Jiro stood amidst the pile of bandit corpses, his gaze calm yet absent of any remorse. He looked at his blood-stained hands with a resolute expression.
"There's nothing to regret," he murmured softly. "What I did was necessary to protect Shira."
He reasoned that if he allowed the bandits to live, they would only return for revenge. It was better to eliminate the problem at its root before it grew any bigger.
"I don't mind being covered in blood, as long as Shira remains untainted," he continued in his heart. For Jiro, protecting his friend was the top priority, and there was no sacrifice too great for that.
Slowly, Jiro wiped the blood from his hands. Though his appearance was now more disheveled, his gaze remained calm and focused. He knew what needed to be done next.
Jiro slowly walked out of the cave, wiping the remnants of blood from his hands. As he walked, his eyes fell on Shira, sitting at the entrance of the cave, waiting for him.
Hearing footsteps, Shira turned and saw Jiro approaching her. A relieved smile spread across her beautiful face.
"Jiro, are you alright?" Shira asked worriedly, examining her friend's condition.
Jiro returned her smile, "I'm fine, Shira. Don't worry."
He then sat beside Shira, resting his back against the cave wall.
Shira moved closer, tentatively touching Jiro's arm. "But… your hands are injured. I don't like seeing you covered in blood like this."
Jiro offered a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, Shira. Everything's alright," he said gently while standing and dusting off his clothes.
"Come on, we should leave this place soon."
Shira hesitated for a moment but finally nodded. She knew Jiro was hurt because he was protecting her. Despite feeling a twinge of guilt, Shira couldn't help but blame herself for being weak, making Jiro get hurt to protect her continuously.
Together, they left the cave, continuing their journey to find a way out of the forest. The golden light of the evening sun cast on their backs, making them appear like a beautiful painting.
However, unbeknownst to them, fate had a winding path laid out ahead. One day, Jiro and Shira might be faced with difficult choices, which could either separate them or turn them into adversaries. But for now, they just wanted to enjoy each other's company and continue protecting one another.