The Ashford Night Market was alive. Strings of lights hung overhead. They glowed warm yellow against the dark sky. The air smelled of grilled meat and sweet sauce. It smelled of oil and spice. It smelled of life. Kaito walked through the crowd. He kept his hands in his pockets. He did not scan for cracks. He did not check the shadows. He just walked.
Ryota led the way. He held a stick of takoyaki in one hand. He held a map in the other. He was eating and navigating simultaneously. He was thriving. He stopped at a stall. He pointed at the menu. He ordered three things at once.
Ryota said: "You have to try the squid. It is legendary."
Jin walked beside him. He held a notebook. He was not taking notes on entities. He was writing down prices. He was comparing vendors. He was optimizing the route. He looked at Ryota. He looked at the food. He looked calm.
Jin said: "The stall back there was cheaper."
Ryota said: "Quality over quantity, Jin. Quality."
