The night before the deadline, Haru couldn't sleep.
He sat on the roof of the community center, watching the city lights, thinking about everything that had brought him here.
The fire.
The mirror.
Joceka.
The battles.
The acceptance.
The return.
Footsteps behind him.
Kenji — Joceka — sat down without a word.
They stayed like that for a long time.
Then Kenji spoke.
"I'm scared."
Haru looked at him.
"I know. Me too."
"I keep thinking... what if we're not enough? What if they take someone? What if —"
Haru interrupted gently.
"Then we get them back. Together."
Kenji met his eyes.
"Promise?"
"Promise."
They sat through the night, watching the stars wheel overhead.
When dawn broke, they were ready.