He lowered his gaze and stepped forward again, slipping into the crowd.
After a moment, he stopped someone.
"…Hey."
The passerby glanced at him, already half-walking.
"Yeah?"
"…Do you know where Chico Island is?"
The man frowned.
"Chico Island?"
Navi nodded.
"Yes."
The man scratched his head.
"Uh… nah, kid. I don't know anything about islands around here."
Navi didn't react immediately.
"…I see."
The man hesitated, eyeing the sword.
"…You lost or something?"
A pause.
Navi looked at him—but not really at him.
"…I'm looking for someone."
"Then maybe start with a better description," the man said, already stepping away. "Name alone won't help you."
Navi didn't reply.
The man left.
Navi stood there for a moment.
"…Oh."
His hand slowly clenched.
That was all he had.
A place.
A name.
No direction. No certainty.
Still—
He kept walking.
"…Chico Island…"
"…Do you know where it is?"
"…Have you heard of it?"
Different people.
Same reactions.
Confusion.
Dismissal.
Silence.
"…No."
"Ask someone else."
"Kid, I'm busy."
Navi nodded every time.
"…I see."
Even when he didn't.
Time passed.
The crowd grew thicker.
The noise louder.
His steps slower.
Until eventually—
He wandered without direction again.
People brushed past him from all sides—voices, footsteps, lights… everything felt too loud. Too fast.
He didn't understand any of it.
Then—
thud.
He collided with someone and fell to the ground.
"Oh my God—I'm so sorry! I didn't see you!"
A girl quickly knelt in front of him, reaching out a hand. But then she paused.
Her eyes locked onto him.
The sword.
The scars.
"…Wait."
Her expression changed instantly.
"Perfect timing!" she said, eyes lighting up. "Are you from Hades? An Emovere?!"
Navi didn't answer.
He just stared.
"Will you come with me?" she continued, already grabbing his hand. "I'll pay you! I just need answers for my research!"
Before he could react, she pulled him up and started running.
Navi stumbled at first, caught off guard—but he didn't resist.
He just… followed.
"By the way!" she said while running, glancing back at him with a grin. "My name's Garden. Weird, right? My mom said it's 'unique.'"
She laughed.
"What about you?"
Navi hesitated.
"…Navi."
"Ohhh, that's a cool name!" she said. "Never heard that before."
After a while, they reached a small house.
Garden pushed the door open and rushed inside.
"I'm back!"
A girl inside turned toward her, clearly stressed.
"Where did you go?! The deadline's tomorrow—we have to finish the research!"
Her eyes shifted to Navi.
She blinked once. Then narrowed her eyes.
"…And who is that?"
A pause.
"…Why does he have a sword?"
She stood up, walking closer—examining him without hesitation.
"…Don't tell me…"
Her brows raised.
"You actually found an Emovere?"
Garden grinned proudly.
"Yep!"
She gestured toward him.
"This is Navi. Navi, this is my friend, Lydia."
Lydia crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly.
"…You're serious?"
She stepped closer to Navi, looking him up and down.
"No uniform. No insignia. No escort."
A beat.
"…He doesn't even look like he knows where he is."
Garden blinked.
"…Huh?"
"Garden," Lydia said flatly, "I think you just kidnapped a random guy."
Silence.
Garden slowly turned back to Navi.
"…Wait."
Her smile faded a little.
"You are an Emovere… right?"
Navi frowned slightly.
"…Emovere?"
Another pause.
Garden's eyes widened.
"…Oh no."
She covered her face.
"Wait—wait—are you like… a cosplayer?!"
Navi tilted his head slightly.
"…Cos…player?"
Lydia sighed, rubbing her temples.
"Unbelievable."
Garden groaned.
"Oh my God, I am so sorry—this is so embarrassing…"
A few moments later, she walked Navi outside.
The noise of the city returned.
Navi still hadn't said much.
Garden scratched the back of her head awkwardly.
"I thought you were just shy," she said. "I have friends like that… introverts and stuff."
She hesitated for a second—then gently placed the money in his hand.
"…You'll be okay, right?"
A small pause.
Navi looked at the money.
Then at her.
"…I don't know."
Garden blinked—caught off guard for a moment.
Then she smiled anyway.
"Then… just start somewhere."
She stepped back, waving.
"Bye, Navi!"
Then she turned and ran off.
That smile…
For a brief moment—
Something inside Navi shifted.
He stood there, watching her disappear into the distance.
Not moving.
Just… watching.
Silence.
Then—
Figures appeared.
Three of them.
Hades.