What was supposed to be a simple day out quickly turns into a mess that neither Harua nor Taki were prepared for.

*****
"Let's just retrace our steps!"
 "We took a van here."
*****

Harua knew something was wrong the second he looked around and realized—

They were alone.

The bustling streets of the foreign city stretched in every direction, packed with people who definitely weren't their group. There were no familiar faces, no staff members, no cameras, nothing.

Just him. And Taki.

Taki, who was currently flipping his pockets inside out like that would magically produce a working phone.

"...So, uh," Taki started, glancing up at Harua with a nervous laugh. "Funny story."

Harua sighed. "Taki."

"We might be a little lost."

Harua pinched the bridge of his nose. "A little?"

"Okay, completely lost."

Harua exhaled slowly, counting to three in his head. "Do you have your phone?"

Taki grinned sheepishly. "I did."

Harua's eye twitched. "Where is it now?"

"...Back in the van."

Harua closed his eyes. He was going to lose his mind.

Harua and Taki stood at a street corner, scanning the foreign signs, none of which they could read.

Harua turned to Taki. "Any idea where we are?"

Taki cupped a hand over his eyes like he was searching for treasure. "Yup. We're in a city."

"...Great."

Taki grinned. "See? Problem solved."

Harua took a deep breath. "Do you remember the name of our hotel?"

Taki blinked. "...It was something fancy?"

"Taki."

"Okay, okay! Uh..." Taki clapped his hands together. "Let's just retrace our steps!"

Harua gave him a look. "We took a van here."

Taki deflated. "Right."

Silence.

Then Harua frowned. "Wait. Didn't you say you could navigate without Google Maps?"

Taki hesitated. Then, very quietly—

"I thought it would be fine."

Harua inhaled sharply. "Why did you say we could navigate without Google Maps?"

"I had confidence, okay?!"

"Confidence doesn't get us un-lost, Taki!"

After ten minutes of wandering in what they hoped was the right direction, they decided to ask someone for help.

Taki waved down a local. "Excuse me! Uh—do you speak English?"

The person shook their head.

Taki turned to Harua. "Your turn."

Harua blinked. "Why me?"

"You seem smart! Maybe you can piece together enough words!"

Harua sighed and turned back to the stranger, thinking hard. Then, carefully, he tried, "Hotel... go... where?"

The person blinked. Then started speaking rapidly in their language.

Harua and Taki just stared.

"Oh no," Taki whispered.

"Oh no," Harua agreed.

After a full thirty seconds of nodding politely, they backed away with absolutely zero new information.

Taki sighed. "Okay. New plan."

Harua crossed his arms. "Which is?"

"...Panic?"

Harua groaned.

"I think it was left," Taki said confidently.

"I know it was right," Harua shot back.

"Rock, paper, scissors?"

"Are you serious?"

Taki held out his fist. "Do you have a better idea?"

Harua sighed. "Fine."

They played.

Harua lost.

So they went left.

Thirty minutes later, they were more lost.

Harua turned to Taki with dead eyes. "I hate you."

Taki raised his hands. "Okay, but in my defense—"

Harua didn't let him finish.

Just as Harua was about to give up on life and sit on the sidewalk forever, he heard a voice in the distance.

"Taki? Harua?"

They turned.

Standing a block away, looking deeply concerned, was K.

Harua nearly collapsed in relief.

Taki grinned. "Oh, hey! We found you!"

K crossed his arms. "No. We found you."

Behind him, Jo and Yuma looked unimpressed.

"We've been searching for an hour," Jo said flatly.

Yuma snorted. "You two are literally helpless."

Harua exhaled. "Please just take us back."

K sighed but motioned for them to follow. "Come on."

As they walked, Taki nudged Harua. "See? We survived."

Harua stared at him.

Then, very slowly, he raised his fist.

Taki flinched. "WAIT—"

Smack.

Right on the head.

Taki groaned. "I deserved that."

Harua rolled his eyes. "Next time, we bring a phone."

"Yeah, yeah."

"And we use Google Maps."

"...Fine."

Harua sighed, but despite everything, he couldn't help but laugh a little.

At least they had a good story now.

Not that he'd let Taki ever forget it.

Final Score:

Harua: Suffering.Taki: Confidently incorrect.Jo & Yuma: Unimpressed.K: Regrets checking on them.The Lesson? Never trust Taki with directions.

Ever.