Blue and Rim exited the theater, the remnants of the movie still lingering in the air. "Yeah, that was a long movie, wasn't it?" Blue remarked, stretching his arms.
"Yes, it was," Rim agreed, rolling along beside him.
They walked down a deserted path, surrounded by the crumbling remnants of the old world. "I'm very hungry. Let's go to the convenience store and get some snacks," Blue suggested.
Rim processed the request. "The nearest one is Big Fan. It was widely known in the old world."
"The old world, huh? What was it like?" Blue's curiosity was piqued.
Rim fell silent for a moment. Just as Blue was about to repeat his question, Rim responded, "It was beautiful. There were metal-like objects called planes that flew above in the sky..."
As Rim was about to continue, a figure appeared ahead, staggering towards them. "Hey, are you okay?" Blue called out.
The figure was dressed in white pants and a black long coat. His skin was pale, and his white dreadlocks framed a face with eyes of golden, star-shaped pupils. A black katana hung at his hip. The man walked closer but didn't respond.
"What's wrong with him? He's not saying anything," Blue whispered to Rim.
Rim analyzed the situation. "Don't you see? He's been shot. He's bleeding."
Blue squinted. "I don't see any blood. All I see is that yellow water on his shirt."
Rim's sensors detected a discrepancy. "Blue, I think you are color blind. That 'yellow' is red."
Blue's eyes widened in shock. "What?"
The man collapsed in front of them. Blue hesitated. "Should we leave him?"
Rim's directive was clear. "No, helping others is what I'm programmed to do."
Blue sighed and walked up to the man, lifting him onto his back. "So, what about going to Big Fan?"
"We'll go later. For now, let's take him to the apartment," Rim replied.
With the injured man on his back, Blue and Rim made their way through the quiet streets, the weight of their new responsibility pressing down on them as the chapter came to a close.
END OF CHAPTER 43