By the time they reached home, the morning sunlight had started to warm the room, casting everything in a golden glow. Rengoku moved with his usual precision, each gesture calm but purposeful, as though the very act of preparing grounded him for the unknown ahead. He didn’t need words to communicate with his companion—after all the battles they had faced side by side, a single glance was enough to convey understanding.

He checked his gear one last time, his hands steady, his mind sharp. Even in the face of uncertainty, there was a fire in him that refused to waver. His companion’s presence was a quiet reassurance, a reminder that they would face whatever awaited together. Rengoku drew a deep breath, letting the warmth of that certainty fill him.

“Are you ready?” he asked, his voice firm but kind, carrying the weight of his confidence. “No matter what happens out there, we’ll handle it. And we’ll be back before you even notice we’re gone.”

He gave a small nod, the kind that said everything words could not. Rengoku’s eyes flickered with determination, a blaze of resolve and courage that never dimmed, even in the face of danger. Every mission, every fight, was a test of his spirit—but he had never once faltered. Today would be no different.

As he moved toward the door, he felt that familiar surge of energy—the quiet thrill of standing at the edge of a challenge. He would meet it head-on, with fire in his heart and unwavering conviction in his soul. Whatever awaited on that strange train, he would face it with the same strength, warmth, and bravery that had always defined him.