Captain Haru Kenzaki, along with his squad and the S-rank hunter, entered the cave. The rest of the team moved ahead, leaving Ren and Yume walking together at the rear.
As usual, Ren's teammates—those who often bullied him—were whispering insults.
"What a weakling..."
"Can't believe he's on this mission."
Ren lowered his head and remained silent.
Yume glanced at him and tried to speak, but Ren hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. He didn't want her to recognize him—or remember their past.
But Yume calmly asked, "What's your name? Your rank... and your past?"
Ren avoided her eyes. "I... I'd rather not say my name."
He paused, then added, "My rank's F. I used to live in a small village... before coming here."
Yume blinked in surprise. "I used to live in a village too. What was its name?"
Ren looked at her and said quietly, "That's a coincidence... I lived there with my parents. But they died not long after I awakened."
Yume's tone softened. "Then why did you leave the village?"
Ren smiled bitterly. "I didn't leave. I was kicked out—by my own people... even my friends."
Yume's eyes widened. "Why...?"
"When they found out my rank was F, everything changed. They started disrespecting me. Eventually, they took my house... beat me..."
He clenched his fists. "When I asked why they were doing this, they said—'You're a burden to this world. You don't deserve to live in it.'"
Yume gasped in horror.
Ren continued, his voice quieter now. "That day... my teacher saved me. He healed me, gave me shelter. But the villagers hated that. They spread false rumors about me. They wanted me gone."
He looked away.
"My teacher tried to protect me. But he lost. So... he helped me escape the village in the night. Gave me food, money... told me to run to this city."
Ren let out a breath. "But things didn't change here either. I tried to join teams... to survive, to be useful. But every time, they beat me and drove me away."
A pause.
"Then Captain Haru found me. He let me join his squad. Some of the team still don't like me, but... at least I have a place."
Yume's eyes welled up with tears.
"Ren..." she whispered. "Why didn't you come to me? I would've helped you. We promised each other, remember? That we'd protect each other... and always be together."
Without waiting, she wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly—both joyful and relieved.
Ren stood frozen, stunned.
She... remembers me?
She still remembers our promise...?
Just then, Captain Haru's voice echoed from the front of the cave.
"We've arrived!"