Upon awakening, I found myself lying on a small raft in the middle of the ocean. Rubbing my eyes, I blinked away the haze of sleep, only to find myself in the endless expanse of cerulean water, stretching out in all directions as far as the eye could see. The horizon merged seamlessly with the sky.

"Where in the world am I?" The words slipped out seamlessly.

I couldn't recall anything about getting here. The last thing I remembered was going to my college and… nothing at all…

In the center stood the mast. As I couldn't remember anything at all, to alleviate the heaviness I felt, I leaned against the mast, gazing at the blue sky. I lost myself in the endless blue. It was captivating and mesmerizing, so much so that words escaped me in that moment and a thought crossed my mind.

Maybe dying here isn't that bad. At least this place is quiet and tranquil, unlike the grime and filth of humanity.

"We'll always be best friends, Ruu. No matter what happens, our bond will never break apart!"

…

"No, Ruu didn't do anything wrong. It was my decision, not his. Please, just let him go."

…

"Why are you crying, Ruu? Death is a part of life. Everyone dies—some face it sooner, others later. I just happened to leave earlier, but you must stay strong. You have a bright future ahead of you. You have to keep living—at least for my sake… no, for our sake! For the sake of our promise!"

…

"Haruka!"

CRACKLE!

As the sudden sound of lightning struck, I jolted awake from my slumber. The ocean had taken on a disastrous appearance, its once serene surface now roiling with turmoil. The wind whipped fiercely from east to west, putting me in vulnerability of falling from the raft. I clung desperately to the mast with both hands as the waves tossed the raft to and fro. Lightning flashed continuously, illuminating the darkened sky. Those lightning flashes were at least 100 times brighter than regular ones. In the midst of tempestuous winds, lightning flashed across the sky, yet no sign of a single raindrop.

To be honest, I was hoping for a bit of rain. I was so thirsty, it felt like I could keel over.

 About an hour later, the rain began to fall. I looked up, opening my mouth to the sky. The raindrops quenched my dry lips, and I felt a surge of life coursing through me once more.

The storm seemed to calm down a bit after about 3-4 hours. Perhaps it was happening farther away than I had thought. Although it still had enough strength to threaten my stability.

But I was growing weary from constantly clinging to the mast. My hands were becoming exhausted. Then, a risky yet potentially lifesaving idea crossed my mind. I shifted my weight to cling to the mast with my legs, allowing my weary hands to release their grip. I quickly removed my shirt and used it to bind my hands around the mast, forming makeshift bonds.

A sigh of relief accompanied by a deep breath escaped me.

And the storm continued for only God knows how many hours it had been. I lost track of time. In the midst of the storm, I fell asleep, which shows just how exhausted and tired I was becoming. By the time I opened my eyes again, the storm had passed, and the sky was clear once more.

How many hours it has been? Or days?

My body felt completely broken down, and the heat was starting to overwhelm me. I began to feel dehydrated after lying on the raft for countless hours. But then a glimmer of hope appeared. Or so I believed.

I glimpsed an island, a mere 1-2 kilometers away, and it infused my battered body with a flicker of hope to survive. Yet, Fate had a cruel twist in store. As I turned, my hazy gaze fell upon a sight that robbed me of speech: a pack of sharks closing in on me.

So, is the end for me, eh? Well, be it! Not that I care anymore.

"You must live on Ruu!"

Her voice echoed once more.

Her again… Guess have no choice then.

I had no other option. I stirred from my prone position, tearing strips from my tattered T-shirt. The raft yielded a jagged piece of wood, and with trembling hands, I sliced my palm.

"Arggh! No, this is no time to feel pain!" I muttered through gritted teeth.

Blood welled up, staining the torn fabric. Once it was sufficiently soaked, I hurled it into the ocean, as far from me as possible. They followed the crimson trail, veering away from me. Exhausted, I collapsed once more onto the raft's floor.

Oh… God…

But I hadn't realized the wound was deeper than I thought. Blood continued to flow, mixing with the water around the raft as my hand remained partially submerged. I couldn't lift it out; I no longer had the strength. I had lost too much blood and was on the verge of passing out. Through blurred vision, I saw sharks approaching, drawn by the scent of blood. The island was still about 800 meters away. As I drifted closer to unconsciousness, the sharks closed in. When they were just 3-4 meters away, I finally blacked out.

I woke with a start, blinking at the unfamiliar light filtering through a thatched roof. The salty scent of the ocean was replaced by the earthy aroma of wood and dried grass. I found myself lying on a straw mat inside a small hut.

Gingerly, I moved my hand and saw it was wrapped in clean cloth, the wound carefully dressed. Someone had tended to me.

"Where am I?" I muttered.

Suddenly, a wave of déjà vu washed over me. I remembered everything: getting lost in the ocean, the unexpected storm, and the terrifying shark attack.

But how am I even alive? Those sharks were about to tear me apart. How did I survive?

I lost myself in deep thought. Suddenly, the door of the tiny hut creaked open, and I tensed up. A moment later, a girl about my age stepped inside. The moment I saw her, words escaped me. She was the very definition of beauty, leaving me utterly speechless in her presence.

Her eyes were like pools of midnight, deep and mysterious, holding the secrets of the universe within their inky depths. Her hair cascaded down like a waterfall of pure obsidian, shimmering with an otherworldly luster. In stark contrast, her skin glowed with the radiance of the morning sun, warm and luminous, as if she carried the light of a thousand dawns within her.

She spoke to me, but her words were completely foreign to me. Her language was unlike anything I had ever heard. Yet, the warmth and kindness in her eyes made it clear that she was the one who had been caring for me.

I gestured with my hands, indicating that I couldn't comprehend her words. She looked visibly concerned, her brow furrowing with worry. She was likely trying to assess my condition. So, I gestured to her again that I was feeling okay. She seemed to understand and let out a sigh of relief. Then, she motioned for me to follow her and stepped outside. I followed, unsure of what to expect, and was met with a sight I hadn't anticipated: two women and four men lying on the ground outside.

What stood out was that they were wearing modern clothes, unlike the girl, who was dressed in simple, wrapped fabric that covered her whole body. I attempted to communicate through gestures, silently inquiring about their identity. In response, she pointed toward the vast expanse of the sea. It struck me then—they, too, were like me: unexpected guests in this unforgiving realm.