Temoshí's eyes scanned the ticket one more time, the gold lettering glimmering in the light. "You are invited to Aurelio's show, tonight in the Velvet Wheel casino." The words felt heavy, as if carrying a promise laced with mystery.
Tarot, always the optimist, smiled and gave a small laugh. "Well... at least we got an invitation. No need to sit around feeling like the last kids picked for the dodgeball game, right?" He nudged Nathaniel playfully, but the older gunslinger's expression remained unreadable, the corners of his mouth tight.
Nathaniel's brows drew together as he kept his ticket close, fingertips brushing its edges. "I think... this is some kind of setup." His voice was low, serious, and it made the others pause. The sudden edge in Nathaniel's tone was enough to make even Tarot's smile falter.
Temoshí's lips curled into a thin line as he nodded, his eyes darkening with the weight of unspoken thoughts. "I think so too. There's no way we just walk into something like this blindly, even if Yumiko's the one who told us to come here."
The words sent a shiver down Tarot's spine, and he looked up at his captain, a mix of worry and confusion in his eyes. "But why did she tell us to come, Tim? It doesn't make sense. She didn't seem like the type to send us into something dangerous without a good reason."
Temoshí's expression softened, a rare moment of vulnerability passing across his face. "That's exactly why we have to be here. Yumiko's not the kind to act without cause, even if she's hiding something from us." He glanced at Nathaniel, who now seemed lost in thought, the edges of his sharp features sharpening with concern.
Nathaniel's eyes gleamed with a mix of determination and caution. He leaned against the nearby brick wall, folding his arms as he watched the crowd go by. "But take a look at this from a different perspective," he said, the corners of his mouth tugging upward slightly. "We already know this calls for trouble. But we came here for a reason. If we use this ticket to enter the casino without guards breathing down our necks... we're bound to find out more about Aurelio and what's really going on with the island."
Tarot's eyes widened with realization, the gears in his head turning quickly as he nodded, a grin spreading across his face. "That's right! We get in, do a little snooping, and maybe find out why Yumiko was so adamant about us coming here." He held up one of his peach bags like a trophy, only to have it swatted away by Nathaniel's impatient hand. "This is serious, Tarot," Nathaniel sighed, rolling his eyes at the shipwright's antics.
Temoshí's sharp gaze softened as he listened to Nathaniel's reasoning. He straightened, his fingers unconsciously brushing over the edge of the ticket in his pocket. "It's tonight... around 8 pm. That's when the most people go out and gamble their night away. We'll blend in with the crowd."
He could almost feel the pulse of the city, a rhythm of excitement and risk that thrummed beneath the surface. It would be dangerous, yes, but the chance to gather information was worth the risk. And besides, when had they ever been the kind of crew to shy away from danger?
"Exactly," Nathaniel said, a rare spark of mischief flickering in his eyes. "If we time it right, we can move in and out before anyone notices we don't belong."
Tarot's grin returned as he hopped on his heels. "And if we get caught, we'll just pretend to be guests of the great 'Peach Army'—"
Temoshí cut him off with an unamused face and a shake of his head. "Not that again, Tarot. We're not starting a 'Peach Army' trend. But you're right about one thing: we need to be ready."
"We should look good for the occasion..."
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow, adjusting the cuffs of his newly acquired tuxedo. The fabric was smooth and fit him perfectly, but it felt strangely out of place on his usually rugged frame. "We should, but Yumiko's been avoiding us," he said, casting a sidelong glance at Temoshí, who was fussing with the black bow tie around his neck. "If we look for her now, we might end up alerting her to our plan before we're even ready."
Temoshí let out an exasperated sigh, his fingers tugging at the high collar of his jacket. "I still don't like this. We're wearing formal wear like we belong in a high-class gala, not a covert operation."
Tarot, who had been practicing his best suave smirk in the reflection of a storefront window, shrugged. "Well, if we're going to infiltrate a casino, we might as well look the part. And besides, who's going to question three handsome guys in tuxedos? Nobody." He winked at Nathaniel, earning a groan from the sniper.
"Don't start with that nonsense," Nathaniel muttered, adjusting his tie once more. "We need to find Yumiko and Kyora. It's not like we can just let them wander around this place alone while we're off playing dress-up."
Temoshí's eyes narrowed as he thought for a moment. "Kyora is smart. She'll keep an eye on Yumiko, even if she's exhausted. But we need to make sure they're safe and not putting themselves in more danger than we already know they're in." He glanced around, the bustling streets filled with tourists, gamblers, and street performers; it felt like every person had a secret and every secret was connected to Aurelio.
Yumiko, Aurora, and Kyora sat at a small table on the café's terrace, sipping on one of the finest coffees in the city. The soothing jazz music drifted from inside, blending perfectly with the hum of conversation and the clinking of cups. The café itself was a masterpiece of design, elegant and inviting, but the trio preferred the open air, where they could watch the lively streets.
"I can't believe it," Aurora muttered, tapping her fingers on the table. "We're here for a reason, and yet the boys are probably off getting distracted by food or some cheap show. It's so typical."
Yumiko's eyes were distant as she leaned on the table, watching the crowd pass by. "We came here because Yipsiv wanted us to. He must have had a reason, right?" She sighed, her voice tinged with frustration. "But I feel like a detective, searching for clues I don't have. I don't even know where he is or why he called us here."
Kyora let out a small laugh, leaning back in her chair and taking a sip of her drink. The calm atmosphere of the café was a stark contrast to the usual chaos they were used to. "It's nice, isn't it? No shouting, no chaos—just three girls enjoying a peaceful moment with good coffee." She glanced up at the giant clock tower in the distance, its towering presence somehow drawing her attention. There was something about it that felt significant, though she couldn't quite place why.
Kyora's brow furrowed as she stared up at the sky, a chill trickling down her spine. The clouds were no longer their usual fluffy, carefree selves; instead, they had morphed into dark, dense layers that moved in synchronized patterns, as if some unseen hand were guiding them. The air had grown heavy and stifling, tinged with the faint, electric buzz of static. A strange, almost hypnotic green hue spread across the sky in thin, shimmering ribbons, pulsing like a heartbeat that made the hairs on her neck stand on end.
She leaned forward, squinting against the strange light. The glow seemed to twist and dance, changing shape in a way that was almost... sentient. It wasn't the type of weather she was used to seeing on Casinova Island, a place known for its sunny, carefree days and warm, inviting nights. No, this was different—this was something unnatural.
"Do you see that?" Kyora murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. Yumiko and Aurora followed her gaze, their expressions tightening as they took in the sight. The sky was shifting like the surface of a disturbed pond, with shapes forming and breaking apart as if the clouds were caught in some kind of chaotic dance. A low, droning hum echoed through the air, vibrating through the streets and making the cups on their table tremble.
"Something's wrong," Yumiko said, the exhaustion in her voice making her words sound even more foreboding. Her eyes flicked nervously from the sky to the streets below.
To be continued...