It was already pitch black outside.
Fortunately, Reiko quickly located Saki. "Father, Saki-san is inside the automobile."
"Oh, I see."
Jin followed her to the vehicle. "Saki, what’s the matter?"
Saki was leaning back in her seat, which she had reclined as far as it would go. "...It’s you, Jin. I’ve made a fool of myself in front of you."
"No, don’t worry about that, but..."
"Heh... that man. He reminded me of my younger self. No, that’s not quite it. I think I was just angry because he seems to treat travel as a game."
Hearing that, Jin felt he understood her perspective. "I see... Come to think of it, didn't you once travel as an alchemist, Saki?"
"Heh, it’s an embarrassing story. I have almost no actual travel experience. My father wouldn't take me along, claiming it was too dangerous....But that father of mine, despite his appearance, was a man of meticulous planning. Even if a trip ran over schedule, we never once ran out of funds or food. That's why, even though he's away from home so often now, I don't have to worry much about him."
Jin nodded silently.
"...In that sense, perhaps I am like that man. I suspect that without my father's teachings, I’d have the kind of personality that would leave me stranded exactly like him."
Jin had heard once that there was a fundamental difference between adventure and exploration.
Adventure, as the name implied, was "venturing" into "danger."
Exploration was to "search" and "inspect."
If what Saki’s father, Toa, did was exploration, while what Goose was doing was merely adventure, Jin felt he understood why Saki was so irritated.
Saki told Jin about an alchemist who had been a friend of her father's. Long ago, the man had set out on a journey to find rare ores and never returned.
"This was before I was born—back before my father and mother were even together, or so I’m told."
Apparently, they had been close enough to be called best friends.
"When my father speaks of him, he looks truly nostalgic, but when he finishes the story, he looks incredibly lonely."
Because of that, Saki explained, she couldn't stand seeing someone get stranded through a lack of effort and then talk about it as if it were a joke.
"...Saki."
"Heh, you're thinking this isn't like me, aren't you? It’s fine."
At that moment, there was a sound outside. A single silhouette appeared. Jin opened the door to check.
"...Minakata?"
The figure was indeed Goose Minakata.
"Forgive me, Saki-dono. Without knowing your feelings, I spoke quite thoughtlessly. I’m a bit of a smooth talker—I tend to run my mouth and mess things up sometimes."
"Were you... listening?"
Goose nodded. "Yes. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but the window was open, so I couldn't help but hear....Because of that, I have one thing I’d like to ask you."
"What is it?"
"...That... do you know the name of your father's friend? The one who never came back?"
"Hmm?...Let me see... I believe his name was Mark. As for a surname... I don't know. I don't remember one."
"No, that's enough....I see. So that's how it is..."
Upon hearing the name Mark, Goose looked up at the sky.
"..."
After a long silence, Goose spoke. "My father's name was Mark. My mother’s was Yun. They’re both gone now, though."
"Minakata-dono, then you...!" Saki gasped, startled by the confession.
"My father said that after getting lost in the Harihari Desert, he eventually reached our Fusou Island. I heard it from his own lips. Saki-dono, is your father's name Toa?"
Saki nodded her head vigorously in silence.
"I see... even if by chance, it is a strange twist of fate indeed..."
Goose closed his eyes, appearing lost in deep emotion.
"My father told me countless times that equipment is the most important part of an expedition, and that one must never spare any preparation if they wish to return alive."
Saki listened without a word.
"'The spirit that aims for the unknown is a fine thing'—that was another phrase my father loved to say. I never intended to look down on Nidou-dono."
With that, Goose bowed his head. "Saki-dono, I’m sorry for saying something so easily misunderstood."
"N-no, as long as you understand, it's fine."
"I'm a bit of a show-off, so I must have made you feel unpleasant without even realizing it."
Suddenly, Goose stumbled. Saki reflexively reached out to steady him.
"H-hey! Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah, sorry."
"Heh, I suppose your strength won't return that easily. I’m sorry for pushing you so hard as well."
"Then, let's call it even."
"Yes, let's do that."
It seemed a reconciliation had been reached. Jin breathed a small sigh of relief and returned to the tent.
They decided that everyone would sleep in the tent that night.
Elsa was at the very back, followed by Saki, Hanna, Jin, and then Goose.
Aaru stood guard at the entrance, while Edgar watched over the automobile. Reiko took her usual position by Jin's side.
"It's more comfortable than I expected," Saki remarked. Hanna fell asleep almost instantly, her quiet breathing filling the tent.
Elsa drifted off to sleep while reflecting on the rare side of Saki she had witnessed today.
Goose, whose stamina was still far from recovered, ate the Persica Jin offered before lying down and falling into a deep slumber.
Only Jin remained wide awake, sleep eluding him.
(Minakata... as in Takeminakata? Or the surname Minakata? It's likely from his mother's side... Yun-san’s name... and Fusou... Fusou Island...)
The things Goose had said gave Jin plenty to speculate about. He knew it was a fool's errand to try and solve a puzzle when so many pieces were missing, but his mind refused to settle.
(Shuuki Tsetse... Tsetse... Tsutsui?...It's possible...)
Finally, when he grew weary of the cycle of thoughts, Jin drifted off to sleep.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Whoaaa! Wh-what on earth is this?!"
A loud shout echoed through the campsite.
"Wh-what's going on!?"
"Wh-what is it!?"
"...Too loud."
Jin, Saki, and Elsa each reacted in their own way.
Outside the tent, Goose was practically dancing with excitement as he circled the automobile.
Hanna was already awake and outside with him. "Mister, could we please be a little quieter in the morning?" she was heard saying in a soothing tone.
"B-but look! It's a carriage that moves without horses! And this window!...Is it made by melting and hardening quartz? Even so, it's far too flat!!"
"...Morning."
"Ah, Onii-chan, good morning!"
Noticing Jin as he stepped out of the tent, Hanna ran over to him.
"Goose-dono, are you feeling better?"
Addressed by Jin, Goose finally managed to regain some of his composure.
"Nidou-dono, I heard you were the one who built this!" Despite his words, his excitement was still palpable. "There are technicians in Fusou as well, but none like you. No, this is truly a masterpiece. I understand now why Saki-dono was so indignant about me 'looking down' on you."
Just then, Goose’s legs wobbled beneath him.
"Are you all right?"
To the concerned Jin, Goose offered a sheepish, wry smile. "N-no... if it's not too much trouble, I'd be very grateful if we could have breakfast."