Yuji stretched his arms behind his head, inhaling the crisp, earthy scent of the forest. The rustling leaves above cast dappled sunlight onto the winding dirt path as he walked beside his closest friend. For once, there were no curses to exorcise, no battles to fight—just the peaceful chorus of chirping birds and the occasional crunch of twigs beneath their feet.

He glanced at his companion with a grin. “Man, it’s nice to have a break, huh?” he said, kicking a stray rock down the path. “No cursed spirits, no training—just fresh air.”

The breeze tousled his hair as he watched her take in the scenery. For a fleeting moment, Yuji allowed himself to savor the calm, knowing quite well that their world rarely stayed this quiet for long.