The night had unraveled and spilled effortlessly into the early hours of morning, blurring the line between dusk and dawn. A soft chorus of birds on their seasonal journey flitted through the cool air, their songs adding a delicate harmony to the morning’s stillness. Overhead, a dance of dark-winged creatures painted fleeting patterns across the sky, gathering and scattering, only to reunite in elegant formation as they navigated unseen currents toward distant horizons.

The boat party had left its mark on everyone in attendance. The sharp tang of alcohol hung in the air like a second breeze, interwoven with the scent of saltwater and mischief. Bottles, half-full glasses, and crumpled cups littered every surface, scattered across tables, benches, and the deck itself. Some partiers lay sprawled across the floor, lost in sleep, still clutching empty bottles as if they were lifelines from the previous night’s revelry.

“Ooooi, seems like people had a blast,” Tōga mused, the vibrant pink of his hair catching the early light as it fluttered with the breeze. The dragon slayer picked his way carefully through the maze of unconscious bodies and discarded remnants of the night, mindful not to disturb anyone or step on the clutter beneath his boots. He had left Drakkon behind hours earlier, the man more than happy to spend his evening entwined with one of the many beautiful women who’d graced the party. Tōga, on the other hand, had called it a night after one last drink, retreating to his hotel room. Sleep, however, had eluded him, and after restless hours staring at the ceiling, he decided to venture back to where the lingering hum of activity promised to stave off the solitude.

Following the faint echoes of laughter and splashing, Tōga soon found himself by the water’s edge, where the remnants of the party had migrated. Some guests were already swimming, their movements lazy and carefree, while others busied themselves gathering gear and towels, preparing to join in. A sense of easy amity hovered over the crowd, as if the water were washing away the remnants of the previous night’s chaos.

Tōga glanced down at the swim trunks he had worn to the party. Thankfully, room service had taken care of cleaning them in time for another round of fun. Smirking to himself, he slid the trunks on once more, the Rune Knight Colonel ready to dive into the refreshing waters. Just as he adjusted the waistband, a familiar figure on the far side of the gathering caught his eye—Drakkon, unmistakably enigmatic even in the morning light, with his usual companion Hai at his side.

A grin spread across Tōga’s face as he cupped his hands to his mouth. “Ooooi, Drakkon-san!” he called out, his voice carrying across the water like a challenge issued in good spirits.

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wc: 491

Tōga continued waving enthusiastically, waiting for the green-haired dragon slayer to finally notice him. The moment dragged on as Drakkon’s tattooed gaze drifted lazily over the surroundings before finally locking onto the source of the commotion. Once recognition set in, his steady footsteps carried him over, closing the distance between them with an unhurried confidence.

“Morning, Drakkon-san!” Tōga called out, his voice louder than necessary, even at close range. Volume control had never been his strong suit—something ingrained in him from childhood that had long since become part of his charm, for better or worse. Tōga, undeterred, kept the conversation flowing, his expression light and cheerful despite the hint of defensiveness sneaking into his voice. “Well, I went home alone, obviously!” he blurted, as if preempting any assumptions Drakkon might have had. His grin remained wide, playful, but there was an undertone to his words—a mild protest against the imagined teasing that, in truth, hadn’t even begun yet.

“You know I’m involved with someone,” Tōga added, his grin softening ever so slightly. “And since Ursula-chan wasn’t here, there wasn’t much reason to hang around.” He gave Drakkon a sly nudge, his tone shifting to something more conspiratorial. “But it looks like you had a good night.” The playful glint in Tōga’s eye was impossible to miss, and he followed it up with a knowing wink, alluding to how the night had ended for both of them—though in very different ways.

While Tōga had slipped away to his hotel room in solitude, Drakkon had caught the attention of a striking blonde before the night’s festivities wound down. Where Tōga had settled for the quiet end of the evening, Drakkon had clearly chosen a more exciting path. Tōga, ever quick with a jest, chuckled and added, “A guy like you? I bet it's hard for ya to be the ‘tied-down’ type, huh?” His laugh was bright, easygoing, as if he were merely stating the obvious.

Before the conversation could linger too long on last night’s escapades, Tōga turned his attention to the pool area, his gaze sweeping over the lively scene. Families, couples, and groups of friends dotted the space, splashing about in the water or basking in the sun. The warm autumn breeze carried the joyful sounds of laughter and conversation, making the day feel more like summer’s encore than the heart of fall.

“You came prepared,” Tōga noted with a grin, nodding toward Drakkon’s swim trunks. “I see you’re dressed to swim.” His voice carried a playful challenge, as if daring the dragon slayer to join the fun.

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wc: 485 [976]

Tōga grinned, waving off any awkwardness between them. “Hahaha, no worries. I know we only talked about it briefly,” he said, taking no offense to the fact that Drakkon had momentarily forgotten about his relationship with Ursula. It was easy to assume that, after a night filled with music, laughter, and beautiful faces, Tōga might have ended the evening in the company of someone new. But fidelity, even in undefined relationships, was something Tōga held close. While what he and Ursula shared defied labels, it was real enough for him to turn down the fleeting temptations the party had offered.

He tilted his head, glancing at Drakkon’s ink-covered arms and back. “You know,” Tōga started with a mischievous smirk, “you’re like a walking piece of art with all those tattoos. I bet half the people at the party thought you were either part of a gang or some kind of underground kingpin.” Tōga’s grin widened. “Though, I guess they wouldn’t be too far off, huh? Head of the Yakuza and all.” The teasing lilt in his voice was unmistakable, though there was a spark of admiration behind the words. Despite having left Joya behind, some things—like the way people judged tattooed skin—followed you wherever you went. Whether it was a love for art, rebellion, or a taste for pain, Drakkon embodied it all, and the lines inked into his skin told stories Tōga could only guess at.

Their conversation drifted as Drakkon glanced toward the pool, and Tōga followed his gaze. Tōga squinted, looking around. “Huh? I don’t—oh, there!” Both men’s eyes shot upward just in time to spot Hai soaring through the air, launching off the diving board with wild abandon.

“Ooooi!” Tōga hollered, cupping his hands around his mouth as Hai hit the water with a thunderous splash. A wave of water surged across the pool, drenching everyone nearby. The tidal wave sent kids shrieking in excitement, their laughter ringing through the air. Some cheered, delighted by the sudden burst of chaos, while others looked on with wide eyes, paralyzed by the thrill of adventure but too timid to follow Hai’s bold example.

Tōga couldn’t help but laugh. “Look at that! He’s got them all in awe.”

Hai had shattered the dull calm of the pool with one fearless dive, and Tōga loved every second of it. Turning back to Drakkon, his grin only widened. “You should give that a try next. Then I’ll go after you, Drakkon-san!” His voice brimmed with playful challenge, daring Drakkon to match Hai’s enthusiasm.

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wc: 477 [1,453]

“The way I see it, you shouldn’t ever need to hide your tattoos just to make others comfortable,” Tōga said, his tone light but firm. As someone who valued self-expression and individuality, he was quick to support Drakkon’s unapologetic display of ink. The dragon slayer’s body was a living canvas, adorned with intricate designs that told their own silent stories, and Tōga admired that fearlessness. “If it’s something you love and you paid good money for it, who’s got the right to tell you what you can or can’t do with it, huh?” he added, grinning as he gave Drakkon a friendly pat on the back.

The faint ridges of scar tissue beneath his palm hinted at the countless hours of pain Drakkon had endured to bring those designs to life—a subtle reminder that each piece wasn’t just art but also a mark of resilience.

Drakkon accepted Tōga’s words with an easy shrug, his typical stoicism intact, but Tōga could see the glint of approval flicker in the green-haired warrior’s gaze. “That’s more like it!” Tōga exclaimed, satisfied that his encouragement had landed. With that settled, his attention shifted back to the pool. Hai had already set the stage with his dramatic dive, and the cheers from the kids had electrified the atmosphere. It was obvious they were waiting for someone to step up and follow the act—and who better than a couple of dragon slayers to keep the excitement going?

“Alright, Drakkon-san, your turn!” Tōga nudged, grinning as he watched his friend size up the diving board. Drakkon gave a small, knowing smirk before starting toward it, unbothered by the stares from onlookers. Tōga stretched his arms over his head in preparation, feeling the muscles in his shoulders loosen. He’d made up his mind—he’d dive right after Drakkon. There was no way he was going to miss out on the fun.

As Tōga warmed up, rolling his shoulders with ease, Drakkon casually mentioned the skating rink and the person behind it. At the mention of Lumi, Tōga’s eyes lit up, his pink hair bouncing as he perked up with excitement. “Lumi-chan made that!?” he blurted out, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. “Then we definitely have to go!” A playful laugh followed, bubbling up from his chest. “But not until after this, of course. Hahaha!” Though he was more than ready to dive into whatever new adventure awaited at the skating rink, Tōga wasn’t about to leave the pool just yet. The kids and other patrons were watching, eagerly anticipating more from the dragon slayers. They had a show to put on, and Tōga wasn’t one to disappoint.

He cracked his neck and bounced on the balls of his feet, adrenaline already buzzing in his veins. “Let’s give them something to talk about!” he called over to Drakkon with a grin. Once the green-haired Guild Master made his move, the Supernova slayer would do the same, more then ready to prepare for their next adventure.

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wc: 558 [2,011]

- exit