As Sakutarō and Kotoba made their way to the village center, the air was thick with the heat of the alluding afternoon sun. They walked in silence.
The thought of Makoto's request to keep his impending fight with Raidon a secret tightly held them both. The cobblestone path repeated their footsteps as they rounded a corner and saw Daisuke approaching.
"Sakutarō! Kotoba!" Daisuke greeted them warmly, his face lighting up with a broad smile. "What brings you two here?"
Sakutarō forced a smile, his heart pounding in his chest. "Just heading to the center, you know. Usual business."
Daisuke nodded, his eyes flickering between Sakutarō and Kotoba. "It's good to see you both. It's been a while since we all had a proper rest."
