Dunder's Common Sense

They join relatively inconspicuously with the rest of the group. Nel and the woman sit awkwardly in the living room, sharing tea over a maple coffee table. Christopher seems to have lost the light in his eyes. Yuto shuffles to stand next to Christopher, creating a paper sound that stuns him into stillness.

The young woman is in the midst of speaking of marriage in a contractual sense when Nel notices they've returned. He sits up from his chair, rebuttoning his suit, "I'm very sorry, but I'm afraid I have to leave, this has been lovely," he rushes.

The young woman curtsies, bowing her head to him. When her eyes return to meet Nel's, he can see the lifelessness within them. She'd lost all will she had ever had to fight against her fate and for just a moment, Xiao was able to see a piece of herself in the noblewoman.

They excuse themselves, Yuto struggles to bow with the papers still underneath his clothes. His mother joins them, questioning relentlessly about their exchange. Nel mutes her questions in his mind, imagining them as bird sounds. They return to Nel's childhood home one final time to gather their belongings. On their way out, Nel's mother forces money upon him. Still, he cannot calm this gnawing feeling inside that asks him, "Is this what affection is?"

Regardless, he takes the money, deciding to use it for his squad members.

Nel takes the team to an empty factory his father once owned. What was once a building employing dozens of commoners is now a shell of its former self. Overgrown thorn bushes and liter crowd the entrance. Inside, the homeless population crowds the corners of the empty factory; many of them too tired from cold or hunger to pay mind to their surroundings.

Yuto removes his shirt, revealing his taped body. Nel's eyes dart warily from Yuto's abdomen to his face, searching for some kind of explanation. "Dunder's been arrested."

"What?"

"Nel was right. Captain went against his orders to let Christopher die, he was arrested for treason. The folders are prison locations," Xiao explains.

"-and what are you suggesting we do about this?" Christopher has a sad expression. Yuto stops, seeing the guilt in Christopher's face. "This isn't your fault so whatever warped idea you're getting, stop it," Yuto demands.

Christopher is stunned, he scoffs, "I wasn't-," Chance interrupts him, "Alright what's the plan, the five of us cannot break into a prison; If that's what you're suggesting, it won't work." Yuto searches through the files, throwing papers and confidential military information, uncaring to where they end up. He doesn't answer, until ten minutes later when his eyes bulge. "I don't think we'll need to break him out, he's already done it."

"What? He was arrested for treason, what do you mean?"

"It doesn't say, all I know is that in this paper from a week ago, he was in prison and in this one," he holds up the other, "-from this week, he is not in prison."

"Like he broke out? Or did they release him?"

"It's no use speculating."

"-Kids," they snap their heads to look at the voice. It's their captain, wearing civilian clothing, looking akin to a blacksmith. "How'd you get out?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Of prison!"

"Ahh~ that~," he pretends like it hadn't been a big deal. "Prison's an old friend, you kids don't have to worry about me."

Dunder watches the stray documents whisks away in the wind. He sighs, takes ahold of Yuto's ear and drags him outside. "We have a new mission." The team looks at him stunned, and a bit apprehensive. "It won't be like the first time, I'll be there with you," Dunder reassures them.