Kazuki had one noble mission today:
Return a spoon.
Yes, that spoon—the decorative silver one with a bird handle that he'd borrowed from Tala's emergency soup kit.
He had it safely wrapped in cloth. He didn't want it scratched, after all.
"I'll just pop into the guild hall, hand it back, and pop out. Five minutes," Kazuki said confidently.
Ten hours later, he sat on a golden chair shaped like a phoenix, wearing a ceremonial robe two sizes too large, surrounded by cheering adventurers.
"Guildmaster Kazuki! Guildmaster Kazuki!"
He blinked. "…How did I get here?"
✦
Earlier That Day
Kazuki walked into the Sakigake Guild Hall—a tall, arched building bustling with swordsmen, mages, and suspicious-looking cats.
He waved at the receptionist, a sharp-eyed woman named Inari.
"Hi! Just need to return this spoon."
Inari's eyes widened. "That's the ceremonial Sky Spoon of Guildmaster Tenjin."
Kazuki frowned. "It is? I just borrowed it for stew…"
Before she could explain, the floor shook.
The stained glass windows rattled.
Everyone gasped.
A tremor?
A monster attack?
Nope. Just Smile, who slid in through the wall like a gelatinous torpedo and said:
"Kazuki has returned the Sky Spoon! A cycle is complete!"
Then he rang a bell and vanished.
✦
Spoon Lore
Apparently, the guild's founding legend said:
"The one who returns the Sky Spoon shall lead the guild through chaos and prosperity."
It was a symbolic relic.
Most thought it was lost.
Now it was back.
The guild elders looked at Kazuki with awe.
"He's the one!"
"He even has the mythical spoon grip!"
"Look how naturally he holds it!"
Kazuki tried to protest. "I don't even know how guilds work—"
But it was too late. The ceremony began.
Smile reappeared with confetti.
✦
Meanwhile: Aurelis Watches From a Rooftop
Rain fell gently on tiled roofs.
Aurelis sat, drenched, gazing down at the celebration from afar.
His squire spoke softly. "Kazuki's been appointed Guildmaster. That's the third institution this month…"
Aurelis said nothing.
Instead, he opened his notebook.
On one page, a drawing: a spoon. Crude, but detailed. His handwriting read:
"Return this to the guild. One day."
He smiled bitterly.
"He keeps doing the things I dreamed of… without even trying."
For a moment, the envy faded—replaced by something quieter.
Sadness?
Longing?
Then he ripped out the page and stood.
"No matter. I'll forge my own path."
He turned away.
Smile watched from the shadows, unusually silent.
✦
Back at the Guild
Kazuki was being chased by paperwork.
"Do I have to sign all of this?" he whined, dodging scrolls with catlike agility.
A dozen adventurers were lined up asking for missions, funding, raises, blessings, coffee…
Smile sat at the reception desk, wearing glasses and a "SECRETARY" name tag.
"Your 2:30 is a mercenary dragon who wants to join. Also, the slime guild wants to merge."
Kazuki: "I just wanted to give back a spoon!!"
Hayate perched atop a chandelier like a disgruntled hawk. Tala stood in the corner, glaring.
"You broke five bylaws and rewrote the constitution by accident," she muttered. "How do you keep doing this?"
"I have no idea!" Kazuki wailed.
✦
The Mysterious Visitor
Later that night, after sneaking away from the welcome banquet by hiding in a barrel, Kazuki sat alone in the courtyard.
The Emberpick flickered in his teeth.
"I'm not… actually good at this stuff," he mumbled. "I just trip into it."
A quiet voice answered.
"I've seen enough to know that power isn't always something earned."
Kazuki looked up. A tall stranger in a travel cloak stood at the gate.
His presence was calm. His aura unreadable. Even Smile, who'd been secretly disguised as a mop, didn't react.
The stranger stepped closer. "But you're surrounded by strange forces. This path you walk… it's being shaped."
Kazuki blinked. "Wait, are you like an old mentor guy?"
"No," the man said. "Just someone who's… watching."
Then he turned and left, disappearing into the mist.
Kazuki stared after him.
Smile said nothing—but shimmered, just slightly.