Dan stood at the edge of the wrecked clearing, watching Sosuke in the distance with guarded eyes. His gaze swept over the devastation, and he couldn't help feeling shocked.
How could they... have caused this much damage...?!
What had they even been doing? Was this what their earlier battle had left behind?!
And... why was Tokino so pale?
After seeing Tokino leave the camp, Dan had followed him. When he'd seen the sudden change in Tokino's expression back at camp, he'd naturally been worried about his close friend.
As he pursued him, he heard the thunderous explosions from this direction and hurried over.
The scene that greeted him was a wrecked clearing, where Sosuke was slowly approaching Tokino, who was weak and kneeling.
Remembering the long-standing tension between Tokino and Sosuke, Dan naturally assumed that Sosuke meant to harm Tokino.
"Tokino, how are you? You're not badly hurt, are you?"
Dan called out from a distance, his voice low. His gaze remained cool and fixed on Sosuke, wary of his every move.
Sensing Dan's subtle movements and deep hostility, a hint of amusement flickered beneath Sosuke's glasses. He merely smiled at Dan without saying a word.
Tokino slowly turned around and looked at Dan with a complicated expression.
"Dan... I was just with Sosuke..."
Before he could finish, Sosuke gently cut him off and spoke for him.
"Dan, Tokino and I simply hadn't seen each other in a long time. We got a little carried away when we met again. Surely you can understand that."
"Besides, it seems you and I haven't seen each other in quite a while either."
Sosuke wore a warm smile as he studied Dan and spoke softly, as if greeting an old friend he hadn't seen in years.
Dan remained wary at Sosuke's words.
But