Akeno and Kinuko eventually lay down, exhaustion finally catching up with them.
Kinuko, more than anything, just wanted the tension from earlier to fade—even a little.
She turned her head.
Boros was still sitting upright.
"Aren't you going to sleep?" Kinuko asked, voice low as she stared at the ceiling.
"You'll need rest too, you know."
"It's fine," Boros replied calmly.
"Someone has to keep watch."
'Watch for what?' she thought.
'What could possibly come after us in a blizzard like this?'
"…Okay then. Good night, Shiro," Kinuko said, turning onto her side.
"Yeah. Good night," Akeno added sleepily.
...
The blizzard never relented.
The world outside remained a swirling wall of white, making it impossible to tell night from morning.
Boros reached into his pocket and pulled out his watch.
It was old—scratched, worn, missing its straps entirely.
Yet somehow, it still ticked.
6:00 AM.
He stood and stretched his arms wide, chest bare to the cold.
"Rise and shine!"
Kinuko sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes.
'He's way too energetic after everything that happened,' she thought, watching the wide grin on his face.
Akeno groaned, burying her face deeper into the makeshift pillow.
Boros let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head as he looked down at the two of them.
"You two sleep like rocks," he muttered.
He reached out and lightly tapped Akeno on the head.
"Wake up, sleepyhead."
Akeno's eyes snapped open instantly, her face scrunching in irritation.
"Ow! What's wrong with you, Shiro?!"
"What's wrong with me?" Boros shot back.
"You're the one who wouldn't wake up."
"…Good morning, Shiro." Kinuko said, still rubbing her eyes.
Akeno followed, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she sat upright.
"Yeah. Good morning, Shiro."
Boros stood, stretching once before his expression hardened.
"Alright. Enough. We're moving."
Akeno groaned loudly.
"Ugh—do we really have to leave this early?"
"Yes," Boros replied flatly.
"We're already behind schedule. We need to make up for lost time."
He glanced between them.
"Gear up. We're leaving now."
For nearly a month, they pushed forward without pause.
Jumping ports.
Dodging border patrols.
Taking crooked paths and darker routes whenever necessary.
Until at last—
A weathered sign creaked in the wind.
CALONIA.
They had reached the Western Cardinal.
Boros stood at the edge of the street, gazing out over the town with a faint look of satisfaction.
"We're finally here…" he murmured.
"Calonia. Akeno, check the flyer—make sure this is the right town."
Akeno rummaged through her bag, pulling out a crumpled flyer and smoothing it out.
"Alright, I'm on it, Shiro," she said, eyes scanning the page.
Kinuko leaned in beside her. After a moment, she nodded.
"We're in the right place. And the timing couldn't be better—the tournament's today."
"Yes!" Akeno pumped her fist.
"I can't believe we actually made it."
Boros nodded, his attention still fixed on the flyer.
"It says the event's being held at the colosseum."
Akeno glanced down again.
"Yep. That's the place."
Boros straightened, resolve settling in his posture.
"Alright. Let's find it."
After asking around town and following a trail of directions, they finally reached the massive stone structure.
The colosseum loomed over them—ancient, imposing… and completely sealed shut.
A large sign hung crookedly over the ticket booth.
SOLD OUT
Boros stared at it in disbelief.
"…Seriously?" Frustration crept into his voice.
"Now what?"
Kinuko placed a steadying hand on his arm.
"We didn't come all this way to turn back now," she said firmly.
"There has to be another way."
Before Boros could respond, his eyes swept the area.
"…Where's Akeno?"
Kinuko turned sharply, her brow furrowing.
"She was just here."
Both of them called out at once.
"Akeno!"
"Hey, guys."
Akeno suddenly appeared from behind a nearby pillar, hands behind her back, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Boros snapped his head toward her.
"Where did you—"
"Shiro's fighting in the tournament," she said casually, cutting him off.
Silence.
Boros's eyes widened.
"…What?"
Kinuko blinked.
"How?"
Akeno jerked her chin toward a nearby staff member.
"I signed up," she said proudly.
"Then I got injured and gave my spot to him."
Boros stared at her, expression blank.
"Is 'got injured' the new term for 'healthy and strong'?"
"I was wondering the same thing," Kinuko muttered.
Akeno's grin only widened.
"I'm injured," she repeated firmly.
"Can't fight."
"No," Boros said immediately.
"I'm not fighting in some tournament full of hoodlums."
Akeno rolled her eyes.
"Ugh, relax. I put you in because you're strong enough to win."
She stepped closer, her tone turning serious.
"The Longinus they're giving out could be the Fire Longinus. And even if it isn't, there's still a chance the user shows up."
She met his gaze.
"If I fought, I'd get eliminated early—and we'd learn nothing."
She paused, then added quietly,
"So please… fight in my place, Shiro."
Boros hesitated.
Then, slowly, he nodded.
"Fine. Let's do this."
Boros stepped up to the gate, stopping in front of the staff member.
"I'm taking her place," he said flatly.
The staff member raised an eyebrow, glancing past him.
"You're a little late sir—but you're cleared. Go on in."
Boros hitched his thumb toward Akeno and Kinuko.
"They're with me."
The staff member nodded.
"Guests of registered competitors are allowed. Please, come through."
As they passed the gate, the staff member gestured down two diverging paths.
"Competitors and guests split here. You two—this way."
Akeno and Kinuko started off, but Akeno paused. She stepped back toward Boros, rising onto her toes.
Her palm brushed his cheek.
"We'll be fine, Shiro," she said softly.
"Go crush it. We'll be cheering from the stands."
For a brief moment, Boros's expression eased.
"…Later," he said, giving a short nod.
He turned and followed the staff member down the competitors' corridor.
They stopped outside a large chamber.
"We're here."
Without responding, Boros stepped inside, his eyes sweeping across the room—rows of fighters, tense air, restrained hostility.
"Sir!" the staff member called.
Boros stopped, his back still turned.
"What."
She hesitated.
"What name should I register you under?"
Boros answered without a pause.
"Nobody."
The staff member blinked.
"…Nobody?"
He nodded once and kept walking.
Boros took a seat in the far corner, head lowered, hands clasped loosely in his lap.
"This place reeks," he muttered under his breath.
"Hurry up and start already… let's get this over with."