This place did not look like the outskirts where Sunny had grown up, but it had the same unmistakable air of misery, fear, and desperation.
As the two of them approached the outer settlement, several Sleepers greeted Kai with friendly smiles.
"Hey, Night! Glad to see you, man. Where have you been lately?"
Kai smiled in embarrassment.
"Ah, you know. Flying around. What about you, pal?"
While the charming young man was exchanging pleasantries with his acquaintance, Sunny cautiously looked around.
The place had imperceptibly changed since the last time he was here. The settlement itself seemed to be almost the same, with just a few buildings slightly changing shapes. The people, however… people somehow seemed more energized and confident, as though the ever-present fear of death and starvation was not as pressing anymore.
However, there was a strange sense of tension in the air.
'I guess she was busy in these three months, too.'
Finally managing to end the conversation, Kai turned to him and smiled apologetically.
"Sorry about that."
Sunny frowned.
"Why are they calling you Night?"
The charming young man stared at him, then cleared his throat and said with a bit of strangeness in his voice.
"Oh, you really don't know. Well… it's a nickname of sorts. Nightingale, that's how I am known around these parts."
'What a stupid nickname,' Sunny thought, and decided to get things done as quickly as possible.
He couldn't wait to leave this depressing place.
"Alright, since we're here, time to make good on your promise."
Kai gave him a nod.
"Sure. What do you need me to do?"
Sunny looked around, making sure that no one could hear them, and said:
"It's simple. Go into the castle and find out about who is selling Memories, and what the price is. Then come back and report to me."
His companion blinked a couple of times, clearly surprised, then shrugged.
"No problem. But it's going to take a while. If you want the best information possible, of course."
Sunny grimaced.
"Do as you see fit. I'll be waiting for you in that alley over there."
Kai looked at him one last time, smiled, and walked away.
Feeling nervous and tense, Sunny walked other to a secluded alley and rested his back against the wall. He tried to become as small and unnoticeable as possible.
Being here was making his skin crawl. Maybe his decision to come back was a mistake, after all. Maybe he should simply turn around and walk away.
However, he didn't. Deep down inside, he knew that he had to take this opportunity to gather as many Memories as possible, so that his Shadow could become stronger as fast as possible.
Perhaps he would never get this opportunity again.
Time slowly passed. An hour went by, then another. Kai was certainly taking his sweet time gathering the information Sunny had asked from him.
However, nothing bad had happened. Yet.
Sunny was almost starting to believe that he was nervous for nothing, but then, of course, the thing he dreaded the most became a reality.
A calm, painfully familiar voice suddenly resounded from somewhere behind him.
"Hi, Sunny."
He froze, feeling like a beast caught in a trap, and then slowly turned around. A strange, complicated expression appeared on his face.
Forcing out a smile, Sunny licked his suddenly dry lips and said:
"...Hey, Neph. Long time no see."