Evening time at Scholar Plateau.
The trains had arrived, humming softly as the golden light of dusk bathed the sky.Okabaru, Sunny, Rose, Toji, Sakura, and Auren sat together inside the train cabin. Scarlet and Violet stood outside, waving goodbye to the kids.
Meanwhile, Ponda was crying somewhere near the station, missing Cyber badly.
The train whistled.It began its journey through the glowing evening clouds. The sky shimmered in shades of orange, pink, and lilac.
Inside the train—
Auren and Rose were sitting beside each other.Sunny, Okabaru, and Sakura sat just across from them, quietly watching the scenery.
Auren looked outside. "Rose… this was our first real adventure. It taught me a lot."
Rose smiled. "Yes, Auren. We became best friends through it. I loved this journey. It felt like we were part of some great mission."
They both laughed gently.
Then, Rose spoke softly, "Auren… can we hold hands?"
Auren looked into her eyes and nodded slowly. "Yes."
She reached out with her left hand. He gave his right.Their fingers intertwined—simple, warm, sincere.
Across the row, Okabaru watched them, smiling softly.In his mind, he thought—That sad kid… he's finally getting a new life.Sunny smiled too, resting his head back.
Inside Auren's heart—This touch… it feels like something. Something I don't want to lose.
Rose whispered, "Auren, I love this moment."
After a pause, she asked, "Will you come to the cliff tomorrow?"
Auren nodded. "Yes. And you?"
Rose smiled. "I'll come too."
From the side, Sunny leaned forward. "Can I come too??"
Auren looked at him and said, "Yes. You can come."
Rose tried whispering in Auren's ear, softly protesting, but he didn't hear.
Auren turned. "What happened, Rose?"
She sighed. "You're a fool."
Auren blinked. "Why?"
Rose muttered sadly, "Why did you say yes to him… without asking me?"
Auren was confused for a second, then realized.Oh no… why did I say yes to him? I'll lose my moment…
A few minutes passed.
Auren looked at Okabaru. "Mister Okabaru, can I ask something?"
Okabaru nodded.
"How do you know so much about me? And Hollow Mountain?"
Okabaru smiled gently. "See, Auren… the only thing I can tell you is—someone saw something in you."
He looked out the window.
"That old man… he's my Sensei. His name is Master Lee Wang, a respected man in Baku City."
Auren's eyes widened. "Do you know why he called me to Hollow Mountain?"
Okabaru shook his head. "Once you reach there… you'll understand."
Toji came from the back, grinning widely."Hello, hello guys! I have a meal for you!"
Everyone turned around.
Toji floated in proudly, carrying a floating pan in mid-air.
Toji: "Tonight, I present to you… Floating Pan Noodles!"
Sunny panicked: "No! No! Don't cook here! This is a train, Toji! You'll burn all of us!"
Okabaru: "Relax, Sunny. He's a professional."
Auren: "I'm excited!"Rose: "Me too, let's see what he makes!"
Toji: "Now watch the magic!"He raised his arms like a cooking god.
"Here comes… oil! Then fire! Then some salt, a little veggie, and—"He threw in the noodles dramatically.
BOOM!!The pan blasted in mid-air. Smoke burst across the cabin. Everyone started coughing.
Sakura: "Toji, are you trying to cook us instead?!"
Sunny, holding a burnt noodle strand: "So this is what you call… professional, brother?!"
Cyber, the lion, sneezed from the smoke and gave Toji a deadpan look.
Toji: "Uhh… needs a little more practice, I guess."
Everyone burst out laughing..
********
In Jackey's room
Aster remained unmoving, a silent, stiff statue. Jackey, driven by sake and ill will, just continued to beat him. The biting, wet slap of each strike rang out in the confined space. The women, who were reclining moments earlier, winced. Wide-eyed with fear, they struggled to put their clothes on, their naked limbs awkward with desperation, before they took flight from the room like frightened birds.
Jackey laughed, deep and rumbling. He stuck his fingers into Aster's jaw, pushing his head up, his eyes blazing with a hellish mirth. "Don't flash me teeth. Your former, good, kind boss, Raka, doesn't exist anymore. Did you forget? You two are to obey me." His fingers dug in harder. "You vow to obey the head of Yuzen. Did you remember?"
Aster's voice, uncharacteristically calm, pierced the fog of agony. "Who told you I'm not obeying?"
Jackey's hand fell, and he ceased the battering. A sadistic grin crossed his lips. "So you are obeying?" He drew nearer, the sibilant whisper of his voice. "Then lick my toes."
Aster stood still. The breath was driven from his body in a muffled gasp. Humiliation, a burning, searing wave, flooded him, infinitely worse than any actual blow. His thoughts whirled. I despise this system, he seethed, a bitter, burning venom rising in his throat. I simply detest the laws. Why did my family set us on this path?
"Did you hear?!" Jackey's voice boomed, a guttural bellow that shattered Aster's thoughts. "Lick my toes!"
Aster's face grew hot with shame, a burning, gnawing embarrassment that dug into his belly. He detested this. Detested the man. Detested the laws that held him. But the oath. The cursed oath. Slowly, unwillingly, his head dipped. His dry, blood-tasting mouth moved towards Jackey's foot.
Jackey laughed, a cold, triumphant sound that filled the room. "Hahh, I am the boss here!"
Aster obeyed.
Jackey tilted back his head and laughed, his sounds ringing out, harsh and unrelenting, as Aster finished the humiliating act.