April 7, 2023. 3:47 PM — Waterway Route, Floor 27

  —Goose, it's me. Look at me.

  Miwa kept trying to pull HappyGoose back while the others watched in tense silence. Veget and Silver didn't take their eyes off Ryuho for a second.

  —I'm Akane. Just Akane.

  —The girl who orders double chocolate at the café.

  Miwa's voice began to thin.

  —Café? What nonsense are you talking about? —Ryuho's voice cut the air like his blade.

  Miwa snapped upright and stared at him, eyes blazing.

  —He didn't know who I was! And you had no right to tell him! —she shouted.

  —I have the right to do what's best for you. I'm your older brother. Father appointed me to protect you.

  —Not this again! —Miwa's voice cracked—. You've never cared how I feel! No one ever has!

  A heavy silence settled.

  Miwa kept going, not looking away.

  —You're the firstborn. The future patriarch. And you accepted that destiny.

  I didn't.

  She wiped her tears with the back of her fingers. Yuiha steadied her gently when her legs wobbled. Miwa leaned into her without shame.

  —They decided I'm Dad's pretty little girl. The one on a pedestal so high... I've been alone my whole life.

  —You're not alone. You have friends —Ryuho snapped back.

  Miwa smiled without humor.

  —I had to threaten Yoriko with our last name just to make her stay my friend.

  And Eda... she got close because she came from abroad and had no idea who I was.

  She turned toward HappyGoose.

  —He didn't know either. And I know that, because he never would've come near me like this if he had. He worked at the café across from the school. He didn't look at me like he wanted to win me. He didn't avoid me like looking at me could ruin his family.

  He just made my coffee, drew something stupid on the cup... and smiled.

  Like being glad I was there was enough.

  A warm tear slid down her cheek.

  Ryuho let out a brief, bitter laugh.

  —You're still a child. Any con artist could play your innocence like a fiddle.

  —Goose isn't a con artist... and I'm not innocent —Miwa replied, a defiant smile on her lips.

  She drew a breath.

  —Want to know how I can be sure his feelings are real?

  —Surprise me —Ryuho said, dripping sarcasm.

  —Because I've seen him look at me the same way Silver looks at Yuiha.

  Silver flinched. He looked at the girls, completely exposed.

  Yuiha gave him a gentle smile.

  Silver went red and dropped his gaze immediately.

  —Silver. Eyes forward —Veget ordered, cold as stone.

  Miwa let go of Yuiha and knelt again in front of Goose.

  She took his hands.

  —Goose, please... talk to me.

  The boy blinked, as if his mind had reconnected. When he noticed his hands intertwined with Miwa's, he pulled away at once.

  —Aka... Onodera-sama. Please forgive my insolence...

  He prostrated himself before her.

  Miwa felt her chest tighten.

  —No... —she whispered—. No.

  Don't call me that. Not you. Please.

  She tried to pull him up, but he stayed pressed to the ground.

  —I'm not Onodera-sama. I'm Miwa-chan.

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  The one you promised to protect in this world.

  —Miwa... chan... —he repeated, his voice breaking.

  Miwa smiled through tears.

  —Yes. Miwa-chan.

  Now get up. This place is dangerous. I need you to protect me.

  HappyGoose rose slowly.

  Miwa threw herself against his chest and hugged him hard. He froze.

  The silence stretched.

  —Hug her already, idiot! —Yuiha burst out.

  HappyGoose reacted and wrapped his arms around her.

  Miwa shuddered and finally broke, crying without restraint.

  —Don't cry, Miwa-chan —he whispered—. I'll protect you until the last day this game lasts.

  Or until I die. Whichever comes first.

  Miwa let out a choked laugh and gave his arm a weak smack.

  —Idiot.

  —The only idiot who knows how to make your coffee —he murmured, smiling against her hair.

  Ryuho watched, his face twisted with fury.

  Veget stepped forward.

  —Don't move, Ryuho.

  —Stay out of my family business.

  —It's not your family's business anymore —Veget replied, never raising his voice—.

  It's my party's business.

  Yuiha spoke urgently.

  —The monsters are starting to respawn. If we stay here, we could get surrounded.

  Veget didn't hesitate.

  —Exploration aborted. Everyone back to Canalburgh.

  No one argued.

  Teleport crystals activated, and the waterway route emptied out.

  April 7, 2023. 5:22 PM — Canalburgh, Floor 27

  They sat at a secluded table inside a modest café in the city. Veget had said they needed to talk in private, somewhere quiet. He'd considered renting rooms at an inn for the privacy, but there were too many of them, and it would be awkward.

  Yuiha solved it with one of those system "tricks" that always seemed effortless coming from her. She explained that in any safe zone, offering five col to an NPC was enough to have them guide you to any public location in the settlement.

  She approached a young woman sitting on a bench and asked her to show them the most out-of-the-way spot near the center. The girl led them to a place called River Break.

  It felt different from the rest of Canalburgh. The interior walls were rough, untreated wood—no paint, no decorations. The porous stone floor felt more like a dock than a river city. The lighting came from uneven chandeliers; no two were the same.

  They ordered their usuals. Black coffee for Silver. A tea with no identifiable scent for Yuiha. An obscene plate of pastries and juice for Miwa. A fizzy drink, soda-like, for HappyGoose. Beer for Veget and Ryuho. Aincrad didn't distinguish between café and bar; the menu was the same everywhere.

  Time crawled. No one spoke.

  Goose and Silver—the usual icebreakers—stayed quiet. Miwa didn't try to lighten anything, either. Ryuho stared at HappyGoose with a pressure that made the air uncomfortable. Miwa rested her hand on Goose's, a small but unyielding gesture.

  Veget got to the point.

  —I'm disbanding the party.

  Miwa, HappyGoose, and Silver reacted instantly. Yuiha only looked at him, as if she'd come prepared to hear it. Ryuho didn't react at all.

  —Why? —Miwa asked, genuinely confused.

  —It wasn't that big a deal... —HappyGoose tried.

  Veget pinned him with a look.

  —Do you seriously not understand that Ryuho was determined to kill you?

  —It was just a misunderstanding —Goose insisted.

  —No. It wasn't. It was a deliberate attempt to murder a party member.

  Veget paused briefly, then continued.

  —And we've already had Silver walking around like a ticking bomb. We saw it on Floor 25, when Yuiha went scouting with FuuRinKaZan.

  Silver lowered his eyes, avoiding Yuiha's.

  —This was worse —Veget went on—. It happened in the field. If it weren't for Yuiha, the charged skill on that katana could've killed Miwa and Goose together.

  The silence fell heavier.

  —What do you think would've happened if Silver attacked Miwa? Or if Ryuho attacked Yuiha? —Veget continued—. You two would've started a fight to the death. And not even I could've stopped you.

  —I would never hurt Miwa —Silver protested.

  —Did you already forget Floor 25? —Veget shot back—. What did you think when Ryuho said Yuiha was the best fit for the mission?

  Silver's fists tightened.

  —Don't remember? Or you can't say it?

  After a few seconds, he spoke.

  —I didn't say anything.

  —You didn't say anything because Miwa spoke first —Veget replied—. Or are you going to deny you were about to tell Ryuho to send Miwa instead, even knowing it was dangerous?

  Silver dropped his gaze again. He couldn't deny it.

  —You can stay together if you want —Veget said, final—. But I won't stay on as leader.

  Ryuho broke the silence.

  —So you're finally going to accept the Divine Dragons' offer?

  —Yes. I'm joining them.

  Miwa shot to her feet.

  —You're leaving us to join one of the strong guilds?

  Veget looked at her calmly.

  —They've been recruiting me since Floor 10. That's not why I'm disbanding the party. Up until yesterday, I still believed staying together was safer.

  Today, I can't say that anymore.

  Miwa let a tear slip, but she didn't argue. Ryuho pulled her into a hug, holding her head. She didn't resist. HappyGoose took her pinky; Miwa squeezed back hard.

  Veget stood.

  —It was an honor walking this road with you. But I have a family waiting for me outside. And I'm not risking my chances of getting back to them because of sentimental attachment in here.

  For an instant, something like a smile crossed his face.

  He opened his menu. Ran a couple commands. Confirmed.

  They all received the same notification.

  [Veget's party has been disbanded]

  Veget gave them one last look.

  —I wish you the best. Take care of yourselves.

  And he walked out of the café.

  No tears.

  No accusations.

  Like a leader who had made his decision long before he ever said it out loud.