The road home felt longer than usual.
Not because the distance had changed—
But because something about it felt… quieter.
Sora walked a step behind—
his movements slower than before—
each step still carrying the weight of his injuries.
"…When we get back…"
He exhaled.
"…I'm sleeping for three days."
Johan didn't look at him.
"…You'll be lucky if it's one."
"…You're not helping."
"…I'm not trying to."
A brief silence followed.
Not uncomfortable—
Just… different.
"…You think he's gonna be there?" Sora asked.
"…He should be."
A pause.
"…Unless he left."
Sora frowned slightly.
"…Left?"
"…He does that sometimes."
"…Not without saying anything."
Johan didn't respond.
But his gaze shifted forward—
focused—
quiet.
The house came into view.
Same as always.
Standing alone—
untouched by the chaos of the outside world.
For a moment—
It felt normal again.
Familiar.
Safe.
Sora stepped forward—
pushing the door open.
Creak—
"…We're back."
No answer.
Sora blinked.
"…Old man?"
Silence.
Johan stepped inside slowly.
His eyes moved—
scanning—
taking everything in.
Nothing broken.
Nothing out of place.
Too clean.
"…He's not here," Johan said quietly.
"…Yeah, no shit," Sora muttered.
He stepped further in—
glancing around—
"…Probably out."
"…Maybe."
Johan's voice didn't carry certainty.
"....Then i'll sleep first" Sora muttered
Time passed.
Minutes.
Then longer.
Sora sat down—
leaning back slightly—
closing his eyes for a moment.
"…He's late…"
Johan didn't sit.
He walked.
Slowly.
Around the room.
Looking.
Not for something obvious—
But for something subtle.
Something wrong.
His fingers brushed lightly against the table.
Clean.
Too clean.
"…Sora."
"…What?"
"…When was the last time he cleaned this place?"
Sora opened one eye.
"…Never."
"…Exactly."
A pause.
"…Something's off."
Sora sat up slightly—
frowning now.
"…What do you mean?"
Johan didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
his eyes shifted.
To the table.
To the basket.
Fruits.
Fresh.
But untouched.
He stepped closer—
lifting it slightly.
And saw it.
A folded piece of paper.
Hidden.
Not meant to be seen immediately.
"…Johan?"
"…He left something."
Sora straightened.
"…What?"
Johan picked it up—
unfolding it carefully.
His eyes scanned the words.
Once.
Then again.
Silence.
"…Well?" Sora pressed.
Johan handed it over.
"…Read it."
Sora took it—
his expression shifting as he read.
"If you're reading this… then you made it back."
"Good."
"I expected nothing less from the two of you."
Sora's grip tightened slightly.
"I won't be here when you arrive."
"There are things I need to take care of… alone."
"…What…?" Sora muttered.
"You've both grown more than I anticipated."
"Which means… I no longer have anything left to teach you."
Sora's jaw clenched.
"From here on… walk your own path."
"Don't rely on me anymore."
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Unmoving.
"Make your choices count."
Sora lowered the paper slowly.
"…That's it…?"
No anger.
Not yet.
Just confusion.
"…That's all he says…?"
Johan didn't answer.
He was still staring at the table.
Thinking.
Processing.
"…He planned this," Johan said quietly.
Sora looked at him.
"…Planned what? Leaving without a word?"
"…He didn't leave suddenly."
Johan's eyes moved slightly—
taking in the room again.
"…Everything here… it's prepared."
"…Prepared…?" Sora repeated.
"…Clean. Organized. Nothing unfinished."
A pause.
"…He knew we were coming back."
Silence.
Sora looked down at the note again.
Then scoffed lightly—
but it lacked strength.
"…What kind of goodbye is that…?"
No answer came.
Because there wasn't one.
Johan stepped toward the doorway—
pausing briefly.
His gaze lingered—
not on the room—
But on something else.
Something faint.
A trace.
Aether.
Old.
Different.
Not like anything he'd felt before.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…What are you hiding…" he muttered under his breath.
"…What?" Sora asked.
"…Nothing."
Johan turned away.
The feeling faded.
But it stayed in his mind.
Sora folded the note—
tighter than necessary—
then shoved it into his pocket.
"…So what now?" he asked.
No hesitation.
No delay.
Johan stepped outside.
"…We move forward."
Sora followed—
stepping out into the open air—
glancing back once.
At the house.
At the place they called home.
"…Without him…?" he asked.
Johan didn't look back.
"…That was always the point."
Silence.
Sora exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah…"
A pause.
"…Guess it was."
They stood there—
side by side—
But something had changed.
No orders.
No guidance.
No one waiting for them.
Just the road ahead.
Uncertain.
Unforgiving.
The wind passed through quietly.
Carrying nothing with it.
No voice.
No presence.
Just emptiness.
Without realizing it…
they had just taken their first step alone.