Scene: Streets of Amestrias – Late Afternoon

  The streets buzz with life—merchants shouting, nobles parading, guards patrolling.Yuya and Ruri walk shoulder to shoulder, blending in despite the occasional stare Yuya draws with his battered cloak and hard eyes.

  They cross a stone bridge spanning a canal, sunlight fshing off the water.It’s almost peaceful… almost.

  Yuya’s steps slow slightly, his brows furrowing.

  Yuya (gruffly):“…I just realized.”

  Ruri gnces at him, amused.

  Yuya:“I don’t have anywhere to stay.”

  She grins, slow and mischievous.

  Ruri (teasing):“Oh, you’re coming with me.”

  Before he can argue, she grabs his wrist—and with surprising strength for someone her size, drags him through the winding streets.

  Yuya (deadpan):“…This feels illegal.”

  Ruri (cheerful):“Too te to back out now.”

  ?

  [Scene Transition: Ruri’s Apartment – Upper City District]

  It’s a small but cozy space tucked above a quiet smithy—wooden floors, a single rge window overlooking the rooftops, and a worn table set with mismatched chairs.Two doors lead off the main room—one to a small bedroom, the other to a tiny bath chamber.

  Ruri tosses her cloak onto a hook by the door.

  Ruri (gesturing):“Shower’s through there. You go first—you smell like death.”

  Yuya snorts but doesn’t argue. He disappears into the bathroom.

  ?

  [Scene: A Little Later]

  Yuya steps out, towel slung over his shoulders, fresh clothes borrowed from Ruri’s limited spares.He stops dead in his tracks.

  On the table:Steam rises from a simple but hearty meal—rice, stew, bread, and even a chipped bottle of wine.

  Yuya blinks, thrown for a moment.

  Yuya (gruffly, half-suspicious):“…You didn’t have to.”

  Ruri, now toweling her hair dry from her own shower, shrugs like it’s nothing.

  Ruri:“You’re a guest. And you saved my ass.”

  She flops into the chair opposite him, motioning for him to sit.

  Yuya hesitates for a heartbeat… then lowers himself into the seat.

  They eat in silence for a few minutes—the kind of silence that’s oddly comfortable.The stew is surprisingly good—rich, filling, faintly spiced.

  Finally, Yuya leans back, setting his spoon down.

  Yuya:“…That gray-haired girl. Karin. What’s her story?”

  Ruri leans back, gazing at the fire. Her expression shifts—softer. Sadder.

  Ruri (quietly):“Karin’s my best friend. My sister, in all the ways that matter.”

  She props her chin on one hand, staring at the fmes, voice distant.

  Ruri:“Truth is… when she found me, she was lost too.”

  Yuya’s eyes narrow slightly, listening.

  Ruri:“I only remembered my name. ‘Ruri.’Nothing else. No home. No family. Nothing.”

  She gives a short, bitter ugh.

  Ruri:“Karin was wandering the jungle alone too. Half-dead, scared, stubborn as hell.”

  She shifts her gaze, locking eyes with Yuya across the table.

  Ruri (softly):“We realized pretty quickly that if we stayed apart… we were going to die.”

  A beat. The fire pops.

  Ruri:“So we stuck together.We fought for scraps. Fended off beasts.Walked for days, maybe weeks. I don’t even know anymore.”

  Her fingers trace idly along the rim of her cup.

  Ruri:“Somehow, we made it to Amestrias.Two starving, filthy kids… begging for a chance.We found a way into the Royal Guard system.Trained. Bled. Worked harder than anyone.”

  Her mouth quirks into a small, almost-smile—worn down but proud.

  Ruri:“We cwed our way up the dder. Built something.Something we could call ‘ours.’”

  Yuya studies her quietly, the firelight dancing in his dark eyes.

  Yuya (after a pause):“…No wonder she’s so protective.”

  Ruri chuckles, the sound low and wry.

  Ruri:“Yeah.To her, I’m not just a friend.I’m the proof we both survived.”

  The words hang between them—heavy and real.

  Yuya leans back, arms crossed loosely.

  Yuya (softly):“…You’re lucky to have her.”

  Ruri smiles faintly—small, but genuine.

  Ruri:“I know.”

  [Scene: Ruri’s Apartment – Later That Night]

  The meal is nearly finished.Ptes empty. The fire dying low.The quiet between them feels… different now. Less strained. More like two people sitting at the edge of something huge, trying to catch their breath.

  Ruri leans back in her chair, crossing her arms loosely.

  Ruri (casually):“By the way… I know you’re looking for a new sword.”

  Yuya gnces up from his cup, dark eyes attentive.

  Yuya:“…Yeah.”

  The broken remnants of the st one—the one that disintegrated in his hand—fsh through his mind for a moment. A reminder of how fragile mortal weapons are against his bck fmes.

  Ruri taps a finger against the table, thoughtful.

  Ruri:“There’s a bcksmith here in the city. Name’s Kajin.Old guy. Gruff as hell. But he knows his craft.”

  Yuya’s brow lifts slightly.

  Ruri (smirking a little):“He’s one of the few people who can forge enchanted weapons strong enough to handle… unusual power.”

  Yuya leans forward, interest sparking.

  Yuya:“You think he can handle this?”(He lifts a hand slightly—no fme, but the memory of it lingers in the air.)

  Ruri gives a short nod.

  Ruri:“If anyone can, it’s him.”

  She pauses, then adds:

  Ruri:“Make sure you mention my name when you go.Kajin owes me a favor.”

  Yuya tilts his head, studying her.

  Yuya (dryly):“What kind of favor?”

  Ruri just smiles—mischievous and a little wicked.

  Ruri:“The kind that makes old men grumble a lot, but still come through when you need them.”

  Yuya huffs a short breath—half ugh, half sigh.

  Yuya:“…Guess I owe you for this too.”

  Ruri (grinning):“You already do.”

  The fire crackles softly between them.

  Tomorrow would come soon.With it—new bdes, new bonds, and the first steps into a city teeming with secrets.

  But for tonight, they sit quietly in the firelight.Not friends. Not yet.But something close.Something dangerous.Something inevitable.