Frustration on Kaito's face he sighs deeply. He wants to give chase, but with his friends injured he turns to go to them.
He first goes to Nanami helping her up. "I apologize for my inability to combat him." She apolgizes. Kaito smiles at her, shaking his head. "What are you kidding, you got some good hits in." He compliments.
He then picks Toni up. Toni limps standing. "Thanks friend, i ain't a fan of being tossed around like that."
Rika comes back limping falling into Kaito. "I already know i was great, don't have to make me feel better." She says.
Kaito rubs her head. "Yeah, you did great Rika."
Dante stood off to the side hesitant to even speak to Kaito after what he did.
Toni sees him over and storms to him. "Hey, friend what was that?!"
Dante stammers. "I just..."
"Just what man, the guy threw me through a mountain and you're just standing around!" Toni barks.
Dante holds his head low. "I... i know."
Toni grits his teeth annoyed with him. Rika pulls him back. "Calm down Toni, he froze up it's ok."
Toni shakes his head. "Nah, nah it ain't, he let us to get smacked around, and all he did was freeze the fellas legs!" Toni shouts.
"That's enough Toni." Kaito says. Toni sighs once more before walking off. "I thought adventurers were supposed to be strong." He says under his breath.
Kaito turns to Dante. "I'm glad you're ok Dante." He says with the same calm smile on his face.
Dante's chest tightens from Kaito's smile, even after he was a coward, even when he had failed to lift a hand to help out, Kaito would still smile at him as if he did nothing wrong. "Aren't you upset with me?" He timidly asks.
Kaito looks puzzled for a moment. "I don't have a reason to be, i know you're scared and that's ok." He says offering comfot to Dante.
Dante clenches his fist. "But I can't fight." Dante says avoiding Kaito's eyes.
"Would you feel better if I yelled at you?" Kaito asks him. Dante shakes his head. "You can fight Dante, you just doubt yourself, you're in your own head too much." Kaito calmy says. "I won't yell at you for being afraid."
Kaito smiles at everyone. "Don't stress guys, we can still win this." he says to them all.
Nanami nods. "Right, could we head to a nearby town, I could use some jellies."
Rika nudges Dante, who was spacing out. "R-right sorry. It's a town a few miles west, we can spend a night there." Dante says.
Toni rolls his eyes at Dante's stammering.
The party has a silent walk to the other town. Dante not really knowing what to say.
Rika nudges Nanami. "Man this got awkward quick." She says.
Nanami nods. "I can understand Toni's frustrations, that could have been much worse, if he had not decided to leave."
The kids arrive at the town of Vespy, it's a smaller town, with a small barrier, but it was fine for what they needed.
"I'll go get the jellies." Kaito says.
Nanami squints her eyes. "I'm not sure I trust leaving our blastie with you." She says. "I'll accompany Kaito."
Dante not wanting to be alone with Toni, decides to tag along too.
Rika and Toni went to rent the inn room.
"Was I too harsh back there?" Toni asks Rika.
Rika looks at him for a moment. "Maybe a little, but I hate to say it, he did need to hear that. I've been traveling with them for a while now, and Dante freezes up a LOT." Rika explains.
"But how do you not get annoyed by that-"
"Buuut, you didn't have to yell at him." Rika says. "Dante, was a sheltered kid, and ever since he's left home he's been working all the time to try and be a better fighter. The guys trying and Kaito sees that, i'm sure that's why he's so patient."
Toni lowers his head.
Kaito and the others had bought the meds and were walking to the inn. "I'm sure he didn't mean it Dante." Nanami said in an attempt to make him feel better.
Dante shook his head. "I mean, he was right, you guys were all fighting for your lives, and I just sat to the side like an idiot." He says.
Kaito slurps one of the jellies. "Listen Dante, Toni just got a bit annoyed, I mean, he just left home yesterday and got thrown through a mountain."
Nanami slurps one too, feeling better already. "Just give him some time."
Later that night at the inn as everyone slept Dante left the room for some fresh air. He sat alone at the bench, taking in the nice cold breeze.
As he sat alone, mind swirling with thoughts, the soft melody of a guitar is heard steadily approaching.
"Hey, friend..." Toni silently said.
Dante nodded solemly, "Hey, Toni."
Toni sits next to Dante still strumming his guitar. "Friend, i fear I may have gone out of line earlier, and I wanna apologize."
Dante sighs. "It's ok." He says.
Toni groans. "Come on friend, stand up for yourself!"
"I mean, what can I say."
Toni looks up at the stars, and just one of the many moons in the sky. "Look friend, I won't say you were wrong for freezing up, but you can't do that, now I know im new here and all, but when your friends are putting everything forwards you gotta do the same."
"I'm sorry for my outburst, i'm still a bit sensitive I guess."
Dante turns to Toni. "I haven't been a fighter for long, I only started practicing about a month ago. I'm not sure if i'll be able to swing it actually."
Toni smiles. "Alright friend listen, it's like when I first stepped on that big ol stage, all I felt was shaking, I was terrified, wondering, hey.... can my fingers even move?!"
Toni says taking up his guitar, starting to play. "But, in that moment, i decided, all I want, all I really really want, is this... if I don't play, how would i achieve my dream?" The soft guitar melody washing over Dante. "So I stopped thinking so hard and just started playing, and it all just... came with it." Toni says.
Dante looked back at him, feeling the music. "I think it's the same for you friend, just stop darn thinking so much, and hey, i'd love for you to prove my big ol mouth back there wrong!" Toni says.
Dante burst out laughing, "hey now, what's funny friend?!"
In between laughs Dante rubs a tear from his eye. "I'm sorry, you're just, I didn't think you'd be so thoughtful."
Toni smiled. "Well, that might be because of my rugged good looks." Toni says him and Dante laughing.
Dante punches Toni's arm. "Yeah right man."
Toni yawns. "So friend, how's about we get our rest?" He asks. Dante smiles and nods. "Yeah, let's go."
The two return to the inn. Their problems crushed.