Morning in the abandoned house was louder than usual.
Mostly because Daichi was suffering.
"Why am I carrying her?!"
On his back, Nando-baba sat with her arms folded like she owned the world.
"Because you're built for it," she said.
"That means nothing."
"It means everything."
Maru walked past with a packed bag over her shoulder.
"She's right."
Daichi looked betrayed.
"Of course you'd say that."
Hikari adjusted her glasses while sorting the last of the supplies.
"Objectively, you are the best option."
"…I hate all of you."
From the doorway, Rishiro shrugged.
"Skill issue."
Daichi pointed at him.
"You especially."
The house was still a wreck.
Cracked walls, broken floorboards, patched windows.
But after everything, it had started to feel like theirs.
Bags were packed.
Weapons checked.
Bandages tied.
Food divided.
Only what mattered.
Only what they could carry.
Outside, Kenta and Tatsuma were already waiting.
Tatsuma waved the second they stepped out.
"Morning. Smells worse out here than inside."
Nando-baba clicked her tongue.
"Then stay outside."
Tatsuma straightened.
"…Fair."
Kenta glanced over them once, then frowned at Daichi.
"…Why is he carrying the old yokai?"
Daichi answered with a dead voice.
"Because my life is cursed."
Rishiro stepped forward and looked at Kenta.
"So you're really not coming."
Kenta clicked his tongue.
"I've got my own people."
"Shame," Rishiro said. "Would've been fun having another loud idiot around."
Kenta stared at him.
"…You asking me to join?"
Rishiro shrugged.
"Not really. You'd ruin the vibe."
Tatsuma laughed.
Daichi snorted.
Even Maru almost smiled.
Kenta's eye twitched.
"…Still annoying."
"Still alive," Rishiro said.
That got the faintest breath out of Kenta. Not quite a laugh.
But close.
Behind Kenta, members of his own group were gathering.
On Rishiro's side, Akira, Ryo, and Aiko stood ready with their bags.
Tatsuma pointed at them.
"So you three are going with them?"
Akira straightened.
"…Yeah."
Ryo nodded.
Aiko gave a small nod too.
Kenta looked at them once.
"Try not to die."
Ryo blinked.
"…Thanks?"
"That's his nice version," Tatsuma said.
"It was enough," Hikari said calmly.
Maru folded her arms.
"Nando-baba knows a route to Fuji."
Kenta's gaze shifted to her.
"The old yokai?"
Nando-baba lifted her chin.
"I know roads your kind forgot."
Daichi frowned.
"…You really sound suspicious on purpose."
"Walk," she snapped.
Tatsuma grinned.
"…Boss, I like this place."
Kenta ignored him and looked back at Rishiro.
For a second, neither spoke.
The ruined street between them felt oddly quiet.
Not tense.
Just strange.
Like both of them knew this split mattered more than either wanted to say.
Then Kenta spoke.
"If we run into each other again at Fuji…"
Rishiro lifted a brow.
"…You'll still be slower than me?"
Kenta stared.
Then scoffed.
"I was gonna say don't die before I get there."
That made Daichi glance between them.
Tatsuma grinned instantly.
"…Aww. Boss really does care."
Kenta kicked him in the shin.
"…Shut up."
Tatsuma grabbed his leg.
"…Violence. In front of guests."
Rishiro smirked.
"Damn."
He tilted his head slightly.
"That almost sounded friendly."
Kenta clicked his tongue.
"Don't get used to it."
"Too late."
This time Kenta did laugh.
Small.
Short.
But real.
Then he turned.
"Let's move."
His group started to gather behind him.
Tatsuma lingered a little longer.
He looked at the house, then at Nando-baba.
"…If we meet again, there better still be food."
Daichi snorted.
"Survive long enough first."
Tatsuma pointed at him.
"Rude."
Then he looked at Nando-baba again.
"…Your cooking's elite, by the way."
She looked disgusted.
"…And yet you're still here talking."
"…So that's a yes," Tatsuma said.
Akira shifted his bag.
Ryo looked between both groups.
Aiko stayed quiet, but watched carefully.
Maru looked ahead.
Hikari gave the road a calm, measuring glance.
Rishiro looked once at Kenta's back.
Then he called out—
"Oi."
Kenta stopped just enough to glance over one shoulder.
Rishiro shoved his hands into his pockets.
"Try not to get one-shot again."
Silence.
Then Tatsuma burst out laughing.
Daichi almost choked.
Even Maru looked away for a second.
Kenta's brow twitched hard.
"…You really wanna die before Fuji, huh?"
Rishiro grinned.
"See you there, idiot."
Kenta stared for one moment.
Then let out a dry breath through his nose.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"See you."
And that was enough.
Kenta's group walked off first, disappearing down one ruined road.
Tatsuma gave one last lazy wave before hurrying after them.
Rishiro's group stayed still for a few seconds, watching them go.
Two groups.
Two roads.
Same destination.
The ruined city stretched around them in silence, as if even it understood this was where the path split.
Then Nando-baba clicked her tongue.
"Stop staring and move. Mount Fuji won't come to you."
Daichi groaned.
"…I miss when old people gave blessings instead of orders."
Maru stepped forward first.
Hikari followed.
Akira, Ryo, and Aiko moved after them.
Rishiro stayed still for half a second longer, looking down the road Kenta had taken.
Then he turned too.
And without another word—
their group began walking the other way.
Different paths.
Different people.
But somewhere beyond the ruins—
the same mountain waited for both of them.
End of Chapter 45