They exchanged glances, standing still, and as he questioned her, an icy wind blew his gaze back to where it came from. But when he looked again, the woman was gone.
Hiro
'What just happened? There was someone outside a moment ago.'
'It was a woman, wasn't it? But she disappeared, and she also came accompanied by that icy wind.'
'It's the same feeling as when the fish appeared while I was fishing.'
'Could it be an illusion because I've been alone for two weeks? It was too real to be an imagination.'
...
'All this thinking will get me nowhere, real or not.'
'Ah, I'll have to leave this for a while, there are many things to do today.'
'Besides, today I'll take the opportunity to take a bath and wash my clothes while I'm at it.'
Once in the river, he got things ready, doing what he wanted to do. Afterwards, he sat down and, while looking at the hull, heard a noise in the river at dusk. When he checked, this time he caught two normal fish.
Hiro
'YES! My first successful catch, with bigger fish than the previous ones!
'That's enough for now, plus I still have sunlight. I'll go and get some fruit to go with it.'
'Hahaha, it's my lucky day.'
With his fish in his hull, he set off to pick fruit. Once obtained, he went straight to the cave.
Hiro
'I'll get things ready to cook this.'
Thoughtfully
'I think this sheet of metal on top of the cooker will be enough.'
'Just like grilled fish?'
First I pierce it with the metal bar and then put it on the griddle, and then I put the fruits on the shell without the shell.'
'I squash several times and the fruit releases its juices, and with the liquid I cover the fish. I repeat.'
'Now it's ready. We cover the fruit puree for later. Now it's time to wait for the fish to cook.'
'Wait a minute... why am I explaining all this? Is it getting to me to be alone?'
From afar, Liora watched, immersed in her thoughts about how she left herself uncovered that morning.
Liora
'(Could I have fooled him by disappearing immediately?)'
The air was permeated with a sweetness and saltiness that harmonized with each other, drawing Liora's attention.
Liora
'What is this smell? Looking at it from here, he's cooking the fish, using the Caloromata and a sheet of metal on top of it.'
'He's not putting it on direct heat. That smell comes all the way to where I am... will it really taste good?'
Hiro
'Well, it looks good. I think it's about time.'
'Ah, I mustn't forget the fruit puree. What can I use as a dish?'
Looking at the helmet
'I'll have to wash it tomorrow. There's still a bit of light left.'
...
'All right, I'll eat outside watching the sunset.'
He sat looking straight ahead, not noticing that Liora was a few feet away from him, crossing glances again, though he didn't notice her, concentrating on eating and watching the sunset.
Hiro
'Haha, the fish is really passable, I didn't have much faith in it.'
'(Was it my imagination this morning or was it real?)'
'Come to think of it, when I saw her eyes, they were beautiful, a colour that is not of this world.'
'In my country, or even in all countries, no one would have those eyes. Except for contact lenses, no one would have those purple tones, something very unique in my opinion.'
'Another thing I noticed was the wind, an air that was too cold when I saw her, the same feeling as previous occasions.'
Sighed
'Will I get to see her again? It would be great to have someone to talk to.'
Liora, getting to hear everything he said, stood in thought as Hiro, after eating, began to put things away.
Liora
(Remembering some words her mother said to her)
Liora (child)
'Mommy, humans are scary.'
Mommy
'Don't be afraid, Liora, they're just humans in disguise.'
'In disguise?'
'That's right, and let me tell you one thing, Liora: don't be afraid of humans, even if they are scary to you. Don't be afraid, humans are very sociable and you might even fall in love with one.'
Liora (girl)
'Really? Is that how you met daddy?'
Mommy
'Yes. Look, your daddy was also dressed up in a parade.'
Liora
'I'll have to leave this for a while. I'm going back to the village to rest for a while.)'
Hiro, inside the cave, settled down to sleep, thinking about his family and the things he left unfinished. A little nervously, he drifted off to sleep, hoping no one would check his computer.
Hiro
Opening his eyes
'Another day.'
'Ah, even though I don't really feel like going out... I have to.'
Another day came, and after getting his things ready, he set off for the river. He washed his helmet and prepared to fish.
Hiro
'Now comes the boring part... waiting.'
As evening fell, he was able to catch a normal fish. Happy, he went straight to the cave to cook it.
Hiro
'Shall I grill it or cook it over direct heat?'
He ate inside the cave, and after finishing, he cleaned up and arranged things for the next day, getting ready to sleep.
Hiro
Opening his eyes
'I think this will become routine.'
He packed his things to go to the river and tossed the helmet to fish.
'Hopefully I'll catch another fish.'
As evening fell, he caught a normal fish and went straight to the cave to cook it.
Hiro
'It's just a fish, eh.'
He cooked it, ate inside the cave, and then cleaned up and set things out for the next day. Another day replicated the same routine as the previous days, with dusk arriving. Inside the cave, he settled down to sleep.
Hiro
Opening his eyes
'Another day, huh?'
'I'll get my things ready to leave at once.'
Before going to the river, he went to pick some fruits. Once at the river, he settled the hull and sat waiting, peeling fruit to distract himself. That afternoon, he caught three fish.
Hiro
'Hahaha, YES, I caught three fish!
'Makes me want to jump for joy.'
Heading to the cave with quick steps, he took out his tools to cook the fish. While he was concentrating on cooking, a cold wind blew, reminding him of the same feeling. He looked ahead and saw that the woman with the beautiful eyes was in front of him.