Departure day, Penguin Logistics dormitory.
"Shirou! Have you seen the stuff I bought yesterday?"
Beside a large van, the Penguin Logistics crew were busy organizing everything they needed for the trip.
Cargo to be delivered, tents, sleeping bags, dry rations, weapons, shields, and the snacks they had specifically bought yesterday…
Among them, snacks took up a huge portion and most of those were Pocky.
While stuffing things into the van, Exusiai suddenly realized the apple pie she had bought yesterday was not there, so she called out to Shirou.
"In the fridge, probably?"
Shirou thought for a moment, apple pie was the only thing she bought yesterday so it should still be in the fridge.
"Oh! I will go get it!"
Hearing that her beloved apple pie was safe, Exusiai dashed upstairs.
"She really insists on bringing apple pie even at times like this…"
Croissant, carrying her hammer and shield complained from the side.
"Well, it's Exusiai. Apple pie is basically her spiritual food."
Sora leaned out from inside the van while organizing things.
Anyone could tell how much Exusiai loved apple pie.
"But eating too much is not healthy. By the way, where is Texas?"
After chatting a bit, Shirou realized he had not seen Texas for a while.
"She is in the driver's seat. The boss just got us this van recently, so she is getting familiar with it."
Sora pointed toward the front.
Following her gaze, Shirou noticed Texas sitting in the driver's seat.
Rather than just familiarizing herself with the new vehicle, she looked… excited.
Shirou had only ever seen that sparkling-eyed, happy expression on Texas once before, when he had helped fix her headphones.
How should he put it…
Texas seemed like someone who usually did not show emotions on her face, she was always calm and expressionless only revealing feelings in specific situations or through subtle movements of her ears and tail.
Not exactly cold but more like someone who simply did not think too much.
Shirou reflected on her usual behavior.
"By the way, Shirou, you do not have a thick coat, right?"
After finishing organizing, Sora suddenly asked.
"A thick coat? No. This is the only one I have."
Shirou tugged at the Penguin Logistics jacket he was wearing.
When he first arrived, Lungmen's climate had been quite warm for him, and as far as he knew, it was currently spring so he had not bought anything heavier.
"I knew it. Good thing I had Yith prepare one. It might be warm in Lungmen, but Ursus is still very cold, it might even be snowing."
Sora pulled out a thick coat from a nearby box and handed it to him.
"The temperature difference is that big?"
Shirou examined the coat.
It had already been cleaned and prepared, which was great, he did not like wearing brand-new clothes without washing them first.
The coat also had Penguin Logistics' signature black-and-white color scheme and logo.
And most importantly… it was really thick.
He had not worn something this heavy in a long time.
"Better to have it than not. Put it in the back later."
After loading the cargo, Sora reminded him.
Shirou nodded and tried it on briefly, it was a bit large, not ideal for fighting but definitely warm.
After a moment, he already felt hot, so he quickly took it off folded it, and placed it in the back.
"Is everything ready?"
Still immersed in the joy of getting to drive a new car, Texas leaned out the window and asked.
She could not wait to drive it and it was the latest model too. The boss was generous!
"Pretty much. We are just waiting for Exusiai and her apple pie. Shirou, where are you sitting?"
Croissant quickly checked the cargo, confirming everything was ready.
Normally, there were only four of them, so seating was fixed. But now with Shirou, they had to rearrange.
"Hmm… the passenger seat?"
After thinking, Shirou felt the front seat would be best.
He would not have to squeeze in the back like usual, being sandwiched between Sora and Croissant was fine for short trips but unbearable for long ones.
After all, he was still a teenage boy. Having a few… minor concerns was perfectly normal, right?
"Nope. Passenger seat has to assist the driver. Sit in the back."
Croissant mercilessly crushed his hope.
"…Then I will take a window seat."
Shirou rubbed his head. If not the front, at least the window.
Even if the others did not care, he did not want to socially die in front of Penguin Logistics, they basically did not treat him like a guy at all.
"Alright. Sora, you sit in the middle."
Croissant arranged seats accordingly. As the defender, she needed to be near the door for quick exits.
"No problem."
Sora had no objections.
They all got into the vehicle and waited for Exusiai to arrive with her apple pie.
The interior was spacious, at least four people could sit in the back so Shirou's earlier worries disappeared.
He sat behind the driver's seat. The passenger seat was usually Exusiai's, with Croissant behind her.
That way, in emergencies, Texas and Croissant could take the front lines, Exusiai provided ranged support, and Sora assisted with her Arts.
Now with Shirou who could function as a Guard, Sniper, and Caster all at once the team setup was basically complete.
"Sorry, sorry! I heated up the apple pie a bit. Want some?"
After a long wait, Exusiai finally arrived.
"No thanks, keep it. Sora, pass me a pack of Pocky."
Texas started the engine while declining.
As soon as the engine started, Shirou's first instinct was to fasten his seatbelt.
…And then he felt everyone's gaze on him.