"Thanks for the food!" I said, setting my chopsticks down with a satisfied sigh.
The breakfast spread before me was simple but comforting. Steamed rice, sautéed cabbage, and an assortment of fresh vegetables. It was the kind of meal that warmed both the stomach and the soul.
After waking up, Yuzu, Catherine, and I had made our way to Lisa's restaurant for breakfast. The morning air was crisp, and the gentle hum of the town just beginning to stir made for a peaceful start to the day.
"How much Yuzu pay?" Yuzu suddenly asked, tilting her head.
Lisa simply smiled, her expression warm. "No need. Catherine and Mashiro have already done so much for me. You can eat anything here for free."
I returned Lisa's smile, appreciating the kindness behind her words.
Yuzu, however, frowned slightly, her ears twitching. "B-but Yuzu doesn't do anything," she protested.
Lisa waved off her concern with a lighthearted chuckle. "Don't worry about it," she said before turning to me, her expression shifting slightly. "Anyway, Mashiro, are you really leaving today?"
The question hung in the air, and for a moment, I hesitated.
Silence settled over the table. The warmth of the meal I had just enjoyed suddenly felt distant, replaced by a heavy weight pressing against my chest.
"I'm… not sure," I admitted, my voice quieter than before. It was the truth, I didn't know where I was supposed to go.
Yuzu's ears flattened against her head as she leaned forward, desperation clear in her expression. "B-but Mashiro need to home! Lady Sumi will be sad!"
I flinched at her words, guilt gnawing at me. I wanted to say something to reassure Yuzu, but instead, I found myself turning away from her gaze, my eyes landing on Catherine.
She met my look with a knowing expression, as if she had expected this moment. Her crimson eyes softened, but there was something in them. A quiet sadness, barely hidden beneath her usual composed demeanor.
"Do what you must, Mashiro," Catherine said, her voice calm, yet laced with melancholy. "I cherish our time together, but I knew from the beginning it would be short-lived." She exhaled slowly, setting her cup down with deliberate care. "You're a fox-kin, it would be natural for you to return to Vulprithal. A witch like me has no place in the golden city of foxes."
Her words settled in my mind like a stone dropped into a still pond, sending ripples through my thoughts. Vulprithal. I had heard that name before, but the image of it in my head was hazy, as if shrouded in mist.
Did I really belong there? Or… was I just searching for something familiar to hold onto?
"Though, I had an unfinished business with the witch you've met, Code Nine. Do you mind me tagging along on the journey home?" Catherine asked.
Yuzu's ears twitched uncertainly as she looked between Catherine and me, her tail swishing with hesitation.
I, on the other hand, felt a wave of relief wash over me at Catherine's words. I hadn't even realized how much I dreaded saying goodbye until now.
"Are you sure about this, Catherine?" I asked, my gaze flickering toward Lisa, as if searching for confirmation.
Catherine sipped from her cup before setting it down with a decisive nod. "This village has Sophia now. I can ask her to repair the Aegis Wardstone and ensure everyone's safety."
Lisa folded her arms, smiling knowingly. "I figured you'd say that. She was the first customer here in the morning yelling 'babysitter is too hard!' and asked me for a job as waiter."
Yuzu, however, still looked unconvinced. "But witch always say she bery not want to go anywhere." She narrowed her eyes. "Now witch want to go? Hmmm…"
Catherine let out an exaggerated sigh, crossing her arms. "Do you want my help or not?"
Yuzu huffed, her cheeks puffing slightly. "Mashiro decision," she muttered, looking at me expectantly.
I chuckled softly before nodding. "I'd be glad to have you with us, Catherine."
She smirked. "Good. Because whether you like it or not, I am coming along."
Yuzu let out a defeated sigh, her ears drooping slightly. "Fine, but if witch do bad thing, Yuzu bery kick out."
Catherine smirked, resting her chin on her hand. "Noted, Code Nine."
Lisa chuckled at their exchange before turning back to me. "Then it's decided. You'll all be leaving together." Her expression softened. "I'll miss having you around, Mashiro. But I know you'll do great things out there."
I felt warmth spread through my chest at her words. "Thank you, Lisa. I'll come back and visit, I promise."
Lisa smiled, but before she could respond, Yuzu suddenly grabbed my wrist with both hands.
"Mashiro not forget about Yuzu, right?" Her voice was quiet, but her grip was firm.
I blinked at her, momentarily caught off guard by the serious expression on her face. "Of course not, Yuzu," I reassured her. "How could I ever forget you?"
Her ears twitched, as if she were carefully analyzing my words. Then, after a long pause, she grinned. "Okay! Then Mashiro must do pinky swear!"
Before I could even process what was happening, Yuzu lifted my hand and locked her pinky with mine. She squeezed tightly, her black eyes shining with determination.
"Pinky swear," she repeated.
I smiled, squeezing back. "Pinky swear."
Catherine sighed, standing up from her seat. "Alright, alright, enough of the sappy stuff. If we're really doing this, we should start preparing for the journey."
Lisa nodded. "I'll pack you some food for the road. And if you need anything else, just let me know."
Yuzu perked up instantly. "Food? Lisa best!"
I chuckled, shaking my head as I watched Yuzu practically vibrate with excitement. Despite the uncertainties ahead, I felt… at peace.
No matter what awaited us in Vulprithal, at least I wouldn't be facing it alone.
❦ ❦ ❦
"Witch carry too lot!" Yuzu huffed, her tail flicking in exasperation as she sat beside me on the terrace.
After bidding farewell to Lisa and receiving a generous supply of food as a token of appreciation, we had made our way to Catherine's house on the hill so she could pack her things.
That was half an hour ago.
Now, Yuzu and I sat outside, sipping the tea Catherine had prepared for us, watching the morning sun cast long shadows across the landscape.
I sighed, swirling the tea in my cup before calling out, "Are you sure you don't need help, Catherine?"
A loud rustling noise erupted from inside, followed by Catherine's slightly muffled voice. "I'm fine! I just need to grab a few more things—oh, wait, and this too. And that."
Yuzu let out a dramatic groan, flopping against the wooden railing. "Bery long time! Witch bring whole house?"
I stifled a chuckle, taking another sip of my tea. It seemed we might be here a while longer.
Yuzu pouted, kicking her feet idly as she held her teacup. "Mou… Witch bery slow."
I chuckled, taking a small sip of my tea. The warm, floral aroma filled my senses, calming the lingering nerves about our upcoming journey. "She's probably just being thorough."
Yuzu huffed, ears twitching in mild annoyance. "But Mashiro and Yuzu already ready! Only witch not ready!"
Another loud noise came from inside the house, followed by Catherine's frustrated groan. "Ugh, where did I put that book? I know I left it on the shelf—oh, never mind, found it!"
I exchanged an amused glance with Yuzu, who puffed out her cheeks. "See? Too lot!"
Just as I was about to reply, the door swung open, and Catherine stepped out, arms overflowing with books, scrolls, and various trinkets. A satchel hung lopsidedly over her shoulder, already stuffed to the brim.
I blinked. "Um… are you sure you need all of that?"
Catherine frowned at me. "Of course. You can never be too prepared."
Yuzu pointed accusingly. "Witch not preparing! Witch hoarding!"
Catherine rolled her eyes. "Hmph. Unlike a certain fox kin who only needs a single change of clothes, I happen to require materials for research, spellcasting, and self-defense."
Yuzu gasped, placing a hand over her chest as if personally insulted. "Yuzu not need second clothes! First clothes already best!"
I covered my mouth to stifle a laugh as Catherine exhaled dramatically. "Forget it. Let's just go before Code Nine starts calling me 'Witch Carry Too Lot' for the rest of the trip."
Yuzu's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oooooh, good name."
Catherine groaned, muttering under her breath as she adjusted the weight of her belongings. "I'm regretting this already…"
As I sat on the terrace, my fingers idly tracing the rim of my tea cup, I couldn't shake the weight in my chest. Was I really supposed to leave? This village had been my only home in this unfamiliar world.
All of it had become my new normal. If I left, I wasn't just walking toward something unknown; I was walking away from the little life I had built here. And yet, wasn't that what I was meant to do? Go home? The problem was, I didn't even know where "home" truly was anymore. Was it a place I had forgotten, or was it something I had yet to find?
The golden city of foxes—Vulprithal—meant nothing to me except for the vague understanding that I belonged there. Yuzu spoke of it as if it were my rightful place, as if Natsumi would be waiting for me with open arms. But I couldn't feel anything for a home I didn't remember.
What if I didn't belong there? What if I got there only to realize that I had no place among them? Here, in this village, I had found people who cared for me, who accepted me as I was. Would I find the same in Vulprithal? Or would I just be another stranger in a land of fox kin, grasping at a past I had no memories of?
"I just want to pull gacha…" I muttered, hugging my knees as I stared longingly at the sky. My mind drifted to the warmth of Earth, to the simple joys of lazing around under the AC, phone in hand, pressing buttons and watching colorful characters appear on my screen.
Catherine, who was adjusting the straps on her bag, glanced at me with a bemused expression. "What did you say, Mashiro?"
Yuzu's ears perked up as she tilted her head curiously. "Mashiro say?"
"I just want to pull gacha!"