A Home!

The sky mixes with hues of orange and red as the sun began its slow descent beyond the horizon as the squad was moving for Second Revival leaf to revive their dead-cousin, STELLER. Shadows stretched long over the rugged cliffside, where the group walked in quiet anticipation. A vast, open meadow sprawled before them, its golden grass swaying gently in the evening breeze. The tranquility of the scene was interrupted by a distant, rising plume of smoke from earlier explosion—dark and ominous against the soft sky. The explosion's remnants left a deep tension hanging in the air.

Bapo nudged Illegal Hound's arm, speaking in a hushed tone.

BAPO: Well, what did you think about that?

ILLEGAL HOUND: About what?

BAPO smirked as he clarified.

BAPO: Your name… what do you think of it?

Hound gave an indifferent shrug.

ILLEGAL HOUND: Still don't have anything in mind.

Bapo exhaled dramatically, as if disappointed.

BAPO: Tsk. I still think you should do races and become a 'RACIST.'

Without hesitation, Hound wrapped an arm around Bapo's neck and locked him in place.

ILLEGAL HOUND (sarcastically): Yeah, very funny. Look, I'm laughing…

BAPO (choking): Y-You are la—

Behind them, Saifur and Aqua chuckled at their usual bickering.

By the time night had fully fallen, the sky was a tapestry of endless stars, each glimmering brightly against the velvety darkness. The distant fire from the explosion site flickered against the backdrop, casting eerie shadows across the land. Despite the ominous sight, something else caught their attention.

Saifur's eyes widened in awe.

SAIFUR: It feels like it's a huge stroke of luck that we found this…

A short distance from the explosion site stood an abandoned wooden house, partially hidden between tall, swaying trees. Its structure seemed sturdy despite its age, but the windows were shattered— fragments of glass glistened under the moonlight.

AQUA: Maybe the explosion broke the windows…

Cautiously, they stepped inside. Dust motes floated in the air, illuminated by the dim moonlight filtering through the cracks in the walls. The wooden floors creaked softly beneath their weight, but the house itself seemed well-maintained, as if someone had left in a hurry long ago.

The lounge was spacious, with a grand, yet aged, wooden table in the center surrounded by elegant but slightly worn-out sofas. A dark brown carpet covered most of the floor, giving the room a cozy warmth despite its emptiness. Three rooms branched out from the lounge, each containing three single beds, surprisingly intact. The sheets were old but clean, and plump pillows were neatly stacked.

Bapo wasted no time throwing himself onto one of the mattresses. He sunk into its softness, his eyes gleaming with joy.

BAPO: WHOA! THIS IS IT! THIS IS WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR IN THIS PLACE! GOODBYE, ICE BEDS—HELLO, SOFT BEDS!

Saifur shook his head in mild disdain.

SAIFUR: This guy has no shame…

Aqua, on the other hand, was mesmerized by something else. Her gaze fixated on the lounge's chimney—a feature she had never seen before.

AQUA: WOAHH! LET'S LIVE HERE!

BAPO: Damn… THIS IS HEAVEN!

Though their excitement filled the room, Hound's mind was elsewhere. He stood at the doorway, his gaze locked on the distant explosion site. The orange glow of fire flickered like an unnatural heartbeat in the dark.

ILLEGAL HOUND (muttering): Is Tackler okay…?

A quick glance at his watch reminded him—only four hours remained for reviving Steller. Eight hours had already passed since they started their journey.

ILLEGAL HOUND: We need to get Steller back too…

Saifur noticed Hound's pensive expression and stepped outside to stand beside him. An awkward silence settled between them, neither sure how to begin a conversation.

A cool breeze swept across the landscape, rustling the leaves and carrying the distant scent of charred wood. The sounds of Bapo and Aqua happily exploring the house filled the air, a stark contrast to the weight of unspoken thoughts between Hound and Saifur.

Throwback to the Past

Hound and Saifur had always struggled to find common ground. Hound was deeply into sports, while Saifur's interests leaned toward intricate game theories. Unlike Tackler and Bapo—who could connect over the most absurd nonsense—Saifur and Hound's conversations were limited to mutual interests, which were rare.

One evening, all the cousins had gathered at Bapo's house for a game night. His parents were out, so the lounge was theirs for the night. Thebe and Bapo had been passionately debating game lore—ironically, about a game neither of them had even played.

BAPO: EVEN IF THE WALL WASN'T THERE, LOOK AT THE TIME! THE TIME TELLS EVERYTHING! THE EVENTS ARE A LOOP!

THEBE: AIN'T NO WAY! THE CLOCK WAS NEVER SHOWN IN THE GAME. HOW THE HECK DID YOU EVEN REALIZE WHAT TIME IT WAS?

Hound had initially attempted to join their conversation but quickly realized it was a lost cause. Instead, he gravitated toward Aqua and Steller, who were discussing school.

Aqua had a unique way of seeing things—she knew a little about everything yet was oblivious to much. Suddenly, she turned to Steller with an offer.

AQUA: Steller, answer this, and I'll get you fries tomorrow.

Intrigued, everyone stopped to listen.

AQUA: Where did Roy go after getting lost in a minefield?

There was a long pause.

STELLER: Zigzag? He can dodge the mines if he goes like that…

Thebe, Bapo, and Hound gave up instantly, sensing that whatever the answer was, it wasn't going to make sense.

TACKLER: Maybe backwards? The way he came?

Aqua grinned.

AQUA: Everyone ready?

A beat of silence. Then—

AQUA: EVERYWHERE.

STELLER/TACKLER/THEBE/SAIFUR: "☠☠☠☠"

The room erupted into laughter. Saifur, despite himself, laughed the hardest. Hound didn't understand the joke but chose not to ask.

After a while, everyone had returned to their tasks. Hound, however, turned to Aqua with a question.

HOUND: Hey Aqua, what was the ID password for our game server again?

Aqua perked up at the mention of it, her interest piqued.

AQUA: Huh? Server? You guys didn't tell me you were playing (#E@#ft? Without me?!

Hound froze. He realized he was completely screwed—Saifur had created the server, but only he, Hound, and Steller had been playing.

When Steller overheard Hound spilling the secret, she immediately vanished into thin air.

Saifur, mid-sip, choked on his drink, coughing violently.SAIFUR: HOW THE HECK DID SHE DO THAT?!

Aqua, now fully invested, turned to Saifur.

AQUA: Can I join?

Saifur sighed. He didn't really have a choice.SAIFUR: Yeah, sure…

Hound was surprised. Aqua didn't seem mad at all. She simply walked away, heading toward the kitchen, where Steller had reappeared.

Hound blinked. When did she get there?

Shrugging it off, he approached Saifur and sat down beside him.

At first, they sat in silence, just chilling. Then, out of nowhere, they heard Tackler shouting in frustration over a lost game.

Bapo, who was playing with him, smirked, holding up his phone. He had recorded Tackler's outburst. With a satisfied nod, he stopped the recording and declared:

BAPO: I'm setting this as my ringtone.

Steller, watching from a distance, panicked.STELLER: SOMEONE TAKE HIS PHONE!

Hearing their usual antics, Hound couldn't help but smile. He then turned to Saifur and, in a rare moment of sincerity, asked:

HOUND: How have you been?

Saifur shot him a look of pure disdain.

SAIFUR: You really don't know how to start a conversation…

Hound blinked, confused.HOUND: Huh?

SAIFUR: I'm not your wife or something, bro. Be casual.

Hound stared at him, utterly baffled. He had no idea how to respond. Somehow, this just made talking to Saifur even harder.

PRESENT

Back in the present, Hound found himself standing beside Saifur again. The warmth of that past moment contrasted sharply with the cold, suspicious air around them.

SAIFUR: Hey…

Hound turned his head slightly.

ILLEGAL HOUND: Hey…

Saifur glanced back at the house, rubbing the back of his head.

SAIFUR: I think we should mark this place. At night, we can rest here… This place is really good, though.

Hound nodded, pulling out a map from his bag. He studied it for a moment, then took out a pen.

ILLEGAL HOUND: So, we're here…

As he hovered the pen over the map, Saifur raised a brow in suspicion.

SAIFUR: Hey… We can't see the map. How are you even marking locations?

He leaned in for a closer look and realized—Hound wasn't marking anything at all. He was just hovering the pen over the map, pretending. Saifur snickered.

SAIFUR: What are you, an eighth grader?

Hound's expression remained neutral, but his slight stiffness betrayed his embarrassment. Ignoring Saifur's teasing, he pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of the starry night sky.

Saifur, noticing, blinked in surprise.

SAIFUR: Hey… You know how to use it?

Hound gave him a puzzled look.

ILLEGAL HOUND: It's a common thing, bro… Even you have one.

Saifur's expression darkened slightly.

SAIFUR: I had one… but now I don't. I forgot how to use it.

Hound frowned at that, curiosity stirring in his mind.

ILLEGAL HOUND: Maybe that's one of the effects of coming here. It might've happened to one, not the other… Anyway, don't tell anyone. They'll be worried.

Saifur wasn't sure why that would be a problem, but he nodded anyway. The sound of Bapo and Aqua happily exploring the house echoed in the distance. Deciding it was time to move, Saifur grabbed both of them by their bag handles and dragged them out.

BAPO: What's the big deal? We were just looking around…

ILLEGAL HOUND: We can look around all we want after we get Steller and Tackler back. Did you forget what's our priority?

Turning to Aqua, he handed her the map.

ILLEGAL HOUND: Aqua, can you pinpoint this location? We'll come back here once we have both of them.

Aqua and Bapo, still brimming with excitement over the house, exchanged glances.

AQUA: Sure!

Hound watched as she marked the house's location and drew trails of their travel.

AQUA: Here. I also made trails so you guys can follow them back.

With that, they resumed their journey. After an hour of walking, the explosion site loomed near.

As they continued walking, Saifur turned to Aqua, his voice tinged with concern.SAIFUR: Hey, Aqua… do you think Tackler will be okay? I'm worried about him…

Aqua hesitated, unsure how to respond. She didn't want to add to Saifur's worries, so she tried to reassure him.AQUA: Well… he should be okay. He has the sword, and he's learned how to use his skill… even though he's at the same level as us… or—

SAIFUR: That's too many expectations…

Aqua didn't have an answer for that. She turned toward Hound instead.AQUA: What do you think, Hound?

Before Hound could respond, his eyes caught movement ahead. A figure was approaching from the direction of the explosion site, waving both hands as he neared.

Hound narrowed his eyes.HOUND: Aqua, do you see that person? Can you tell who he is?

Aqua instinctively zoomed in, using her enhanced sight to get a closer look. Her eyes widened in shock.BAPO: Aqua?

Aqua blinked, then spoke in disbelief.AQUA: I-It's… i-it's Tackler!

She looked again just to be sure, but there was no mistake—the figure approaching them was none other than Tackler. Relief washed over her.

SAIFUR: N-No way!! [His voice brimmed with happiness.]

Bapo couldn't help but smile, feeling a wave of relief.BAPO: You're alive, bastard… [He chuckled.]

While the others rejoiced, Hound's initial joy faded, replaced by a creeping sense of unease. Something felt… off.

HOUND: Something's wrong…

His eyes studied Tackler carefully. There was something unnatural about him. Just to be sure, he turned to Aqua again.HOUND: Aqua… are you absolutely certain? That's really Tackler?

Aqua smiled confidently.AQUA: There's no way I could be wrong. His face—it's definitely him.

HOUND: His face, huh…

Tackler finally reached them.

BAPO: Hey, Tackler…

They all silently decided not to bring up Steller or why he had left them.

Tackler barely glanced at Bapo before responding in a flat, emotionless tone.TACKLER: Hey…

The coldness in his voice sent a shiver through Hound. His suspicion deepened.

Saifur, however, was too relieved to notice. He immediately bombarded Tackler with a question.SAIFUR: How did that explosion happen?

For a few seconds, Tackler simply stared at him. Then, in the same indifferent tone, he answered:TACKLER: I was fighting some powerful person there… I got really hurt fighting them…

Aqua frowned, studying him.AQUA: Tackler, are you alright? You're not talking like you usually do…

Tackler's expression didn't change.TACKLER: Do you think I'd be happy after what happened?

His words made Aqua pause. She assumed he was referring to Steller's death, though in reality, Tackler was talking about the fight. Saifur, however, found his tone uncharacteristically rude.

Hound stepped forward, his gaze piercing.HOUND: Hey… do you know my name?

Tackler met his stare but said nothing.

Bapo frowned, confused.BAPO: Why are you asking him that?

Hound didn't look away from Tackler.HOUND: Wait… [He kept his focus on Tackler and continued.] What exactly are you unhappy about?

Suddenly, raindrops began to fall. A light drizzle at first, but within moments, it turned into a steady downpour. Aqua shivered. Something felt increasingly wrong.

After a long pause, Tackler finally responded.TACKLER: I'm talking about the explosion that happened a few minutes ago… C'mon, you should get a clue…

Hound's jaw clenched. His irritation grew. Aqua's frustration showed, while Bapo and Saifur simply stood in shock.

Without hesitation, Hound reached for his ice sword, gripping its hilt.

HOUND: One last question…

He unsheathed the blade and leveled it at Tackler, his expression turning deadly serious.

 "Who are you?"

Tackler remained silent.

Hound's grip on his sword tightened.

HOUND: Tackler doesn't have one hand. We saw it get cut back there. But this bastard… he has both of them.

Saifur's breathing grew uneven as he slowly began to grasp what was happening. His voice trembled.SAIFUR: What… do you… mean, Hound?

Bapo, his face twisting in fury, grabbed Tackler by the collar and shouted.BAPO: WHERE THE HELL IS TACKLER?! WHAT DID YOU DO?!

The rain pounded harder, mirroring Bapo's growing rage. His eyes ignited with an orange glow, radiating pure hostility toward the imposter.

Saifur quickly grabbed Bapo's arm, trying to restrain him.SAIFUR: Bapo, calm down!

But Aqua wasn't calm. She was furious.

Hound's expression darkened.HOUND: Since he's not saying anything… it's better if we just kill this thing right here—

Before he could finish his sentence, Aqua darted forward, knives in hand. With a single, swift motion, she slashed through Tackler's neck—

And his head came clean off...

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