“So…this is really…the real goodbye then,” I said to Honoka.

“I guess…it is,” she replied with a sad expression.

Right now, we’re at the North Gate of [Taurus Empire], ready to leave the empire right after high noon.

“Time…sure flies fast,” I said and looked at the ground with solemn eyes.

“You’re right. I still want all of you to stay here for a little bit longer but…that’s impossible, right?” Honoka asked with a forced smile.

“Honoka, I’m sure that we’ll meet again someday,” I said with a smile.

After hearing that, she gave me a nod and smiled at the end.

“So…goodbye, Honoka,” I followed.

“Goodbye, Raiki. Good luck on your journey,” Honoka responded.

We then left the empire as Honoka and Chen wave their hands.

While we’re walking, Ruby suddenly asked me a question.

*Ruuu-ruu. Ruu? ruu~*

“I’m fine, Ruby. Why are you even asking something like that?” I asked to the small dragon on my right shoulder.

Iwa suddenly tugged my leather glove with a worried expression, making me stop from walking.

“Is it…really fine to leave just like that?” Iwa asked while looking straight at my eyes.

“Wh-what…do you mean?” I asked after averting my gaze away from her.

“You want Honoka to join our party, right?” Iwa continued.

“That’s...” I responded after looking at her once again with a surprised face. Yet, no words got followed after that.

“If that’s true…then…then…” Iwa muttered with tears welling up on her eyes, not knowing what to say anymore.

“I can’t. I just can’t,” I replied with sad eyes.

For some reason, Ciana is just silent, watching me with a serious yet worried look.

“Why?” Iwa suddenly asked in an unusual high voice.

“Because…I can’t just selfishly ask her to come with me! She has her own dream and I will just be a wall to what she really wants to do if I did that!” I responded with slanted eyebrows.

Iwa looked at me with a surprised expression after hearing that reply. It looks like I unconsciously raised my voice.

“Sorry…about that,” I said and started walking.

“Raiki, if you continued walking away, you might regret it later,” Ciana muttered in a serious tone.

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I then stopped walking and replied, “This is for the best and I’m fine with this decision.”

Suddenly, someone kicked my legs so hard that I screamed.

“Wh-what was that for?” I asked and turned around only to find Darkness with her usual unmoving eyes.

“What’s wrong about being selfish once in a while,” Darkness said and all of us got surprised.

“Darkness…” I whispered.

“Do what you want. I’m sure that Honoka will give you a proper reply so you don’t need to be afraid,” Darkness continued and suddenly gave me a slight smile.

“But…” I whispered with a reluctant face.

“Or…is your pride that high that you’re afraid to be rejected by your own little sister?” Darkness followed.

“You’re…right. I’ll ask her even if she rejects my request,” I said with a sudden serious expression. Ruby then flew up and gave me a thumb up.

“Go. We’ll be waiting here,” Darkness replied after returning to her usual poker face and closed her eyes afterwards.

“Everyone, I’ll be back!” I shouted and ran as fast as I can back to the gate.

“Now that’s the Raiki we know,” Ciana said with a smile.

“That’s right,” Iwa followed with a smile.

As I sprint towards the gate, the memories about the time when Honoka and I were together flashed before my eyes, back in the village and the events after we both left there and meet again. That is why I don’t want to give up yet. I want her to—

Suddenly, I stopped from running and saw a familiar face while she’s panting.

“H-Honoka?” I reacted with a surprised expression.

“I…caught up,” she said and smiled.

“Honoka…”

“Raiki…”

“I want you to come with me!”

“I want to come with you!”

We both said those words exactly at the same time. That is why we both got surprised after hearing it.

“R-really?” both of us asked at the same time once again.

Because of that, both of us laughed.

“Honoka...I really don’t want to be separated with you again. You’re my precious little sister and I don’t want to lose you anymore,” I said seriously.

“Raiki...” Honoka whispered with a slight surprised face. “Me too. I want to be always by your side. I want to become your strength and help you no matter what happens.”

“But how about Chen? Did he agree to this?”

“Well...this is what happened after all of you left the Empire.”

“Honoka, do you want to come with them?” Master suddenly asked as we walk towards the slums.

“Wh-why are you asking me about that, Master?” I asked, surprised.

“I knew it. Do you still remember your reasons why you became my disciple?” Master questioned me with a serious look.

“Yes. I want to learn all of your skills in cooking and see this world with my own eyes by travelling with you,” I responded.

“Honoka, as of now, you’ve graduated as my disciple. Congratulations,” Master announced with a smile.

“M-Master? That can’t be. I still have a long way to go before I can become a Master like you,” I reacted, surprised and confused at the same time.

“Honoka, believe in yourself. I already thought you all the knowledge I know about cooking. All you have to do now is to create your own style of cooking from now on. And also…you have another dream right?”

“But…” I reluctantly followed.

“I’ll be staying here for more than a year because this place has the largest number of starving people among our six empires. So don’t waste your precious time and fulfil your other dream. As your Master, I’ll be supporting you from the shadows no matter where you go.”

“Master…” I whispered with a slight surprised expression. “I got it. Thanks for teaching me all of your knowledge in the art of cooking!” I shouted and bowed as hard as I can. “I will definitely become a Master Cook someday!”

“Take care, Honoka. I know that you’ll be a really great cook someday,” Master followed with a smile.

“I hope that Chen can solve the starvation problem in [Taurus Empire], I said with a smile after Honoka finished her story.

“I know he can. He’s the greatest cook of [Katzenschatz] after all,” Honoka replied with her usual cheerful smile.

“I agree. So…let’s go?” I asked and drew out my hand.

“Let’s go,” Honoka muttered and held my hand.

After that, both of us ran towards Ciana and the others.

“Wait, you sweet siblings!” a familiar voice suddenly shouted while running and caught up with us.

“Rave?” Honoka and I reacted with a surprised expression.

“Long time no see, Raiki and Honoka,” the guy wearing a ninja outfit said and made a big smile.