After a few minutes of walking up the spiral stairs and across the long hallways, the squad had finally arrived on the fifth floor. 

Kaito, however, quickly glanced above where the stairs supposedly ended, noticing that the roof was a different tone from its surroundings. 

“Hey, idiot. Save the sightseeing for later.” Elena pushed against his shoulders, snapping him out of his distracted state.

“Yeah, sorry about that.” Kaito chuckled nervously, but before reaching to scratch his head, he stopped. 

Frozen in place.

He felt a whisper of grief dance by his ear—soothing, soft, and oddly familiar. 

It came from above, Kaito thought curiously, looking up.

As his eyes lit up with longing, his lips parted, and he slowly reached for the ceiling. 

“Why again, why?” He whispered under his breath, taking his hand back in sudden fear.

Returning his attention to the hallway, he took a deep breath out of confusion, glancing around his surroundings.

“Hey, please keep up,” Elena said, slowing down his pace. 

Aki then put his hand on his shoulder, shaking him back and forth gently. 

Glancing at him, he laughed nervously. “Kaito, you must be on your best behavior starting now.”

Then, to his surprise, Elena and Souta were looking at him with narrowed eyes.

“Why are you all looking at me?” Kaito glanced between them, jaw open in shock.

Taking his hand off, Aki stopped before a giant door alongside the others.

“You know exactly why.” Souta scoffed, turning his attention to the door with Elena.

As Amira and Akira chatted in the background, Souta approached Kaito, sighing in embarrassment. 

“Yeah, dude, we’re in one of the three grand kingdoms, act like it.” Crossing his arms, he tried to shove his frown into his face.

Kaito, gasping in realization, raised his hands above his mouth in admiration.

Souta turned back around, facing the enormous door. “Don’t even think about it. I still hate you.” 

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He laughed in response, sighing in relief. 

A loud creak followed, echoing past the squad and down the hallway in melodic beats.

“Okay, let’s start making our way,” Akira instructed, opening the hefty door with the help of her nervous wife.

The four cautiously entered the enormous room, illuminated by the moon’s light, and turned their attention towards the center throne. From the red carpet below to the many banners across the roof, the atmosphere was oddly warm. 

There lay the queen, resting her hands on the throne’s arms. “You four must be the squad that Amira and Akira hired.”

Accompanied by her short silver hair, Neoma looked at them with narrow eyes and a fake frown.

This must be Luna, Kaito thought, shivering nervously for a second. 

“Your majesty, we present to you squad 178,” Amira announced politely, bowing her head. “Ranked E with no official records.”

For a brief second, she held in a laugh before returning to her blank expression.

“So this is the team you think that’ll be able to complete the mission?” Neoma tilted her head, glancing between the four of them.

Confused by the atmosphere, Amira and Akira moved towards the front of the squad.

Amira cleared her throat. “Are you okay, your majesty?” 

Then, as the squad continued to remain still, Neoma suddenly curled up. 

She laughed uncontrollably, moving from side to side. “No, no, no. You’re totally right, I can’t keep this up.”

Overcome with confusing waves, the squad nervously looked at each other, except Kaito, captivated by her laughter. 

As Neoma gathered her breath, Akira took a step forward. “I mean no disrespect, your majesty, but now is no time for your fanatics.” 

Resting her hands on her knees, Neoma took one breath and shook the last joyful tear off.

“I know, I know, it’s just I thought it’d be hilarious.” Neoma chuckled, getting up from her throne above the short array of stairs. 

Each step echoed faintly throughout the room, coating the atmosphere with her royal presence. 

“Are we allowed to speak?” Souta whispered to Elena, looking at Neoma confusedly. 

Neoma lifted an amused brow, her wispy lashes flicking upward as she glided a few steps closer. 

“Of course, all of you are.” With a soft, almost frisky sigh, Neoma gestured towards herself with both hands, returning to her regal posture. “But allow me to introduce myself.” 

“I am Luna Esperanza, queen of this very kingdom, Lunar Province.” Her voice deepened further into a formality as she laid a hand on her chest, chin tilting with refined elegance. 

“Okay, so this squad consists of–” Amira stepped forward, but Neoma waved her off with a flick of the wrist — an elegant orchestra's gesture.

“Don’t worry, Amira, I got this,” Neoma announced as she descended the final step, approaching Aki first.

“Aki, guardian of squad 178, nice to meet you.” She extended her hand toward him as if he were a former companion, her expression softening at his return of the hand.

Approaching Souta next, she kept her warm smile and elegant stroll.

“And you must Souta, their secret trump card, how do you do?” Leaning towards his reluctant side, she offered him a nod — automatically making him straighten up. 

With a more jolly approach, she headed towards Elena next.

“Elena Kijomi, loyal lady of Mother Nature and leader of squad 178, hello.” Neoma clasped her hands together, delighted with joy as if she were greeting royalty.

Twirling around her, Neoma made her way over to Kaito, her long skirt dancing along the sweet breeze.

“And the black sheep, Kaito Kijomi, it’s also a delight to meet you.” Her gaze settled on him—warm at first, then bitterly lingering, as if she was searching for something among his face.

“Um, hello, I guess?” As he lifted his hand, his ears twitched in response to his squad’s subtle snickers.

“Kaito, where are your manners?!” Elena smacked the back of his head, forcing him to take a more formal bow.

“No, no, it’s totally fine. You all must be overwhelmed right now,” Neoma waved her hands dismissively, her smile trembling ever so slightly. 

“We are?” Amira stepped forward cautiously, examining whether it was a continuation of her act or not. 

“Your majesty, we are honored to meet you, too, but we must ask what our mission consists of.” Aki fixed his uniform out of instinct, making his way to the front.

“Oh my, definitely not here. Let us head to the dining room to address the details.” She snapped her fingers, turning around in jolly surprise. “I just know the suspense is killing you.”

“Are you sure you’re okay, your majesty?” Amira asked, momentarily reaching for her, but stopped herself, giving up instead.

The married secretaries shared a glance, shrugging in unison.

Neoma strolled towards the double doors, fingers brushing against the polished texture, steadying her cold breath. “Of course I am,” 

The doors parted, and a procession of identical silver-haired sisters entered, each with a large gift basket, decorated in ribbons and glitter, in their hands. 

Gesturing her hand in celebration, her other hand lifting the tip of her skirt, she bowed her head lightly. “Just in case you four decide to deny my request, I can’t leave my honored guests empty-handed.” 

“Now, I take it you all are starving, so let us move on towards the dining room.” She continued, clasping her hands together, bouncing lightly on her boots.

“No, wait, we totally need to get you all dressed.” Neoma suddenly spun toward them in delight, smiling brightly under the moon’s illumination. “I’ll have my sisters prepare a catalog of attire to choose from for each of you.” 

“There’s really no need to, your majesty.” Amira lifted her hands dismissively, standing next to the squad.

“Don’t talk nonsense, we have enough time to spare.” Neoma exhaled for a second, rubbing the tip of her nose. “Follow me, precious stars.” 

“But your majesty, the food–” Akira reached helplessly, growing embarrassed by her majesty’s thespian display. 

What’s with this feeling, Kaito thought confusingly, sensing both a victorious warmth and an alluring cold.

“And one thing, please allow them to select their rooms afterward. Sisters from the castle-care section will attend to the rooms as we feast, that is all.” Her voice strolled away from theatrical, now a sincere and soft blend. 

Placing one leg in front of the other, she put one hand behind her back and took a polite bow, a graceful blessing. 

Closing the doors behind her with ease, she smiled once more. “Okay then, I’ll be waiting for you all.” 

Slam!

Once the doors shut, Neoma pressed her back against the refined steel, exhaling in relief. 

Everything will turn out fine, she thought, gathering her breath and distancing herself from the throne room.

The echoes lost themselves amongst the dim hallway, each a quiet reminder that she herself wasn’t real.