Based on touch alone, the item felt like a bracelet, as Kyoya thumbed around the circular design and confirmed that much. The presence of a crater near the top was also a clue, with the boy assuming this to be a gem slot of sorts.

"Take this," Reika advised, "and treasure it. When you eventually find something that means enough to you, socket it into the slot. And if you're unsure of where to go tomorrow..."

She let go of his hand, allowing him to sit regularly again. "...make the festival the first place. If we're to entrust you to the hands of Fate, I feel that placing yourself somewhere her presence is prominent will be the first step to uncovering the truth behind your visions. If anything, you'll at least be able to learn about what the future has in store."

The girl's endless reservoir of wisdom never seemed to run dry. Whether it was explaining the effects of staying up too late to a stubborn Miscreant, or relating why one should honor even one's enemies, the reasoning all made perfect sense when it came from her. It would be an understatement to say that she'd studied well under Guran's wing—so much so that the idea of her tying out with his levels of intelligence didn't feel outside the realm of possibility by now.

"Yeah, no denying that. To be honest, I actually had no clue what I was gonna do after I left," Kyoya cackled. "So, just go to the Festival, huh... and from there, who knows?"

"You'll figure it out. It's beyond our control now—which is why you have to leave in the first place."

The girl let out a sigh. "You came here ridden with sorrow, and now relieved of it, you'll be leaving wreathed with potential. For that, I'm grateful, both for Fate's bringing you here and what you've become."

"I've never heard you so mushy, man. Gimme a break..." Kyoya glanced away, earning a brief laugh or two. "...but it means a lot—from you especially."

That seemed to initiate a sort of standstill in their encounter, either party simply resting with what had been said. After a few moments passed, Kyoya continued. "It really is somethin', though, the thought that so many people like us ended up here. I've never been one to bank too hard on the supernatural side of things, but it gets a guy thinking," he confided.

Reika brushed her hair out of her eyes, then spoke once more.

"I've thought the same thing, myself." She followed, "When I related the same query to Master Guran, he seemed at odds about it as well. What he was sure of, though, was that troubled souls often find themselves wandering to the homestead, some out of intention, others unintentionally. Those unwavering in their desire to better themselves found it almost impossible to leave, yet were more than happy to stay and develop further."

She stopped to gather her thoughts. "Often, though, others merely leave without incident after some time has passed, likely due in part to their passion for whatever they'd been drawn here for withering away... It's a saddening reality, but one we live in all the same."

Kyoya let that mingle with a slew of subsequently conjured thoughts, eventually settling on just dissecting it entirely another time.

"Then there really is a lot more to all this than I'd thought... Go figure," the boy sighed. The crackly rumble of distant sparks relieved more of the stress that had planted itself on his back. Flashes of delicate colors exploded in spectacular fashion, then rained down to the origin of their ascent.

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"I've said it once, and now again: I can't say that I've ever known you for thinking, so it seems that surprises truly are in great supply tonight." The fireworks' strength was beginning to dim, and the girl herself swayed slowly in the cradle of the breeze. Even Kyoya loosed soft breaths at the caress of sleep drifting tenderly down his form.

That, or it was just a conveniently placed gust.

"Yeah, yeah. Rub it in while you can."

They sat in lulling silence for several more minutes. There didn't seem to be any more conversation left unsaid by either of them—or at least not from Kyoya. It was borderline impossible for him to get an accurate read on the girl, so he often just didn't waste time trying. That said, merely her lightly shifting in place made him jump.

"As much as I'd hate to retreat, I think this is where my night takes its curtain call." Reika stretched, standing and staring out to the horizon once more. "I implore you to get some rest soon, Kyoya. You'll need it for tomorrow, especially if you plan to spend any time at the festival. There'll be no sleeping in, y'know."

"I get it. So, this'll be the last one of these nights then, won't it?"

"You'd be right to reckon that... But who's to say that it means there won't be different ones in the future?" A frown fell upon her, well hidden, but he caught it no less.

She stopped walking toward the descent, instead standing peacefully at its edge. "I was always told that if I treasured something, I should set it free—and, should it ever come back, it was a sign from Fate of something deeper," the Rose related, their moon casting a glimmering shine on the ends of her hair. "I'd never taken it for any more than a piece of mindless advice..."

Reika paused again. "While I still lived with my family, I fostered a stray dog for some time. It had come to us weak and battered; the poor thing could hardly stand on its feet. But, after months passed, it had finally become strong enough to venture out into the world again... Honestly, I haven't been able to take my mind off of it—how similar that feels to how things are now—except, even if the argument about a dog could be made, this time it's with a brother."

She turned to look at him again, the boy catching sight of a small, wet trail, reflecting moonlight off her cheek. "Which is why I hope you'll find it in yourself to visit sometime, even if for only a few minutes—" her words took a sharp dive.

For the first time since his arrival here, she'd totally lost her unbreakable front.

"Reika—!" The Miscreant stood quickly, both heart and mind racing for a solution. Entirely out of impulse, he brought them together, determined to share the burden that had come about.

She returned the embrace, no longer holding the tears back and letting them flow freely. They stayed this way until she managed to get it out of her system, with Kyoya sniffling at the onset of his own waterworks.

The Rose finally dug herself from his shoulder, both sniffling and laughing.

"Apologies... It's been quite some time since that's happened." She brushed herself off, continuing, "I-... I knew the day would come, but I hadn't expected it to be so hard to come to terms with, if that makes any sense. I've dealt with leaving my home, and yet this is what drives me to the limit? How unfitting."

A light sigh escaped her, but she smiled all the same.

"I think you might be right about needing a little downtime after that one. You and I both have a lot to think about, and the longer we're out here, the longer we're gonna be laying awake looking at the ceiling."

"Fair point, Miscreant."