The Future I Want
Even after all that, Luna didn't change.
Still bouncing around, still running from lenders...
Still blowing her earnings at the casino every night.
Is it already the New Year...?
It's already the New Year... and I still haven't found a way.
But I'm not giving up.
I refuse to believe that human effort and determination are meaningless.
But how do I convince Luna?
I was sitting on a bench watching people set up for the festival.
Hey! You!
Aren't you the one who was with that oracle girl running a fortune teller tent a while back?
As soon as I saw his face, I recognized him.
He was the young man who'd asked for a date to the red-haired girl next door.
And got rejected... just like Luna predicted.
I've been looking all over for you!
Wanted to say thanks, but you two vanished after that day.
Thanks for what?
Yeah... I was so depressed at that time when I got her reading.
And you know, Luna wasn't wrong. I was rebuffed.
But...
But?
I heard later that the oracle girl blew up all the houses trying to take out a giant slime.
S-sorry about that!
No, it's fine! I'm not mad at you.
One of the houses that got hit was hers. The girl I had crushed on.
I offered to help fix it, and...
Well, one thing led to another. We started spending time together, and now we're dating!
What...?
Apparently, she fell in love because of the rippling muscles in my arms while I was hauling construction materials.
But... that was...
I know, I know. It's not like she wrecked the place for me.
But still, I got the love of my life thanks to her.
So I just wanted to express my gratitude.
Please, tell that oracle girl that she doesn't owe me a thing.
No compensation needed. Hahaha!
I looked at the young man walking away with a smile.
He joined the red-haired girl and the two melted into the festival crowd.
I then stood up and started to run.
Your daughter's asthma got better?
That's right.
At first, I felt terrible.
We had to move to a cheaper neighborhood, even though it wasn't great for her health.
But then out of nowhere, the forest behind our new place just dried up and died.
R-really...
No no. You won't believe this part.
You know what? It turns out that forest was the main reason of the tick problem?!
Sure, it's sad to lose a whole forest... but my daughter's health is all I care about.
I heard it was some kind of magical disaster...
But to me? Whoever caused it is a lifesaver. If I ever meet them, I'd like to thank them in person.
Huh? What are you talking about?
You think I'd abandon my business dreams over some petty fortune telling?!
...
Well, okay, fine. There was a bit of a problem.
Right after hearing the fortune, I gathered up some spare funds to join an investment consortium.
But apparently, due to some mix-up at the post office, the request letter arrived a week late.
When I found out, I was ready to lead the knights to storm the post office and tear it down...
Knights...?
...
Did I said knights...?
I mean... I was mad enough to raise one! Totally figurative, of course.
Anyway...
Turns out during that week's delay, the whole consortium was exposed as a scam.
So, thanks to that, I got to keep my spare fund.
That's good to hear.
But it changes nothing!
I will do business, I will succeed, and I will make money!
That is my destiny! My future—unchanging and inevitable!
Yep! Got it! Thanks!
Hey! I'm not finished, how rude...!
I ignored the rest of her rant and turned away.
Maybe nothing really changed.
Maybe it was all just coincidence.
But...
Huh? Captain?!
...Annah?
Hmm...
I was hoping to be more prepared before seeing you again, but...
Anyway! I owe you an apology.
Apology...?
Sorry... for last time! I was totally wrong!
I looked into it and according to Town Guard special protocols, a Journey Captain does have the authority to apply for exemptions if it's for the sake of training.
It doesn't place you above the law... but a fortune teller tent can be allowed.
Wait... does that mean...!
As a representative of the Town Guard, I apologize for not recognizing that sooner!
Your confiscated funds, I mean, your special earnings are safely stored at Town Guard HQ.
You can pick them up any time.
I see...
And as a token of apology...!
If you ever need help from the Town Guard, you have our full support—
Wait, Captain!
Sorry, I'm a bit busy right now!
I started running.
First, I headed to Town Guard HQ to retrieve what was taken.
Then, without a rest, I sprinted toward the one place I knew Luna would be.
Yeah... the casino.
Luna!
C-Captain?
I-is it time for training already?
I-I was just about to leave! Really! So...
Today is your day off.
Huh? O-oh... right. My day off...
Like I said before, these casinos don't have any windows, haha...
...
So what about you? Coming here on your day off...
Hah! Don't tell me you've finally tasted the thrill of gambling, and you're here for another round?
That's right.
...Huh?
Seriously?
I looked at the table in front of Luna.
All that was left were a few grimy coins. No doubt she lost everything she borrowed again today.
At first, I thought Luna was just bad at gambling.
Well... that's part of it, sure. But to be more precise...
I think she gambles to lose everything.
Because she's seen too much, lived in a world where nothing surprises her anymore...
She's forgotten how to hope for joy and happiness.
I'm all in.
I laid every coin I had onto the table.
!!!
C-Captain, you probably don't know this because you're new...
You can't just go all in from the start! You've gotta feel out the flow...
Luna.
I looked her straight in the eyes.
Do you think I'll win?
Uh...
Are you asking me to tell you the outcome?
Sorry, but no... Not even for you.
Gambling's sacred. I've got my own rules, you know?
That's not what I meant.
I'm asking if I win, will it make you happy?
That's...
...
Luna always sees the future. The fixed future.
She might not peek at the outcome of each game, but...
I'm sure she's seen it—the same ending again and again. Herself, broke. Nothing left.
Or maybe she just assumes that's all there ever could be.
But... she did say something once.
That in her vision of the future, I wasn't there.
If that's true, maybe...
I want you to tell me the future you want.
The future... I want?
Yeah. So I'll ask again.
If I win this game, will it make you happy?
...
Yeah.
Really... I really think it will!
Alright!
Without hesitation, I tossed the dice.
And the result was...
...Wow.
I really didn't expected this...
You really paid it all back, huh?
I made a small smile at the loan shark's words.
The futures you don't see coming are the ones that make us happy.
Don't get too excited.
Like I told you before, she borrowed from me five times.
There's still four more to go.
And don't forget the other lenders still sniffing around.
...
But... hey.
It's the New Year's festival. No more boring talk tonight.
Got my money. That's enough.
Go have fun, Captain!
I watched him walk away. Then turned back.
Luna was standing there, looking at me.
She looked uncertain. Like she wasn't quite sure what expression to wear.
So... Technically...
My prophecy wasn't wrong.
I still ended up broke.
Right, Captain?
...Yeah.
I smiled.
But you had fun, didn't you?
...
Yeah.
I really did!
For the first time in my whole life!
Fireworks burst in the sky behind her smile.
A dazzling burst of fireworks lit up the night, welcoming the New Year.
I heard that... there's a rocket launch or something after the fireworks.
Ever seen a rocket launch before?
Me? No... I was usually holed up in a casino...
Then, Let's go watch together.
...
Yeah!