Days rolled by, and a brand new morning stretched itself across the sky like a canvas of golden light. Temoshí stirred from sleep, arms stretched wide as he let out a hearty yawn.
He scratched at his messy white hair and swung his legs over the bed. "Ahh... Good as new." Just then, a timid male voice came from the open window, startling him.
"U-Um, sir... I-I have a letter for you!"
Temoshí blinked, confused, as a small envelope was handed to him. Before he could ask a single question, the boy bolted down the street like he was being chased by a wild beast.
"A letter...?" Temoshí muttered, eyeing the envelope with suspicion. "What is this? I didn't order anything."
Across the island, in completely different locations, two others received the exact same letter: Chiaki, who found it tucked neatly against her windowsill, and May, who was standing barefoot on the beach when a quiet courier approached, handed it over, and disappeared without a trace.
They each unfolded the letter, reading the simple but mysterious message inside:
> Lyvoria Crest
South of Cascade Cradle
Come alone. Tell no one.
May read it aloud slowly, squinting toward the endless stretch of ocean. "Lyvoria Crest... What on earth is that?" Without hesitation, she secured her supplies, untied her boat, and set sail toward the unknown destination.
Back in Cascade Cradle, Temoshí and Chiaki found themselves arriving at the same crossroads, both wearing puzzled expressions as they stared at each other.
"You got one too?" they both asked at the exact same time.
Chiaki nodded, holding up her letter. "What do you think it means? Doesn't seem like anyone else got one."
Just then—suddenly, like a shadow rising from behind a cartoon villain—Fioren popped up behind Chiaki's back with a grin that spelled nothing but trouble. "Ooooh? A mysterious letter from a secret admirer?" she teased, stretching her ghostly arms like vines over Chiaki's shoulders. "Don't leave me outta this scandal."
"Gah—!" Chiaki jumped and spun around. "Would you stop sneaking up on me like that?! You're worse than static cling!"
Fioren snaked around her, snatching the letter mid-air like a mischievous raccoon. "Let's see… Lyvoria Crest, huh? Sounds spooky. You two in trouble? Summoned to the underworld? Ooh! Is it a treasure map? Or maybe... a dramatic family reunion?!"
"Give that back!" Chiaki lunged to take the letter, glaring as she finally snatched it back.
Fioren laughed, floating upside down now. "Oh, come on! If you two are going on a secret mission, you have to take me. Voreans are free now, remember? I'm practically a citizen." She wiggled her fingers and winked. "Besides, I make an excellent third wheel. I bring chaos, snacks, and sass."
Chiaki groaned, holding her forehead. "We are not bringing you. You'll just mess with me the entire time."
Fioren placed a hand dramatically over her heart. "Chiaki. Sweet, suspicious Chiaki. I promise I'll behave. Pinky ghost swear."
Chiaki narrowed her eyes at her, then turned to Temoshí. "Sooo... your call."
Temoshí scratched his chin, the letter still in hand. The wind picked up slightly.
He sighed. "Well… this just got complicated."
"Shanya said we still have some distance before reaching Armagh Desert. It's south of here, so we might as well head that way," Chiaki suggested, glancing over her shoulder. "What do you think?"
Temoshí remained quiet, flipping the mysterious letter in his hands with a frown. "I guess so... but we're the only ones who got this. I don't think the others are supposed to know."
That was when Aurora's voice rang from behind, catching them off guard. "I'm not supposed to know what, exactly?"
She strolled up calmly, her arms folded, with Stitch right beside her—one hand resting on her hip. "Seriously? I just joined up with you guys and you're already planning on ditching me?" Stitch asked, raising a brow.
Temoshí rubbed the back of his neck, looking mildly embarrassed. "Too many girls in this crew…" he muttered under his breath, then sighed and tossed the letter toward Stitch.
Stitch caught it with one hand and unfolded it as Aurora leaned over to read along, her eyes narrowing with interest.
"You planning on going?" Aurora asked, adjusting her glasses slightly, standing composed but curious.
"Not sure yet," Temoshí replied. "Last time I got a letter, Yumiko got snatched like a toy at a festival. But maybe this one's different."
Aurora blinked a couple of times, then gave a small nod of understanding as Stitch handed the letter back.
"I think we should go," Temoshí said at last. "I'll head to Lyvoria Crest with Chiaki. Just the two of us. Let Yumiko know she's in charge while we're gone—she's back to full strength, so she's more than capable."
Stitch and Aurora exchanged a glance—confused, a little annoyed—but they didn't argue. They understood the weight behind the decision.
"If they head straight for Armagh Desert while we're at Lyvoria Crest, everything stays on track," Chiaki added. "It's the best scenario we've got."
Then, turning slightly toward Stitch, Chiaki added, "Oh, by the way, there are some clothes in my room you can take. Yours look a bit rough on the outside."
Caught off guard, Stitch blinked and looked down at her outfit, then back up, flustered. "W-Well... I never really had the money for new clothes, okay? I was lucky just having food and a place to clean up. But... yeah, thanks. I appreciate it."
Chiaki smiled. "They've got a bunch of pockets, too. I don't carry tools, but I figure they'll come in handy for someone who throws needles like they're darts at a carnival."
"Anyway," Stitch said, casually flicking her hand as she explained, "since you're heading to Lyvoria Crest and we'll be using our ship, I suggest you talk to Velos. He's got a yacht of his own—fast, reliable. He can get you there no problem."
Chiaki's expression brightened, clearly relieved they wouldn't need to 'borrow' another ship this time. "Good to know. We'll look for him. Thanks, Stitch—and welcome aboard. You're one of us now."
The two shared a sharp high-five, the gesture marking the start of a quick and genuine friendship.
Following Stitch's directions, Temoshí and Chiaki found their way to Venos, who was lounging on a reclined chair by the dock, arms behind his head and a weed stick lazily hanging from his mouth. He hummed to himself with a deep, laid-back voice, clearly enjoying the sun.
Temoshí and Chiaki hesitated, unsure if they should interrupt his relaxation. But before they could speak, Venos opened one eye and looked straight at them, his gaze cool and confident. "Hm? Who're you?"
"Stitch said you could take us to Lyvoria Crest," Chiaki replied, keeping her tone polite and professional.
"Yeah, I can. No problem. Hop on—no time to waste." Venos waved them toward the yacht without hesitation.
The two exchanged a surprised glance. They hadn't expected him to be so easygoing—or so young. "Oh, uh… thanks," they both murmured, stepping aboard.
Temoshí looked around the sleek vessel. Chiaki too, "Is there a room I can change in…?"
"Nope," Venos answered flatly, not even looking up.
"…Seriously?" Chiaki sighed, unbothered. She grabbed Temoshí's duffel bag and walked off toward a more secluded corner.
"Wait, where are you going?" Temoshí asked, playing dumb on accident despite already knowing.
"Changing. It's way too hot for this hoodie," Chiaki said plainly, lifting the hem to reveal a glimpse of her lower back. She tossed him a glance over her shoulder. "No need to stare."
"Not like I can see anything," he mumbled with a shrug.
"True. Suit yourself." She pulled off her hoodie, revealing the back strap of her black bra—when suddenly, an explosion of blood sprayed behind them.
Venos had flown skyward with a geyser of blood from his nose, spinning comically before crashing into the ocean with a splash.
"…Guess he was watching," Temoshí muttered.
Chiaki rolled her eyes. "Perverts are like bugs. You don't see them until they're already in your drink."
Chiaki casually slid her pants down, revealing her black underwear—but by then, Temoshí had already turned away and stepped onto Venos' boat, unfazed.
"All done!" she called out a moment later, hopping aboard the yacht with a stretch.
Meanwhile, Venos remained adrift in the water nearby, floating face-up like a lifeless corpse, still recovering from the shock.
As Chiaki hopped aboard, Temoshí gave her a casual glance—only for his eyes to linger longer than he meant to. Her new outfit drew attention effortlessly: a sky-blue off-the-shoulder sweater hung loosely, one sleeve drooping to reveal a teasing glimpse of a black bra strap and the fitted black top beneath. Around her neck, sleek blue headphones rested, as if she were seconds away from slipping into a musical daydream. Her high-waisted white pants framed her silhouette neatly, adding a crisp contrast to her top, while a silver bracelet swung lightly from her wrist with each movement.
"I kinda like it," Temoshí muttered, doing his best to sound unaffected.
Chiaki grinned like a fox spotting a cornered rabbit. "Oh? You like what you see, huh? Try not to drool, captain." She leaned in slightly, peeking up at him with exaggerated innocence. "Should I twirl for you? Strike a pose? Or are you already picturing me modeling the next outfit?"
Temoshí stiffened, awkwardly scratching his head. "I—That's not what I meant."
"Oh come on," she said with a wink, bumping her hip against his, "don't get all shy on me now. You were practically scanning me like a tailor with a crush."
"I was not," he grumbled.
She chuckled, tossing her hair back. "Sure. You're just casually analyzing shoulder angles and bra strap tension in broad daylight. Totally normal."
Before he could defend himself further, Venos finally dragged himself aboard, soaked to the bone, groaning like a ghost ship. He flopped to his knees and wiped his face with a grunt.
"Alright, you two horny sea rats," he grumbled, "enough foreplay. Let's set sail before I change my mind."
"Says the guy who got KO'd by a bra strap!" Temoshí and Chiaki shouted in perfect unison, both red-faced—not from romance, but sheer secondhand embarrassment.
To be continued...