Itoshi Rin.

Trip to Mexico: The Unexpected Arrival

The flight from Japan to Mexico City had been long, but Rin Itoshi barely noticed; he was too engrossed in reviewing data for the provisional match they'd been called up for. Beside him, Sae maintained her usual cool composure, while Shidou stretched as if the plane had been a prison.

As they stepped off the plane, the city noise greeted them like a wave. Rin frowned. —Focus —Sae murmured, giving him a light tap on the shoulder. —I am —Rin replied, though her gaze continued to study the surroundings: vibrant colors, voices, music in the distance… Mexico was noisy, alive, different.

They arrived at the hotel they were supposed to have booked. Shidou walked in first, confident. But the building… it simply wasn't there. An empty lot, surrounded by advertisements and a couple of street vendors.

"It can't be..." Rin took a deep breath, the tension becoming evident in her jaw. Sae crossed his arms, completely annoyed. "Unbelievable. You let Shidou reserve something and this happens." "Hey, hey! Don't look at me like that," Shidou said, pulling out his phone. "I have a plan B, okay? A friend of mine lives here. She has space... sort of. You're going to love it."

Rin glared at him, but they didn't have many options.

The taxi took them through wide, colorful streets, past giant murals and impromptu dances on street corners. For Rin, everything was new. Too new. —Try not to get lost —Sae murmured without looking at him. "I won't," Rin replied, though her eyes followed the city as if she wanted to decipher it.

Finally, they stopped in front of a large building with glass doors and warm lighting. Upon entering, Rin felt the immediate echo: a vast, polished space with walls covered in mirrors and dance bars.

A ballroom.

Shidou smiled as if he had brought two kings to his castle. —Welcome… we're staying here.

Rin just pursed her lips. This trip had just become much more complicated than I expected.