Found It
Hello, Captain. Good morning.
Tanya? Why are you here so early?
Because I promised I would be.
And you always get here early. You're always the one waiting.
So today, I wanted to be the one waiting.
Oh, right.
Tanya gave me a tight hug.
Wait a second?! My back! My poor back...!
Hmm...?
If I squeeze too hard, it hurts you.
So I'm controlling my strength. Marcille taught me how.
If you hammer too hard, the wood splits. So, everything in moderation.
Not hurting, right?
...This is actually perfect!
Right? Then let's go.
...Go where?
To your quarters.
At my quarters, Tanya expertly took apart and reassembled the faucet.
I gave it a turn to test it out and it moved smoothly.
Wow! You actually fixed it!
It wasn't the faucet. The rubber washer was the problem.
To the next place.
Maaasteeer...!
I still... I still don't get it...!
I hear the sound of ingredients frying, but I still can't tell what it's supposed to taste like...!
Don't cry. And it's okay.
Do you want to make delicious fried food?
Huh...? Of course!
Serving good food to customers is common sense for a chef!
...Good.
With that mindset, one day you'll make fried food even better than mine, apprentice No. 1.
*Sniff*
Waaaah! Masteeeeer!!
Shhh. No more tears.
I'll be taking the ingredients I asked for. Thanks for getting them ready.
Next was the general store filled with plushies.
Fox plushie, fox plushie... Bunny plushie, bunny plushie...!
Oh!
Meerkat plushie! Lots of meerkats! I want them all!
Give me every meerkat plushie you've got!
Thank you for your purchase!
...Hmm? Captain, what's wrong? Are you worried about the money?
It's fine. I've got money.
I'm not short on money.
After leaving the shop, Tanya handed me a bunch of meerkat plushies.
Tanya seemed oddly excited as we wandered around the city together. Before long, the sun began to set.
She turned toward me, the sunset at her back, arms full of plushies, faucet parts, and cooking ingredients.
Oh, right. Captain, I haven't told you yet.
I found it. What I want.
It's not something fancy like a life goal... or anything like that.
Because I already had it.
Can I ask what it is?
Everything.
Everything I have.
Petra, Marcille. Fried food... and you, Captain.
They're all things I wanted.
I didn't need to search for what I wanted. I already had it.
That's why I couldn't answer when you first asked me.
Well, Captain?
Can I pass the Journey now?
I've already told her that passing the Journey had nothing to do with having something you want.
But that probably didn't matter to Tanya anymore.
What matters is that she finally found her answer.
Of course! You'll pass, no problem.
Come to think of it... I never asked what you want, Captain.
So, what do you want?
I want to see you make it through the Journey, Tanya.
...Really?
Then I'll make it happen.
You helped me figure out what I wanted.
So now I'll make your wish come true.
...Huh?
Isn't that...?
Hmm...?
Hello, Captain!
Didn't expect to run into you here. You're basically the most famous person in NOA now, aren't you?
An elite leading the Journey!
Mmm...
We saw you at the New Year's festival, too!
We wanted to say hi, but you looked busy, so we held off. Funny running into you again here!
Mmm...!
Oh! And since we've met like this...
How about we chat a cafe nearby? Our treat!
Thanks, but—
Just as I was about to politely decline, Tanya pulled me into a hug.
Tanya...?
Grrrr...
Ah?! She's the Journey member... right?
I-I think so...?
This is a little—no, really terrifying...
...Back off!
This one's mine!
I'm not giving him to you!
*Crack* *Crack*
*Craaaaaack*
Kgh...!
Kyaaaaaah! We're so soooooooorry!!
Grrrrrrrr!!
*Craaaaaack*
Aaaaaaugh!!!
...Even after the maids fled in a panic, Tanya didn't loosen her grip.
She later apologized, looking ashamed, but I couldn't stand up straight for a while after that.