Driving and drinking

They are still around.

It's been nine months, yet the second ship that can be seen a few kilometers away proves Hoshina's clan hasn't left.

The longest war during her lifetime didn't last more than half a year.

Something has happened, and whatever it is, she'll learn of it soon after leaving Kaji on his island.

With gentle steering, she lands the aircraft several meters away from the precipice. Both get out and stretch like two sardines who've been locked in a can.

Then, a brief moment of silence, waiting for one to begin the farewell.

"You know, let's…" Kaji starts. "Umm… since there is still a war among our people, maybe we should…" Darting from one direction to another, his eyes go everywhere except her face.

"Let's meet again." She wants to believe he was trying to say the same, but before his answer comes, a distant sound catches their attention.

Wearing propulsion boots, two silhouettes approach at great speeds, one clad in full armor.

"Go, now!" Kaji shouts.

And so, without thinking, Hoshina stays.

"What are you doing!?" He scolds her.

"They have already seen me. Whatever happens, I'm not leaving you alone to deal with it." This makes him stutter and look away for a moment, before they both have to focus on the visitors.

The strangers come to a stop a few meters before them. The armored one is unreadable, but his companion looks quite shocked.

"K-Kaji, is that you?"

"Of all the people I could run into." Seems Kaji knows him.

"I don't get paid enough." The armored warrior complains as he takes out his helmet and drinks from a skin bag. "Before I start making assumptions, tell me, lad, have you joined the enemy?"

"No." Kaji has his right thumb flexed, meaning with another motion he'll switch to his cane.

"Let's talk this out, okay?" the orange haired boy says to the armored man. "It might be the opposite, maybe the girl has betrayed her people."

I haven't. Hoshina bites her lips. She knows that answer will invite trouble.

As long as Kaji remains calm, she will let him do the talking and only intervene if he's about to lose his temper.

During the next few minutes, Kaji answers questions and explains the most relevant events that transpired since he and Hoshina met back in the burning forest, including the truth about the islands and the world below.

༻──⋆༺𓆩⋆𓆪༻⋆──༺

When Kaji ends his story, the glorified thief takes out his skin bag again, but after a moment of stillness, he puts it back without taking a drink.

"Interesting story, lad."

"I don't care if you believe me or not. It's the truth."

"Whether it's true or a fever dream makes little difference to me. I care more about what you plan to do now. Will you let this girl go?"

"Yes."

"And what's next? Secret dates while the rest of us tear each other apart?"

"I expected the war to be over by now."

"Well, it's not. And if you're planning to let a potential enemy walk off with a valuable magic steed, that puts me in a bit of a predicament, as you might guess."

As expected, this was a waste of time.

Better look for an opportunity to distract him and pierce his head while his helmet's still off.

"W-wait, Fuhai." Raba is weirdly submissive. Where's his usual attitude? "Kaji, do you trust this girl?"

"What? Where did that come from?"

"Please answer." The fuck happened to this guy while I was away?

"Yeah, lad, do answer. I'm curious as well."

He signs. "Whatever, if you care so much, yeah, I do trust the girl that sacrificed three limbs to save my life."

"Fuhai." Raba looks at him like a puppy, one that Kaji wants to kick for no particular reason. "Kaji's one of the most skeptical fellas I've ever met, ya know? Wouldn't trust a barber to cut his hair. So if he believes in this woman, she musta proven herself beyond a shadow of a doubt."

What the heck, Raba! Stop trying to make me like you. Go back to the asshole I want to punch until my fists bleed.

"I got an idea." The prime asshole says as he puts back his helmet. I missed my chance, dammit! "Give me a hand to hand, lad, and depending on my biased judgment I might not kill your friend."

"Fuck you! Why should I trust your words when you don't even try to sound convincing?"

"Cause I have no need to lie. Your fate is in my hands." He's more drunk on power than the last time. Must be because of the armor.

But this is also a chance. He just needs to beat and disarm him. That way Kaji won't need to stain his hands again.

He lifts his fists. "Let's go. I'm breaking your nose even through that armor."

The soon-to-be-toothless guard gives him a gesture to attack. Kaji walks up and starts with a feint, something he's practiced many times with Hoshina, followed by his real punch.

The moment it lands, barely affecting the armored man, Kaji falls to the ground, an excruciating pain filling his groin.

"S-son of a bitch… that was dirty…"

"Nah, you agreed to fight an armored guy with your fists. Another day I might've humored you with a real battle. Just not in the mood." He points a wand at Kaji.

Raba approaches. "Fuhai! What are you—?"

"Stay out of this, that's the only warning I'm giving you."

"Please, reconsider—" A lightning-fast quick sends Raba flying. He stays down, grunting.

The scumbag then looks past Kaji. "Nice toy you got there, lass."

"Drop your wand." Hoshina's voice is shaky.

"I got a better plan. You drop your cane and walk towards the cliff. If you do that, I promise I won't kill the lad."

"Murder him, Hoshina! His finger isn't faster than lightning."

"You wanna bet?"

"No!" She shouts, then her hand opens, letting the cane fall.

"Wait! What are you doing!?" Kaji has stayed calm through most of the encounter, but now his heart is racing.

With every step Hoshina takes, Kaji's heart beats faster. He gets up to try and disarm the dirtbag. The whole world flips upside down and the ground hits him in the face.

"Stay down and watch, lad." Hoshina is barely three steps away from the cliff.

"Run to the aircraft and get away!" She takes another step. "Don't you want to see your family!?" Another step. "Stop!"

"Okay, stop."

…

Everything freezes after the guard's cold words.

"Good work, everyone. You're dismissed."

No further explanation, he takes out his helmet and walks away while drinking enough to knock down a lightweight.

Hoshina, Kaji and Raba don't say a single word. They merely stare at each other, waiting for someone to give an explanation.

"Ah, right." The baffling drunkard stops without turning. "Raba, guide the lad to his mother. I gotta finish up the patrol."

"Wait, Fuhai…" Before Raba can say more, the armored lunatic activates his boots and goes away.

"Should I assume I'm not the only one confused this time?" Hoshina asks.