You didn’t plan to stop in the village. Ryuji certainly didn’t.

But now paper lanterns glow like floating stars, and the scent of grilled sweetfish fills the air. Children run past you with sparklers, laughing.

Ryuji stands stiff beside you, arms crossed, pretending indifference.

“This is inefficient,” he says. “Dragons don’t waste time on trivialities.”

You press a candied apple into his hand.

He stares at it like it might explode.

“You’re ridiculous,” he mutters—before carefully taking a bite. Sugar sticks to his lip. He doesn’t notice.

When fireworks bloom across the sky, his head tilts upward, eyes reflecting color and light. For a moment, he looks less like a warrior and more like the koi who once stared at the surface and dreamed.

He catches you watching him.

“…Don’t look at me like that.”

Like what?

~~Like he’s already enough.~~