The air was thick with tension as Yuna and Kaito walked through the dense forest, their footsteps muffled by the damp earth. The sky above was barely visible through the dense canopy of trees, and the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind only added to the eerie atmosphere. They had been walking in silence for a while now, each lost in their thoughts, the weight of the upcoming mission hanging over them.

Yuna, never one to stay quiet for too long, glanced over at Kaito and decided to break the silence.

Yuna: "You always look like you're carrying the world on your shoulders, Kaito. Lighten up a little, will you?"

Kaito gave her a sidelong glance, but his expression remained as serious as ever.

Kaito: "We're heading into enemy territory, Yuna. I don't think this is the time for jokes."

Yuna smirked, kicking a rock in her path.

Yuna: "Oh, come on! We've got to break the tension somehow. Besides, I'd rather laugh than think about what's waiting for us out there."

She looked ahead, her eyes narrowing as the outline of the enemy encampment loomed in the distance. For now, though, the conversation was a good distraction. After a moment of silence, Yuna's curiosity got the best of her, and she asked the question that had been bugging her for a while.

Yuna: "Hey, Kaito, I've been meaning to ask... What's the deal with Captain Shin always wearing those glasses? You think they're for show or what?"

Kaito, keeping his gaze straight ahead, frowned slightly as if he had considered the question before.

Kaito: "I've wondered the same thing. No one knows for sure, though. There are rumors, but nothing concrete."

Yuna raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

Yuna: "Oh really? What kind of rumors?"

Kaito sighed, knowing this would encourage more of Yuna's wild speculations, but he decided to humor her.

Kaito: "Some of the junior Blades think he's hiding a scar or something. Others say the glasses help him see in the dark during night missions."

Yuna burst into laughter at the last suggestion.

Yuna: "See in the dark? Oh, that's rich! Maybe he's actually a secret owl and needs them to navigate at night!"

Kaito allowed himself a small smile but quickly reverted to his serious tone.

Kaito: "Well, there's also the theory that he's blind and the glasses help him see."

Yuna's laughter died down as she thought about it. Her face took on a mock-serious expression as she added her own ridiculous theory.

Yuna: "Or maybe he just wears them because he thinks they make him look cool. You know, like a mysterious hero. The kind that doesn't need to talk much because his glasses do all the talking."

Kaito snorted at that, shaking his head.

Kaito: "Somehow, I don't think that's it."

Yuna grinned but then looked thoughtful.

Yuna: "But seriously, why do you think he wears them? He never takes them off, not even in combat. There's got to be something more to it."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Kaito was quiet for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought.

Kaito: "Maybe it's more about keeping people at a distance. He's always so closed off from everyone. It wouldn't surprise me if the glasses are just another way to keep people from getting too close."

Yuna considered that for a moment and nodded.

Yuna: "Yeah, I've noticed that too. He never lets anyone in. It's like there's this wall around him, and the glasses are part of it. Do you think it's because of something in his past?"

Kaito shrugged, his face set in its usual stoic expression.

Kaito: "Who knows? I've heard rumors that he has a dark past, but no one's brave enough to ask him. We only know that he's a damn good fighter and that he doesn't trust anyone."

Yuna sighed, crossing her arms as they walked.

Yuna: "Well, whatever the reason, he sure has that 'mysterious badass' vibe going for him. Not that I'd ever say that to his face."

Kaito allowed himself a faint smile.

Kaito: "You'd better not. He'd probably cut you down just for the fun of it."

Yuna rolled her eyes, but there was a lingering curiosity in her gaze.

Yuna: "I just wonder... what could be so bad that he has to hide it behind those glasses?"

Kaito glanced at her, noticing the uncharacteristic seriousness in her voice.

Kaito: "You really want to know, don't you?"

Yuna shrugged, looking ahead again.

Yuna: "It's not just curiosity. I've been around him long enough to see the way he acts. He's always so careful, so guarded. It makes me wonder what he's hiding."

Kaito nodded slowly, his mind drifting back to moments he'd witnessed Shin's strange behavior—like the time after a mission when Shin disappeared for hours, only to return looking like he'd been through hell.

Kaito: "I heard from my friend, he heard from somewhere that there was this one time... right after a tough mission. Shin was gone for a full day, wouldn't let anyone see him. When he came back, he acted like nothing happened, but something was off."

Yuna's interest piqued even more.

Yuna: "Off how?"

Kaito hesitated before answering.

Kaito: "I don't know exactly, but Shin's been different since that day. More distant, even colder than usual."

Yuna whistled low, raising an eyebrow.

Yuna: "Now you're really making him sound like some kind of supernatural warrior."

Kaito smirked.

Kaito: "You're the one who brought up the owl theory."

Yuna grinned but then fell silent again, thinking about Shin's eyes. There had to be more to the story, something beyond what Kaito or anyone else had seen. She knew better than to pry, though. Shin was the type of person who would never reveal his secrets unless he wanted to.

After a moment, Yuna spoke up again, her tone lighter.

Yuna: "Well, whatever it is he can keep his secrets but if he ever decides to take those glasses off, I'm going to be the first one to figure it out."

Kaito chuckled softly.

Kaito: "Good luck with that. You'll probably be dead before you even get close."

Yuna punched his arm lightly.

Yuna: "Such confidence in me, huh?"

Kaito smiled, the tension in his face easing slightly.

Kaito: "I'm just saying, we've got bigger things to worry about right now. Like not getting caught by enemy patrols."

Yuna sighed dramatically, but she knew he was right.

Yuna: "Fine, fine. I'll let it go—for now. But I'm telling you, there's more to Shin than meets the eye. And one day, we're going to find out what."

Kaito gave her a sideways glance, his expression thoughtful.

Kaito: "Maybe. But until then, let's focus on staying alive."

Yuna nodded, her usual playful demeanor fading as they neared the enemy encampment. The time for jokes and speculation was over. They had a mission to complete, and any distractions could get them killed.

The trees thinned out, revealing a dimly lit clearing ahead. The enemy camp was just beyond it, small fires flickering in the distance. The sound of voices and clanking armor drifted through the air, reminding them of the danger they were walking into.

Kaito motioned for Yuna to stop, crouching low as he surveyed the area.

Kaito: "We're getting close. Stay low, and keep your guard up."

Yuna nodded, her expression now serious as she followed his lead. They crouched behind a fallen tree, observing the camp from a distance.

Yuna: "What's the plan?"

Kaito studied the layout for a moment before answering.

Kaito: "We'll wait for the patrol to pass. Once they're gone, we'll move in, scout the area, and get the intel we need."

Yuna glanced at him, her voice quiet but steady.

Yuna: "And if things go south?"

Kaito didn't hesitate.

Kaito: "We fight our way out."

Yuna smiled grimly.

Yuna: "I like the sound of that."

The two of them fell into silence, the weight of the mission settling in. As they waited, the mystery of Shin's glasses lingered in their minds, but for now, they had bigger problems to worry about.

End of Chapter