Aeri reflects on how strangely the group reacted to her brief disappearance in Capricia, especially Royo. As they walk back to the carriage, Royo stays tense and distant, and Aeri becomes preoccupied with fixing whatever is wrong between them.

Aeri presses Royo for an explanation, and Royo finally admits his anger: Aeri cannot vanish without warning because Royo cannot protect Aeri if Royo does not know where Aeri is. Aeri snaps back that Royo should not have left Aeri’s side to go back for Sora, reigniting their earlier public argument.

After a tight silence, Royo grudgingly concedes that losing sight of Aeri was a mistake. Aeri takes the win but also offers a compromise, promising to tell Royo where Aeri is going next time, acknowledging that it is hard after years of living independently.

Trying to shift the tension, Aeri asks Royo to be “friends” and learns Royo has none; Aeri admits the same, briefly thinking about how Aeri’s mother’s social circle vanished after her death. Aeri apologizes for worrying Royo, and Royo accepts, meeting Aeri’s hand with his in a lingering, unexpectedly tender touch that almost becomes something more.

Mikail abruptly interrupts, saying they need to leave. Royo drops Aeri’s hand, the moment ends, and they return to the carriage to head east, with Aeri preoccupied by what might have happened if they had not been stopped.