"We should be arriving sooner than expected. That'll give us extra time to prepare for the opening ceremony."
"And the third person, do you have a plan to find them yet?"
"Yes. I've thought of something, but it's a bit complicated, so listen carefully."
"Umm… excuse me, Sir Ken, but should I be hearing this too?" Minowa asked hesitantly.
"Don't worry about it," I replied. "We'll be dropping you off regardless when we reach Senjaka Village. After that, Yakou and I will continue on our way."
"Oh… I see." Minowa's voice trailed off, his expression unreadable.
"Ken, are you sure this is the decision you want to make? He could be useful to us, no?"
"Other than as a guinea pig? Yeah. He's pretty much useless, to say the least. Besides, we already repaid our favor for him helping you during the Daipo Daipo Dei game."
"I can hear you, by the way…" Minowa muttered.
"Yeah, I know," I replied casually. "But it does make me wonder why would a fairy choose you, Minowa? What the hell is your wish? Because at this rate, you don't stand a damn chance of even coming close."
"I'm not sure…" Minowa admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's probably because I'm related to a Yakuza leader. But the family hates me. It's just the fact that I'm the eldest son."
"Oh, that makes some sense," I said, leaning back. "Still, that doesn't change the fact that you're useless to me. Maybe you have some weight in the outside world, but here? Here, you're nothing more than a single cent in a pile of gold coins."
Minowa didn't respond. He just stared out the window, lost in thought.
"He's right. I know he is. What use am I?"
Time passed rather quickly.
"There it is. Minowa, it's been a pleasure meeting you, and I wish you the best. But this is where our journey ends."
Minowa stepped out of the carriage, his expression unreadable. He walked about ten meters before stopping, hesitating for a moment as if he wanted to say something. But when he turned back to bid farewell, we were already gone.
Yakou stared at me, his gaze unwavering.
"You know… what you said about Minowa affected me a bit as well," he murmured. "It made me wonder what am I to you? A guinea pig too?" His voice was steady, but there was an edge to it. "I'm following you on this journey because I see something in you… something that reminds me of someone from my past. A true warrior he was. But that vision grows more vague with every passing moment."
I looked down at the ground, crossing my arms as I let out a deep sigh.
"Yakou, I'll be frank with you. We both have our own reasons for being here together... but I doubt you'll stay once you hear mine."
Yakou didn't flinch. "If you have any doubt about me, then how can we be friends?"
The word friends echoed through me. Time seemed to stop for a moment. In the distance, I could hear the soft drip of water from a nearby waterfall. Tap. Tap. Tap.
Friends? I thought to myself.
Because of my memory… I can't remember if I ever had any. That girl from before was she my friend? What happened to her? I must have helped her, right? Because… we were friends…
A light tap on my shoulder snapped me out of it.
"Are you okay?" Yakou asked.
I exhaled, shaking my head. "No. To be honest... I'm lost. I came into this world with a purpose… but I don't even know what that purpose is. I'm just… lost."
"You know, Ken… back in my world, my general, his name was Zuko, he had a rule before every battle. He would call each of us into his room to write a letter to our families. That way, if we died, the letters would be delivered to someone who cared."
Yakou leaned back slightly, his voice steady but reflective.
"The first time was terrifying. The second time felt… okay. By the third, fourth, and fifth battles, it became a routine just another part of the war. But then… a great war came. Bigger than anything we had ever faced. When I entered Zuko's room that time, I hesitated. I was scared.
Zuko noticed and asked, 'You look lost. Do you need help?'
'No… It's just… this war is different. I don't know what to write.'
He chuckled and said, 'Why not write what you always write?'
'Because this time, I might actually die.'
That's when he looked me dead in the eye and said, 'Listen, you damn fool. You can die any day, any hour, any minute, any second. What difference does it make? What was the difference between your first war and this one?'
I stood there, trying to process what he meant. Then I asked him, 'Zuko… do you write a letter before each war?'
He laughed. 'Me? No, I don't. My people won't remember me for some stupid letter. They'll remember me for what I did in my life.'"
I raised an eyebrow and cut him off.
"Why are you telling me all this?"
Yakou met my gaze, his tone firm.
"What I'm trying to say is, you're focusing on the wrong things. If you're questioning the purpose you had when you came into this world, then maybe it was never your true purpose to begin with.
While we were fixated on writing those letters, Zuko focused on the war. He knew that if he struck down the enemy general and died that same day, people wouldn't remember him for some letter he left behind. They'd remember him for his victory. For his achievements.
That made me see things differently, Ken.
The world only cares about results. If you keep overthinking, doubting yourself, questioning your path you'll never reach what you seek. And if that happens… then your purpose will truly be gone."
I let out a short laugh, shaking my head.
"Yakou, I never took you for a smartass." I smirked. "But… that actually helped. Thanks."
"So? Have you made up your mind?"
"I did. I finally have something I want to do… my own goal. And I will achieve it."
Yakou grinned. "Great! Truly great! I can't wait to fight you once you collect all those gems."
I let out a short chuckle. "You know, Yakou, I have no chance against you. You're a monster."
"Me? A monster?" He smirked. "My technique is flawed. It's weak. And I'm slow."
I shook my head. "You're fixated on your technique, not its results. Maybe your technique isn't flawed, maybe it's just different, unique. And even if it is flawed, even if you're the 'flaw' of this world, you're still a part of it. As long as you exist, you have the power to carve your own path… whether the world accepts it or not."
Before Yakou could respond, the referee cut in.
"You boys are quite wise, I must say. But I'm afraid I have to interrupt. It seems we've arrived at our destination faster than expected. Since both players stayed on the carriage, the match ends in a draw!"
I stretched, stepping down. "Time sure flies. Let's head in, Yakou."
Yakou nodded. "Yeah, I guess. Don't forget your cane."
As we walked forward, the grand city came into view.
"There it is… Irvine City."
As Yakou and I walked toward the gates, the area was bustling with activity. Suddenly, a group of people talked to us.
"Hey! You wanna play a game?"
I turned to Yakou and whispered, "Just ignore them."
"Hey, didn't you hear us?"
"Hey!"
One of the men took a deep sigh. "Just give up on them. Let's try those two over there…"
I raised an eyebrow, amused. "I expected this, a lot of hustlers around. Anyways, let's head to that hotel-bar place. We need to find a room since we have to wake up early for the ceremony tomorrow."
"Yes, sir."
As we walked towards the building, the air was thick with noise. People around us were caught up in various games, their screams of laughter, anger, and sadness filling the atmosphere.
"This place was a good choice," Yakou said, observing the crowd. "As you predicted, a lot of people came here. There's a high chance the gem might spawn, but once it does…"
I nodded, my voice low. "Yeah, I know. This place... will become a city of chaos."