.☾

Even though it's not spring now, the forest often grows dark early. The faint rays of the setting sun gradually fade, lingering on the pine branches and falling on the grass. The further Tsukasa ascended toward the mountain's headwaters, the colder he felt. Half of it was from the misty moisture, half from the wind that slipped through his collar and spread through his whole body. The gloomy stillness of the old forest could easily give someone the chills, as if a sharp blade was pressed against the nape of the neck. Unconsciously, the young man remembered the sounds of the old city—the honking of cars, the hasty footsteps of people on the smog-choked streets, and the thumping music from some bar. All of it was now just a faint illusion in his memory, like an old photo faded with time. Tsukasa shook his head gently and continued walking.

The sky, now a fiery red, was gradually swallowed by the dense, primordial green curtain. This time of day always evoked a feeling of loneliness. Missing home, missing loved ones, and feeling vulnerable, almost weak. Suddenly, a beam of light flared from the horizon, freezing all of humanity in place, severing all bonds between people. After spending such a long time struggling to make a living in the old world, breathing and existing in solitude, Tsukasa thought he had gotten used to it. But it turned out, solitude was not something one could "get used to." It was more like an old wound that constantly ached—not bleeding, but never fully healing.

.☾

Following the sound of the waterfall, he intended to collect some water with the bamboo tube he had brought. Over several millennia, the ecosystem had certainly changed, leading to unusual spring floods. The river water he usually used was muddy this morning, with animal carcasses, decaying leaves, dusty earth, and dry branches floating and sinking in the water. After watching for a moment, it was hard to drink, even if it were boiled.

The sound of the waterfall grew clearer. The closer he got, the more slippery the ground became. Rocks were scattered everywhere, with thick green moss making Tsukasa's steps slower. Suddenly, he heard another sound, one that was frequently mixed in with the rushing water—a faint sobbing sound, so quiet it was almost impossible to recognize.

Tsukasa stopped, straining his ears. After a few seconds, he slowly walked toward the source of the sound. A small figure lay motionless under a large tree root, the lower half submerged in water. Her slender legs were covered in mud, the hem of her torn and tattered clothes looked as if she had just been through a violent struggle. Her white hair was wet and clung to her pale skin.

He quickly rushed over and immediately recognized that this was a young girl. When he touched her arm, he felt soft but icy skin, her breath faint, her lips pale. Her body was covered in bruises. In an instant, Tsukasa understood: this girl had been swept away by the flood.

As he was about to lift her up, a cold, weak hand tugged at him lightly. Her eyes opened, and her jet-black pupils stared at him, silent and emotionless, with nothing but pure caution. But Tsukasa wasn't bothered by her gaze. The only thing on his mind was how to save this girl's life.

.☾

Stirring in the warm fur blanket, Toya jolted awake. Her blood sluggishly reached her brain, making her dizzy. The smells of leather, wood, earth, and flowers filled her nose. She was dressed in short clothes, roughly woven from plant fibers, like knitted wool. There was also a larger outer coat, but it was nowhere to be found. The primitive clothes absorbed too much water, and now they were cold.

Toya tossed the blanket off with a sense of weariness and confusion. Her back and neck ached terribly, but she forced herself to sit up. The flickering light from a fire was enough for her to make out the odd shape in the corner of the cave. The uneasy, fearful feeling that had clung to her since she awoke hadn't subsided, even with a tall man stepping into the cave.

Tsukasa sighed, picking up more dry wood and adding it to the fire, speaking gently:

"You're awake? Don't try to get up. You need to rest."

The simple words, without any threat, immediately made Toya tense. She reached out, fumbling for something, and only when her hand touched a sharp stone hidden near her body did she feel a little calmer. Toya's eyes gleamed with suspicion, showing no gratitude or relief for Tsukasa's presence.

Noticing her reaction, Tsukasa raised an eyebrow, not angry but amused. His voice was deep but tinged with gentle irony:

"Do you think that stone will protect you from me?"

Toya, despite still being dizzy and too weak to sit up, shot him a sharp look:

"It's better than nothing."

Her prickly response didn't bother Tsukasa. Even though she hadn't said it, he could sense the deep fear and strong instinct to protect herself emanating from her. But at the same time, there was an invisible pull in her eyes, in her every gesture, as if, even in her physically and mentally exhausted state, she refused to let herself be completely vulnerable to anyone.

He stood up, stepping back a little to maintain a safe distance, his voice steady but patient:

"Fine. I'll stay here and won't come closer if you don't want me to. But let me help you recover first."

Toya didn't respond, her eyes still wary. But clearly, within seconds, she had exhausted herself from maintaining her defiance. She lay back down, still clutching the stone in her hand, but not saying anything further.

.☾

When Toya had slept deeply, the sun had long since risen. She heard the faint sounds of birds chirping and the wind whistling, blending with the rustling in the mountains and forest. Dazed, she tried to recall what had happened the day before. The static shock when she was fiddling around the stream and... she was swept away? Looking around for answers, her attention was drawn to some skewered meat and wild berries placed on a large leaf, just near where she was lying.

The stranger from yesterday was still outside, watching her from the entrance of the cave.

Tsukasa knew that all words now were meaningless, unless truly necessary. He spoke softly, his deep voice warm but without pressure:

"I understand you don't trust me. But if you don't eat, you won't have the strength to protect yourself even if you escape from me. A smart person would never let themselves become weak."

He then stepped back, his hands still in a calm posture. The response was a long silence. Toya didn't move or react. But Tsukasa wasn't in a rush; he left everything within her reach, waiting quietly. It was the strangest thing—this large, dangerous-looking man didn't appear threatening at all, as if he fully accepted that she might refuse him.

Toya was about to ask him why he saved her, but decided against it. Whatever the reason, surviving came first.

Toya reached out to grab the skewered meat. She held it near her nose, taking a light sniff to ensure there was no strange smell. After a moment of hesitation, she took a bite, carefully chewing and swallowing, as if testing for poison. The meat was still warm, and the taste of fresh meat stirred her empty stomach. But Toya ate slowly, not revealing any signs of hunger. She knew eating like this might seem overly dramatic and meticulous, but she had her own principles that couldn't be compromised, no matter the situation.

Tsukasa remained seated, only speaking once she had finished the first bite:

"I'm Shishio Tsukasa. And you?"

Toya froze, looking up at him, her brows furrowing at such a normal question in this bizarre situation. But eventually, she responded, her voice dry and unwelcoming:

"Tsukikage. Tsukikage Toya."

"Nice to meet you, Toya."

She immediately raised an eyebrow, trying to hide her discomfort. Was it fine to call each other like they were friends?

"Just call me Tsukasa."

The response made Toya hesitate. She looked at him for a long while, as if weighing her options. Finally, she reluctantly answered, her voice tinged with caution:

"...Tsukasa-san."

Tsukasa smiled faintly, saying nothing further. Seeing her reach for another piece of meat, he leaned back, allowing her to get used to the situation in her own way.

.☾

He sat still, letting her eat in silence. His quiet presence made Toya feel somewhat more at ease. She didn't like people who talked too much, and even more so, she didn't like anyone pretending to be friendly in a forced way.

Once she had nearly finished her meal, Toya exhaled lightly, feeling her strength gradually returning. She was still cautious, but her gaze had softened a little.

Tsukasa stood up and walked toward her, but kept a safe distance so she wouldn't feel threatened. "Now we can leave," he said.

Toya frowned.

"Leave?"

"You can't walk on your own in your condition. I'll carry you."