The abandoned Aztec temple. a spot where Rei often walks, probably near where Mew went missing.
(Rei is walking, looking around, when they see Manuel and Chico. As Rei gets closer, they see it's Mew's collar.)
Rei:(Slightly exasperated) Manuel? Chico? What are you doing? And…is that Mew's collar?
Manuel:(Eyes wide, practically jumping) Rei! Thank goodness! You're here! We were waiting for you!
Chico:(Nods, a little sheepish) Hi, Rei.
Rei:(Frowning) Waiting forme? Why do you have Mew's collar? Did you find him? Is he okay?
Manuel:(Waving the collar frantically) No, no! We… We don't have Mew. Not yet! But… but this is the plan! Theonlyplan!
Rei:(Crosses arms, voice rising slightly) Manuel, what plan? You're not making any sense.
Manuel:Okay, okay, okay. Deep breaths. (He takes a huge, shaky breath) So, we were thinking! Right after you gave us the flyer about Mew being missing, we were thinking, what if... what if we could use… well,you!
Rei:(Raises an eyebrow) Useme? What are you talking about?
Chico:(Steps in, a bit smoother than Manuel) We know you have a really good sense of smell, Rei. We've seen you follow Mew's trail when he gets out before.
Manuel:(Snapping his fingers) Exactly! So, we got Mew's collar!
Rei:(Eyes darting from one to the other) You got Mew's collar… and…?
Manuel:And! And! You smell it! Like, really smell it! You know, like…sniff! And then you can… can… uh…
Chico:(Finishing Manuel's thought) You can follow his scent! We were going to ask you to… well, to sniff the collar and see if you could pick up where Mew went, because we figured there might be some scent on the collar.
Rei:(Stares at them, blinking) You wanted me to…sniffthe collar to find Mew? Like a bloodhound?
Manuel:(Nods enthusiastically) Exactly! A… a super-sensitive-smelling-human-hound! That's… close enough!
(Manuel is practically begging, looking near tears. Rei relents with a sigh.)
Rei: Fine, fine. Just… give it here. I'll try, okay? But don't get your hopes up too much.
(Manuel eagerly thrusts the collar towards Rei. Rei takes it slowly, holding it up to his nose, closing his eyes.)
Rei: (Concentrating, breathing in slowly) Okay… just… wait a second…
(Rei remains still, sniffing the collar for a few moments. Manuel and Chico hold their breath.)
Rei: (His eyes snap open, a look of surprise on his face) Okay… I think… I think I can smell him.
Manuel: (Eyes wide, jumping with excitement) You can?! Really?!
Rei: (Nodding slowly) He went… that way. He's headed towards the old marketplace. I can pick up his scent clearly, now that I am trying… He was a lot closer than I thought.
Chico: What do we do?
Rei: I'm going after him. (Rei looks at Manuel) I'll need to keep the collar.
Manuel: (Beaming with hope) Take it! Take anything! Just bring Mew home safe!
Rei: I will. You guys stay here. I'll let you know as soon as I find him.
(Sound of heavy, panting breath fades into the background)
Peko (voice trembling): Oh, Mew… thank you. That… that big one with the teeth…
Suu (voice small): He was so scary! He kept saying… "Grrr… chew!"
Mew (voice sweet but firm): It's okay, Peko, Suu. I won't let him get you. He won't hurt you again. I pushed him away really hard!~mya
Rei (matter-of-factly): That was… inefficient.
Mew: What?~mya
Rei: Pushing was inefficient. I saw him coming, that… El Diablo. He was going to… to nom you all!
Peko (eyes wide): Nom?
Suu: Oh no!
Mew: Don't worry! I was brave!~mya
Rei: (sighs dramatically) Yes, yes, you were brave. But sometimes you need more than bravery. You need… (Rei pauses, puffing out his chest slightly) … finesse!
Mew: Finesse? Like… dancing?~mya
Rei: No, like… like… (Rei struggles to find the right word) like whacking him good and proper!
Peko: You whacked him, Rei?
Rei: I did. He yelped. He didn't think I was a threat, being all fluffy and white, but… (Rei trails off mysteriously) I showed him.
Suu: Did you make him go away?
Rei: He is no longer a threat to us.
(A sound of footsteps approaching; a small, human voice)
(Yume Hinata appears, looking around cautiously. She spots Mew and rushes to her. Maira Tsukishima finds Peko, and Kotoko Imai finds Suu.)
Yume: (Scooping up Mew) Oh Mew, I was so worried! Where have you been?
(The police sirens wail in the distance, and Vasquez is being led away in handcuffs.)
Later, outside the abandoned temple. The sky is beginning to show the colors of dusk.
Mew: (Looking at Rei sadly) Rei, thank you so much for saving us. We'll never forget what you did.~mya
Rei: (Looking out at the horizon) I am… glad you are all safe.
(Rei turns and starts to walk away.)
Mew: (Calling out to him) Where are you going?~mya
Rei: (Without turning back) I must go. This is not where I belong.
Mew: (reaching out instinctively) "Rei, wait! Are you sure you don't need—"
Rei: (cutting in gently) "This is where I belong, Mew. But thank you... for everything." (They glance at Asahi as a quiet understanding passes between them.)
Yume: (to Asahi, with hopeful eyes) "Asahi... can you adopt Rei? They've been through so much. They deserve a place to call home, a partner to rely on."
Asahi: (pausing, then nodding firmly) "If that's what Rei wants, then I'd be honored."
(Asahi approaches Rei, who seems surprised, and offers his hand.)
Rei: (a bit surprised, but a rare softness in their voice) "You'd... have me as your partner?"
Asahi: "There's no one else I'd trust more. You and I, we'll watch each other's backs."
Rei: (after a moment of thought) "Alright... I'll hold you to that." (steps closer to Asahi, a new resolve shining in their eyes)
(Rei looks surprised, but then a small smile appears on his face. He takes Asahi's hand.)
(Yume then turns to Mew)
Yume: (Smiling gently) Mew, It's Time to go Home.
Mew: [nodding slowly, hesitating as if sensing the gravity of the moment] "Home... yes, Yume. I'm ready.~mya"
Maira: [crossing her arms, her voice sharp yet caring] "I hope you're prepared, Mew. We've all been through a lot to reach this point. Don't waste it."
Kotoko: [tilting her head curiously, her ever-cheerful tone cutting through the intensity] "This feels so bittersweet! Are you really going to miss this dusty old temple?"
Suu: [nodding silently, her gentle eyes on the horizon] "It may be old, but it holds so many stories. Sometimes, it feels like places in the world have hearts too."
Yume: [glances at Suu, her voice soft with understanding] "You're right, Suu. This temple brought us together for a reason, but it's time to look forward. For everyone."
Maira: [exhales deeply, her gaze shifting to Yume] "Are we really just going to leave things like this? I mean, I get it. But—ah, never mind."
Yume: [smiling warmly, sensing Maira's emotions beneath her stern exterior] "Maira, sometimes endings lead to new beginnings. And we're not saying goodbye to everything, just moving to the next chapter."
Peko: [steps forward, her straightforward tone cutting in] "Speaking of beginnings, what about Rei? That was unexpected." [raises an eyebrow at Yume] "Suggesting that Asahi adopt Rei was bold."
Yume: [slightly flustered, but still confident] "It felt right. Rei needed someone, and Asahi has the strength and heart to be that someone."
Mew: [looking back toward where Rei had disappeared earlier, their voice soft but filled with confidence] "Rei is stronger now, thanks to all of you. I think they'll thrive with Asahi. They'll look out for each other."
Kotoko: [laughing lightly] "Rei as Asahi's partner—who would've thought! I can't wait to see how that turns out." [grinning] "This trip wasn't a waste after all!"
Suu: [smiling faintly but curiously] "Kotoko, I don't think it was ever about being a waste. Maybe it's more about what we're going to take with us."
Yume: [glancing at the group, her tone bright with determination] "Exactly, Suu. Let's take the memories, the lessons, and the bonds we've built here. They'll guide us no matter what comes next."
Maira: [rolling her eyes but smirking slightly] "Ugh, how do you make everything sound so... inspiring? Fine, fine. Let's get out of here."
Peko: [adjusting her hat, her tone firm as she starts walking ahead] "We'll all walk together, then. No one gets left behind."
Mew: [taking a deep breath and gripping Yume's hand] "Thank you, everyone. For everything. Let's go.~mya"
(Yume picks up Mew and heads towards home, the others following, leaving the abandoned temple behind.)