Clouds

Neither of them speaks a word for what feels like hours, but is likely mere minutes.

Dizziness clouds Hoshina's mind, though not because of the hot water.

Why did I scream like that?

Under normal circumstances we would both be naked in the springs.

Something like this shouldn't…

…

She's trying to think, yet her mind is too overwhelmed to manifest elaborate thoughts.

Lately, reflecting about Kaji has become difficult. Any attempt to form rational thoughts dissolves into distractions: how much fun she has around him, how he doesn't judge her for her weird traits, his attractiveness…

Hoshina has spent her life perfecting her makeup skills, caring for her skin, hair, body. She's always had access to everything she needed.

Kaji has clearly never cared about appearances, but perhaps his feral beauty is most striking when untouched. Like a beast that would lose its instincts if caged up and domesticated.

He looked uncontrollable when they first met. Full of emotions she could never express, someone who doesn't play by anyone's rules.

However, beneath his rough exterior and sharp temper lies a virtuous, caring man. Someone who loves his close ones more than anything. He even tried to look past his hatred to have a civil conversation with her, a member of the clan that massacred his people.

Air escapes Hoshina. If only she was better at expressing her thoughts, if she could explain some of these feelings to him. But due to her awkwardness, he'd probably get the wrong idea and think she's calling him a savage or something.

༻──⋆༺𓆩⋆𓆪༻⋆──༺

What. Was. That. Scream?

It was adorable.

And I've never seen her make such a face before. Was she… blushing?

Just a month or two ago, she didn't think twice about undressing in front of me. What's going on?"

…

The silence is deafening.

…

He should do something about it.

…

And he knows what the right thing to say would be. It's the type of stuff he always struggles telling anyone, no matter how bad he wants to. But this time, he wants to set a precedent.

He's determined to.

"Listen, Hoshina, I… umm…" She slowly turns around to look at him. Her cheeks are pink, eyes trembling like a nervous puppy.

How in the world am I supposed to concentrate with such an image!?

Whatever, I'll say it in one go.

"I'm sorry for all the times I've called you things, especially the mean-spirited nicknames. I know they hurt you a lot, so I promise to never do it again."

The sweetest smile ever graces his eyes.

"It's alright. I often overreacted. And… I believe I've changed. If a stranger said something like that now, I think… or at least hope, I could just laugh it off.

A warmness, this time the soothing kind, fills Kaji.

The previous tension melts along with it, giving way for a different mood.

"He! Yeah, I guess you did overreact a bit, like when you struck me with lightning because of it."

Her eyes widen, then her tensed face softens.

"Yeah, I went a step too far with it." She raises her knees above the water and taps them. "Fortunately, I won't be doing much of that anymore."

"Woah! I didn't expect you to up the stakes so much, gods."

"Was joking about this too much?"

"No, I mean… if you're comfortable with it. I guess it's better to look at these things from a positive angle, yeah."

She looks at his metal arm. "From the 'right' angle then?" Her smile turns mischievous.

"I'm regretting my words already."

༻──⋆༺𓆩⋆𓆪༻⋆──༺

Next day, they continue their search for an aircraft, this time inside the ship. They check all the boxes and look through many other rooms.

They keep searching the following day, and the one after that.

A whole week passes without any progress, yet Kaji doesn't feel the least bit frustrated.

It's fun exploring around with Hoshina.

…

If we never find a way to go back up… although I'll miss my family, I guess it wouldn't be the worst to stay here.

If they find an aircraft, they'll have to split up.

Her island might have left long ago, but there's no way he can ask her to stay with him instead of looking for them.

So maybe… after making sure my family is alright… I could help her search for hers.

Even assuming Hoshina's people don't kill him, it's still a very dumb idea, he knows that much.

However, he often acts without thinking, and makes bad decisions despite knowing better…

༻──⋆༺𓆩⋆𓆪༻⋆──༺

She won't be able to continue having this much fun forever.

Kaji has more important matters than her, and she has accepted it.

So she's determined to enjoy this time as much as possible until they part ways.

As the days become weeks, and the weeks a month, Hoshina and Kaji start making some adjustments to their artificial limbs with the help of Mr. Ge.

Kaji's arm gets its own incorporated cane from the same storage where they found the lanterns and other gadgets. He can now switch between hand and weapon.

Hoshina's feet now have their own propulsion system, same as her previous boots. She didn't put her cane into her arm though, since she's right-handed.

All of this also means they now have to run on a few additional gems. Fortunately those are not scarce by any means.

…

The month becomes two.

The fun seems like it may last forever.

…

Until it happens.

They find the leftovers of an aircraft, of what her people call a flying steed.

༻──⋆༺𓆩⋆𓆪༻⋆──༺

An additional month of repairs and preparations. In total, it's been nine months since they first fell down here.

Nine whole months since Kaji's body changed forever.

Since his vision of the world was shattered and rebuilt from scratch.

Since this old geezer saved his life and took care of him without asking for anything in return.

And now, it's time to say goodbye.

It won't be long before the first rays start shining through the horizon, bidding farewell to the night sky.

The aircraft is in front of him. It's shaped like a disc, with a crystal lid at the center, and seats for two.

"Welp, have fun up there, kiddos. I'm gonna start packing my things to leave right after you. Your adventurous spirit is contagious, so I also feel like taking a small trip now."

Says the man who hasn't gone out in the last five weeks.

In other words, he's telling them to not bother coming back.

Kaji can guess the reason...

Still, he intends to respect Ge's wish, and thus won't press on the matter.

"Mr. Ge, are you lying to us?" Such a question is so typical of her, Kaji's almost tempted to laugh.

"Hye, he, he, he! Hoshina, dear, despite how much you've changed recently, I see some things remain the same. Hye, he, he!"

"Can you answer my question?"

"It's a bit of a lie, yes, but I'd rather bid you two farewell on a high note."

"Why? I'm sorry, I don't get it. Do you not want to see us again?"

"It's not that, dear, it's just that meeting again might be a bit hard. You two should look forward and not worry about things down here."

She blinks, then her eyes drift. She looks at Kaji, and he nods.

Then back at Ge, with a different weight in her gaze.

"I… umm…"

"You two are finally going back home. You'll meet your families again. That's something to celebrate. So smile, Hoshina, you're cute when you smile."

She forces her worst grin ever. Kaji's chest tightens.

"Can I… ask for a small favor?"

"Sure, what's on your mind?"

"Can you give me a hug, Genta?"

"Uh?" Ge's expression freezes for a whole second. Then, he spreads his arms wide. "Yeah, of course. C'mere, my lovable lil' niece."

She walks towards Kaji, an impish smile on her face.

"No, don't look at me like that, I'm not—" Rejecting any protest, she drags him over to Ge, and before he can say anything else the old man's arms close around the two of them.

For years, Kaji had been getting rejected by most strangers he met. As for the ones who didn't initially show aversion, Kaji himself ended up pushing away sooner or later.

This is the first time he's shared such a moment with someone not bound by blood.

"Farewell, young ones, I wish you two the best."

༻──⋆༺𓆩⋆𓆪༻⋆──༺

Hoshina checks the luggage one last time: synthetic skin and replacement pieces for their limbs; tons of spare gems…

And a gift from Genta: two copies of a thing called a photo, with the three of them together.

Meanwhile, Kaji and Genta finish their final adjustments to the aircraft.

It's time to go.

She's gotten quite confident in her ability to pilot the aircraft thanks to many test flies.

Although this is going to be the first time she'll do such a long trip.

One last goodbye to Genta, and the two of them take flight towards the clouds.