a better world
for ittosara week 2026 day 7: free day
Thankful as ever for Heizou’s heads up, who had gotten the intel from Kuki Shinobu herself, Sara was more than ready when that noisy oni and the rest of his Arataki Gang arrived.
“No.”
“Why???!!” Itto lost no time in asking, letting out a groan. “We’re ain’t gonna do anything wrong, just celebrate that Takuya’s finally out!”
“You may stay here and wait for him to celebrate, yes.” She added, not budging even a little bit. “But--” And with that, Sara glanced at all their party supplies, most of them meant to make said celebration heard in pretty much all the city. “Nothing but a calm gathering, I won’t allow anything that disturbs the neighbourhood’s peace. Or Takuya-san’s in his newly acquired freedom, by that matter.”
“Oh, c’mon!!!” Itto continued. “I bet Takuya’s gonna love it!!!”
“And did you ask him that?”
Itto opened his mouth to reply, then closed it, and repeated the process a handful of times (five, she counted) before turning towards the others. And, after a brief but deep sigh, he announced to them:
“Alright, guys. Plan B!!!” Said and done; new instructions received, his fellow gang members disbanded in search of whatever that Plan B entailed.
Itto, meanwhile, stayed.
“Aren’t you going with them?” Sara asked, more curious than anything. “I would assume the leader has some task to carry out too.”
“Well, my task is bein’ here just in case Takuya’s out sooner than expected.” He shrugged. “At least one of us gotta greet him first, duh.” That indeed made sense-- not like she considered him actually dumb, despite having called him that in several variations more than once when he got on her nerves. Rather than lacking the capacity to think, Itto just had a tendency to let his impulsiveness guide him a lot of the time. “Besides…”
“Besides?” She repeated, frowning a little.
“... Nevermind.” Itto quickly replied. “Anyway, y’know how long it’s gonna take him?”
“Not too much, I would assume, since when I got out they were sorting out his paperwork.” That was all she could give him, for those things took a while even if they didn’t reach the levels of what was said of Fontaine.
“Good!!! I bet he’s so lookin’ forward to seein’ me.” Disbelief must have shown in her face, for Itto instantly scowled. “What??!!! I helped him out, y’know. Showed the guy you don’t gotta throw your life away to make things better and all.” He seemed very proud of it, too, and looked endearing on top of that.
“I see.” Sara nodded. “Though, and as good as it is that Takuya-san is still here, I must say being willing to die in the pursuit of a better world is honorable.”
“Maybe, but that doesn’t make it less bullshit.” Itto countered.
“Excuse me?”
“You’ve heard me, Kujou.” And he had the nerve to be smug about it. “Honor doesn’t hold a candle to bein’ there to see the results of your work. It ain’t a better world for everyone if everyone can’t enjoy it.”
“... Oh.” Sara, despite how much she usually loathed losing any kind of argument against him, couldn’t deny he had a point there. “Alright.”
Having been granted victory, Itto grinned from ear to ear, and Sara couldn’t really bring herself to be mad against the still technically a loss; she would still die for her nation and her shogun… but, truth be told, there was something sweet about pretty much being asked to live for those too.
And him specifically being the one saying so, as well.
(also on ao3.)
