Behavior problems...

Formation

Ace groaned. "Great, more overachievers."

"Epel," Yuu added. "He's scrappy, and he knows how to handle himself under pressure."

Vil frowned slightly but nodded. "If Epel's coming, I'll make sure he's prepared. He'll need to be at his best."

Leona's tail swished lazily behind him. "You're forgetting someone."

Yuu tilted her head. "Who?"

"Rook," Leona said, his tone almost a growl. "The guy's unnervingly good at tracking and survival. If we're going into unknown territory, he'd be useful."

Vil's lips tightened. "Rook can be... eccentric, but I agree. He's skilled."

Deuce scratched his head. "That's already a lot of people. Are we sure we need more?"

Yuu hesitated. "What about Idia? He's good with tech, and if something goes wrong, having someone who can think outside the box might help."

Ace snorted. "Yeah, good luck dragging him out of his room for this."

"We'll try," Yuu said, her tone resolute.

Ruggie stood and stretched, yawning. "Alright, I'll stick around for a few days to help out, but I'm not leaving until I've packed enough food for all of us—and I mean all of us. You're not gonna survive on fancy sandwiches."

Grim nodded vehemently. "Yeah, we're not starving on some crazy quest!"

Ace rolled his eyes but smiled faintly. "Guess we're doing this, huh?"

Yuu nodded, her determination unwavering. "We are. In two days, we leave for the Briar Valley."

Vil placed a hand on her shoulder, his violet gaze sharp and unwavering. "Make no mistake, Yuu. This won't be easy. The Briar Valley is not a place for the faint of heart."

"I know," Yuu replied, her voice soft but steady. "But if there's even a chance to help Malleus, we have to try."

The group spent the rest of the early morning in tense discussion, finalizing their next steps. Ace leaned back in his chair, tossing a casual glance at Ruggie.

"So, hyena boy, you really think packing food is the top priority here? I mean, sure, snacks are important, but we're gonna need more than your famous sandwiches to make it through this."

Ruggie smirked, leaning against the doorframe. "You'll thank me later, twig. When your stomach's growling, and you're desperate for even a crumb, you'll remember this moment."

Ace rolled his eyes. "Oh, please. I'll just hit up Sam's store for snacks."

Deuce frowned, looking between them. "Ace, this isn't just a road trip. We're heading into serious danger. Focus."

Grim, sitting on the arm of Yuu's chair, puffed out his chest. "Yeah! This isn't about snacks—it's about making sure I get all the tuna I need to survive. Priorities!"

Vil pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a long sigh. "I cannot believe I'm stuck with you people. If we don't start thinking like adults, this whole endeavor will fall apart before it even starts."

Leona, sprawled lazily across the couch with one leg propped over the armrest, smirked at Vil. His piercing green eyes glinted mischievously. "Relax, Pretty Boy. You're not leading the charge—she is."

He nodded toward Yuu, who sat quietly, her fingers running along Grim's ears as her mind churned with plans.

Vil arched a brow. "And how is that supposed to inspire confidence?"