Back to the Present
Golden Festival Day 5 Nighttime
Chifuyu's smile died instantly seeing who walked inside in Dakota's place: "…Why the hell are you here?"
Yuji: "Is that how you welcome your new members, bastard?"
Before another insult could form, Chifuyu looked at Erika. And all the tension in her expression melted. She exhaled. Eyes softening with relief, exhaustion, and warmth all at once.
Erika: "Chifuyu."
It was barely above a whisper, but it sounded like something familiar returning home after a long journey.
Chifuyu didn't hesitate. He walked forward and Erika met him halfway, the two of them embracing tightly.
Chifuyu: "I'm so glad you're okay."
Erika: "I missed you, Chifuyu."
Chifuyu: "Same here." He moved his hands onto Erika's shoulders and asked, "Erika, where's Dakota?"
Erika's expression froze, pained.
Shinatsu frowned. Diego and Nicholas exchanged glances. Yuji looked away. And then, footsteps echoed from outside. A presence both familiar and commanding approached. Shoyo stepped inside, his entry shifted the air completely.
Shoyo: "Yo. I have something to tell you, Chifuyu."
Chifuyu's stomach dropped: "What is it?"
Shoyo: "Dakota is missing."
Chifuyu's heart pounded: "What?"
Erika: "Chifuyu… he feels responsible for… a student's death. He blamed himself and… we think he ran away."
Chifuyu stared at her, disbelief shattering his composure: "Dakota… ran away?"
Shoyo stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on Chifuyu's shoulder: "I will find him. I already have a team looking for him."
Chifuyu squeezed his eyes shut.
Erika rested a hand on his arm: "Trust in Dakota. He's become so much stronger since you last saw him. Stronger than he thinks he is."
Chifuyu looked at her, guilt and grief warring in his eyes: "…Okay," he spoke in a low voice. "I'll trust him. And in Shoyo to find him. I have to."
Ariel placed a hand on his back. Odd Jobs closed in around him, forming a protective circle in the living room's quiet glow. But the room remained heavy. The absence of one person weighed as much as the entire attack.
Ina cleared her throat sharply, startling half the group: "If you guys are done clogging my doorway, I'd like to come in."
Everyone scrambled aside instantly.
Shoyo stepped out with a wave: "This place is packed now. Don't burn it down while I'm gone."
Then he disappeared in a blink of light.
Odd Jobs cooked together that night.
Shinatsu and Diego led the charge. Nicholas cleaned dishes as they were used. Caesar set the table like it was a banquet. Beatrice supervised mysteriously. Kagura peeled potatoes. Iris cut vegetables. Ariel taste-tested everything within reach.
When they sat down, the chatter was soft. Erika told them what she could about the attack while Yuji added details. Diego asked forty-seven questions. Ariel complained that nobody saved her any bread. Nicholas said he was glad they made it. But even with warm food and warm company, Dakota being missing hit Chifuyu like a truck. After dinner, they cleaned up and drifted off one by one, calling it a night. Ariel slipped into Chifuyu's shadow with a yawn.
Erika lingered.
Chifuyu looked at her and forced a smile: "Hey… we should catch up. Don't you think?"
Erika returned a soft smile: "I'd love to."
They sat together on the couch, the first quiet moment they'd shared in a year and a half.
Chifuyu: "You know… Shinatsu told me how well you were doing at the Academy."
Erika blinked: "She did?"
Chifuyu grinned: "Yep. And doesn't compliment people often."
Erika's cheeks warmed: "Hehe. That's true." She laughed softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Well… I did my best. I met incredible people. Sylvie, Esmarie, Yuji, everyone shaped my time there. It didn't feel like school half the time. It was so much fun."
Chifuyu nodded slowly: "Glad to hear that."
Erika: "And you?" She leaned in slightly. "You changed so much, Chifuyu. I could feel it the moment I hugged you."
He rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed: "Shoyo didn't give me much of a choice."
Erika smiled warmly: "That means you rose to the challenge."
Chifuyu chuckled: "Well, I got kicked around a lot during training. After becoming a Hunter, I got kidnapped, got kidnapped again, and fought strong vampires."
Erika's eyes widened: "Wait, what?"
Chifuyu: "Everything turned out alright. Just don't tell my parents."
Erika laughed and it relaxed something deep inside Chifuyu he didn't realize had been tense: "That sounds like a lot."
Chifuyu: "It was," he admitted. "But it wasn't all bad. I've also made great friends here at Odd Jobs, even reunited with an old one."
Erika: "Really, who?"
Chifuyu: "Diego, I'll introduce you guys properly in the morning."
Chifuyu looked at her for a moment, taking in how much she'd changed too. There was a quiet strength in her now: "You really do look stronger."
Erika exhaled: "Just wait until you see Dakota."
Chifuyu hesitated: "The attack—"
Erika: "Let's not talk about it too much," she said softly. "Not tonight."
Chifuyu nodded. "Okay."
They let the silence settle again, warm and familiar.
Then Erika smiled: "Do you remember the time you, Dakota, and I tried to skip school to catch that limited anime exhibit?"
Chifuyu groaned: "Don't remind me. We only made it two blocks before your mom caught us."
Erika: "She was so mad," she laughed. "But Dakota cried like his life was ending. That's what made her forgive us."
Chifuyu: "Hey, I cried too!"
Erika: "I know." She grinned. "But Dakota cried first. And louder."
Chifuyu shook his head, but the laugh that escaped him felt good. So good he didn't want it to end: "That was so long ago."
Erika: "Yeah, it was."
He laughed again. She smiled. A comfortable nostalgia wrapped around them.
Erika: "Hey, so…in the morning, I need to go home. My mom and little brother—well, I haven't seen them since the attack. I haven't seen them since the attack."
Chifuyu nodded: "Of course. Family first."
Erika: "I don't know how long I'll stay. A week. Maybe two. Maybe longer. I want to spend time with them."
Chifuyu: "Take as much time as you need."
Erika: "Okay. I'll be back. I want to be here."
Chifuyu looked at her, and warmth flickered through him: "I'll be waiting for you."
Erika smiled, tender and grateful.
For a moment, it felt like the world had finally taken its hands off their shoulders. Like things would be okay.
Eventually, Erika got up from the couch, stretching her arms overhead: "I should sleep. Shoyo's teleporting me home in the morning."
Chifuyu stood too: "I'll show you to your room."
They walked quietly down the hall until they reached the room.
Erika turned, giving him a small wave: "Goodnight, Chifuyu."
Chifuyu: "Night, Erika."
The door closed softly behind her, leaving Chifuyu standing in the hallway. Chifuyu felt a faint, hopeful warmth settle in his chest. Maybe things weren't okay yet. But they would be.