Suzume's phone rang at 7 PM.

  She was back in her apartment, still wearing her gear from the outbreak, when Sato's name, Suzu's lawyer, appeared on the screen.

  "Hello?"

  "Good news." Sato's voice was crisp. "The investigation concluded. No violations found. The guild is cleared to continue operations."

  Suzume sat down on her futon.

  "They're dropping it?"

  "Completely. Yagami tried to stretch it out, but, especially after helping with that outbreak, public pressure and media coverage forced their hand. The review committee found your extractions have been by-the-book. Textbook, even."

  "So we can register headquarters? Take the exam?"

  "As soon as you're ready. I'll send the paperwork tomorrow."

  Suzume thanked her and hung up. She stared at her phone for a long moment. Then she called Yumi.

  "We won," Suzume said.

  "I know. Sato called me first. I'm already planning how to spin this to the press." Yumi paused. "Actually, forget the press. We should celebrate. Properly."

  "Celebrate how?"

  "Dinner. Drinks. Normal people things." Yumi's voice brightened. "There's an izakaya in Shinjuku. Good food, private rooms, not too expensive. I'll text everyone."

  "Yumi—"

  "Too late. Already texting. See you at nine."

  She hung up.

  Suzume looked down at her dirty gear, at her apartment that smelled like dungeon grime and sweat.

  [Normal people things.]

  She couldn't remember the last time she'd done those.

  ---

  The izakaya was tucked between a ramen shop and a pachinko parlor, its entrance marked by a red lantern and a wooden sign.

  Suzume arrived first. She'd changed into jeans and a sweater, her hair still damp from a rushed shower. The hostess led her to a private room with low tables and floor cushions.

  Yumi arrived next, carrying a bag from a convenience store.

  "Supplies," she said, pulling out bottles of sake and beer. "The house stuff is overpriced."

  Kasumi showed up five minutes later, looking effortlessly beautiful in a casual dress that probably cost more than Suzume's rent. She'd left her spear somewhere, but somehow still moved like she was armed.

  "This place better have good food," Kasumi said, dropping onto a cushion. "I'm starving."

  Honoka came in quietly, looking nervous in her school uniform. She sat beside Suzume, clutching her phone.

  "I've never been to an izakaya before," she whispered.

  "It's just a restaurant," Suzume said.

  "I know, but... what if I order wrong?"

  "You can't order wrong."

  Hikari arrived exactly at nine, her hair perfectly styled, her outfit immaculate despite spending the afternoon coordinating an outbreak response.

  "Apologies for the delay. I was finalizing incident reports."

  "It's nine on the dot," Yumi said.

  "As I said. Delayed."

  Rina came last. She hesitated in the doorway, like she wasn't sure she was allowed inside. Her midsection was bandaged under her shirt, despite the fact that Honoka had healed it fully.

  "Sit," Suzume said, gesturing to an empty cushion.

  Rina sat. She kept her distance from Kasumi, who was already pouring herself sake.

  The waitress came. They ordered. Too much food, probably, but Yumi insisted they needed to celebrate properly.

  When the waitress asked for Honoka's order, she looked panicked.

  "Um... do you have... chocolate milk?"

  Everyone stopped.

  "Chocolate milk?" Kasumi repeated.

  "I'm sixteen! I can't drink alcohol!"

  "You fight C-Rank monsters but you're worried about drinking laws?" Kasumi grinned. "Kid, your priorities are backwards."

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  "Ignore them. Good job being responsible," Hikari said. She ordered tea. "I'm not drinking either."

  "Boring," Yumi muttered. She was already halfway through her first beer.

  The food arrived in waves. Yakitori, edamame, fried chicken, grilled fish. More than they could possibly eat. Suzume grabbed a skewer of chicken and tried to remember the last time she'd eaten something that wasn't convenience store food.

  "So," Yumi said, raising her beer. "To the Dungeon Rescue Guild. Officially cleared of bullshit charges and somehow still alive."

  "Hear, hear," Kasumi said.

  They drank. Well, most of them. Honoka sipped her chocolate milk, which came in a tall glass with a straw and a little umbrella. She looked miserable.

  "Why does mine have a toy umbrella?" she muttered.

  "Because you ordered chocolate milk at an izakaya," Kasumi said. "They probably think you're twelve."

  "I'm sixteen!"

  "Sure," Kasumi smirked.

  Suzume ate quietly, watching the group. Yumi was already tipsy, gesturing wildly while she explained her media strategy for the next month. Hikari ate with precise, mechanical efficiency, like she was refueling rather than enjoying food. Kasumi had claimed most of the yakitori and was working through it at an impressive pace.

  Rina sat at the edge of the group, barely touching her food. Kasumi kept glancing at her, not hostile exactly, but watchful. Rina pretended not to notice.

  Honoka tried to break the tension.

  "So, um, Rina... what's your favorite kind of dungeon?"

  Rina looked up, surprised to be addressed.

  "What?"

  "Your favorite kind of dungeon. Like, which one was the most interesting?"

  "I don't have a favorite."

  "Oh. Okay." Honoka deflated slightly.

  "But there was one in Osaka," Rina continued. "Underground temple... Had these poison dart traps that were synchronized with pressure plates fifty meters away. Took me three hours to map them all."

  "That sounds amazing," Honoka said.

  "It was annoying."

  "But you figured it out, right?"

  "Eventually."

  Honoka beamed like Rina had just told her an inspiring story. Rina looked confused by the reaction.

  Yumi's phone buzzed. She glanced at it and smiled.

  "Rei wants to know if we're behaving."

  "Who's Rei?" Honoka asked.

  "My girlfriend. She's a photographer. Works with me sometimes."

  "Oh! That's so cool! What's she like?"

  "Hot. Talented. Currently annoyed I'm out drinking without her." Yumi typed something back. "But she's working late, so she'll survive."

  Kasumi poured herself another drink.

  "Must be nice, having someone who gets your work."

  "It is." Yumi glanced at Suzume. "What about you? Anyone special?"

  Suzume nearly choked on her edamame.

  "What? No. I'm too busy for that."

  "Too busy or too dense?"

  "What's that supposed to mean?"

  Yumi just smiled and went back to her phone.

  Hikari was reading something on her tablet while she ate. Multi-tasking even during dinner.

  "Are you working right now?" Suzume asked.

  "Reviewing potential headquarters locations. I've narrowed it to three options, all within budget."

  "Hikari. We're celebrating."

  "I'm aware. I can celebrate and be productive simultaneously."

  "That's not how celebrating works."

  Hikari looked up, genuinely confused.

  "Isn't it?"

  The food kept coming. The drinks kept flowing—at least for those who were drinking. Honoka nursed her chocolate milk like it was fine wine. Rina had barely touched her beer, but she'd stopped sitting quite so rigidly.

  The conversation drifted. Guild logistics. Dungeon stories. Honoka's disastrous attempt at cooking for herself last week. Yumi's increasingly ridiculous theories about what Yagami looked like under his suit.

  "I bet he's all pasty," Yumi said. "Like he's never seen the sun."

  "He probably sleeps in a coffin," Kasumi added.

  "With paperwork as his pillow."

  "Stop," Suzume said, but she was smiling.

  Even Hikari cracked what might have been a smile. It was hard to tell.

  By the time they finished eating, it was past eleven. Yumi was fully drunk, her cheeks flushed. Kasumi was pleasantly buzzed. Hikari remained perfectly sober and was now reviewing what looked like tax documents.

  "We should do this again," Honoka said. "It was fun."

  "Next time, order a real drink," Kasumi said.

  "I'm sixteen!"

  "So? I started drinking at fifteen."

  "That's illegal!"

  "So are lots of things people do literally every day."

  They paid—Yumi insisted on covering everyone's share, claiming it was a "business expense"—and stepped outside. The night air was cool. The street was quieter now, most shops closed, only the convenience stores and late-night restaurants still lit.

  "I'm going this way," Yumi said, pointing left. "Rei's place is in Shibuya."

  "I'll catch the train," Hikari said. She nodded to everyone and left, still reading her tablet as she walked.

  Honoka pulled out her phone to check the last train times. Rina stood slightly apart, hands in her pockets.

  "You need someone to walk you back?" Suzume asked Rina.

  "I'm fine."

  "You sure? Your place is—"

  "I said I'm fine." Rina's voice wasn't harsh, just firm. She nodded to Suzume, then to the others. "See you tomorrow."

  She left, disappearing into the crowd.

  "Still don't trust her," Kasumi muttered.

  "Give her time," Suzume said.

  "I'm giving her three months. That was the deal."

  Honoka waved goodbye and hurried toward the station. That left just Suzume and Kasumi standing on the street.

  "Which way are you headed?" Kasumi asked.

  "North. My apartment's about fifteen minutes."

  "I'll walk you."

  "You don't have to—"

  "I want to."

  ---

  They walked in comfortable silence for a while. The streets were mostly empty now, just the occasional salaryman stumbling home and teenagers clustered outside convenience stores.

  "This is weird," Kasumi said eventually.

  "What is?"

  "All of this. A month ago, I was just running dungeons and doing interviews. Now I'm part of a rescue guild getting investigated by the Association and eating dinner with a thief."

  "... Do you regret joining?"

  "No." Kasumi's answer came immediately. "Honestly? I'm excited to see where this goes. Where we go."

  Something in the way she said "we" made Suzume's heart skip.

  They reached Suzume's building. The entrance was lit by a single flickering light. The building looked exactly as cheap as it was.

  "This is me," Suzume said.

  "Cozy as always."

  "It's a dump."

  "A cozy dump."

  They stood facing each other. The street was quiet. Somewhere in the distance, a train rumbled past.

  Kasumi stepped closer. Close enough that Suzume could smell her perfume. Something expensive and floral that definitely didn't come from a drugstore.

  Kasumi reached up, tucking a strand of hair behind Suzume's ear. Her fingers lingered for just a moment.

  Suzume's heart was hammering. Kasumi was so close. Her eyes were bright even in the dim light. Her lips were slightly parted.

  [Is she going to—]

  Kasumi pulled back, casual as anything, her hand dropping to her side.

  "Anyway. I should go. Early training tomorrow."

  "Right. Yeah. Training."

  "See you at the office?"

  "Yeah. Office. Tomorrow."

  Kasumi smiled, turned, and walked away. Her footsteps echoed on the empty street.

  Suzume stood there for a solid minute, her brain completely offline.

  [What just happened?]

  She went inside, climbed the stairs to her apartment, unlocked the door, and collapsed on her futon.

  Her face was hot. Her hands were shaking slightly.

  The way Kasumi had looked at her. The way her fingers had brushed Suzume's hair.

  [Stop it. You're reading too much into this.]

  She grabbed her phone, considered texting Yumi, then decided against it. Yumi would just tease her endlessly.

  Suzume lay there in the dark, staring at the ceiling, replaying the moment over and over.

  Sleep took a long time to come.

  And even then, she dreamed of green eyes and expensive perfume.