The two of them rode the giant bird, flying all the way toward the outskirts.
The scenery along the way gradually shifted from streets lined with skyscrapers to continuous farmland and sparse woods.
Suguru Geto brought the giant bird to a halt beside an open meadow. This place was far from civilization, with only a few withered trees standing in the distance. The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the sky a warm orange-red, stretching their shadows long.
Rin jumped down from the giant bird, clutching a small iron box in his hand. Inside were photos he had taken from the original owner's home—mostly photos of the original owner with his mother, and a few solo shots of the original owner as a child.
He didn't say a word and walked straight toward the center of the meadow. Suguru Geto leaned against the giant bird, hands in his pockets, watching him quietly without stepping forward to disturb him.
Rin squatted down and pulled a lighter from his pocket. It was something he had picked up from the desk on a whim when he left the original owner's house.
He opened the iron box, took out the photos, and spread them out one by one on the ground. The smiling faces in the photos appeared exceptionally clear under the setting sun. The gentle features of the original owner's mother and the original owner's youthful face were all frozen on the small pieces of photo paper.
Rin's fingertips lightly brushed over a photo. It was taken at an amusement park when the original owner was five years old with his mother. In the photo, the original owner was holding a marshmallow, smiling so wide his teeth showed. His movements paused for a moment, a flicker of complex emotion crossing his eyes, before he took a deep breath and clicked the lighter.
A blue flame flickered to life, carrying a faint warmth.
Rin picked up the top photo and carefully brought it close to the flame. The edges of the photo quickly began to curl and blacken. The fire spread along the paper, slowly consuming the smiling face of the original owner's mother.
Without hesitation, he picked up the second, then the third. One by one, the photos were lit. The orange-red flames danced in his palm, reflecting on his calm face.
The burning photos made a faint sizzling sound. Black ash drifted with the wind, landing on the grass and quickly merging with the soil.
Watching this scene, Suguru Geto finally couldn't help but step forward, his tone curious. "Why are you burning these photos? Aren't they very precious to you?"
Rin didn't answer immediately. Only after the last photo had turned to ash did he slowly stand up and tuck the lighter back into his pocket.
He watched the ash on the ground be scattered by the wind, his voice calm. "Consider it a farewell to the past." He paused, then added, "These photos were meant to leave along with the previous Rin."
Suguru Geto raised an eyebrow, clearly not fully understanding. "The previous you? You mean..."
"I am no longer the original me."
Rin's tone was frank. "The memories in these photos belong to the real Rin, the one who is no longer here. To me, they aren't important. What matters is the child who once held these photos and missed his mother. Burning them is like helping him make a final farewell, allowing him and his mother to truly 'reunite'."
Suguru Geto was silent for a moment, his gaze showing a bit more understanding. He thought Rin was saying goodbye to his past self. Then, he remembered something else and asked curiously:
"There's one more thing I don't understand. Why did you leave money for those relatives who treated you poorly? I heard they weren't good to you—some were even quite mean."
At the mention of those relatives, there wasn't a trace of resentment on Rin's face. Instead, he looked quite indifferent. "Actually, I don't hate them."
He sat on the grass, looking at the distant sunset, and spoke slowly:
"They indeed didn't treat me well. They didn't care about my life and rarely gave me a kind look. But you have to understand, they weren't my immediate family. When my parents were gone and I was all alone and helpless, they took me in and gave me a place to stay so I wouldn't end up on the streets."
"That was enough."
Rin's voice was soft, yet it carried an unquestionable certainty. "I didn't need them to be particularly good to me, nor did I need their concern. They gave me a temporary 'home,' and I remember that favor. Leaving that money is to repay the kindness of them taking me in. From now on, the past and I are truly even."
Suguru Geto looked at Rin's calm profile. The light of the setting sun fell on him, coating him in a layer of warm glow.
He suddenly realized that the youth before him, though appearing cold, had his own principles and gentleness. He could distinguish between kindness and grudges and knew how to be grateful. Even if someone only gave him a tiny bit of help, he would keep it in his heart.
The afterglow of the sunset spilled out recklessly, stretching their shadows very long and blurring their silhouettes with a layer of warm orange.
Rin gazed at the sky soaked in the afterglow, taking a deep breath as if gathering courage or calming his emotions.
Finally, he turned around, his gaze looking directly at Suguru Geto. With a solemn expression, he spoke one word at a time:
"Suguru Geto, I can join the Star Plasma Cult and am willing to help you. But I must be honest—I cannot entirely agree with your ideology."
Suguru Geto raised his eyebrows slightly, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes. However, he quickly regained his composure. Crossing his arms, he looked at Rin with interest, waiting for him to continue.
Rin continued:
"I understand the world you seek and everything you've done to achieve your goals. But I have my own bottom line. I absolutely cannot slaughter ordinary people. On this point, I will not waver." As he spoke, his eyes were as firm as the North Star in a cold night, showing an unquestionable resolve.
Suguru Geto fell silent for a moment. He slowly stepped closer to Rin, the distance between them narrowing until they could see their reflections in each other's eyes.
He gazed at Rin. There wasn't a trace of anger or dissatisfaction on his face. Instead, a faint smile appeared, and his tone was sincere:
"I respect your choice, Rin. From the beginning, I never intended to force anyone. In my heart, everyone who joins the Star Plasma Cult is a comrade-in-arms. I will treat you like family."
A gust of wind blew suddenly, ruffling their hair. A flash of emotion crossed Rin's eyes. He hadn't expected Suguru Geto to accept his bottom line so readily. This respect brought a surge of warmth to his heart.
He nodded slightly, reached out his right hand, and said:
"Then it's a deal." Suguru Geto also reached out, firmly grasping Rin's hand and giving it a strong shake. They looked at each other and smiled. At this moment, it felt as if some invisible bond had connected them even more closely.
At the horizon, the sun was about to completely sink below the skyline, leaving only a brilliant sunset glow, as if painting a magnificent end to this conversation.
Rin and Suguru Geto walked side-by-side toward the Four-winged giant bird, their steps light yet firm.
On the way, Rin inadvertently looked back at the meadow where they had just talked, filled with emotion. The various things of the past, along with those burned photos, had already become history. Now, the promise with Suguru Geto was opening a brand-new journey for him.
Sitting on the bird, Suguru Geto controlled the Cursed Spirit. The giant bird flapped its wings, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Rin lay on the bird's back and closed his eyes. Scenes of his future in the Star Plasma Cult flickered through his mind, his heart full of anticipation.
The scenery of the outskirts receded rapidly like a slideshow, heading toward the Star Plasma Cult's base. There, unknown challenges and new hopes awaited them.
..
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