CHAPTER 04
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Hours had passed. The night was deep, the breeze was cold, the wind gently rustling the leaves, and the soil was moist. The moonlight was the only thing that allowed me to see.
Yoru hadn't come yet.
"What could he be doing? He hasn't done this in the past," I asked myself as I gripped the hilt of my training sword while practicing.
--- I hope I can ask him about this as soon as possible.
I stretched my arms and yawned, feeling sleepy.
"I guess I should sleep for now."
I walked back to the shelter, my footsteps the only sound that could be heard.
--- It's terribly silent here.
I went inside the shelter and put my training sword on a table next to the bed. As I was about to lay down, I remembered the girl.
"Ah, right, she's here," I muttered as I looked at the girl sleeping on the bed.
--- She wouldn't mind me sleeping next to her, right? Well, it's my bed, so she has no right to complain.
I lay down on the bed and pulled the blanket a little. This was the only blanket I had, given to Yoru by an elf as an offering. Yoru must really be an important figure here.
I closed my eyes and let sleepiness take over me.
***
"Warm..." I said in a low voice.
It was already dawn. I had a good sleep.
--- By the way... I feel so warm. My blanket makes me feel warm but not this much.
I looked behind me and saw her. The girl was sleeping next to me, her leg on me, hugging me while asleep.
I turned around and looked at her face. She was drooling.
--- Cute.
I didn't know why, but I felt so satisfied seeing her face right now. I felt so happy.
As I was looking at her face, I had an urge to touch her.
I lifted my finger and tried to poke her cheeks. As I poked her cheeks, an intense, strange wave of happiness washed over me.
"It's so soft. I feel like poking her cheeks more," I said as I admired her face.
A smile formed on her lips, and her cheeks started to show a hint of a pinkish shade.
--- Is she awake?
As I asked myself, her smile grew bigger, and she said, "Good morning."
My body reacted on its own. I felt like something pushed me from the bed, but it was just me pulling myself away. But... why?
--- My heart's so fast. I'm panicking. What the hell's happening right now?
I touched my chest, trying to calm down.
Few minutes passed, and we were sitting at the wooden table Yoru had made. The girl looked happy and energetic, but I was silent, feeling awkward.
--- Why do I feel like hiding myself?
As I was thinking, my stomach growled loudly.
--- I haven't eaten anything since Yoru left. I can't cook.
She noticed and giggled. "You must be really hungry. Let me cook something for us."
I watched as she moved around the shelter, gathering ingredients. Her movements were graceful and confident. For some reason, that put me at ease.
Soon, the shelter was filled with the delicious aroma of cooking food. My stomach growled even louder, and I couldn't wait to eat.
"Here you go," she said, placing a bowl of steaming food in front of me. "It's not much, but it should fill us up."
I took a bite and savored the taste. It was simple, but it was the best meal I'd had in a long time. "This is amazing. Thank you."
She blushed slightly. "I'm glad you like it."
We ate in silence for a while, the only sound being the occasional rustling of leaves outside. The rain had stopped, but the forest was still damp and cool.
After we finished eating, she looked at me with a serious expression. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure," I replied, curious about what was on her mind.
"Why are you living here in the forest?" she asked softly.
I hesitated, unsure of how much to tell her. But something in her eyes made me trust her. "It's a long story," I said, finally.
She nodded, sensing my reluctance to share more. "I understand. You don't have to tell me if you're not comfortable."
I looked at her, feeling a mix of emotions. "It's not that I don't want to tell you. It's just... complicated."
She reached out and placed a hand on mine. "It's okay. We all have our secrets. But if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here."
Her touch was warm and comforting, and I felt a connection forming between us. "Thank you. That means a lot."
We sat there for a while, just enjoying each other's company. For the first time in a long time, I felt cared for, and it was a feeling I didn't want to lose.
As the sun began to rise, casting a soft light through the trees, I knew that this girl had changed something in me. I wanted to experience more of this warmth, this care, and this love.