A couple of days had passed since Tokai Teio's terrifying accident at Hakone.
But even now—
The incident still lingered heavily in everyone's minds.
The image of the Bayside Blue R34 slamming into the trees had spread across social media almost instantly after the livestream broadcast ended. Clips of the crash circulated everywhere online—forums, racing channels, news reports, and even mainstream television.
At Tracen Academy—
Word had spread just as quickly.
Students gathered in hallways discussing it in hushed voices.
Some had watched the event live.
Others only saw the aftermath afterward.
But nearly everyone shared the same reaction.
Shock.
Not because Tokai Teio had crashed.
But because of how bad the crash looked.
The footage made the impact appear catastrophic.
And honestly—
It should have been.
The R34 GT-R itself had been completely destroyed.
The front-left corner absorbed the majority of the initial impact before the rear quarter slammed into the second tree during the spin. The chassis had twisted badly enough that recovery crews later deemed the car structurally beyond repair.
A total loss.
Even seasoned mechanics who later examined photos of the wreck quietly admitted the same thing:
Teio had gotten unbelievably lucky.
Because despite how violent the impact looked—
The more important fact remained unchanged.
Tokai Teio was alive.
Alive.
Conscious.
And mostly unharmed.
Apart from a sprained ankle.
The injury itself came from the impact sequence during the crash.
When the Skyline hit the embankment and bounced toward the first tree, Teio's left foot had been positioned improperly near the dead pedal during her brace for impact.
The force twisted her ankle awkwardly against the footwell.
Painful.
But survivable.
And compared to what could have happened—
It was practically a miracle.
Because everyone knew the truth.
If she had entered that corner slightly faster…
If the car had impacted at a worse angle…
If the trees had been thinner…
If the chassis had rotated differently…
The outcome might have been completely different.
Way different.
Even Teio herself understood that now.
Which was exactly why the mood around Tracen had changed over the last few days.
Not gloomy.
Not exactly.
But quieter.
More reflective.
The accident had shaken people.
Especially the drivers.
Because for all the excitement surrounding the Hakone event—
The livestreams.
The crowds.
The cheering.
The glory.
It also reminded everyone of something easy to forget.
The mountain did not care who you were.
Champion.
Legend.
Triple Crown winner.
Street racing icon.
None of it mattered if a single mistake was made at the wrong moment.
And Teio had learned that lesson the hard way.
For the past few days, she had remained at Tokyo Medical Center in Higashigaoka, Meguro City.
Partially for recovery.
Partially for observation.
Doctors wanted to monitor her ankle closely while also ensuring there were no delayed complications from the crash itself.
Concussions.
Internal bruising.
Stress-related symptoms.
Thankfully—
Nothing serious had surfaced.
Still—
Rudolf had barely left her side since the accident.
Even now, she remained unusually protective.
Far more than normal.
And everyone around them noticed it immediately.
It was another quiet afternoon.
Clouds drifted slowly beyond the windows of the Miho Dormitories while cool autumn air passed gently through the open campus pathways outside.
Normally—
This time of day would have been busy.
Student Council paperwork.
Meetings.
Training schedules.
Budget reviews.
Complaints.
Air Groove yelling at someone in the hallway.
But today—
Rudolf's dorm room sat in complete silence.
For the past few days, Symboli Rudolf had temporarily stepped away from her Student Council President duties.
Not permanently.
Just briefly.
Enough to clear her thoughts.
Enough to process what had happened.
Most responsibilities had been handed over to Air Groove in the meantime.
Much to Air Groove's visible frustration.
But even she understood why Rudolf needed the break.
Inside the room—
Rudolf laid quietly on top of her bed, one arm resting across her stomach while she stared blankly at the ceiling above.
No music.
No television.
No paperwork.
Just silence.
Her thoughts kept replaying the accident over and over again.
The onboard footage.
The snap oversteer.
The impact.
Teio's panicked expression moments before the crash.
Then—
Rudolf finally spoke softly.
Not to anyone else.
Just to herself.
"Teio disregarded my advice…"
Her voice was calm.
But underneath it—
Frustration lingered heavily.
"But not only that…"
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"She didn't even have any form of safety equipment in her car."
Immediately—
Her mind flashed back to the last time she had seen the R34 intact.
The interior.
The seats.
The cockpit setup.
And the more she remembered—
The more irritated she became.
"No bucket seats."
"No racing harnesses."
"No roll cage."
Her fingers tightened slightly against the bedsheets.
"Not a single safety-focused modification…"
She slowly shook her head.
"All that power…"
Her expression hardened.
"And barely any safety equipment."
The thought genuinely bothered her.
Because Teio wasn't inexperienced.
She wasn't reckless in the traditional sense either.
Which made it worse.
Rudolf closed her eyes and exhaled sharply through her nose.
"What's going on with her…"
Again—
The image of the destroyed Skyline flashed through her mind.
Crushed metal.
Broken suspension.
Twisted chassis.
And then—
The realization returned.
Teio could have died in that car.
Rudolf opened her eyes again immediately.
This time visibly frustrated.
"All that power…"
"And no safety equipment?"
Her jaw tightened slightly.
"I need to have a word with Teio…"
Rudolf finally sat up.
The bed creaked softly beneath her weight.
She slipped her feet into her dark brown flats before standing fully.
Then reached for her bag resting beside the desk.
At that exact moment—
Knock knock.
Rudolf paused briefly before walking toward the door.
Her hand grasped the handle.
Twist.
Click.
She pulled the door open.
Standing outside—
Were King Halo and Forever Young.
King Halo studied Rudolf quietly for a moment before sighing softly.
"Rudolf…"
"Are you feeling alright?"
Rudolf nodded once.
Silently.
But even then—
She looked exhausted.
Not physically.
Mentally.
Forever Young gave a small nod afterward.
"Well…"
"We're heading to visit Teio."
"She's getting discharged today."
Rudolf blinked once.
Then nodded again.
"…I'll come."
No hesitation.
No second thought.
The three quietly began walking down the dormitory hallway together.
No one spoke much.
The mood remained subdued.
Rudolf closed the dorm room door behind her with a soft click before following the others downstairs.
Their footsteps echoed quietly through the stairwell.
Then—
The trio exited the Miho Dormitories together.
Outside—
The autumn air felt colder than usual.
A steady breeze swept through the Tracen campus pathways, carrying fallen leaves across the pavement as the three quietly made their way toward the Miho Dorm parking area.
The silence between them wasn't awkward.
Just heavy.
The kind that lingered after something everyone was still trying to process.
As they rounded the final corner toward the parking lot—
Two cars sat waiting near the front row.
Already idling.
Already warmed up.
Forever Young's dark cherry red Toyota GR GT sat nearby, its exhaust rumbling softly beneath the cloudy skies.
Beside it—
King Halo's recently restored Gemballa Mirage GT.
The Cobalt Blue Metallic Porsche-based supercar looked almost unreal parked beneath the autumn trees. Its widened bodywork, aggressive vents, and low stance made it appear more like a prototype than an actual road car.
The freshly fitted silver Rotiform ROC-H wheels reflected faintly under the gray afternoon light.
The car idled with a deep mechanical pulse from the V10 beneath the rear deck.
For the first time all day—
Rudolf finally spoke first.
"You changed the wheels on the Mirage GT, Halo?"
King Halo nodded as they approached the car.
"It's sitting on silver Rotiform ROC-H's now."
Rudolf studied the car briefly before nodding slowly.
"The silver works surprisingly well with the blue."
Forever Young nodded in agreement.
"Definitely better than the Carrera wheels you were running before."
King Halo scratched her cheek slightly.
"I figured the older setup looked too plain…"
Honestly—
The wheel change transformed the car completely.
The Mirage GT now carried the same aggressive energy as the infamous New York car it had once been.
Rudolf and King Halo approached the Mirage together while Forever Young headed toward her GR GT.
She would drive separately for the trip to the hospital.
Rudolf reached for the passenger-side handle and opened the door.
The Mirage GT's cabin still smelled faintly of leather, fresh adhesive, and recently restored trim pieces.
She carefully slid into the cockpit.
Meanwhile—
King Halo sat briefly on the door sill before pulling her legs inside and settling into the driver's seat.
Both girls reached for their seatbelts.
Click.
Click.
The belts locked into place.
The Mirage GT's V10 continued idling deeply behind them.
Rudolf's eyes shifted toward the center dashboard.
Then she blinked slightly.
She pointed toward the infotainment display.
"You replaced that massive display Gemballa installed too?"
King Halo nodded immediately.
"Yeah."
"I swapped it for a modern infotainment system."
She tapped the screen lightly.
"Apple CarPlay. Android Auto. Better navigation too."
Rudolf nodded calmly.
"Well…"
"It's not like anyone will care that you replaced it."
King Halo awkwardly nodded.
"Y-Yeah…"
Honestly—
Given the car's history and rarity, most collectors would probably have panicked over modifications.
But considering the Mirage GT had already survived being wrecked internationally before being rebuilt in Japan—
A modern head unit was hardly the worst thing done to it.
King Halo pressed the clutch pedal down fully.
The gated shifter slid firmly into first gear.
Clack.
She slowly built revs.
Then carefully eased the clutch outward.
The V10 hummed softly as the Mirage GT began rolling forward out of the parking area.
Behind them—
Forever Young's GR GT followed shortly after.
The two cars exited the Miho Dormitories together.
And began the drive toward Tokyo Medical Center.
The weather remained gray throughout the afternoon.
Traffic lights reflected softly across damp asphalt while streams of cars moved steadily through the streets of Minato City.
Time passed quietly.
Soon—
The Mirage GT and Forever Young's GR GT found themselves slowly moving through the fairly busy roads of Tōkyō Prefectural Route 412.
The city atmosphere felt strangely muted today.
Even inside the Mirage GT—
Neither Rudolf nor King Halo spoke much at first.
The Gemballa's V10 hummed steadily behind them while the car crawled through traffic.
King Halo drove calmly.
Her left hand rested loosely at the top of the steering wheel.
Her right hand remained on the shifter.
Occasionally adjusting gears as traffic slowed and flowed around them.
Then—
She glanced sideways toward Rudolf.
Rudolf remained focused on the passing city outside the passenger window.
Expression distant.
Thoughts elsewhere.
King Halo sighed softly.
"I know that look, Rudolf."
Rudolf didn't move immediately.
Only her eyes shifted slightly toward King Halo.
Then she exhaled quietly.
"I'm deeply frustrated…"
Her voice lowered slightly.
"I just can't let my anger out."
King Halo nodded once.
"I understand."
A brief silence passed.
Then she continued.
"Is it because Teio brought the wrong setup?"
"Or because she barely had any safety equipment in the car?"
That immediately made Rudolf turn her head toward her.
"You knew?"
King Halo nodded calmly.
"It's obvious."
"One thousand horsepower with basically no safety upgrades besides brakes is concerning."
She shifted into second gear smoothly before continuing.
"Why do you think I upgraded from standard three-point belts to a four-point racing harness setup?"
"And installed a half-roll cage?"
The Mirage GT rumbled softly as traffic began moving again.
King Halo's eyes stayed focused ahead.
"Entering Hakone…"
"We all know the risks."
"We know what can happen if we crash."
Her expression hardened slightly.
"But entering a timed uphill event with the wrong setup entirely?"
She glanced briefly toward Rudolf.
"That's just outright stupid."
The bluntness of her words lingered heavily inside the cabin.
King Halo sighed again.
"Look…"
"We all like Teio."
"We like her enthusiasm."
"Her energy."
"But Maruzensky said it best."
Her grip tightened slightly around the wheel.
"Teio needs to take driving seriously when it matters."
Rudolf remained silent.
King Halo continued quietly.
"Sometimes…"
"She brings that same playful enthusiasm into situations that actually require discipline."
Another pause.
Then she shook her head faintly.
"The last time I saw Teio truly race seriously…"
Her eyes narrowed slightly in thought.
"…was during the Hakone practice runs last year."
"When we encountered you."
"Back when everyone still knew you as the Emperor."
Rudolf blinked slowly.
"That long…?"
King Halo silently nodded.
Rudolf's eyebrows lowered slightly.
Even her ears drooped faintly.
Seeing that—
King Halo scoffed softly.
Her own ears folding back slightly.
"Come on now, Rudolf."
"Don't start blaming yourself for that."
Rudolf immediately shook her head.
"I'm not."
Then finally turned fully toward King Halo.
"I'm upset."
King Halo raised an eyebrow.
"Eh?"
Rudolf exhaled sharply.
"I clearly explained Teio's setup problems to her."
"I told her one thousand horsepower was overkill for a technical uphill event."
Her voice stayed controlled.
But frustration seeped through every word.
"A Wangan setup is built for the Shuto Expressway."
"Wide sweepers."
"Long high-speed stability."
"Tall gearing."
"Softer suspension."
"Not tight uphill corners with violent elevation changes."
She crossed her arms slightly.
"The fact she ignored all of that…"
"And ignored my advice entirely…"
Her eyes narrowed sharply.
"That's negligence on her end."
Silence returned after that.
Neither girl argued.
Because deep down—
Both of them knew Rudolf was right.
The Mirage GT continued through Tokyo traffic.
And eventually—
The towering shape of Tokyo Medical Center came into view ahead.
King Halo slowed the car carefully as they approached the hospital entrance.
At the same time—
Forever Young's GR GT rolled in behind them.
The three quietly exited their cars before making their way toward the hospital entrance.
Automatic glass doors slid open.
Warm air greeted them immediately.
Compared to the cold autumn atmosphere outside, the hospital interior felt strangely still.
Quiet.
Sterile.
The trio moved through the dimly lit hallways together, their footsteps echoing softly against polished flooring.
Rudolf remained silent the entire walk.
Hands in her coat pockets.
Expression unreadable.
Meanwhile—
King Halo and Forever Young spoke quietly between themselves a few steps behind her.
Forever Young sighed softly.
"Teio is incredibly lucky…"
King Halo nodded immediately.
"Mhm…"
"She really is."
Her expression softened slightly.
"I'm just glad it's a sprain and not another fracture."
Forever Young nodded.
"Yeah…"
Then glanced toward King Halo.
"Didn't Teio-chan suffer like… three fractures before?"
King Halo nodded again.
"She did."
A small smile appeared briefly.
"Honestly…"
"Her perseverance is insane."
"She went through hell during those recoveries."
"And somehow still came back stronger."
Forever Young quietly nodded in agreement.
"That 'never give up' mindset of hers is terrifying sometimes…"
Eventually—
They reached Teio's hospital room.
Rudolf stopped directly in front of the door.
She inhaled deeply.
Then slowly exhaled.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
A voice came from inside almost immediately.
"Door's open!"
Rudolf lowered the handle and pushed the door inward.
Inside—
Tokai Teio sat upright on the hospital bed wearing casual clothes, her left ankle lightly wrapped and elevated slightly.
Standing nearby was Mejiro Ardan.
The atmosphere inside the room immediately brightened the moment Teio saw them.
She raised a hand energetically.
"Kaichou!!"
"So nice seeing you again!"
Rudolf nodded silently.
Ardan gave a polite bow.
"Ah, Kaichou…"
Then glanced toward King Halo and Forever Young as they entered behind Rudolf.
"It's nice seeing all of you."
Forever Young quietly shut the door behind them.
Teio smiled brightly despite everything.
"Kaichou!"
"I'm getting discharged today!"
Rudolf nodded slowly.
"Yeah…"
"So I heard."
Teio tilted her head slightly.
"Cheer up, Kaichou!"
She pointed toward her ankle.
"It's just a sprain!"
Then grinned.
"I can walk perfectly fine!"
Rudolf looked at her quietly for several seconds.
Then finally turned toward Ardan, King Halo, and Forever Young.
"Can you three wait outside for a few minutes?"
She glanced back at Teio afterward.
"I need to talk to Teio alone."
Ardan immediately nodded.
"Of course, Kaichou."
The three quietly exited the room one by one.
Click.
The door shut softly behind them.
Silence filled the room.
And immediately—
Rudolf's expression changed.
Her eyebrows lowered.
Frustration surfaced again.
"Teio…"
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
"What the hell were you thinking?"
Teio froze.
Her eyes widened immediately.
"W-What, Kaichou?"
Rudolf rubbed her temples hard before groaning softly.
Then her voice raised slightly.
"What gave you the idea that you could run Hakone in a Wangan setup?"
Teio opened her mouth.
Then hesitated.
Her head lowered slightly.
Before quietly answering—
"I thought I could get away with it…"
Rudolf immediately raised her voice further.
"You CAN'T."
Teio instinctively leaned back slightly from the sudden intensity.
Rudolf pointed sharply toward her.
"I watched your onboard footage."
"You barely made it through most of those corners before Turn Twenty."
"All that power is useless on a technical uphill course."
"Especially somewhere narrow like Hakone."
Then Rudolf raised a finger.
"And that's not even the worst part."
She tapped that finger against her palm sharply.
"No racing harness."
"No roll cage."
"No bucket seats."
She looked directly into Teio's eyes.
"That combination with one thousand horsepower is a death wish."
Teio immediately stuttered.
"I-I…"
"I was planning to install those after the run—"
Rudolf's expression hardened instantly.
"I'm sorry, Teio."
"But I find that complete bullshit."
Teio visibly flinched.
Rudolf continued immediately.
"You ran that same setup for over a year."
"I already told you LAST YEAR to install proper safety equipment."
"And you still didn't do it."
Teio choked on her own words.
"I…"
"I…"
Then finally lowered her head.
"I'm sorry, Kaichou…"
Rudolf shook her head slowly.
"It's too late for apologies now, Teio."
Her hand lowered toward Teio slightly.
"You're already here."
"Injured."
"And your car is totaled."
The room fell silent again.
Then Rudolf sighed deeply.
"I'm sorry."
"But this needs to hurt."
She stared directly at Teio.
Unwavering.
"This accident happened because of your own decisions."
Teio's eyes widened slowly.
"My… own doing…?"
Rudolf nodded.
"You ignored the setup requirements."
"You brought the wrong car setup to the course."
"And that oversteer?"
"That was your mistake too."
Teio's breathing became shaky.
Rudolf continued.
"You accelerated too early."
"Then countersteered like the car was rear-wheel drive."
She pointed downward slightly.
"But your ATTESSA E-TS system transferred torque forward during the correction."
"That snap-back is what sent you into the trees."
She exhaled sharply.
"That crash happened because of your mistake."
Teio twitched slightly.
Her voice weakened.
"I…"
"I'm sorry, Kaichou…"
Rudolf sighed again.
Then—
Finally—
Her expression softened slightly.
She crouched down in front of Teio's bed.
"For me…"
"I forgive you."
Teio slowly looked up.
"But…"
Rudolf shook her head once.
"It's too late for apologies."
"Because the accident already happened."
Silence.
Heavy silence.
Then Rudolf slowly stood back up.
"I'll give you time to think."
"We'll be outside when you need us."
She turned away afterward.
Walked toward the door.
And left the room quietly.
Click.
The room fell silent again.
Teio sat motionless for several seconds.
Then—
Her eyes watered.
A tear slowly formed.
And fell.
She lowered her head shakily.
"…She's right…"
Another tear followed.
"It's all my fault…"
Teio slowly collapsed backward onto the bed.
Staring blankly at the ceiling above her.
Her voice cracked softly.
"…I'm so sorry."
The room stayed quiet after that.
Only the soft hum of hospital ventilation filled the silence while late afternoon light slowly dimmed beyond the windows.
Time passed slowly.
Minute after minute.
No one rushed Teio.
No one pressured her.
And eventually—
Discharge time arrived.
A nurse carefully wheeled Teio through the hospital hallways and toward the main drop-off area near the entrance.
The automatic doors slid open.
Cool autumn air greeted them immediately.
Waiting outside—
Were the same two cars from earlier.
King Halo's Cobal Gemballa Mirage GT sat idling near the curb.
Behind it—
Forever Young's dark cherry red Toyota GR GT waited patiently.
The Mirage GT's V10 pulsed softly beneath the rear deck while its polished silver Kansai wheels reflected under the hospital lights.
Rudolf stepped toward King Halo first.
Then looked at her quietly.
"King-san…"
"I hope you don't mind if Teio rides with you."
King Halo immediately shook her head.
"Not at all, Kaichou."
Rudolf smiled faintly.
A small one.
But genuine.
"I appreciate it."
Then she turned toward Teio.
Rudolf gently patted her shoulder.
"We'll talk more once we're back at the dorm."
Teio nodded quietly.
"…Okay."
The nurse carefully unlocked the wheelchair.
Teio slowly stood up.
Her left ankle still hurt slightly, but she could walk.
Carefully.
One step at a time.
She slowly made her way toward the passenger side of the Mirage GT.
King Halo walked ahead slightly before opening the passenger door for her.
The Mirage GT's door swung outward smoothly.
Teio nodded politely.
"Thank you, King-san."
King Halo gave a small nod back.
"Of course."
Teio carefully sat down first on the door sill before sliding her legs into the cockpit.
Then slowly pulled herself fully inside.
Once seated—
She reached for the door handle.
And gently pulled the door shut.
Thunk.
Outside—
King Halo turned toward the nurse and bowed politely.
"Thank you for everything, sir."
The nurse bowed back.
"Of course."
"We're happy to help Miss Teio."
King Halo smiled faintly.
Then waved goodbye before walking around toward the driver side.
She stepped into the Mirage GT and closed the door behind her.
Inside the cockpit—
The atmosphere felt calmer now.
Quieter.
King Halo pulled the seatbelt across herself and clicked it into place.
Then looked toward Teio.
"Ready to head home?"
Teio nodded softly.
"Of course, King-san."
King Halo smiled slightly.
"That's what I like to hear."
She pressed the clutch pedal inward fully.
The Mirage GT's gated shifter slid firmly into first gear.
Clack.
The V10 revs rose slightly.
Then—
King Halo slowly eased the clutch outward.
The Mirage GT smoothly rolled away from the hospital curb.
Behind them—
Forever Young and Rudolf followed closely in the GR GT.
Mejiro Ardan had already departed earlier for the Mejiro Estate after saying her goodbyes.
And soon—
The two cars merged back into Tokyo traffic together.
Beginning the quiet drive back toward Tracen Academy.
King Halo chose not to take the direct route.
Instead, she turned the Mirage GT toward the Shuto Expressway system, opting for the longer, calmer loop back through the city.
No urgency.
No pressure.
Just distance.
A few minutes later—
The two-car convoy settled into the Bayshore Route, heading north beneath the layered concrete web of Tokyo's elevated highways.
The city lights were beginning to glow faintly now, reflecting off damp road surfaces and distant glass buildings.
Traffic was light.
Flowing.
Predictable.
They passed Daikoku Junction without incident, the famous interchange briefly visible in the rearview mirror before disappearing behind a curve.
Soon after—
They entered Ogishima Island, the industrial stretch where the expressway opened up slightly.
King Halo shifted into sixth gear.
The Mirage GT settled into a steady cruise at around 140 km/h.
Stable.
Controlled.
Smooth.
The V10's tone softened into a deep, constant hum, no longer aggressive—just present.
Inside the cabin—
Silence returned.
Teio sat quietly in the passenger seat.
Her gaze stayed fixed out the window, watching the city blur past in streaks of light and shadow.
The weight of everything earlier still lingered in her expression.
Not pain.
Not fear.
Just thought.
King Halo exhaled softly.
"I know what you're thinking."
Teio didn't respond immediately.
King Halo continued anyway.
"And no…"
"We don't hate you for the crash."
That made Teio flinch slightly.
Her voice cracked a little when she finally spoke.
"How can you not hate me…"
She swallowed.
"I put myself at risk."
"It's all my fault."
King Halo's eye twitched immediately.
A sharper reaction than before.
"Don't you dare say that."
Teio blinked.
Still shaken.
"I mean… I—"
"As if…"
"I know Kaichou blames me…"
King Halo shook her head firmly.
"No."
"She doesn't."
Teio turned toward her quickly.
"How can you tell?"
King Halo let out a long sigh.
"Because we were standing outside the door."
"We heard everything."
Teio went silent.
King Halo kept her eyes on the road.
"Rudolf wasn't blaming you."
"She was breaking down what went wrong."
"Your mistakes. Your setup. Your decisions."
She paused slightly.
"And when she said it was 'too late for apologies'…"
"That wasn't rejection."
"That was reality."
Teio listened quietly.
King Halo continued.
"She meant the crash already happened."
"So apologies don't change it anymore."
"What matters now is what you do after."
Her tone softened slightly.
"And I know Rudolf well enough to say this…"
"She's going to teach you how to prevent it next time."
A short silence passed between them.
Only the hum of the engine filled the space.
King Halo glanced briefly toward Teio.
"You're still young."
"You still have so much ahead of you."
Her grip tightened slightly on the wheel.
"Don't throw that away because of one accident."
Then she looked forward again.
"Instead…"
"You learn from it."
"And become better than you were before it."
Teio slowly lowered her gaze.
Her breathing steadied.
But her eyes were still wet.
King Halo continued quietly.
"I promise you…"
"You are forgiven by Rudolf."
A pause.
Then—
"And I can promise you something else."
Teio looked up slightly.
King Halo kept her voice steady.
"We're going to be there during your recovery."
That finally made Teio's expression break.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Then softened.
She sniffed once.
And nodded.
"…Th-thank you…"
"King Halo-san…"
King Halo gave a small, calm nod.
"You're welcome, Teio."
Outside the Mirage GT—
Tokyo continued to flow past in endless motion.
Cars passed.
Lights blurred.
The expressway stretched forward without end.
But inside the cabin—
Something had finally settled.
Not fixed.
Not healed.
But steadied.
And for the first time since Hakone—
Tokai Teio wasn't alone in her thoughts.