Shota didn't think about returning to his new friends' ship as he walked through the port town. He worried about having to stay a boy. He'd concluded that he must keep every one of his lucky trades until he found the next thing he needed. He certainly couldn't abandon the fabric and money! He'd need both when he found Azuki. Time was flying by and there was so little of it left! From the charts, it looked like it could be as much as a month's journey from here to where he suspected she was going. Each way. Maybe more. Even if he found Azuki quickly, they would have to hurry to make it back in time. And they had to make it back in time! To keep his trade goods, though, Shota had to stay a boy. Rather than fly along the coast of this island, he would have to walk.
So walk he did, on and on
