I'm glad you're safe. Congratulations.

Besides those words and the addressee, there was nothing else written.

Only two letters, seemingly written in a great hurry.

The season of noisy cicadas had arrived.

“Four wins out of ten!? So close! Just a little more!”

“…Somehow, even though I won, I feel down.”

“Let’s go again. You're about to take the lead.”

“No way. At least on the day of my departure, I want to feel refreshed. Even if just barely.”

Chikano pouted in pretend frustration.

Ziel, completely unmoved, flatly refused.

This was within the grounds of the dojo.

In a small town in the eastern country... The threat of magical beasts had been a concern just two months ago, but now, the town was completely at peace.

Seeking some shade from the blazing sun, they stood under the deep shadow of the largest garden tree.

Ziel and Chikano had been crossing blades just moments ago.

And now, the match was finally decided.

“Come on, one more time.”

“We agreed—only once per day.”

“Yeah, but, look. It’s the last day. For the memories…”

“Memories?”

“I’ll give you the rare experience of losing ten times in ten matches.”

“That would be the worst possible travel memory.”

“Oh, come on.”

“No way.”

Even in the heat, dripping with sweat, they laughed as they went back and forth.

“But thanks to these daily matches, I’ve gotten a lot stronger. I have to thank you for that. Though it’s frustrating that my absolute strength has increased, but my relative strength compared to you has only gone down.”

“If you’re trying to wrap up the conversation, that means you’re ready to be strangled—”

“Not a chance.”

Nostalgia washed over him.

Oh yeah, Chikano was like this in the beginning, Ziel thought, all while trying to figure out how to escape.

Then—

“Gyaaah!!”

A loud scream rang out.

That was enough of an excuse to run.

“It’s an emergency!!”

“Don’t you dare run!”

With a burst of speed, Ziel took off. Naturally, he was faster.

But then he suddenly veered off in a completely different direction—

“Idiot,” Chikano muttered, grabbing him by the collar and dragging him toward the real commotion.

There, they found—

Icca, caught in a net, hanging from a garden tree.

“This is an actual incident.”

“Icca… what exactly did you do?”

“Nothing! …Well, no, I did something!”

“So you did.”

“Sounds like you did.”

“No, not like that! Ugh, I can’t believe it! Klaha got the last point on me!”

Ziel raised an eyebrow in amusement.

In the distance, Klaha approached.

“I… I won…!”

“You did it, Klaha! High five!”

“High five!”

A quick, slightly awkward high five.

Meanwhile, Chikano and Icca—

“Icca, losing through strategy… You're a disgrace to our school.”

“Whaaat!? Everyone here fights recklessly! The only one who figured out the Mirror’s mechanism was Saminato-sensei, and even that was thanks to the returning group!”

“Fine. I’ll allow it.”

“Wait… that’s a lot of pressure…”

At the same time, Ziel and Klaha—

“I see. You predicted his movements and set a trap?”

“Yes. I wanted to win using an unsharpened sword, but I thought about what I could do best right now. It was a bit underhanded, but…”

“Not at all. Icca is superior in pure combat skills. Instead of facing him head-on, you played to your strengths. That’s a valid approach. Keep thinking, keep trying.”

“Yes! …Though, I still wanted to win with an unsharpened sword. Could I ask for some advice…?”

“Of course. Right now, your ‘loading’ takes too long, so…”

“…Chikano-senpai. I think I want to go with them.”

“Ziel. If you fight me three more times, I’ll arrange for two more matches between Klaha and Icca.”

“You’re selling me out so casually.”

“If it had no value, it wouldn’t be sold.”

“…Fair point!”

“You're being tricked,” Ziel said.

“I am!?” Icca cried, snapping at Chikano.

Then, elsewhere in the estate—

A deep, rumbling crash echoed.

“…Ugh, that’s gotta be my old man.”

“…No, it’s definitely my father. I never want to end up like that.”

“Agreed.”

“Huh? But these two are already like that, right, Klaha?”

“Huh…?”

A moment of bewilderment.

As Icca casually spoke the truth, Chikano lunged to strangle him. Icca, dodging desperately, suddenly froze at a voice—

“Hey, you four. It’s mealtime!”

A disciple, searching for them, called from the veranda.

“Yes!!” Icca bolted, using the call as an escape.

“Let’s go, let’s go,” the disciple beckoned.

Klaha quickly followed.

Ziel and Chikano lagged behind slightly.

Not doing anything in particular, they simply watched the two walk ahead.

“…Oh, right.”

“Hm?”

“So, in the end, how was it? Staying here.”

Did it solve anything?

In the chorus of cicadas, the summer air hung thick with humidity, almost ready to spill over as water.

Ziel pondered, then answered.

“Not in the way I first imagined… but.”

“But?”

“…I think we became more aware of what we were each thinking. It wasn’t about solving things neatly. It was about talking more, experiencing more moments together, and finding a way we could feel comfortable.”

That’s what I think now.

“Hmm.”

Chikano nodded.

Before she could say “thank you”—

“Hey! You two! We’re gonna start eating!”

“Ziel, do you even know the way to the dining hall… Oh, never mind. Chikano’s here.”

Icca reappeared, this time with Klaha peeking from behind.

Ziel and Chikano exchanged glances.

Then, both smiled.

“We’re coming.”

“Let’s go. Together.”

And so, the four slowly made their way inside.

Above, the deep blue sky was filled with billowing summer clouds.