Don't be in Dewford? For a moment, Makoto would open their mouth to ask what he meant - but when he clarified that this was an order as an Admin, they'd close it. Had he ever pulled rank like that around them before? As far as they could recall, not really...

... Which meant that this was pretty serious... Right? Kuro certainly seemed to have picked up the mood - the brief glance they share with their little ghostly companion one of mutual concern.

Perhaps it had to do, with the pervasive feeling of a calm before the storm. The brewings of conflict. They were not blind to it, even if they kept their nose out of most Rocket matters that didn't immediately concern them. People were preparing for something big, and they were sure that Rocket weren't the only ones.

But, that all raised but one question for them - one that they pondered, as they were left by their lonesome in the diner. Even if they weren't sure if they wanted to push their luck going against his orders...

... Should they worry about Howard?