The Next Morning
Jiro woke up early, gazing at the campfire which was beginning to die down, while waiting for his friend, Shira, to wake from her sleep. The sun rose between the trees.
Currently, in the forest, two individuals were heading towards the river; one was a human, and the other, a fox. The fox, full of enthusiasm, walked while singing.
Meanwhile, the man followed behind the girl, observing with a calm demeanor, leaving one to wonder what was on his mind.
POV Jiro
For several days now, Jiro's feelings had become mixed, a blend of happiness, complexity, and at times, a hint of embarrassment. They had been friends for years, and in their former world, bathing together in hot springs was a normal thing. Nothing was hidden between two close friends. However, circumstances had shifted, especially for Jiro.
Shira, on the other hand, seemed to remain at ease. No awkwardness appeared from her, even when both of them had to wash their clothes in the clear stream so far. Every time Shira invited Jiro to join her, Jiro could only politely refuse, citing reasons such as gathering food supplies or firewood. After all, standing side by side with Shira in such circumstances now felt... wrong. Jiro sensed a change within himself that he was reluctant to acknowledge.
While lost in thought, Jiro arrived at the stream near their cave.
Shira stepped into the stream enthusiastically, wanting nothing more than to refresh herself in the cool water, and she turned to Jiro who stood at the edge.
"Jiro, why are you just standing there? Come on, the water feels really refreshing in the morning!" Shira called out cheerfully, unaware of Jiro's internal turmoil.
Jiro cleared his throat, trying to suppress his embarrassment. "Ah, I... I think I'll just wait here, Shira. You go ahead; I'll join in a bit," he replied, though not very convincingly.
Shira simply shrugged and smiled. "Alright, but don't take too long. The water is really refreshing, you know?"
Jiro averted his gaze, looking at the surrounding trees, attempting to distract himself from the awkward feelings constantly haunting him. Somehow, Shira seemed oblivious to the boundaries that now felt present between them. For Shira, Jiro's presence offered security, just like when they were together in their old world.
Feeling guilty over inappropriate feelings, Jiro decided to help by collecting wood for their next campfire supply.
While searching for wood in the forest, Jiro tried to banish any awkward feelings bothering him. He walked among the trees, gathering dry twigs, when suddenly a high-pitched scream echoed from the direction of the stream. Without hesitation, Jiro dropped the wood and sprinted toward the sound.
Upon reaching the riverbank, Jiro was shocked to see a lecherous-looking stranger pinning Shira, who was now lying on the ground partially exposed and visibly panicked.
"Jiro, help!" Shira screamed, desperately trying to break free.
A fiery anger ignited within Jiro's chest. He had no intention of relying on the divine powers granted to him for facing the man. As a former practitioner of Kyokushin karate, Jiro preferred to utilize the combat skills he had long mastered.
Jiro charged in swiftly, initiating with a Gedan Barai, a powerful sweeping hand technique, effectively separating the man from Shira. The man staggered back, shocked by the sudden assault.
Without allowing him time to react, Jiro followed up with a Seiken Chudan Tsuki, a direct punch to the man's abdomen. The attack left him gasping, momentarily off-balance.
Seeing an opportunity, Jiro moved in quickly with a Mawashi Geri, a roundhouse kick targeting his opponent's head. The forceful blow almost took the man down, but Jiro didn't stop there. He proceeded with an Ushiro Geri, a back kick hitting the man square in the chest, thrusting him backward until he fell to the ground.
The man coughed, now weakened and unable to move. Breathless, he sat on the ground, staring at Jiro with terror frozen on his face.
After ensuring the man posed no threat, Jiro redirected his focus to his friend. Shira, now trembling from shock, ran toward him. Tears streamed down her beautiful face as she clung tightly to Jiro, burying her face into his shoulder while sobbing.
"Jiro... thank you... thank you," Shira uttered in broken cries. Jiro's presence offered reassurance while she remained overwhelmed by a fear not yet fully abated.
Jiro returned the embrace gently. "It's alright, Shira. I'm here. You don't have to be afraid anymore," he whispered, attempting to calm his still-shaken friend.
After a while, Shira's cries subsided into soft whimpers before finally falling asleep from exhaustion and emotional turmoil. Jiro delicately lifted Shira, carrying her to a safer spot under a shady tree near the stream. He carefully settled her, ensuring she lay comfortably on the soft grass.
Once Shira was safe and comfortable, Jiro's attention shifted back to the man who had attacked Shira earlier. The man remained sitting, his body trembling, gasping in pain from Jiro's relentless assault. His face clearly displayed a mix of fear and agony.
Jiro approached the man decisively, his gaze intimidating. He needed further information about who this man was and what he was doing in the area.
"Who are you really, and what are you doing here?" Jiro asked with a firm yet controlled voice, his eyes locked onto the man, indicating he wouldn't hesitate to act further if necessary.
The man groaned lightly, but the fear emanating from Jiro's eyes left him no choice but to answer. "I... I'm just a bandit. My name is Taro," he gasped.
"A bandit, huh?" Jiro intensified his tone, showing that he wouldn't be satisfied with a half-hearted answer. "What are you doing here, and what did you want with my friend?"
Taro reluctantly admitted, although each word seemed to cause him further pain. "I stumbled upon this place with my gang... We got lost in this forest. We thought... we could take something from here."
Upon hearing the explanation, Jiro felt a glimmer of hope. If there were others—even bandits—who managed to find this forest, there was a possibility of discovering a way out. He needed to extract more information about this bandit group.
"Where are your friends now?" Jiro pressed, moving closer to Taro, leaving no room for deceit.
Taro swallowed hard, fear pooling in his eyes. "They... they are somewhere around here. Probably not far from this place. I was just wandering, looking... for anything."
The information made Jiro more cautious but also gave him hope that maybe these bandits knew more about the forest and a way to exit it.