Reigen climbed into the driver seat and waited until Hitomi took her place shotgun and Max crawled into the back before starting the van up. His eyes went to the truck ahead and the first thing he saw was Doppio helping Chid up into the bed. Right away, Doppio began chattering to the kid. He couldn’t hear what he was saying, but the brightness in Doppio’s expression said it all.

Reigen wished he could say the same for the van. It already felt strangely empty. Still, he was the Captain. He had his role to play.

“This is a good thing,” he said as he jerked the shift into drive.