The morning sunlight continued to pour through the living room windows, bathing the house in a warm golden glow.
Yet despite the peaceful atmosphere, the room had become unusually quiet.
Only moments ago, both Yuma and Serena had learned that they would inherit the ancient Cybernetic Protocols passed down by their respective families.
The revelation had left a lingering emotion in everyone's heart.
Hope.
Anticipation.
A little fear.
And above all else...
Determination.
Reige gently patted Serena's shoulder before returning to his seat. The proud smile on his face never faded, though his eyes betrayed the emotions of a father finally accepting that his daughter was no longer a little girl.
Across the table, Yuma was still processing everything he had heard.
His father's technique.
His father's hometown.
The promise Alumna had carried for so many years.
The more he thought about it, the more questions filled his mind.
Before he could ask any of them—
Alumna calmly stood.
His chair slid backward with a quiet scrape against the wooden floor.
"There is one more thing."
Immediately, everyone's attention shifted toward him.
Alumna looked directly at Yuma.
"We leave today."
"..."
Yuma blinked.
"...Today?"
Alumna nodded once.
"Immediately after lunch."
The young boy stared blankly.
"...Leave?"
His brows furrowed in confusion.
"Sensei..."
"...What do you mean leave?"
Alumna folded his arms behind his back.
"You and I will begin your Cybernetic Protocol training immediately."
Yuma nodded.
"...Okay."
"We will not be training here."
"...Then where?"
For the first time since entering the house, a faint smile appeared on Alumna's face.
"Osaka."
The single word immediately drew everyone's attention.
"Osaka?" Yuma repeated.
Alumna nodded.
"Your father's hometown."
Silence filled the room.
The words struck Yuma far harder than he expected.
"...My father's..."
He had heard stories.
Very few.
Most of them vague.
He knew his father had once lived somewhere in western Japan.
But no one had ever told him exactly where.
Alumna continued.
"It is also..."
He paused.
"...the birthplace of your family's Cybernetic Protocol."
Yuma's heart skipped.
"My family's..."
"Every ancient Protocol has an origin."
"Every lineage has a beginning."
"The one you will inherit..."
"...was born there."
The room remained silent.
Yuma slowly lowered his eyes.
He had spent years wondering what kind of man his father truly was.
What he believed in.
How he fought.
What kind of smile he had.
Now...
For the first time...
He would be walking through the very streets his father once called home.
Alumna's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Pack only what you need."
"We'll remain there for several weeks."
"...Several weeks?"
"You'll understand why once training begins."
Stud nearly choked on a potato chip.
"...Several weeks?!"
He immediately floated toward Yuma.
"My dear boy!"
He dramatically grabbed Yuma's sleeve with one of his tiny tentacles.
"Don't leave me with her!"
He pointed toward Serena.
"I enjoy living!"
Serena slowly looked toward him.
"...What was that?"
"...Nothing."
The tiny poltergeist immediately hid behind Yuma.
"I value my existence."
Reige laughed quietly.
Even Erika covered her mouth to hide a smile.
Alumna then shifted his gaze toward Serena.
His expression remained unreadable.
"...You don't mind me borrowing your husband for a while?"
The room became strangely quiet.
Yuma nearly fell off his chair.
"W-Wait—"
Serena looked directly at Alumna.
Not embarrassed.
Not flustered.
She simply crossed her arms.
"...I don't."
Everyone blinked.
"...Take all the time you need."
Yuma froze.
"...Huh?"
She shrugged casually.
"He'll probably come back with less common sense than he already has."
"I HAVE COMMON SENSE!"
"You forgot we didn't have school today."
"...That was one time."
"It happened this morning."
"..."
"...Fair."
Stud nodded solemnly.
"The defense rests."
The room erupted into quiet laughter.
Even Alumna allowed the corner of his mouth to rise ever so slightly.
"Good."
He turned toward Yuma.
"You have thirty minutes."
"Yes, Sensei."
Yuma quietly climbed the stairs.
His footsteps echoed softly throughout the hallway.
When he reached his room, he closed the door behind him and stood still for several moments.
"...Osaka..."
The word still felt unreal.
He slowly pulled his backpack from beside the bed.
It wasn't large.
Just enough for clothes and a few necessities.
He unzipped it.
Then began folding shirts one by one.
A black hoodie.
Several pairs of jeans.
Training clothes.
A toothbrush.
A notebook.
His phone charger.
Each item disappeared into the backpack.
Simple.
Ordinary.
Yet every folded shirt made the reality sink in a little deeper.
He wasn't leaving for a vacation.
He was leaving to inherit the legacy of the father he barely remembered.
His hands slowed.
He looked toward the window.
"...Dad..."
The room remained silent.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I'll finally get to know you..."
Then—
Knock.
Knock.
His thoughts broke.
"...Come in."
The bedroom door slowly opened.
Serena quietly stepped inside.
She had changed out of her apron.
Her ponytail had been undone, allowing her brown hair to fall naturally over her shoulders.
She closed the door behind her.
Neither of them spoke immediately.
The room felt strangely peaceful.
Yuma smiled first.
"...Looks like your dream is finally coming true."
Serena looked at him.
"My dream?"
"You wanted to become a real Geist."
He continued placing folded clothes inside his bag.
"...Looks like you'll finally get there."
A small smile appeared on Serena's face.
"...Yeah."
Her voice was quieter than usual.
"I guess I will."
Silence returned.
Yuma continued packing.
Neither of them felt the need to force conversation.
Somehow...
The silence itself felt comfortable.
Then—
Soft footsteps.
Before Yuma realized it—
Two gentle arms wrapped around him from behind.
He froze.
His eyes widened.
"...S-Serena?"
Her forehead rested lightly against his back.
Her voice came out barely above a whisper.
"...If you turn around..."
She tightened the hug slightly.
"...I'm going to slap you."
Yuma couldn't help laughing softly.
"...That's a terrifying threat."
"I'm serious."
"I know."
She remained quiet for several seconds.
When she finally spoke again...
Her voice carried emotions she rarely allowed anyone else to hear.
"...I'm not mentally prepared for this..."
She buried her face against his back.
"...So..."
"...Just let me be."
Yuma's smile softened.
"...Okay."
He didn't move.
Didn't turn around.
Didn't say anything.
He simply stood there.
Allowing her to stay exactly as she wanted.
Several quiet moments passed.
Then—
"...Thank you."
Yuma blinked.
"Hm?"
Her grip tightened slightly.
"...I've wanted to become a Geist ever since I was little."
Her voice trembled just enough for him to notice.
"...As I got older..."
"...I slowly gave up."
She laughed weakly.
"...Dad was always so protective."
"I started thinking..."
"...Maybe he would never let me."
She paused.
"But..."
"...Thanks to you..."
A small tear rolled down her cheek.
"...I'm almost there."
Yuma slowly closed his eyes.
"...You earned it."
Serena shook her head.
"No."
"I had to work hard..."
"...but..."
She smiled against his back.
"...You changed everything."
"If you hadn't come into my life..."
"I don't think Dad would've ever believed I was ready."
Yuma's expression softened.
"...Then..."
"I'm glad I did."
Silence returned once more.
This time...
It wasn't awkward.
It wasn't sad.
It was simply two friends quietly acknowledging how much they had changed each other's lives.
After another moment—
Serena slowly released him.
She took two small steps backward.
Yuma still didn't turn around until he heard her move away.
When he finally faced her—
She had already wiped away the tears from her eyes.
The determined Serena had returned.
Almost.
She smiled.
Not the teasing smile she usually wore.
Not an embarrassed one.
A genuine smile.
Bright.
Confident.
She raised her right hand.
Closing it into a fist.
She extended it toward him.
A silent promise.
Yuma smiled.
He understood immediately.
He gently bumped his fist against hers.
"...Let's both get stronger."
Serena nodded.
Her smile widened.
"...And become..."
She looked straight into his eyes.
"...the greatest Geists to ever live."
Yuma smiled back.
"...It's a promise."
Their fists remained together for one brief moment.
Neither of them knew what awaited them.
Yuma would journey to Osaka to inherit the forgotten legacy of his father.
Serena would remain behind to begin the training she had dreamed of since childhood under the guidance of the father she admired most.
Different paths.
Different teachers.
The same destination.
And although they would train apart—
Neither of them doubted the other.
Because both knew...
The next time they stood side by side...
They would no longer be rookie Geists.
They would be stronger.
Far stronger than they had ever imagined.