A Pleasant Day
One random refreshingly crisp morning.
I was on my way through the park to the training grounds.
...?
I heard something rustling underneath the children's play structure...
*Yawn*...
Looks like it's morning already...
Oh, Captain? Good morning.
...Luna?!
What on earth are you doing down here?
Sleeping. What else?
If you block this side and that side with some thick cardboard sheets, it's surprisingly cozy.
You slept... here?!
Why... why would you do that?
Journey members are provided quarters from Candle Square.
You do know you have a place to stay, right? No need to go homeless.
Ugh, Captain... it's not technically free.
There's that monthly utility fee, remember?
It so absurd!
That's what your subsidy is for.
Wait, don't tell me you already blew through it...
...
...I'll leave that as an open question.
Luna turned her gaze toward the distant sky, expertly dodging the question.
You... are paying back your debts, right?
Her gaze drifted even further into the void.
Today feels...
Feels like... the breeze is a bit chilly this morning...
C-calm down, Captain! Calm down! Sheesh!
It was just a bad streak yesterday, that's all!
I swear, I'll win it all back next time!
...
...
...You heard that, didn't you?
It's not the kind of thing you can bring up so easily, but for Luna's sake, someone has to do it.
Hey... is it just me, or is there a... smell?
Smell? What smell?
I didn't answer. Just stared at her.
...
F-for real?
...I think I don't...
...
...Do I smell bad?
Judging by the state she was in, she hadn't just spent one night out here.
...
...Aw...
Alright. That's it. Get up!
Forget about training.
What she needs right now is a lesson on how to be a decent human being.
I took her to a public bath in the city.
Luna seemed shocked that she smelled—she just followed me without a word.
Aaaah, hot water... You have no idea how much I needed this!
I'm melting... literally melting...
Her voice echoed loud enough to shake the walls.
While she soaked, I took her clothes for speed-laundering.
Once she was cleaned up and dressed, I took her to the cafeteria for a late meal.
Luna devoured the food—saying she was famished would've been an understatement.
Watching her eating, I spoke.
Keep eating, but listen. I've got a plan.
According to the liaison officer, if we complete the Journey, we will be rewarded with a substantial amount of monetary reward.
I believe it's more than enough to pay off her debts.
And also enough to get me out of this whole guarantor mess. It's a win-win.
Mmmn?! *Gulp*!
Oh, that? There's a slight problem...
It's fine. You've got potential, Luna. If you just put in the work...
No, no, I mean, I already spent the reward money in advance.
...What?
Hahaha! Oh, you silly.
Why else did you think I signed up for the Journey?!
That part was totally accounted for in my plan.
You're just throwing that term around!
Then who are those loan sharks?!
As soon as I got the invitation to the Journey, I knew it was a big chance—one that only comes around three times in a lifetime.
So I maxed out every loan I could get and stepped into the showdown.
But it wasn't enough. Right when I was about to seal the deal, I ran out of funds.
So I kind of maybe... borrowed a little from loan shaks...
I mean... a lot more...?
...
Hahaha, but hey! Don't worry!
Every showdown is a numbers game—simple statistics.
Considering all the buy-ins I've made, my big win is just around the corner.
I can feel it! I'm right on the edge!
So, that said. Can I borrow some money, Captain?
They say humans freeze when faced with something beyond understanding.
I guess I'm no different. For a moment, my mind just... shut down.
When I finally came to, I asked with what little strength I had left.
Why are you like this?
You could be doing something that actually means something...
....Because nothing does.
Hmm...?
Hmm...? Did I say something?
Anyway, if you really want an answer... here's my motto: You only live once.
Nobody knows what's going to happen tomorrow, right?
Pretty bold words coming from someone who claims to see the future.
Hehe, does is sound like that? Then...
Maybe... it's because the future isn't always something I can deal with.
But hey! Today's been fun with you around.
Way more fun than I expected, honestly.
That so...
Yup!
Then we'll need to balance things out.
...Huh?
W-what kind of balance... are you talking about...?
If there's one thing I learned today from our conversation...
Finishing the Journey won't solve all of Luna's problems.
But failing to finish it will only make things worse.
Which means there's only one way forward.
The training of the day, which started late, went on more than originally planned, long after sundown.