As Boros, Akeno, and Kinuko exited the colosseum, hurried footsteps echoed behind them.
"Sir—! Sir!"
Boros stopped and turned, his expression flat.
"What."
A staff member skidded to a halt, bowing slightly. "D-do you have a moment, sir?"
"No," Boros replied without hesitation.
Kinuko stepped in smoothly. "Shiro, just hear him out. It's not like we're in a rush."
Akeno nodded. "Yeah, yeah. One minute won't kill you."
Boros glanced between them, eyes narrowing, then sighed. "Fine. What is it."
"T-the commentator wishes to speak with you, sir."
Without another word, Boros grabbed the staff member by the ear and began dragging him along.
"Lead the way."
"Ah—s-sir, it's the other way!"
Boros paused. "…Oh."
He turned sharply, grip still firm, continuing on as the staff member winced.
The commentator waited nearby, tucked into a shadowed corner within sight of Akeno and Kinuko.
The exchange was brief—too quiet to overhear.
Moments later, Boros returned.
"Let's go."
Akeno leaned in immediately, blinking innocently.
"Sooo… what'd he want to talk about?"
"Nothing important," Boros replied, pushing her face aside as he walked past.
Outside, night had fully fallen.
Calonia glowed.
Lanterns lit the streets in warm hues, music drifted through the air, and crowds flooded the avenues like a festival in full swing. The city pulsed with life.
Akeno's eyes widened. "Wow… it's beautiful."
Boros scanned the streets calmly.
"You two really don't know anyone here?"
Kinuko shook her head. "We're from a village in the east. Connections weren't exactly an option."
"And we stayed there our whole lives…" she added, glancing sideways. "…until someone decided to run away."
Kinuko yelled as they both looked at Akeno, "Stop playing with butterflies and get over here!"
Akeno skipped towards them with a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
"What's up?"
"Shiro was asking if we knew anyone in the West we could stay with," Kinuko explained.
Akeno brightened instantly. "Oh! We can just find an inn."
Boros snorted. "And how exactly do you plan on paying for that, genius?"
Akeno reached into her bag and dumped out a heavy sack of coins.
Clink. Clatter.
Boros froze.
"…That's not 'change.' That's enough to buy a house."
"You damn thief."
"I prefer 'creative financier,'" Akeno replied calmly. "Besides, I didn't steal it. I borrowed it, I'm pretty sure there's a difference."
"There IS a difference, you dumbass!" Boros snapped as they butted heads.
Kinuko stepped between them, unfazed. "Let's focus. It's late. We need a place to sleep."
Boros exhaled. "Fine. Got any ideas?"
"Yup," Akeno said brightly.
Boros leaned toward Kinuko. "Please tell me you have an idea."
"…No," she whispered back.
"So we're really doing this?"
"I-I guess."
Boros turned to Akeno. "Alright. What've you got?"
"Follow me."
He groaned but followed as she skipped ahead, the coin bag jingling ominously.
"Hey—wait up!"
She led them to a softly glowing building tucked along the street.
THE MOONLIT INN
"Here we are," Akeno said proudly.
Boros raised a brow. "Moonlit Inn, huh? Guess they'll have to rename it in the morning."
Silence.
"…What? That was a good joke!"
Kinuko whistled and walked inside without looking at him.
Akeno patted his shoulder. "Don't worry. A few lessons from me and you'll be a comedy master."
"…Ugh."
Inside, the inn buzzed with life—travelers, adventurers, laughter, clinking mugs.
Kinuko frowned. "We'll be lucky if there's even a room left."
Boros strode forward. "Let's ask."
At the desk, he spoke plainly. "We need a room. One big enough for three."
The receptionist nodded with a smile. "And how will you be paying?"
Boros jerked his thumb toward Akeno. "She's handling it."
Akeno rolled her eyes and stepped in.
Minutes later, they were led upstairs.
"This way, please."
The room was spacious, clean, and warm.
Akeno immediately began opening doors. "This place is awesome!"
She stepped onto the balcony, soaking in the view.
Kinuko smiled. "And we got it for a steal."
Boros headed straight for the bathroom. "I'm cleaning up."
Later, the room settled into calm.
Boros leaned against the bedpost.
"So… what's next?"
"How about food?" Kinuko suggested.
Akeno's eyes lit up. "I'll cook."
"You?" Boros raised an eyebrow.
Kinuko laughed. "She's actually really good. You don't know what you're missing."
Akeno puffed her cheeks. "Hey!"
"What's on the menu?" Boros asked.
Akeno grinned. "Surprise. I just need ingredients."
Kinuko nodded. "There's a big market nearby… I think."
"I'll find it," Akeno said, already moving toward the door.
Her eyes gleamed with determination.
Boros pushed himself off the bed.
"I'm coming with."
Akeno's blush deepened instantly. "No way. You'll ruin the surprise."
He frowned. "You're not going alone. It's late, you've never been to the west, and it's not safe."
Her expression softened, but she didn't back down. "I'll be fine, Shiro. Trust me."
Kinuko stepped in gently. "Let her go. She can handle herself."
Boros clicked his tongue, clearly unhappy. "…Fine. But if you're not back soon, I'm coming after you."
Akeno grinned. "I'll be back."
And with that, she slipped out the door, gone in a flash.
The night market buzzed with life.
Lanterns swayed overhead, voices overlapped, and the smell of grilled meat and spice filled the air.
Akeno spun slowly, eyes sparkling.
"It's this late and it's still this lively?" she laughed. "I love this place."
Nearby, a group of men stumbled out of a bar, reeking of alcohol.
"That guy at the tournament was a straight-up psycho," one slurred.
"Yeah," another muttered.
"Nobody moves like that. Whole thing gave me chills."
Davis stopped cold.
"What did you just say?"
The men stiffened instantly. "S-Sorry, Captain."
Davis's lips curled into a sneer. "He wasn't that impressive. Just got lucky."
Jaxon leaned closer, nodding toward the crowd. "Hey, Davis… isn't that the girl who was cheering for him?"
Davis followed his gaze.
Akeno.
A slow, ugly grin spread across his face. "Yeah. That's her. I saw her leave with him."
One of the men chuckled darkly. "Sounds like payback time."
Another hesitated. "Captain… what if she doesn't even know him?"
Davis scoffed. "No chance."
Jaxon snorted. "Her cheering was way too loud for that."
Davis cracked his neck. "Move."
His men straightened immediately.
"Yes, Captain."
"Hey."
His voice cut through the noise.
"Hey! I'm talking to you."
Akeno turned, blinking. "Me?"
The men behind Davis snickered.
A nearby bystander whispered urgently, "It's Davis… let's get out of here."
Akeno offered a polite smile.
"Sorry, didn't catch that. It's pretty loud. What do you need?"
Davis's expression hardened. "Don't play dumb. Do you know the guy from the tournament?"
"The guy?" she tilted her head.
"The one who ripped my buddy's arm off," Davis snapped, jerking a thumb at Jaxon.
Akeno's eyes lit up. "Oh! You mean Shiro?"
Laughter exploded from the group.
"Shiro?" one man wheezed. "What kind of name is that?"
Jaxon sighed. "Relax. It's obviously a nickname."
"A nickname?" Davis echoed.
"That's what I think," Jaxon replied.
Davis stepped closer. Then closer still—until Akeno's back brushed the wall.
"Are you his girlfriend?"
"G-Girlfriend?" Her cheeks flared red. "No! It's not like that—me and Shiro—we're not—"
One of the men snorted. "Think he'd lose his mind if we messed with her?"
"Right here?" another added. "In public?"
Davis's grin twisted.
"Wouldn't be the worst idea I've heard."