Tactical Embarrassment

The excitement from our successful chassis race still buzzed through the air as we made our way back to the sanctuary. Miyako walked beside me, occasionally bumping my shoulder with playful affection, while behind us I could hear Hitomi's animated voice recounting the technical details of our narrow victory to anyone willing to listen.

"Seven centimetres," she was saying for what had to be the fifth time. "Seven! That's closer than my dad's best race at Suzuka!"

"We heard you the first four times," Airi called back with a laugh. "But yes, it was impressive."

Ruri fell into step on my other side, her silver-patterned ears twitching with amusement. "Such modest celebration for such a decisive victory," she purred. "In the Lunethnari Enclave, we would have declared a three-day festival for achieving such perfect synchronisation between partners."

"Please don't give Hitomi any ideas," Miyako groaned. "She's already planning to paint racing stripes on all three vehicles."

"Painting them red will make them go faster, right?" Kazuki suggested with unusual playfulness, adjusting his glasses with a small grin.

Ryota snorted. "Obviously. It's just science."

"Or purple," Airi countered, "that's for stealth mode!"

Hitomi looked momentarily confused. "That's... not how aerodynamics or visibility works."

"Everyone knows certain colours have special powers," Ryota explained solemnly. "It's basic gamer knowledge."

"Next you'll tell me adding flame decals increases the heat output," Hitomi said, rolling her eyes but smiling despite herself.

"Well, actually..." Kazuki began, before several people groaned in unison.

I nodded, only half-listening to the good-natured banter. My mind was already racing ahead to our remaining tasks. Tomorrow would be dedicated to vehicle tuning, but after that, while the team handled body attachment, I wanted to gather our magical specialists for one more attempt at the portal spell. If we could perfect even a basic teleportation network before departing for Takejin territory, it would provide a crucial safety net. Not that I'm obsessing over having backup plans for my backup plans or anything.

As we approached the sanctuary entrance, another thought struck me. The Takejin were notoriously traditional, at least according to what Noel and the other Solenari from Crossroads had told us. We had our new uniforms, but those were still distinctly Earth-styled. Perhaps we should consider something that would help us blend in more effectively...

"Andie?" Miyako nudged me gently. "You've gone quiet. Still thinking about beating Hitomi?"

I smiled, returning to the present. "Just planning our next steps. Actually, I need to find Haruka. I had a thought about our approach to Takejin territory."

Miyako raised an eyebrow. "Another project? You do realise we're leaving in four days, right?"

"It's related to that, actually. I'll explain later." I gave her hand a quick squeeze before breaking away from the main group as we entered the sanctuary.

Meanwhile, in the sanctuary library, Haruka was pacing excitedly, phone in hand, deep in research mode. She'd been turning an idea over in her mind since their last meeting with Noel about Takejin customs.

"Traditional garments would make so much more sense than our Earth-styled uniforms," she muttered to herself, scrolling through images on her divine-blessed smartphone. "Kimono, hakama, proper formal wear..."

She'd been taking notes furiously, sketching design ideas and considering fabric requirements. This could be the perfect way to show respect to the Takejin while maintaining their group identity. Plus, the tailor in her was excited at the challenge of creating authentic Japanese-style garments.

"I need to run this by Andie," she decided, gathering her notes. "This would be a significant change to our preparation timeline."

Determined to find him, Haruka left the library and headed toward the central hall, thinking he might be with the others who had just returned from the race. As she passed through the lounge area, she caught sight of me heading toward the workshop.

"Andie!" she called out, quickening her pace to catch up. "Just the person I was looking for!"

I turned, surprised to see her approaching with an armful of sketches and her smartphone. "Haruka. I was actually coming to find you."

"Really?" She grinned, falling into step beside me as we continued toward the workshop. "What about?"

"I was thinking about our approach to Takejin territory," I began. "Their culture seems very traditional, and our current uniforms might not—"

"—make the right impression!" Haruka finished excitedly. "That's exactly what I've been researching! Traditional Japanese garments would be perfect for diplomatic relations with them."

I stared at her in surprise. "You've been thinking about the same thing?"

"Great minds think alike?" she suggested with a bright smile.

"Looks that way," I agreed, impressed by the coincidence. This sort of simultaneous idea occurrence probably deserves its own trope in the isekai handbook.

"I was thinking the Takejin might respond better if we approached them in traditional Japanese-style garments, given what Noel's told us about their culture."

Haruka's eyes widened with excitement. "That's exactly what I was researching! Formal kamishimo for the men, kimono for the women, and yukata for everyone as casual wear. It would show cultural respect while presenting us as a unified group."

"Do you have a moment to discuss this further?" I asked. "This could be a significant adjustment to our timeline."

"Absolutely," Haruka replied eagerly. "I've already started some preliminary research. Let's set up in the workshop."

The workshop area was still bustling with activity despite most of the team having joined us for the chassis test. Several students were modifying components under Kurenai's supervision, while others were preparing materials for tomorrow's tuning session.

"Let's set up over here," Haruka suggested, leading me to a relatively quiet corner. She quickly spread out her notes and pulled up her phone. "I've been looking into proper traditional designs. We'd need to be authentic, the Takejin would notice if things were off."

"Could you use your smartphone to research it further?" I suggested. "The divine blessing should allow you to access Earth information even here."

"Already on it," Haruka replied, turning her phone to show me various images and articles about traditional Japanese clothing. "There's a wealth of information available. The key will be understanding the proper construction techniques and cultural significance."

I leaned over to examine her initial sketches. "What exactly were you thinking in terms of garments?"

"For formal diplomatic meetings, kamishimo for the males," she explained, pointing to drawings of the traditional samurai attire with hakama and kataginu. "It projects authority and respect. For the females, proper kimono with appropriate seasonal designs."

"And yukata for everyone as more casual daily wear," I added, completing her thought.

"Exactly!" Haruka beamed. "You and I are totally on the same wavelength here!"

As we continued discussing the details, Miyako passed by, pausing to observe the animated conversation.

"Is one gyaru in your life not enough, Andie?" she teased with a playful smirk, nodding toward Haruka's enthusiastic gesturing.

"I, that's not," I stammered, feeling my face heat up. Classic protagonist problem: any conversation with a female classmate is automatically suspicious.

Miyako laughed, patting my arm. "Relax. I'm just teasing. This traditional clothing idea is actually brilliant for the Takejin visit."

She continued on her way, leaving me to shake my head at her casual ribbing. Turning back to Haruka, I said, "Let me find Noel. Her diplomatic experience with the Takejin would be invaluable for this project. Could you continue your research, and we'll meet in about an hour with more detailed plans?"

"Perfect!" Haruka agreed eagerly. "I'll keep researching proper designs and protocols."

I left Haruka to her research and headed out to find Noel. The hour would also give me a chance to attend to some other matters.

I had just reached the corridor leading to my private quarters when it hit me, a sudden, intense pulse through my shadow-bond with Rurielle. Unlike the occasional tugs I'd felt before, this was sharp and urgent. My vision briefly swam, replaced by a flash of what seemed to be Rurielle crouched in a dark space, her face tense with concentration as she examined something glowing with an unnatural light.

I stumbled, catching myself against the wall as the vision faded, leaving behind a lingering sense of urgency and... discovery? The emotional impression was complex, a mixture of excitement and concern.

"Andie? Are you alright?"

I looked up to see Miyako approaching from the direction of the common room, her brow furrowed with concern.

"I'm fine," I said automatically, then reconsidered. "Actually, no. It's the shadow-bond with Rurielle. I just felt something... stronger than usual."

Miyako's expression shifted to one of alert attention. "What did you feel?"

"It was like seeing through her eyes for a moment. She seemed to be investigating something, something that gave off an unusual light. And there was this feeling of urgency, like she'd found something important."

Miyako frowned. "That's more detail than you've mentioned before. The bond is getting stronger?"

"It seems that way," I admitted. "The pulses have been more frequent lately, and now this... I'm a bit concerned." Because magical bonds randomly getting stronger is definitely not the kind of isekai plot twist that leads to complications or anything.

"Let's find Ruri," Miyako suggested. "She might have insights about what's happening."

We found Ruri in the library, head bent over an ancient text. She noticed us first, her silver-patterned rabbit ears perking up as we entered.

"Ara ara, what brings you two here? Looking for a quiet corner?" she teased, but her smile faded when she saw our expressions. "What's happened?"

I explained the shadow-bond pulse and the brief vision of Rurielle, describing the details as clearly as I could remember them.

"Let me find Noel," Ruri said immediately, sending a quick message on her communication crystal. "This sounds significant."

Noel arrived shortly after, her cream-coloured ears with gold tips twitching forward with interest as Ruri briefed her on what had happened.

"The bond is evolving," Noel observed. "This is the first time you've received visual information, correct?"

"Yes," I confirmed. "Before it was just emotional impressions or a general sense of her state."

Ruri exchanged a meaningful glance with Noel. "The timing is interesting. As we approach your departure to Takejin territory, the connection strengthens."

"You think there's a correlation?" Miyako asked.

"Bonds like these don't evolve randomly," Ruri explained, setting aside the ancient text. "They respond to need, either conscious or unconscious. If Rurielle is discovering something important related to your journey, the bond might be strengthening to facilitate that communication."

"Or," Noel added with her typical diplomatic precision, "the upcoming separation by greater distance is triggering a compensatory strengthening. Many magical connections display adaptive properties when faced with potential disruption."

I ran a hand through my hair, processing this. "So, either she's found something I need to know about, or the bond is preparing for us to be further apart?"

"Possibly both," Ruri said. "The shadow-flame experiments she was investigating, the same ones Viktora's team found traces of in the Whispering Hollow, those might be connected to something in Takejin territory."

"Should we be worried?" Miyako asked, her hand finding mine in a subtle gesture of support.

"Cautious, yes. Worried, not necessarily," Noel replied. "Rurielle is highly capable, and the bond itself isn't harmful. It's actually quite remarkable that it's developing this way between a human and a Luxuriveth. Such bonds typically only form between those with inherent shadow affinities."

"Your divine patrons do enjoy their unexpected developments," Ruri added with a small smirk. "This may simply be another of their 'entertainment features' in your isekai adventure."

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Despite her teasing tone, I could see genuine interest in Ruri's eyes. The scholar in her was fascinated by this unusual magical development.

"Keep track of any further incidents," Noel advised. "The pattern and content of these connections might provide valuable information."

"And perhaps try reaching back," Ruri suggested. "Next time you feel the connection, focus on it, see if you can send an impression or message in return."

I nodded, though the prospect of deliberately engaging with the shadow-bond was somewhat intimidating. "I'll try. For now, I should let you get back to your research. I need to meet with Haruka again about the traditional clothing project."

"Oh yes," Noel said. "I'd be happy to consult on that. The Takejin have very specific expectations regarding formal attire."

As Miyako and I left the library with Noel, Miyako gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. "You're taking on a lot," she observed quietly. "The vehicles, the portal magic, now this bond strengthening... and I suspect you're working on something else too."

I looked at her in surprise, and she smiled knowingly.

"You've been disappearing to your private sanctuary more often lately, and I've noticed you measuring people's hands during the uniform project. I'm not dense, Andie."

Heat rose to my face. "I... it's not... I mean..."

She laughed softly. "Relax. I'm not asking you to confess anything. Just don't exhaust yourself before we even leave, okay? We need you at your best."

"I'll pace myself," I promised, grateful for her understanding. "I'll see you at dinner?"

"Count on it." She kissed my cheek before heading toward the training area where several students were practicing with their gel blasters.

I continued to my hidden sanctuary, carefully activating the illusion doorway and slipping inside. Once in my private workspace, I retrieved the case containing the Concordium rings I'd been crafting. Eleven rings lay nestled in soft velvet, each sized according to the measurements I'd secretly collected during our uniform project.

I selected one, sized for Miyako's finger, and held it up to the light. The divine alloy caught the illumination strangely, seeming to both absorb and reflect it simultaneously. According to Seven, this material was powerful enough to create ripples in destiny itself if used properly.

Setting the ring on my workbench, I activated my Analysis ability:

[Analysing: Divine Alloy Ring (Unenchanted)]

Composition: Concordium Alloy (Divine Grade)

Properties: Indestructible, Dimensionally Anchored, Essence Receptive

Potential: Can be enchanted to share or amplify abilities, create connections between wearers, or establish persistent magical effects

Note: This material responds to intent as much as formal enchantment. The emotion and purpose invested during creation will affect its final properties.

Perfect. I'd been experimenting with different enchantment combinations, trying to create rings that would provide meaningful benefits to their wearers. Using my Transform and Enchant abilities together, I began working on the first major enhancement: Stats Mirror.

The alloy seemed to drink in my magical energy, responding eagerly to my intent. I visualised a connection between myself and the future wearer, a temporary sharing of my infinity attributes that would activate when they needed it most. The ring pulsed with inner light as the enchantment took hold.

Next came the Teleport Network. This was trickier, requiring precise spatial anchoring. I envisioned the rings forming a web of connections, allowing wearers to teleport to each other's locations in times of need. The alloy hummed with potential as I layered this enchantment over the first.

The Selection Share enchantment came next, allowing female isekai wearers to share one of their divine selections with the group. This would create an incredible tactical advantage, potentially giving access to dozens of different abilities when needed.

As I worked, I found myself thinking about the unique properties of each potential wearer. Miyako's strength and determination. Rurielle's sacrifice and shadow mastery. Ruri's playful wisdom. Noel's diplomatic grace. Miyuki's time manipulation. Mochi's healing devotion. Each ring needed to resonate with its intended recipient while still functioning as part of the larger network.

The fourth enchantment, Telepathy Communication, flowed more easily. The alloy seemed almost eager to facilitate this connection, as if it had been designed for bringing minds together across distances.

Finally, I focused on enhancing the material's natural protection against Astra and Umbra magic, critical given the shadow-flame threats we'd been encountering. This wasn't so much adding a new enchantment as it was awakening what already existed within the alloy itself.

With the base enchantments in place for Miyako's ring, I set it aside and picked up another, this one slightly different from the rest. While all the rings shared the same core enchantments, this one needed something special.

I poured extra time and concentration into this particular ring, adding layers of additional protection and connection. This wasn't just any ring, it was meant to be the central node in the network, the primary anchor for all the others. The alloy seemed to recognise its importance, accepting the complex enchantments with an eager resonance that made my fingers tingle.

As I completed the work, I glanced at the astronomical chart I'd pinned to my workshop wall. Tomorrow night would be a full moon, a powerful time for magical workings, especially those related to bonds and connections. The alignment of celestial bodies could significantly enhance the rings' already considerable power.

I carefully placed the rings back in their case, but as I did so, Miyako's ring slipped from my fingers and rolled under the workbench. After retrieving it, I absentmindedly slipped it into my pocket, intending to return it to the case, but a glance at my watch showed my hour was nearly up. I needed to meet Haruka to discuss the traditional clothing project. I hastily secured the case in a hidden compartment and hurried back to the main sanctuary, the single ring still nestled in my pocket.

Haruka was waiting in the workshop, her smartphone and several sketches spread across the table. Noel had joined her and was examining the drawings with interest.

"Andie!" Haruka waved me over excitedly. "Perfect timing! I've been researching traditional Japanese garments, and Noel has been providing insights about Takejin expectations."

I joined them at the table, impressed by the detailed sketches Haruka had already produced. "These look amazing. What have you found out?"

"The parallels between feudal Japanese clothing and Takejin formal wear are striking," Noel explained, her diplomatic training evident in her precise analysis. "Though there are differences in material and some symbolic elements, the overall structure and etiquette are remarkably similar."

Haruka nodded enthusiastically. "Based on what Noel's told me, I think we can create garments that will read as appropriately formal to the Takejin while still being authentic to Earth traditions. Look at these designs."

She spread out several detailed sketches, kamishimo for the males, kimono for the females, and yukata as casual options for everyone.

"The kamishimo is perfect for formal diplomatic meetings," she explained, pointing to the drawing of a hakama and kataginu combination. "It projects authority and respect. For the females, these kimono designs would be appropriate for formal settings without appearing ostentatious."

"And the yukata would serve as excellent casual wear for evenings or less formal interactions," Noel added. "The Takejin appreciate visitors who make efforts to respect their customs without attempting to completely mimic them."

I examined the sketches, impressed by the level of detail. "These are perfect. How quickly could we produce them?"

Haruka tapped her pencil against her chin. "That's the challenge. Properly constructed kimono and kamishimo are complex and time-consuming to make. Even with my Tailor abilities and your Transform, we'd need at least a day to create high-quality versions."

"For the diplomatic team, I'd recommend full formal wear," Noel suggested. "For everyone else, perhaps just yukata as they're simpler to produce while still showing cultural respect."

I shook my head firmly. "I think everyone should have proper formal wear. We're going as a unified group, and I don't want to create different classes among us. Everyone should have the option of kamishimo or kimono for formal occasions, plus yukata for casual wear."

Haruka's eyes lit up. "I like that approach! It would take a bit more work and materials, but not much more cost. Even with formal wear for everyone, we're still looking at less than one silver total for materials."

"Are you certain?" Noel asked. "Producing that many formal garments in our timeframe..."

"I'm certain," I said firmly. "We're a team. No one gets left out of proper representation." I refuse to create the isekai equivalent of "red shirts" versus "main characters" in our group.

Noel nodded with a small smile of approval. "Very well. It's a commendable stance."

"How much will it cost?" I asked, mentally calculating our available funds.

"Actually, not much at all," Haruka replied, scrolling through her phone. "Even the finest silks are only five or ten copper per bolt, standard cotton is basically free, less than a copper. For the whole group, we're looking at maybe half a silver if we go fancy."

"That's it?" I asked, surprised by how inexpensive the materials were compared to what I'd expected.

"Right?" Haruka said with a laugh. "I was shocked too. In Japan, a bolt of fine silk would cost thousands of yen, but here it's practically nothing. Magical threads and enhancements might add up to a silver or two for the whole group, tops."

"The divine economy is scaled quite differently from Earth values," Noel explained. "Basic materials are extremely affordable. It's specialised magical items that command higher prices."

Miyako, who had just entered the room, caught my eye and gave a subtle warning shake of her head.

I cleared my throat, remembering her previous caution about not revealing my divine favour through my unusual wealth. "I mean, I might be able to contribute a copper or two," I amended vaguely. "From, uh, what I've saved."

"When I click 'Top Up' in the app, it requires actual coins," Haruka explained, showing us the magical slot that had appeared on her screen. "We'll need physical currency, not Divine Credits."

"We should take up a collection," Noel suggested diplomatically. "Many of our companions have earned coins from quests or other endeavours."

"That's a good idea," I agreed, carefully avoiding any mention of my own substantial Divine Credit balance. "Everyone contributing what they can would be best."

Miyako nodded approvingly. "We'll organise it at dinner. I'm sure between all of us, we can easily cover the costs."

"Perfect," Haruka said, already making notes about materials and quantities. "I'll have preliminary designs ready to show everyone by dinner. I'm thinking deep blues and greens for the males' kamishimo, with more varied colours for the females' kimono depending on their colouring and preferences."

"The Takejin do place significance on colour symbolism," Noel noted. "We should be mindful of that in our selections."

As Haruka and Noel continued discussing colour symbolism and design elements, I felt a surge of appreciation for how seamlessly our Earth and Voluptarian team members worked together. What had started as a simple idea was evolving into a thoughtful cultural integration project that could genuinely impact our mission's success.

"I'll leave you two to the design work," I said, standing. "I need to check in with the engineering team about the timeline adjustment. See you both at dinner."

As I left, Miyako followed me into the hallway. "Nice save in there," she murmured quietly. "Remember what we discussed about not drawing attention to your divine favour."

"I know, I know," I sighed. "It's just hard sometimes when I could easily solve problems."

"That's exactly what we need to avoid," she said firmly. "The moment people start seeing you as a divine ATM, it changes everything. Everyone needs to contribute and feel invested in our success."

"You're right," I conceded. "As usual."

She smiled, squeezing my arm. "I'll see you at dinner."

The engineering team was easy to find, they had returned to the workshop and were already analysing the race data and planning tomorrow's tuning session. Hitomi looked up as I approached, a competitive gleam still in her eye.

"Come to concede that I would have won with another lap?" she teased.

I laughed. "In your dreams. Actually, I wanted to discuss our preparation timeline."

Hitomi's expression turned serious as I explained the traditional clothing project and the proposed one-day extension.

"So instead of departing on Day 75, we'd leave on Day 76," I concluded. "Would that impact the vehicle preparations?"

Hitomi exchanged glances with Hina, who consulted her ever-present clipboard. "Actually, the extra day would give us more time for final testing after the body attachment," Hina noted. "The schedule was already tight."

"It's not a bad idea," Kazuki added, looking up from his calculations. "And the cultural integration aspect makes sense. The Takejin are notoriously traditional, from what Noel has told us, arriving in clothing they recognise as formal would create a positive first impression."

"So, you support the change?" I asked.

"From an engineering perspective, yes," Hitomi confirmed. "It gives us breathing room for final adjustments. And I'm not opposed to wearing a kimono if it helps our mission."

"Great. We'll present the updated timeline at dinner tonight. Can you prepare a quick overview of the body attachment schedule?"

"No problem," Hina said, making a note. "We'll have it ready."

Dinner that evening had a festive atmosphere. The successful chassis test had boosted everyone's spirits, and the dining hall buzzed with excited conversation. Tables had been pushed together to accommodate our entire group, creating a communal feeling that reminded me of our first celebrations after establishing the sanctuary.

As we settled in with our meals, I nodded to Hitomi, who stood and called for everyone's attention.

"First, I'd like to congratulate our chassis test teams again, especially Andie and Miyako on their narrow victory." She made a face of mock disappointment before continuing. "The engineering data we gathered today is invaluable. Tomorrow, we'll begin fine-tuning all three chassis based on today's performance metrics, followed by body attachment on Day 72 and 73, and final testing on Day 74."

Hina stood next, clipboard in hand. "We've made a small adjustment to our departure timeline. Instead of leaving on Day 75 as originally planned, we're now scheduling departure for Day 76."

A murmur of surprise rippled through the group. Hitomi gestured to Haruka, who stood with several sketches in hand.

"The reason for the schedule adjustment is a new cultural integration initiative," Haruka explained, holding up her designs. "We're creating traditional Japanese garments to help us blend more effectively in Takejin territory. All males will receive formal kamishimo, all females will have kimono, and everyone will also have yukata for casual wear or comfort."

She displayed the sketches, and appreciative comments immediately followed. The girls especially seemed excited about the prospect of beautiful kimono.

"This will require an extra day of preparation," Haruka continued, "but Noel and I believe it will significantly improve our reception among the Takejin, who value traditional appearance and proper formality."

Noel stood, her diplomatic training evident in her composed demeanour. "The Takejin are indeed a tradition-bound people. While they tolerate visitors, they respond much more favourably to those who demonstrate respect for their customs. These garments will signal that respect from the moment we arrive."

"For materials," Haruka added, "we'll need less than one silver total. Since the Bazaar app requires actual currency to convert into Divine Credits, I'd like to ask for contributions from those who can spare it."

To my surprise, hands went up immediately. Vinera and her adventuring team were the first to offer coins from their quest earnings, followed by several other students who had accumulated small savings. Even Hitomi pulled out her coin pouch, offering a couple of copper toward the project.

"We can get all the materials for everyone for less than one silver," Haruka explained as people contributed. "Even a copper or two is more than enough."

"I'm actually surprised by how inexpensive everything is," Airi commented as she dropped a few copper pieces into the collection pouch. "A kimono on Earth would cost thousands!"

"Divine economy," Haruka replied with a grin. "Makes Earth prices seem ridiculous in comparison."

I glanced at Miyako, who gave me a subtle nod of approval as I kept my own hands in my lap, appearing to have little to contribute. Playing the role of an ordinary member of the group rather than someone with divine favour felt strange, but I understood her reasoning.

"Production will begin tomorrow," Haruka announced with a smile. "Thanks to everyone's contributions. I'll need volunteers to help with designs and detailing."

Several hands shot up immediately, including Ruri's, whose silver-patterned ears perked up with excitement.

"This is becoming quite the community project," Ruri observed with a playful smile, glancing my way. "Your little entourage grows more impressive by the day, Andie. First vehicles, now a cultural fashion initiative..."

I felt my face warm at her teasing implication, but before I could respond, the conversation had already moved on to logistics and volunteering schedules.

As Haruka sat down, I remained quiet, my thoughts drifting to the ring still nestled in my pocket. I could feel its weight, a constant reminder of plans still forming. The way everyone had come together tonight, contributing what they could for our collective success, it reinforced how much stronger we were as a unified group.

"Andie?" Miyako nudged me gently. "You're unusually quiet. Everything okay?"

I nodded, offering what I hoped was a reassuring smile. "Just thinking about everything coming together. It's... nice to see everyone so unified."

"It is," she agreed, her eyes studying me with that perceptive look that always made me wonder how much she guessed. "Though I can't help feeling you've got something else on your mind."

I shrugged, trying for casual. "Just the usual pre-journey preparations. Portal magic research, vehicle testing, traditional clothing... it's a lot to coordinate."

She didn't look entirely convinced but didn't press further. Instead, she squeezed my hand under the table, a simple gesture of support that filled me with warmth.

As dinner continued, I let the sounds of laughter and excited planning wash over me. Tomorrow would be filled with vehicle tuning and the start of our traditional clothing project. The day after would see body attachment beginning alongside more focused portal magic research.

I glanced around the table at my friends, my teammates, my... family. Five days from now, we would depart for Takejin territory as a unified group, better prepared and more closely connected than ever before. Whatever challenges awaited us there, we would face them together.

The full moon tomorrow night would be the perfect time for certain plans I'd been considering. For now, though, I was content to enjoy this moment of unity and celebration, my fingers occasionally brushing against the ring in my pocket, a tactile reminder of possibilities yet to unfold.