?" the vendor asked.
Kaito nodded.
More coin exchanged hands.
No one commented this time.
They walked on.
Kaito bought spare controllers. A better power crystal. A padded mat "for comfort." He paused at a snack stall and bought far more dried meat than one person should reasonably consume.
"This is for Dex," he said.
Dex wagged his tail violently.
"Sure it is," Mira muttered.
When they finally returned to the academy, the sky had begun to darken. The halls were quiet, the chaos of the day settling into memory.
Kaito carried his purchases inside, set them neatly on the table, and powered up the TV.
The menu music hummed softly.
He didn't start a game.
Instead, he stood there for a moment, hands resting on the table, shoulders slowly lowering as the tension of the day loosened its grip.
Dex curled up near his feet.
Kaito turned the screen off.
Later, in his room, he changed out of his hoodie and gear, setting the spear carefully against the wall like it belonged there. He lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
No heat stirred.
No danger pressed in.
Just quiet.
Dex jumped up beside him, resting his head on Kaito's arm.
"…Tomorrow," Kaito murmured, already half asleep, "we try co-op."
The husky huffed softly.
The light crystal dimmed.