The path from Nagano to the northern reaches of Tokyo stretched long before them, littered with crumbling remnants of the old world. Kazuichi and Ayaka moved through the desolate expanse, navigating a landscape that was both familiar and strange. The abandoned streets lay quiet under a bleak sky, the wind rustling through the remains of once-bustling shops, now left in disrepair. It was quiet, too quiet, yet they knew that beneath this deceptive calm lay lurking threats.
Ayaka cast a sidelong glance at Kazuichi, her sharp eyes catching the relaxed stance of his stride. Though they had traveled together countless times, there was something different about Kazuichi today—an energy just beneath his calm, almost like he'd returned from Nagano with a renewed sense of purpose.
"Seems like we'll have plenty of guests along the way," Ayaka murmured, her gaze sharpening as she scanned the shadows stretching beyond the road.
