The morning sun filtered softly through the eastern windows of the old inn. The faint scent of porridge and firewood lingered in the air. Red had risen early, as always, and already finished a light stretch of sword forms behind the building.
Inside, the rest of the room slowly stirred awake.
"Lia, stop kicking!" Lana groaned under the shared blanket.
"You were hogging it!" Lia protested.
Lio sighed and sat up from the floor mat, stretching his sore limbs.
Lio: "Alright, alright. I'll go get breakfast. Stay inside until I'm back."
Selena looked up from tying her boots.
Selena: "You're volunteering now? What happened to the boy who couldn't even cook rice properly?"
"I'm not cooking," Lio said flatly. "I'm buying."
He grabbed a small pouch of copper coins from the table and stepped outside.
The guild plaza was already filling by the time Lio arrived, young adventurers posting notices, merchants shouting offers, and a few street musicians warming up near the fountain. Lio moved through the crowd with practiced ease, heading toward the bakery stand for fresh rolls.
But just off to the side, beneath the shade of the clocktower, sat a girl.
She had long black hair tied in a soft ribbon, and wore a faded shawl that covered most of her light frame. Her black eyes peeked out from beneath her bangs, darting between people and quickly away again. She was like a ghost in the plaza, always present, never noticed.
Except today.
Lio paused, then gave her a small wave.
Lio: "Hey."
The girl blinked.
"You okay?" he asked. "You've been sitting here for a while. Kinda look like you could use breakfast too."
Yuzu opened her mouth, then froze. Her heart thumped hard against her ribs. "I...I'm okay…"
"You sure?" he smiled. "You look like you're about to faint."
That was Lio. Warm without trying. Kind without noticing. Just naturally disarming.
Yuzu's cheeks turned pink. "I… um… I like the bakery here."
Lio chuckled. "Good taste. Their honey buns are the best."
She watched as he bought a few, including one he handed to her.
Lio: "Here. You look like you haven't eaten yet."
Her hands trembled as she took it. "Th-thank you…"
He scratched his head. "I'm Lio, by the way. You're always around here, right?"
"Yuzu…"
Lio: "Nice to meet you, Yuzu." He flashed a casual grin.
Lio: "Wanna walk with me? I'm just heading back to the inn. We've got a weird group, but they're good people."
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
And followed.
Back at the inn, Red leaned against the wooden doorway, arms crossed. His gaze locked on the new girl clinging nervously to the edge of Lio's sleeve. He didn't speak right away, and the room was deathly still as everyone else noticed her.
Selena blinked once, then grinned. "Lio… you brought a girl home."
Lio's eyes widened. "What?!no! She was just sitting alone and I thought..."
Rika leaned against the wall and threw her arms up dramatically. "And so begins the romantic saga of Lio the Bread Knight, who rescues damsels with pastries!"
Lia and Lana giggled and danced around Yuzu, singing in unison:"Big Brother's got a girl~ Big Brother's got a girl~!"
"I'm not...!! She's not...!! I just!...!!" Lio flailed helplessly.
Yuzu, caught in the eye of the storm, stood frozen, her cheeks bright crimson. "I–I'm sorry! I didn't mean to intrude...!"
Selena stepped in smoothly, placing a calming hand on Yuzu's shoulder. "Relax. It's tradition to bully the new person. You're one of us now."
Lio groaned and dropped into a chair. "Can we not make this a thing…?"
Rika crossed her legs, smirking. "You did call her cute when you walked in."
Lio: "I said no such thing!"
"You looked like you were thinking it," Rika teased.
Lio: "I was just being nice!"
Selena tilted her head. "That's how it starts, Romeo."
Hina walked over to Yuzu with a soft smile. "You must be tired. Would you like something to drink? I made some tea earlier."
"I...yes, thank you," Yuzu said, voice trembling, but a tiny smile broke through.
From the side, Red finally moved.
He approached the girl slowly, and the teasing energy vanished like a candle snuffed in the wind. His presence had a weight that silenced the room.
"Yuzu," he said plainly. "You've been watching the guild from a distance for over a week. Every morning, every night."
Her eyes widened. "You… noticed me?"
"I notice everything," Red replied. "You weren't just curious. You were afraid."
She looked down, ashamed.
"I wanted to be part of something," she whispered.
Yuzu: "But I'm… not strong. People always forget I'm there."
Red didn't blink. "You don't need to be strong now. But you have to be willing."
She looked up, heart pounding.
Red: "Willing to learn. Willing to bleed. Willing to fail."
Yuzu straightened. Her hands clenched at her sides.
Yuzu: "I am."
"Then you're with us," Red said.
The room seemed to release a breath all at once.
Selena smiled and returned to her seat. "Guess we're going to need another bed."
"I'm not sleeping next to her!" Lio protested immediately.
Rika snorted. "Please, she's safer next to a bear."
Yuzu covered her mouth and giggled quietly. "I'll sleep on the floor if I have to…"
"No one sleeps on the floor," Hina said gently. "We'll make it work."
Lia climbed into Lio's lap and grinned. "Do we call her Sister Yuzu now?"
Lio: "She's not—!!"
Lana jumped onto his other side. "Sister-in-law?"
Lio: "PLEASE STOP."
The room burst into laughter.
Even Red allowed a small curve at the corner of his mouth.
Later that evening, after the group had settled, Red stood again by the window, arms folded.
Selena joined him with a quiet glance. "She's not the kind of girl who survives out there."
"No," Red said. "But neither were you."
Selena didn't answer for a long time. Then, "I'm glad you found her first."
Red: "Me too."
And in the flickering lamplight of that quiet inn, the team grew once more.
Seven now, not by destiny, but by quiet decisions made by a man who never spoke of dreams.
Only action.
Only trust.