As the night deepened, the forest grew quiet, the flickering flames of the campfire dancing in the breeze.
Somewhere in the distance, a wolf howled.
The warm glow of the campfire flickered, casting long shadows across the clearing as the scent of grilled meat and fresh seafood filled the air.
Aiko, ever the caretaker, stepped out from the tent, stretching her arms.
"Hey, you two! Food's ready!" she called toward Seinna and Serena, who were still inside.
Serena pushed herself up, stretching lazily. "Finally! I swear my stomach was gonna eat itself."
Seinna followed behind, her silver eyes flicking toward Jasper for just a moment. He was still ignoring her.
"Tch. Stubborn idiot."
As soon as Serena and Seinna stepped outside, they were hit with the mouthwatering aroma of their dinner—grilled fish, roasted meats, smoked seafood skewers, and steaming rice.
Ryuji and Jasper were already practically drooling, their eyes locked onto the food.
Kai, who had been sitting alone in the trees, finally came down—not for conversation, but for food.
Kenshiro, ever the leader, began eating first, but this time—he did something rare.
He removed his mask.
For a moment, the others paused, catching a glimpse of the blazing ember-like markings across his cheekbones and jawline. His face was sharper than they had imagined, yet there was a deep, almost haunted look in his eyes.
Ryuji was the first to snap out of it.
"Ahhh! I can't wait anymore! I'm eating!" he said, grabbing a skewer and stuffing his mouth.
The others followed suit, the camp suddenly filled with the sounds of satisfied eating.
Everyone except—Serena.
She sat beside the fire, staring at the food but not touching it.
Kenshiro noticed first.
"You're not eating." His voice was calm but firm.
Serena frowned, crossing her arms. "I want to eat. But… I don't feel like eating this."
Jasper raised an eyebrow.
"Are you kidding me? You inhaled plates of food back at the landlord's house. Now you're suddenly picky?"
Serena sighed dramatically. "Ugh, I don't know, okay? I just… want something else. Something sour. Or sweet."
Aiko blinked. "Sour? Sweet?"
Seinna's expression shifted slightly, her mind already making connections.
Kenshiro, too, was quietly observing.
Serena turned to Kenshiro. "Hey, you got anything sour?"
Kenshiro nodded, reaching into his supply bag and pulling out a small jar.
"Fish pickles. They're sour. Will that do?"
Serena's eyes lit up.
"Perfect!"
The moment the jar was in her hands, she tore it open and started eating.
Everyone watched in complete silence as Serena took huge bites of the intensely sour fish pickles, alternating them with spoonfuls of ice cream.
Jasper made a face. "What the actual hell are you doing?"
Serena glared at him. "I just wanted to eat something! Stop staring at me!"
Everyone slowly turned back to their own plates, trying to ignore the horror show happening in front of them.
Except for two people.
Kenshiro and Seinna.
They weren't laughing.
They weren't teasing.
They were thinking.
Because they both recognized this behavior.
And it meant only one thing.
With dinner finished, the group split into their respective tents—one for the men, one for the women.
Aiko was the first to fall asleep, her soft breaths filling the quiet space.
Seinna, however, was still awake.
She sat beside Serena, her silver eyes unreadable.
Serena, stretching lazily, groaned.
"Ughhh, I feel exhausted. But at the same time, I still have energy. My body feels… weird."
She rubbed her stomach absentmindedly.
Seinna watched her carefully.
Then, she spoke.
"Serena. That wasn't normal."
Serena raised an eyebrow. "Huh? What wasn't?"
"The way you were eating. The sudden cravings. The way your body is acting different."
Serena laughed, waving it off. "Oh, come on! You literally told me earlier that my body is adapting to nature!"
Seinna didn't smile.
"It's more than that."
Serena paused.
Something in Seinna's tone sent a shiver down her spine.
Seinna inhaled deeply.
"Serena… those are pregnancy symptoms."
Silence.
Complete silence.
For the first time, Serena didn't have a response.
Her body stiffened, her hand freezing over her stomach.
She felt it now.
A slight discomfort. A strange sensation she hadn't noticed before.
Her mind raced.
"No… that's impossible."
But then—a terrifying thought hit her.
"If it's true… then there's only one person it could belong to."
Blaze.
Her breathing became unsteady.
The reality of the situation began creeping into her mind.
"I… could be a mother?"
It didn't make sense.
It shouldn't make sense.
She was a warrior. A fighter. She had never even thought about motherhood.
And yet—
The possibility was staring her in the face.
Her fingers trembled slightly as they rested over her stomach.
Seinna watched her closely.
Serena suddenly forced a laugh, shoving the thoughts away.
"Pft, no way. That's ridiculous. I'm going to sleep."
She yanked the blanket over herself, her back turned to Seinna.
Seinna, still watching her, sighed softly.
"She's in denial."
But it didn't matter.
Because the signs were there.
And eventually—
Serena would have to face the truth.
***
CTS TIME: RE250.05.29 – 8:30 AM (En Route to the Kasai Clan – Morning After the Storm) [Seinna's Watch time]
The morning sun had already risen high, casting golden rays through the dense trees as the group packed up their camp and prepared to move.
The forest was alive with the sounds of rustling leaves, chirping birds, and the distant murmur of a river flowing nearby.
Everyone was awake, dressed, and ready to continue their journey.
Everyone… except Serena.
She was still asleep, curled up inside the tent, her body unusually sluggish.
Jasper raised an eyebrow, arms crossed as he stood outside. "Oi, what's taking her so long?"
Ryuji, munching on a dried fruit snack, shrugged. "Maybe she's just tired?"
Kai, who had been leaning against a tree in silence, finally spoke. "She never wakes up late." His Yamigan flickered slightly as he narrowed his eyes. "Something's wrong."
Inside the tent, Seinna sat beside Serena, gently nudging her.
"Hey. Wake up. We need to go."
Serena groaned, rubbing her eyes, her body feeling strange—weak, yet heavy.
She forced herself to sit up, her long red hair falling over her shoulders.
"Ugh… I feel like I got hit by a mountain."
Seinna watched her carefully, but said nothing.
She already knew what was happening.
And so did Kenshiro.
From the edge of the clearing, he glanced back toward the tent, his sharp eyes narrowed with understanding.
"So it's true."
But he said nothing.
As they walked, Serena lagged behind slightly, her mind clouded with thoughts.
She absentmindedly ate fish pickles, their sour taste somehow calming her, but it wasn't enough to push away the storm inside her heart.
Then—a sudden wave of nausea hit her.
Her stomach tightened violently, and before she could stop herself—
She stumbled to the side, gripping a tree for support.
And then—she vomited.
Everyone stopped in their tracks.
"Serena?!" Aiko rushed toward her.
Seinna was already beside her, supporting her as Serena's knees trembled.
Serena wiped her mouth, her heart pounding.
"I'm fine… just… just something I ate."
But she knew that wasn't true.
Her body was changing.
Her stomach was weak.
Her emotions were unstable.
And then—it hit her all at once.
Her chest felt tight, suffocated.
Her vision blurred as her eyes burned with tears.
"Is this real?"
"Am I really… going to be a mother?"
Her breathing was unsteady, and before she could stop herself—the tears fell.
Seinna held her firmly, her expression soft.
"Serena… it's okay."
But it wasn't okay.
Serena's voice cracked as she whispered,
"Blaze should be here."
Her hands clutched her stomach, as if trying to protect the smallest, most fragile life inside her.
Her tears fell freely now.
"I want to tell him. I want him to know… but he's gone. He left."
She shook her head, wiping her face aggressively.
"He left me… he left his unborn baby…"
Her voice broke completely, but she forced herself to stand.
She had always been strong, but now—she had to be stronger.
Because she wasn't just fighting for herself anymore.
She was holding something far more precious.
She wiped her eyes, inhaled deeply, and forced a smirk onto her face.
"Tch. Damn it. No more crying."
With newfound energy, she continued walking.
Seinna, watching her, smiled softly.
"She's accepting it."