[A/N] This is an extraordinarily long oneshot. So long that it probably shouldn't be called that. It's more like a short story. It comes in smaller sections, so don't feel obligated to read it all at the same time. This involves every member of the LDOD cast, hence its length. It's a little over 7k words long. I hope you enjoy it!

"Alright, everybody! We ready for this hike? Everyone got everything? Water? Snacks? Walking sticks, if you brought one? Sunscreen?" Ren lists off. Nari smiles, satisfied that he offered to make the announcement for her. "I've been told this hike can get a little intense, so we can take as many breaks as we may need to. Ikinari's gonna be up front, since she's the one who knows this trail already." He has his parasol tucked in a side pouch in his backpack, easy to snatch if he gets too nervous. But, as it stands, it would be a bit cumbersome to carry, so he silently wishes to himself that he won't get too stressed in the sunlight. Fortunately, he knows there will be tons of trees all around to shade him. But he's never really sure how okay he'll be. Nari grasps his hand, responding to the mild stress she can see in his smile. It's also an act of gratitude for him agreeing to do this in the first place, and the appreciation brings some natural affection to his expression.

"Oh my, what am I getting myself into?" Sayuri mumbles softly. She's never been a particularly fit person, and strenuous activity isn't what she'd ever choose to do.

"A nature walk! You'll have a great time seeing cool sights! It could inspire some poetry!" Gou encourages.

"Alternatively, wouldn't it be entertaining if my physical pain inspired some?" she half-snarks, willing to humor his attempts at optimism but still not entirely convinced.

"This can be an invaluable research opportunity. Best make the most of it," Keiji responds, ever pragmatic.

"The fresh air also may soothe your soul. You mustn't discount this just yet, Sayuri! Besides, say the word and we shall temporarily adjourn our trek," Azumi reminds her.

"You all will be fine. No need to worry. It'll be fun," Nari reassures, trying to settle the murmurs of her classmates. They all give her resolute expressions, aside from Hachi, who, as usual, is looking off in an entirely different direction. "Thanks, all. Onward!"

...

15 minutes after the hike's beginning

They come to the mouth of a stream. Nari insisted that this is the only way to go for at least a few minutes, to varying reactions. Haruto, for his part, is delighted. Romping cheerfully and wading through the stream, he savors the coolness and the strange joy of doing something he otherwise wouldn't be encouraged to do.

The dancers are holding hands. Monterio is largely unbothered by the stream, more entertained by the enthusiastic boy in front of him than anything else. Kana is mildly annoyed, but is appreciating the chance to show everyone that she can do shit like this. Despite her sense of style, she rues being labelled "high-maintenance." So going on a hike, being relatively close to the front, and marching through shin-length water is a good opportunity to prove herself.

"Guys, guys, guys! I'm really excited to see pretty things! Nari always knows where the coolest stuff is! Like, like, that one time when Keiji and Nari made a whole list of those super, like, culturally relevant natural places in the country things."

"UNESCO World Heritage Sites," Monterio fills in the blank.

"Yeah, that!!! Like Shirakami-Sanchi! I offered to fly us all to a different country to check out their World Heritage Sites, but they looked at me like I was nuts!" Bisque turns around to face them and begins walking backwards.

"Well, yeah, that would be a ton of money! Transporting all sixteen of us?" Kana mentions with a swagger.

"No! I mean, I wouldn't offer to invite you guys and not extend an invite to everyone's siblings, if they wanted to come!"

"Bro, what the fuck even?! That's, like, seriously way too generous!"

He goes bright red, giggling nervously. "Remember," Monterio reminds her gently, "that he's a well-known artist and the only child to wealthy parents."

"Mm, yeah, but still. He should save up, be responsible and shit." Haruto can only continue giggling in response, though now it has a self-conscious tinge to it. And then suddenly, having been walking backwards several paces, his foot gets caught on a stone and he topples over, plunging into the water. "Holy shit! Bisque?!" Kana called out immediately, rushing to where he is and offering a hand. He thrusts his own hand out to grab hers, panting and shivering wildly.

"Oh God! My glasses!" Within an instant, Monterio's on it, scanning the stream and feeling the bottom with his hands when he thinks he sees something important. Eventually, he retrieves the pair, now in two halves with the tape washed away. Haruto whimpers before shaking his head vehemently. "What am I gonna do?! I can hardly see anything without them, there's no way I can last this whole hike semi-blind!"

Monterio puts a hand on his chin thoughtfully. He suddenly nods in confirmation. He points to himself, as if asking for permission to handle it. "Go put whatever plan you have into action, life partner. I can take care of him while you do." He lumbers off. In the meanwhile, Kana drags her backpack in front of her and ruffles through it, eventually pulling out a small towel.

As people begin to pass them, they express their concern (especially Azumi and Tozen), but Kana insists that she has it perfectly under control, and Bisque manages to keep smiling through it all. As soon as they're once again alone, however, his facade breaks and he starts to sniffle. "Goddammit. I'm so stupid."

"You are not stupid," she contradicts immediately, ruffling his hair with the towel to dry off his head. She also supplies him with her jacket, which he takes with reluctance.

"Am too. I always ruin things. I can't cook without cutting my fingers or dropping anything and I can't go three months without breaking a pair of glasses and I haven't done my laundry in like a month and I don't save my money— and, and how am I possibly gonna be a functioning, competent adult?!" he rambles, spiraling into a panic.

"Oh, shit. Did my comment about money make you feel like this? I'm so fucking sorry," she apologizes sincerely, hugging him despite how soaked his clothes are.

"It's not you, I just— I'm so tired," he sighs, panic dimming into exhausted weariness.

"Haruto, look at me." She waits until he puts his eyes on hers; fortunately, they're close enough that he doesn't have to squint. "You are so fucking talented, and so fucking kind, and so fucking dedicated. You're gonna get where you wanna be, guaranteed! And you're gonna do it your way. So what if you need to call people to help motivate you when you live off on your own? So what if you need to keep learning how to cook with Tozen? So what if you do things a little differently? That doesn't mean you'll be any less of an adult than me, or Keiji, or even Azumi. Understand?"

"I... sort of. Th-Thank you, that was really nice."

Monterio comes back, looking mildly disappointed and holding a first aid kit. "I remembered you mentioning that super glue can sometimes be used to seal small wounds. So I wondered if anyone had any. But..."

"Hmm..." Haruto looks through the contents of the first aid kit. "Oh! Y'know... maybe, I could try this!" He grabs the box of bandages and gets his glasses back from Monterio. He quickly opens one and wraps it around the two halves, mending them once again. He chuckles, spirit brightened ever so slightly, and puts them back on. "I'll need to fix them better once we get home, but this should hold for a while!"

Kana whistles, impressed. "See? I literally never would've been able to come up with something like that. Your creativity is fucking killer. You'll totally crush being an adult once you get into the swing of it!"

"Thank you guys! I don't know if I could've pulled myself together without you!" he smiles.

Monterio nudges Kana and signs something. "Oh! Um, He wants to know if you want him to carry you. Just till we're out of the stream, so we can be certain you won't fall again."

He considers his options. "Um, no thank you. I'll be okay. I just have to be more careful!"

"Alright then. Let's go catch up to the others. Fortunately, they're not so far ahead that we can't see them!" She points dramatically, and the three of them hastily but cautiously make their way back to the group.

...

25 minutes after the hike's start

"Wouldst thou stay a moment

And glisten through the leaves

And fall in droplets, swirl as runoff

Draining through a sieve?

Wouldst thou shine a moment

And glint in mine dull eyes

Reflecting off slick pebbles proudly

Lighting up the skies?"

"How... do you do that?"

"What do you mean?"

"Nevermind," he shuts himself off immediately, crossing his arms and looking away.

"No, why would you stop? Don't you want an answer to your question?"

"Of course I do. I always do. And so do you, might I add," Keiji snarks.

"Then, what's the problem?"

"Sayuri, it's the same problem you usually run into. He doesn't want to get vulnerable," Yuu informs quietly.

"But... I didn't do anything this time, did I? He was the one who nearly posed the question, right?"

"Yes, this one wasn't on you. He just changed his mind. That's natural."

She nods and continues the climb, using her walking stick. The two men trudge on as well, Keiji to the front-right of her and Yuu directly behind her. There's a slight incline, not enough to bother any of them yet, but Sayuri's aware that it will shortly. After a handful of minutes, Keiji speaks up once again. "How can you write poetry so effortlessly?"

"I would hope that, after years and years of practice, it would become easier, wouldn't you?"

He sighs. "So... just time and natural talent, then?"

"Mmm, well, no. Great poets can arise 'late in the game,' right? Are you really so interested?"

"I have... personal reasons for being curious about your talent."

"Personal reasons?"

"M-Mainly, it's a—" he turns away even further and gulps, "it's something I'm bad at. I don't like being bad at things, especially things of academic nature."

"Oh, but it is of artistic nature, too, is it not?"

"Well, whatever. I fucking suck at things of artistic nature, and, when it comes to writing specifically, that incredibly pisses me off. To fail is to be inherently worth replacing. If your computer part stops functioning, you get a new one." She guffaws full-chestedly. "Don't laugh at me!" he snaps, causing her to stumble back into Yuu. "S-Sorry. I didn't mean to yell. I'm still... adjusting to being nicer."

Yuu interjects. "It's okay! She doesn't mean to make light of—"

"Apologies! It was never my intent to mock you, I assure you! I was merely taken by surprise that a question so simple in nature as 'How do you write poetry?' could come from such a deep concept as replaceability."

"Well, anyway—" Keiji continues forcefully, "I can never write anything creative. Either my ideas are flat or the way I go about presenting them is. It's soulless, like me."

"Hey! There's no need to say that shit about yourself!" Yuu interrupts once again, bewildered by the odd way the two are communicating.

"Do you not see that you have the wit for it, though?"

"Wit means nothing if you can't convey beauty."

"Why not have a crack at it then? Why not show me what you perceive as an utter lack of beauty?"

"What do you want me to do, exactly?"

"Why not come up with a poem involving nature? Right here, right now?" she challenges.

"Umm...

The trees tower over everything, standing tall.

Their size is overwhelming; I feel small.

It makes me want to curl into a ball.

But... um, fuck, I can't come up with anything else that rhymes or— oh, how about that? No, it sounds stupid."

"What is it?"

He scoffs. "To them, we're like babies who only crawl."

"Mmm, I see. You are a very direct person, are you not? You say things very literally, yes? Do you get nervous trying new ways of conveying your ideas because you think you'll sound corny or strange?"

"I-I mean... I guess."

"You also stick quite rigidly to structure and rhyme scheme, don't you? You needn't, if it hinders you. I think a good way you could improve would be to spend more time lingering. Jumping from one idea to another with little elaboration makes you feel inadequate as a writer, right? Try delving into everything a smidge more; the sensory input and the conscious experience that goes along with it cannot be discounted, yes?"

Yuu finally feels as though he can contribute something more than unneeded mediation. "Y-Yeah. It's all about attention to detail, right? That's my specialty. Though I'm not great at articulating it either. But it's all about looking closely at the little things and pointing them out."

"But I can't observe things like that, necessarily. I have to make it up. And since one of my senses is naturally crippled, that makes it even harder. Ugh, this is hopeless. Not that I'm not grateful for your input."

"Do you... feel replaceable?"

"That's irrelevant."

"Clearly it is not."

"Sayuri..." Yuu hisses.

She continues regardless. "I think everything is simultaneously replaceable and not. If you or I were to not be here, and a different person had taken our place in the enrichment program, this conversation would not happen, yes?"

"I can contend that my role in this group is 'irreplaceable,' in that my thoughts are unique enough to make me 'special.' But do these conversations matter in the long-term? What I want is for my legacy to carry on, which requires complete and utter exceptionality."

"They matter. Just, in a more ethereal way," Yuu says.

"Elaborate."

"The conversations you have with us impact who we become. And we impact others later. Just cause our names may not get passed along for decades, it doesn't mean our legacy is erased. Say I wind up having kids. Because of this conversation, I'll raise them to understand their value outside of achievement."

Keiji snickers. "So, my legacy would be preventing kids from winding up like me?" Yuu's rendered silent from anxiety. "Relax. I wouldn't want anyone else to be like me, either. I've come to realize just how self-destructive my ideas are."

"Would rescuing people in the future from the fears you suffer suffice as legacy enough for you?" Sayuri asks.

"I don't know. This is starting to get a bit too... much for me. Thanks for indulging me though."

"It's no p-problem. You'd do the same for me, right?"

It's then that Keiji notices she's panting. Oh. I see. She's becoming fatigued. To his surprise, he finds that his strides are naturally slowing, despite not feeling tired in the slightest. He's matching his pace with her, like Yuu's been doing all along. Interesting.

...

30 minutes after the hike's start

She stares carefully down at her feet, adorned in rose-patterned hiking shoes. She'd tried to look for the ones with white daisies imprinted on them, but apparently she must have lost them somewhere. Or someone stole them. Maybe it's one of those tiny people like in those children's books. But what use would they have with such big shoes? Oh, probably as a house like that one fairytale. Steps, 1, 2, 3, 4, pay attention.

"Hachi? Is everything alright? Your face has been transfixed on the ground practically this entire journey," Azumi asks.

Not bothering to look her in the eye, she responds, "Making sure I don't walk into any fairy rings."

"Oh? I'm afraid I am ill-informed on much folklore. Would you be so kind as to elaborate?"

"There are lots of stories about bad stuff that could happen if you step in one. Curses by giant toads, losing an eye, being forced to dance for eternity, dying young."

"Heavens. In the case you find yourself entrapped in one, what would you do to escape?"

"Mmm... one possible way to do it would be if someone touched me with iron. Do we have anything made of iron?"

"Well, Keiji has flaunted his ring before, informing me that it is tungsten steel, which does contain iron."

"Keiji wouldn't touch me. People would have to steal it from him. And meanwhile I'd still be dancing. Maybe Kana and Monterio could dance forever and ever and ever but I'm pretty sure my feet would fall off before I got even close."

"Keiji would cooperate. If only simply because Joanie asks him to."

"Mmph, well, I'm still not gonna step in one."

"Very well."

Hachi keeps her eyes vigilant, eyeing every stray mushroom with suspicion, whilst Azumi takes to humming lightly.

"We can't hum and breathe in at the same time," Hachi comments flatly.

"Truly? Well, I suppose it would come out as more of a gasp than a hum." Azumi attempts to do so nonetheless— since if you're told you can't do something, it's human nature to try.

"Y'know, I don't really like the winter too much, cause I have to nurse a lot of flowers through the cold. But freezing bubbles look really pretty."

"Ah, I believe you are correct. I myself am not particularly partial to cold weather, either. At least not when several layers are required. Though I do enjoy a lovely sweater from time to time. Autumn is my favorite season." Azumi reflects briefly on the light crunch of fallen leaves and the resplendent colors of the season.

"I know that bubbles are made of soap but I just wanna bite down on a frozen one. Do you think mushrooms belong on pizza, Azumi?" Hachi asks, breezing past her companion's remarks.

"I— what a shift in topic, and it was practically mid-sentence! But truthfully, my opinion is why not? Though I find nostalgia in the artificiality of many circus foods, I am also fond of some earthy flavors."

"Sayuri and Nari really like sweets. I think I only really like them if they're spiced. Like... cinnamon based stuff or gingerbread. Hmmm... if it's possible for there to be infant vampires, would there be such a thing as plasma baby food?"

"You take particular interest in the supernatural, huh, Hachi?" Azumi mentions, giving up on trying to follow the (non-existent) logic behind her train of thought.

"One time Mum had the house's energy cleansed. I don't remember why. I dunno if I even believe in any of this stuff. And I know if I was to try making spells, I'd mess them up, so I just wanna stay away from it all. Fun to think about though. Are scrunchies in right now? Honestly, I never know what the fashion trends are like. Too many to keep up with."

"Err... I believe they're in, but please excuse me if my assessment is incorrect."

"You like tea, r-right, Azumi?" Hachi presses on. She's beginning to grow weary of walking, but she nevertheless continues talking, thoughts gradually straying from her fear of fairy rings despite her looping back to it with the pizza question.

"I do, though I enjoy coffee as well."

"There are lots of f-flowers involved in tea. Roses, hibiscus... chamomile, of course. Chrysanthemums, bergamots. I only drink t-teas with flowers in them because they make me happy. Hibiscus cinnamon tea is my favorite. Chamomile tea is expressly meant for s-sleepy time, but every tea makes me want to nap. Even though tea has caffeine." She pauses to take a deep breath.

"Oh goodness. Your weariness is becoming evident. I believe our destination is not far from here, but would you like to ask Nari and Ren if we may take a break?"

"No."

"Then, would you like a piggyback ride? I assure you, I've the strength in me to carry you quite a ways."

Hachi begrudgingly considers the proposition. Physical contact of any sort usually bothers her, and this is no exception. But the trail seems like it'll be getting steeper for a bit, and that's no fun. "Fine. But be careful where you step. Avoid circles of mushrooms."

"My dear, you've my word that I shan't fall prey to any fairy rings. You may allow your fears to dissipate." Azumi crouches slightly to allow Hachi onto her back.

"Y'know, my most irrational fear is that tall people can easily lick my head."

Azumi nearly lets out a laugh of utter shock but manages to keep it in so as not to bother the girl. "Why would anyone elect to do so?"

"They wouldn't, cause it's an irrational fear. But they could. Every time I'm about to spend time with Monterio, I try to will it into the universe that he won't lick my head."

"Hachi, darling, Monterio would never, ever lick your head, even in his most zany state— which, mind you, he enters once in a blue moon."

"I doodle a lot. I mostly draw flowers and animals in the margarines of my notebooks."

"It is actually 'margins,' Hachi. 'Margarine' is a vegetable-oil based butter substitute."

"We should all have another movie night. I want that fancy popcorn that Joanie gets from that one company."

"Are you hungry? Thus far, you have brought up pizza, sweets, and now popcorn."

"Do we drink or eat soup?"

And on this strange conversation extends, relentlessly and ever-shifting, until they make it to their stop.

...

45 minutes after the hike's start

"Lunch has been, like, super duper yummy, Toz! Thanksies for making it for us!"

"You're welcome, Fujiko! It was entirely my pleasure."

"This is totally like, jaw-droppingly beautiful, right?"

Indeed, Nari had guided them to an exquisite rushing waterfall, its lapping guzzles echoing in a soothing rhythm. The way the water seems to shimmer from how the light hits it, the way that nearby rocks glisten, it's a lot to absorb for many members of their motley crew,

"I agree. I don't normally do too much nature-related stuff. This is a whole different type of beauty than I'm usually exposed to."

"Hm? What kind of beauty are you used to?"

"Oh, well... squeaky-clean countertops, gorgeously prepared meals, color-coded planners... y'know, the domestic type of aesthetic. I'm a nutritionist now, but when I was a preteen, I did a fair bit of housekeeping for neighbors. Like my mom says, 'Declutter a house to declutter your head.' It just helps me calm down."

"Oooh, yeah, I like totally, totally getchu. I don't like getting dirty. Yuu had the right idea, covering himself basically head to toe."

"Sure, though that's likely because he's afraid of getting that dirty, not just because he finds it unpleasant. But nevermind that. What about you, Fujiko? What do you think is really beautiful?"

"Aye, what're ye talkin' bout o'er 'ere?" Wakumi asks, leaning in far too close for Fujiko's comfort.

"Beauty," she responds bluntly.

The pirate snorts. "Shoulda expected a topic that useless outta the two o' ye."

Utterly ignoring her, Fujiko turns back to Tozen. "For me, nothing tops a person taking good care of themselves. Healthy skin, healthy hair, good teeth, putting in the effort to wear your personal style, stuff like that! I'm sure you get it, cause you're all about health!"

"That's true. And I can definitely see your point. Um... you definitely do a good job taking care of yourself. And it's one of my biggest personal priorities to treat my body right, so of course I can understand how seeing it in other people would be sweet." His face heats up and he hugs himself slightly.

"Argh, don't just look past me like I don't exist, ye barnacle suckin' laddie n' lily-livered wench," Wakumi scolds forcefully, getting even closer to her face. Fujiko lightly pushes it away.

"If you wanna hop into the conversation, be my guest. But you'll have to talk about what WE want to talk about."

"What, ye runnin' a rig on me?" Fujiko shakes her head no in response, raising her brows up sassily. Wakumi lets out an extraordinary groan of utter disdain. "But whyyyyyyyy? Thinking' 'bout somethin' as worthless as that be a waste o' me precious time."

"Beauty isn't worthless. The feeling we get when we witness something stunning is one of those special little tidbits of being human," Tozen counters. "What do you think is pretty, Wakumi?"

"Erm... sunsets o'er the sea. White sands. Watchin' people celebrate. Watchin' people get angry."

"Anger? You find anger... beautiful?" Fujiko asks in confusion.

"Aye. I guess I like any real strong emotion. 'Cept sadness, that's disgustin'. But watchin' people's faces contort— outta fury, outta fear, outta delight— is real fun. Nature is real nice ta look at, but so is passion. I'm fore'er passionate o'er somethin' or another. No point ta li'in' life if ye ain't gonna live it at 100% enthusiasm. Siphonin' all yer energy inta a goal... that's what I like."

"That actually makes a lot of sense. Thanks for your input, Wakumi," Tozen nods, a contemplative look running along his face.

"What d'ye mean, actually? Course me assessment would make sense, since me logic is flawless and unparalleled!" She gets up in his face now, and he instinctively puts a hand up to stop her, pressing his last bite of tuna salad sandwich into her face. "ARGH! Imma keelhaul ye!!!!"

"I'msorryI'msorryI'msorry, that was a total accident! Please don't hurt me! Or hate me!" he panics, rushing to grab her some paper towels.

She rolls her eyes. "Fine. I ain't gonna tussle with ye right now, cause we're reaaaaaalll close ta fallin' off the ledge n' straight ta Davy Jones's locker." She cleans her face off with as much spite as she can muster. To Wakumi's chagrin, the scene is admittedly very comical, and Fujiko doesn't bother to hold back a cackle.

"H-Here, you can have my peanut butter oatmeal cookie as an apology," Tozen bashfully offers, still recovering from the sudden spike of terror.

She snatches it up hastily and laughs a laugh that fills her whole body, waving the cookie around triumphantly before taking a determined bite.

The air fills itself with an unasked question, a lingering suspense and anxiety within the silence. "Something up, Toz?" Fujiko asks, scooting closer to the cliff's edge.

"Lassie, what're ye doing?!"

"C'mon, the ground's plenty steady here! I totally thought you'd be the first to peer down!" Spurred on by Fujiko's indirect challenge, Wakumi trounces over and stares down at the rushing water below. Tozen, too, approached the cliff side, though his steps are slow and a bit shaky.

"I'm fine. It's just... as I told Wakumi, seeking out beauty is one of those things that make us alive. But I also know very well that there are downsides. Whether a person is seen as extraordinarily stunning and turns vain or paranoid from the attention, or whether a person is viewed as... well, undesirable, and is cast aside. It leads one to wonder how much attractiveness any one person should be aiming for. In themselves or in other people."

"Eh. Me brain may be off on this, but I think I heard that beauty was evolutionary. Helped us rear healthy kids, n' whatnot. But it ain't e'erythin'. Workin' on yer skills n' personality is what's most important. So long as that's the priority... tryin' ta make yerself pretty prolly ain't a bad thing."

"I totes agree! I'm also gonna add on that beauty is about health! If you're trying so hard to be beautiful that you start wrecking your body or go crazy from it, that's never good."

"Hmm... that brings me a certain sense of clarity. Thank you."

"I never took you to be the type of guy who'd think so much about this! Ren, Yuu, maybe even Monterio. But you?"

"I care. I try not to make it so obvious, but sometimes I care way too much."

She stands up and affectionately strokes his cheek, taking him by surprise. "You don't have to worry so much, Tozen. You're a beautiful person, inside and out."

He smirks. "I sure hope so."

Wakumi groans once again. "This shit's gettin' too sappy fer me. Let's go do somethin' more fun like find some rocks ta throw or e'en ta bring back with us."

"May as well," Tozen nods.

"If you try to sneak rocks into my backpack to make it heavier, I'll throw them at your head," Fujiko warns.

"Promise?"

"Oh my God, you're the worst!"

...

65 minutes after the hike's start

"It's so cool that your staff can also function as a walking stick, Joanie!" Gou enthuses.

"Mhm," she nods absently in return, taking a deep breath before continuing, "not all of the parts of my costume suck. In fact, none—" she takes yet another slow inhalation, cutting herself off, "none of them are actually bad. They're high quality and shit. It's just— it's just that wearing them all day every day is kinda crappy, especially since I'm— since I'm usually expected to be in-character. And there's no way I can ever g-go anywhere unrecognized in them."

"Joanie, you sound exhausted," he comments, concern written in both his tone and expression.

"I'm fine. You don't gotta worry about me, we pretty much just left the rest stop."

"But your asthma..."

"I said I'm fine. Okay?"

Chimon, situated slightly in front of the two, falls back to approach the duo. He waves cheerfully at Joanie, which she reciprocates, and then covertly exchanges a look with Gou. It's a questioning look, an, "Is she okay?" met by a subtle shake of the head.

The smaller boy begins to stumble severely. "Ow! Ow, ow, my legs hurt really bad all of a sudden! I guess this is what I get for going too fast this whole time. Ahhh!" he whines.

"I'll run up ahead and tell Nari and Ren that you need us to take a break! I'll even get Azumi to help with your cramp!" Gou immediately offers, zipping off before any objections can be made by anyone.

Joanie takes her inhaler out of her bag and shakes it vigorously. "I... I know what you're doing... and I said I'm fine!"

"You're right. I'm the one who's not fine!" he emphasizes.

She pumps the medication into her lungs with a deep breath, holds it for a while, and then exhales. "I didn't want to hold anyone up!"

"You're not! I am!" he insists.

"F-Fine. I'll go along with it."

The people in the group who had been lagging behind are now stopping in curiosity. Gou rushes back, Azumi in tow.

"Hey! Everyone, we're taking a break!" he declares.

"Your charley horse should cease within a few minutes, but allow me to..." Azumi coaxes Chimon onto the ground and then begins to bend and massage the leg. He cries out rather convincingly, so convincingly that Joanie starts to wonder whether he actually is in pain. Tears wet his eyes. "I sincerely apologize! As much as you may hate it, this is helpful!"

Eventually, his hyperventilating slows to a soft pant. "Better. Better, it's gone."

"We should still wait a little longer, for anyone who still needs to recuperate," Gou urges. After declaring this, he looks to Joanie, whose eyes look dull and unhappy. He didn't mean to force her to do something she didn't want, but it was for her own safety, right? He looks around, trying to come up with a way to cheer her up without calling any attention to her. Out of the corner of his eye, he finds a long stick. "En garde!" he smiles, holding it out toward Chimon.

Excited for the chance to have some fun, he snatches Hachi's flower crown and then a stick of his own. "H-Hey. That's mine." In return, he gives her his hat temporarily, which seems to placate her.

"Is this an insurrection?! Alas, I shall not let you take over my kingdom, you scoundrel!"

Taken entirely aback by this sudden inclusion of lore, Gou stutters restlessly for a moment before Joanie herself cuts in. "You lying fool of a king! You know well that this gallant warrior is the true heir to the throne! He has every right to usurp it for himself!"

"U-Um! That's right! I'm here to claim my birthright and, uh... restore the kingdom to its former glory."

Chimon scoffs, pretending to be scandalized. "These claims are utterly ridiculous! I will put an end to your rebellion!" He looks around with a wily expression before going, "Guards! Seize him!" For a moment, there's a pause as people figure out what that means and grab sticks, but soon, the dancers and Fujiko are joining in on the battle, making Joanie guffaw in surprise.

"Not so fast! You didn't think I'd come alone, did you? You truly are an arrogant king!" Gou follows up. Swiftly, Joanie, Ren, and Haruto grab branches of their own to act as his backup.

"Onward, men! For our rightful heir! We shall prevail!" Joanie leads. Ren and Haruto let out powerful battlecries.

A war ensues, with Joanie and Gou as the two leaders of the revolution and Chimon as the defending monarch. Kana and Ren get into a fierce clash, Haruto mostly stumbles around, with Monterio patiently playing along, Fujiko squeals every step of the way as Joanie launches a fierce offense. Chimon takes advantage of the terrain to try and give Gou the slip, but he pursues with a steely gaze.

Joanie can hear Wakumi heckling the crowd over their swordsmanship skills, which makes her laugh. Overall, her spirits are being buoyed at an exponential rate, all as a result of the boys' silliness. Fortunately for her, Fujiko isn't making her run very much, so despite the chaos, she still gets a chance to catch her breath.

"I will end this with my own hands!" Gou boasts, whacking Chimon's "sword" away before lightly poking him in the chest.

"ALAS! I have been slain! My dear, loyal servants, avenge me!" Ever a fan of dramatics, he keels over, clutching at his heart and writhing and "Woe is me"ing to the point where the members of the group who didn't join in are dying from laughter.

Gou cheerfully plucks Hachi's flower crown off the ground and puts it on with a cheesy grin.

"This may be a victory for now, you dangerous rebels, but we will come back to reinstate the real king's next-of-kin! You can be sure of that!" Kana threatens.

"We will protect our one true king with our lives!" Joanie retorts. When nobody does anything for a few moments, she simply pronounces, "And scene!" Applause erupts from the rest of the group, either polite claps or whoops of enthusiasm, before everyone settles down to get a few last minutes of relaxation.

Joanie takes one last pump of inhaler and gives a satisfied sigh. With hats/helmets back to their proper owners, Gou and Chimon plop down beside her. She smirks. "Thanks, boys. I didn't want to bother taking a break cause I didn't want to hold up anyone or ruin their trip. But you guys made this a special memory, so I don't feel bad anymore."

"If you can count on me for one thing," Gou plays, "it's to make any situation memorable."

"Ha! You got that right! And somehow, I always wind up tagging along." Chimon elbows Gou in a friendly way.

"You're the inciting factor half the time," Joanie points out.

A cheeky smile is his only response.

...

80 minutes after the start of the hike

Since their break, the group has been much closer together than it was before. The quicker members have slowed to match the pace of the ones who are less used to hiking.

Frankly, Nari's impressed that Ren managed to stay with her throughout the hike. He's not acclimated to outdoor exercise, and with the occasional brief stint of needing the parasol, she'd have sworn he'd fall behind. But perhaps out of a need to stay in her company or reassure her, he's been right at her side the entire time. On occasions, he's grasped onto her hand— sometimes for help clambering over obstacles, sometimes for a quick speed boost, sometimes merely for comfort. He's spent much of the time calling over his shoulder and chatting with some of the others, or with her, and now that everyone's clumped up, he can do so with even more ease.

She gazes up at the cumulus clouds gathered up above, tinted ever so slightly yellow by the setting sun. She's grateful that the weather hasn't decided to pull anything odd on them. She'd been relatively certain that it would be a clear, slightly warm day, but there are no absolutes, so the consistency from the start to now is a relief. A smile dances along her lips.

"Oh! Did the sun just come out from behind the clouds?" Ren suddenly asks.

Nari checks to the west; still covered by a particularly nice patch. "No?"

"Oh, my mistake. That's just your smile," he winks.

"I thought you said I'm like the first rain of the season."

"Well, I mean, you're absolutely refreshing... and unlikely to burn me to a crisp. But you're also really bright– in intellect and appearance."

"You're such a dork," she teases, nudging him softly.

"There's no wifi out here, right?"

"What are you getting on about?"

"Play aloooooong, Ikinari!"

She shakes her head in disbelief. "No, Ren, there's no wifi."

"Oh, really? I could've sworn there was, cause I'm feeling a connection~"

"Get a room," Keiji requests. Ren has to turn his head to check if he's kidding or not. The smirk indicates that he is.

"Ikinari, which tree is your favorite?" he asks as if to comply.

"I hate all of you."

"Ren and Nari sittin' in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Haruto cuts in enthusiastically, pleased to even so briefly participate in the game of pick up lines.

After a brief chuckle, Ren falls into a satisfied silence. He cups a hand around his ear and listens deeply to the sounds around him. The waterfall was intense, in a special kind of way, but the light crackles of the ground beneath them, the shuffling of asynchronous footsteps, and the birds... The BIRDS... this is all amazing, too. He closes his eyes to focus on each one, and then he feels a tight grip on his forearm. "You can't just shut your eyes in the middle of a hike, idiot. You're gonna get yourself hurt," Nari scolds.

"Sorry, sorry. Just kinda got swept up in it all. Not used to hearing this many birds," he admits wistfully.

"You know, I literally fucking love nature. Always have. But having you around, experiencing a lot of this stuff for the first time, reminds me to pay attention to some of the parts of it I take for granted."

Ren blushes tomato-red, but his expression maintains a sense of serenity and clarity.

"Oh sing, the wind.

Oh sing, the bushels.

Oh sing the creatures

Surrounding me here.

Sing on, my..."

He cuts off his song to think up the next few lyrics.

"Sing on, my robins

Sing on, my streams...

Usher in the twilight

To show me the stars."

After concluding his melody, he adds onto it by humming the same notes he can hear the birds warbling, in a soft repeating pattern. It's a sweet tune, like honey dripping from a piece of comb. "Obviously, you're really talented no matter what you're playing or singing. But to be honest, I think I prefer when you do gentler stuff like this," she confesses, playing with the brass compass around her neck.

"This song in my heart is only possible because you planned this trip," he says quietly.

"Could this get any cuter?!"

"Sayuri!" Yuu whisper-yells. She giggles in response. Nari tugs a bit harder on her necklace, feeling self-conscious from discovering how much attention was being placed on her.

To whisk the whole conversation away, Ren starts his song over with a sensitivity and a reverence. It nearly gives her shivers, which she hates to admit. Sure, he's the Ultimate Guitarist and all, but to be this affected by something as simple as this is kind of ridiculous. "You guys can feel free to jump in if you can come up with anything interesting!" he encourages.

"Sing, Golden Hour

Oh sing, quenched soil.

Sing praise to the Earth

And the life that it bears," Sayuri joins almost immediately, having apparently been formulating them for a while. After this, she starts up the bird song again, with Ren adding his voice to the mix. The voices of a few others in the group can be heard, as well.

"Um, it may not be good," Haruto warns with a nervous smile, adjusting his glasses.

"Sing on, little fish

Sing on, buzzy bugs.

Sing on, clay deposits

Hidden from my sight." He whistles the same strand of notes excitedly, indicating the end of his impromptu verse.

She feels a quivering, a stirring. It comes with so much anxiety she can hardly bear it, but she tries to tune out everything else so that she can do what she wants to try.

"Sing, oh my dear vast skies.

Sing, oh my clouds above.

Sing, my sweet friends I love.

Sing, blooming flowers and sing steady rocks.

Little whispers and joyous cries."

The melody is shaky, quiet, but aside from a few slight gasps of surprise, everyone listens so intently that she feels it might kill her. But she knows she's fine. They care about her, so if she's going to raise her voice for anyone, it should rightfully be them. She tries to start up their makeshift chorus, but nobody joins in, leaving her solo for far too long. She flashes Ren a panicked expression.

For a moment, she can see that his face is entirely red and the peace that had been there is gone, replaced by awe and thrill. But when he sees her cry for help, he composes himself, adding a little harmony to the chorus. Over time, each member of the group begins singing, as well, even the ones who don't think they sound good. It's just the happiness of being together.

Still singing, Nari looks back to the group and points ahead. Their starting place is within view. The hike is drawing to a close.