As the evening sun dipped lower into the horizon, painting the sky with soft hues of gold and crimson, Asuka walked along the quiet path beside the river, her limbs sore from training yet her heart light. The sound of flowing water pulled her attention, and she paused, letting her eyes trace the ripples dancing under the fading light.
She closed her eyes, letting the cool breeze brush against her face. The scent of damp earth and wildflowers filled her lungs. It was peaceful—calming in a way that made her forget everything else. A moment passed, then two… until a voice broke the silence, one that sent a wave of familiarity rushing through her chest.
"Are you done already with being the main character?"
Her eyes opened slowly, and she turned toward the source of the voice. Standing a few steps away, hands tucked in his pockets, was Manjiro—his lips curled into a soft smile, eyes holding a teasing glint that she had grown to know all too well.
"Oh, it's you," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"Were you hoping for someone else?" he asked, stepping beside her and casually lowering himself onto the grass.
"Nah… not specifically," she replied, her gaze returning to the flowing river.
"Is that so?" he smirked, leaning slightly closer to her, trying to catch her expression.
She rolled her eyes, the corners of her mouth twitching with amusement. "Well… should we leave?"
Manjiro tilted his head and stood up, brushing the dust off his pants. "Why not?" he said, falling into step beside her.
The walk began in a comfortable silence, their steps in rhythm as they wandered down the quiet path. The only sounds were the rustling leaves and the distant chirping of crickets.
Then, suddenly, Manjiro broke the silence. "How come you're growing taller than me?"
Asuka let out a laugh, a melodic sound that echoed softly. "What? Worried you'll stop growing?"
He pouted, arms crossed. "No way! Shinichiro is tall, so I will be too. It's in my blood!"
She glanced at him with a playful smile. "Maybe you will. Maybe you won't. Only the gods know that."
His brows furrowed, clearly not pleased with that uncertainty. "Tch. Whatever," he muttered. "But I know I'll grow taller than you one day. And when I do, I'm gonna corner you and bully you for sure."
"Yeah, yeah, Manjiro-chan," she teased, nudging him with her elbow. "Let's see. Until then, we'll wait patiently."
They both laughed, their teasing bouncing between them like a shared language. Just then, someone tapped gently on Asuka's shoulder.
She turned around and blinked. "Oh, Inupi?"
Wearing a school bag and a casual smile, Inupi gave a small wave. "Yo," he said.
"Yo," she replied warmly.
Manjiro narrowed his eyes slightly, watching their interaction with interest. "You walking with your younger brother?" Inupi asked casually.
Manjiro's expression immediately twisted with irritation. "I'm not her younger brother, you blind bastard! We're childhood friends!"
Inupi raised his hands in defense, blinking in surprise. "Whoa—sorry! I didn't know. Friends, huh?" He turned to Asuka. "I didn't expect that."
Asuka chuckled. "Yeah, we've known each other since forever. Inupi, this is Manjiro."
Manjiro tilted his head, offering a small but confident nod. "Mikey its Mikey for you."
Inupi blinked again. "Alright… Mikey it is." He gave a small nod of acknowledgment.
"With Inupi," Asuka added, glancing at Manjiro, "we became friends just yesterday."
Manjiro raised an eyebrow. "Is that so, Asu-chin?"
"Yep," she confirmed with a nod. "He's cool."
With introductions done, the three began walking together, the air between them light with newfound familiarity. After a few minutes, Inupi came to a stop in front of a modest house.
"Well, this is me," he said, adjusting the strap of his bag. "I'll see you guys tomorrow!"
"Bye, Inupi!" Asuka waved with a smile.
"Later," Manjiro added with a slight wave.
As they continued walking, the sky grew darker, stars beginning to peek through the dusk. Asuka glanced at Manjiro, who still had that slight pout on his lips.
She nudged him again, smirking. "Still mad about the height thing?"
He scoffed. "Tch. I'm totally gonna grow taller. Just wait."
Asuka laughed again, and beside her, Manjiro smiled quietly—content in her company.