Wandering Around

The square was eerily silent after Hotaru disappeared, her last words lingering in the air like a ghostly echo. Kazuki stood frozen, his mind racing.

"A Trailblazer? Like me?" he muttered, staring at the spot where she had been. His chest tightened as he tried to piece it together, but none of it made sense.

The realization hit him like a brick.

"Wait… where am I supposed to stay?" he said aloud. "I don't even have a place to sleep!"

Kazuki wandered aimlessly, his footsteps feeling heavier with each step. His thoughts spiraled—Hotaru's cryptic words, his strange fall into this world, and now this. How was he supposed to survive here?

Suddenly, a familiar voice broke through his thoughts.

"There you are! Took you long enough!"

Kazuki turned around and saw Lumi standing a few feet away, her cheeks puffed like a squirrel's, stuffed with snacks. She held a large bag filled with colorful packages, and her eyes sparkled with joy as she munched on another bite.

"W-Where did you go?" Kazuki stammered, half relieved and half exasperated. "And… what's with all the snacks?"

Lumi grinned, trying to speak through her full mouth. "Gimme a sec—too much cake." She swallowed and raised her hands triumphantly. "Ta-da! I found the best snack shop in all of Eidolon! Limited-edition moonfruit tarts and stardust crisps! Pretty cool, right?"

Kazuki blinked. "…I was freaking out here, and you were off shopping?"

"Obviously!" Lumi said, tossing him a small, glowing pastry. "You looked stressed, so I thought snacks would help!"

Kazuki caught it, staring at the strange glowing treat in his hand. For a moment, his tension eased. Lumi's carefree energy was oddly comforting, even if she was completely unpredictable.

"Well," Lumi continued, tapping her chin thoughtfully, "you don't have a place to stay yet, do you?"

Kazuki sighed. "Nope. Not even a clue."

"No worries! I've got that covered!" Lumi winked and spun around. "Follow me! I'll take you to a place where you can crash for now."

Kazuki hesitated but decided to trust her. With Hotaru's sudden disappearance still on his mind, sticking with Lumi felt like the safest option.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

Lumi looked back over her shoulder with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You'll see! It's a secret!"