That night ended when the first ray of the sun slipped between the trees.
Kanae slept soundly beside Kagerou, her breathing soft and even after a night filled with blood and fear.
Kagerou, however, hadn't slept at all. He had kept watch through the hours, listening to the faint sounds of the forest, the whisper of leaves, the soft crackle of fading embers from their fire.
When the light finally touched the ground, he looked at Kanae for a moment, at the faint smile she wore even in sleep, then rose quietly and walked toward the forest's edge.
The shift in air stirred Kanae awake. Her eyes fluttered open just in time to see his back fading between the trees.
"Wai-" she tried to call out, but the word stopped in her throat.
Her hand hovered in the air, trembling slightly before falling back to her lap.
"…I didn't even get the chance to ask him," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. The sunlight filtering through the canopy painted a golden hue across her hair. "Six more days… I need to survive for six more days"
Her gaze drifted to where Kagerou had vanished.
"…At least say goodbye before you go, stupid," she whispered, a faint smile tugging at her lips, part sadness, part fondness.
After a moment, her stomach growled softly, reminding her that she hadn't eaten.
Kanae sighed, brushed the dirt from her haori, and stood up.
Then, with one last glance toward the fading smoke trail he left behind, she walked deeper into the forest to look for food.
---
- One Hour Later.
Kagerou returned to the spot where he had left Kanae.
In his hand, he carried a rabbit, cleaned, skinned, and ready to be grilled.
But the place was empty.
He stood there for a moment, eyes scanning the quiet forest. The morning light dappled through the leaves, birdsong faint in the distance.
"…She's gone?" he muttered under his breath.
He didn't ask any further questions. Instead, he sat down where the ashes of last night's fire still lingered and began to rekindle it with practiced ease.
As the flame flickered to life, his expression softened, the light reflecting in his silver eyes.
"She should've said something before leaving…" he murmured, half to himself. "Was she uncomfortable staying with a man she barely knew for too long?"
The fire crackled. Fat dripped from the rabbit as it began to roast, sending up a faint, savory scent.
Kagerou stared at it for a while, then sighed softly. "… This is too much for me to eat alone-"
"Eh?"
He froze at the sound.
Turning his head, he found Kanae standing a few steps away, sunlight spilling across her hair. She was holding a handful of fresh fruit, looking just as surprised as he was.
"…" Kagerou blinked.
"…" Kanae blinked back.
"…I… brought meat," Kagerou said awkwardly, scratching his cheek. "Want to join?"
"I…" Kanae began, glancing down at the fruit in her hands, then at the meat sizzling over the fire.
After a moment, she smiled softly and nodded.
"…Sure"
Kagerou shifted slightly to make space for her by the fire. She sat down beside him, and for a while, neither spoke.
Only the sound of firewood crackling filled the air, the quiet kind of silence that wasn't uncomfortable anymore.
"…I thought you were leaving me," Kanae said at last, her voice soft as she watched Kagerou handle the meat with practiced ease.
"We should stay together at times like this," Kagerou replied. He used a broad leaf as a makeshift plate and handed it to her with quiet care. "And I also promised my friend that I'd save as many as I can… I already saved you. I know you're strong enough to survive on your own after facing your fear, but… we don't know what could happen. How could I leave you?"
He paused, looking at her. The firelight flickered gently between them.
"…And," Kagerou added, "I also thought you left me, you know?"
Kanae blinked, then laughed softly.
"Ahaha~ how could I leave my savior without saying anything? I'm not that kind of person," she said with a smile that reached her eyes.
Kagerou exhaled faintly through his nose. "And here I thought you left because you were uncomfortable staying with me. Ahaha~"
"I'm not," Kanae said, firmly.
So firmly, in fact, that Kagerou stiffened a little, caught off guard.
"Ukhum…" Kanae fake-coughed, quickly looking away. "Should we eat?"
"G-Good idea," Kagerou replied, perhaps a bit too quickly.
---
"…Kocho-san, I want to ask something. Can I?" Kagerou asked after they finished eating.
"Hm?" Kanae tilted her head slightly, her eyes soft in the firelight. "What a coincidence... actually, I also had something I wanted to ask you since the first time I saw you at the gathering that night"
"Huh? Really?" Kagerou raised an eyebrow. "Then you go first"
"Gladly." Kanae smiled, then paused. She already had a faint idea why Kagerou always seemed calm, when you were that strong, serenity came naturally. But still, she wanted to know. "…What was the reason behind it?"
"Huh? The reason behind what?"
"…The reason you're strong," Kanae said at last. Her tone was quiet but sincere. "What's the purpose behind all that strength you have?"
"That?" Kagerou blinked, then chuckled softly. "You really want to know that?"
Kanae nodded.
Kagerou laughed a little more, and Kanae's brows furrowed in confusion. "Why? Is it a secret?"
"No," he said, shaking his head. "I just thought you'd ask something serious, but that turned out to be a simple question," He leaned back slightly, eyes half-lidded. "The answer's simple too. I have a family. The reason I strive to be strong is because I have them behind me. And someone precious asked me to take care of them… so I did"
"…Family," Kanae repeated softly. The word lingered in her heart. She, too, grew strong because she had someone precious, someone who gave her a reason to smile, even through fear. "…That's a wonderful reason, Rengoku-san"
"Thanks, I guess." Kagerou smiled faintly. "Then it's my turn, Kocho-san. Why that gaze?"
Kanae blinked. "Eh?"
"That gaze of yours," Kagerou continued, looking straight at her. "Even when you were facing certain death, your eyes never lost their will to live. Why? What gave you that kind of strength?"
Kanae froze for a moment, surprised he'd noticed that much. Then, as Shinobu's face appeared in her mind, her expression softened. She smiled, a smile so gentle and radiant it made Kagerou's breath catch.
"…It's because I have someone precious to me," she said quietly. "Someone so precious that I don't ever want to be the reason they feel sad"
Kagerou stared at her, silent for a moment. Then, curiosity slipped into his voice. "…A boyfriend?"
Kanae blinked, then laughed suddenly, covering her mouth as her shoulders shook.
"???" Kagerou tilted his head, utterly lost.
Kanae's laughter echoed softly in the morning air, like a bell ringing through the trees.