“Thanks for the food!” I said, setting my chopsticks down with a satisfied sigh.

  The breakfast spread before me was simple but f. Steamed rice, sautéed cabbage, and an assortment of fresh vegetables. It was the kind of meal that warmed both the stomad the soul.

  After waking up, Yuzu, Catherine, and I had made our way to Lisa's restaurant for breakfast. The m 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 mue. You eat anything here for free.”

  I returned Lisa’s smile, appreciating the kindness behind her words.

  Yuzu, however, frowned slightly, her ears twitg. “B-but Yuzu doesn't do anything,” she protested.

  Lisa waved off her 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.

  Siletled over the table. The warmth of the meal I had just enjoyed suddenly felt distant, repced 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 fttened against her head as she leaned forward, desperation clear in her expression. “B-but Mashiro o home! Lady Sumi will be sad!”

  I fli her words, guilt gnawing at me. I wao say something to reassure Yuzu, but instead, I found myself turning away from her gaze, my eyes nding 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 hiddeh her usual posed demeanor.

  “Do what you must, Mashiro,” Catherine said, her voice calm, yet ced with mencholy. “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 p 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 searg for something familiar to hold onto?

  “Though, I had an unfinished business with the witch you've met, Code Nine. Do you miagging along on the journey home?” Catherine asked.

  Yuzu’s ears twitched uainly as she looked between Catherine and me, her tail swishing with hesitation.

  I, oher 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 searg for firmation.

  Catherine sipped from her cup before setting it down with a decisive nod. “This vilge has Sophia now. I 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 er here in the m yelling ‘babysitter is too hard!’ and asked me for a job as waiter.”

  Yuzu, however, still looked unvinced. “But witch always say she bery not want to go anywhere.” She narrowed her eyes. “Now witch want to go? Hmmm…”

  Catheri 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 expetly.

  I chuckled softly before nodding. “I’d be gd to have you with us, Catherine.”

  She smirked. “Good. Because whether you like it or not, I am ing 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 on her hand. “Noted, Code Nine.”

  Lisa chuckled at their exge before turning bae. “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 e bad visit, I promise.”

  Lisa smiled, but before she could respond, Yuzu suddenly grabbed my wrist with both hands.

  “Mashiro not fet about Yuzu, right?” Her voice was quiet, but her grip was firm.

  I bli her, momentarily caught off guard by the serious expression on her face. “Of course not, Yuzu,” I reassured her. “How could I ever fet 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 bck 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 uainties ahead, I felt… at peace.

  No matter what awaited us in Vulprithal, at least I wouldn’t be fag it alone.

  ? ? ?

  “Witch carry too lot!” Yuzu huffed, her tail flig in exasperation as she sat beside me oerrace.

  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 ho.

  Now, Yuzu and I sat outside, sipping the tea Catherine had prepared for us, watg the m sun cast long shadows across the ndscape.

  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 o 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, kig 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 uping journey. “She’s probably just being thh.”

  Yuzu huffed, ears twitg in mild annoyance. “But Mashiro and Yuzu already ready! Only witot ready!”

  Another loud noise came from ihe 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 exged an amused gh Yuzu, who puffed out her cheeks. “See? Too lot!”

  Just as I was about to reply, the door swung open, and Catheriepped out, arms overflowing with books, scrolls, and various tris. A satchel hung lopsidedly over her shoulder, already stuffed to the brim.

  I blinked. “Um… are you sure you need all of that?”

  Catherine frow me. “Of course. You ever be too prepared.”

  Yuzu pointed acgly. “Witot preparing! Witch h!”

  Catherine rolled her eyes. “Hmph. Unlike a certain fox kin who only needs a single ge of clothes, I happen to require materials for research, spellcasting, and self-defense.”

  Yuzu gasped, pg a hand over her chest as if personally insulted. “Yuzu not need sed clothes! First clothes already best!”

  I covered my mouth to stifle a ugh as Catherine exhaled dramatically. “Fet it. Let’s just go before Code arts 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 oerrace, my fingers idly trag the rim of my tea cup, I couldn’t shake the weight in my chest. Was I really supposed to leave? This vilge had been my only home in this unfamiliar world.

  All of it had bey 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. A, 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 pce I had fotten, or was it something I had yet to find?

  The golden city of foxes—Vulprithal—meant nothing to me except for the vague uanding that I belohere. Yuzu spoke of it as if it were my rightful pce, 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 pce among them? Here, in this vilge, I had found people who cared for me, ted me as I was. Would I find the same in Vulprithal? Or would I just be aranger in a nd 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 zing around uhe AC, phone in hand, pressing buttons and watg colorful characters appear on my s.

  Catherine, who was adjusting the straps on her bag, g 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!”

  Natsumikan