Kuroi sat silently on a fallen log, the flickering flames of the campfire casting shadows across his face. His dark eyes were fixed on the fire, but his mind was far away. The flames seemed to shift and dance, forming shapes that tugged at his memories. He saw a little boy laughing, running in circles around a man with one arm. The man grinned, his rough, weathered face soft with joy as he reached out to ruffle the boy's hair.
A single tear slid down Kuroi's cheek, hot and unbidden. It caught the light of the fire before falling, disappearing into the dirt. He quickly wiped it away, forcing a small, bittersweet smile as the memory lingered.
The moment was interrupted by Ryunosuke's voice, loud and cheerful. "Ayo, Kuroi! Look what I got—bunny meat! Freshly caught!"
Kuroi startled slightly, hastily rubbing his face to erase any trace of the tear. He turned to Ryunosuke, trying to sound casual. "Oh, uh... good job."
Ryunosuke approached the fire, holding up the skinned rabbit with a grin. "Good job? That's all I get? You should've seen me out there, sneaking through the woods like a shadow, tracking this thing for hours!"
Kuroi raised an eyebrow, his tone dry. "Hours, huh? I doubt it took you more than fifteen minutes."
Ryunosuke chuckled as he crouched by the fire, pulling out his knife to prepare the meat. "Alright, fine, maybe not hours. But still, it wasn't easy. That little guy was quick. Almost made me trip over my own feet."
Kuroi smirked faintly, shaking his head. "You're supposed to be a swordsman, not a hunter."
"Hey, a swordsman's gotta eat," Ryunosuke retorted, carefully skewering the rabbit meat and placing it over the fire. "Besides, what about you? Sitting here staring at the fire like it's going to tell you the secrets of the universe."
Kuroi's smirk faded, his gaze returning to the flames. "Sometimes, it feels like it might," he said quietly.
Ryunosuke glanced at him, noticing the shift in his tone. He didn't press, though, instead focusing on rotating the skewers over the fire. "Well, if it does, let me know. I could use a few secrets myself."
They sat in silence for a while, the crackling of the fire filling the space between them. The smell of roasting meat wafted through the air, mingling with the earthy scent of the forest.
As the rabbit cooked, Ryunosuke spoke up again, his voice softer this time. "You know... I don't know much about you, Kuroi. But I can tell you've been through some stuff. If you ever want to talk about it, I'm here."
Kuroi didn't respond immediately, his eyes still on the fire. When he finally spoke, his voice was low. "Thanks. But some things are better left unsaid."
Ryunosuke nodded, respecting the boundary. "Fair enough."
The rabbit meat finished cooking, and they ate in relative silence, the only sounds the crackle of the fire and the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. Despite the quiet, there was a sense of camaraderie growing between them, an unspoken understanding that neither needed to voice.
As the fire burned low and the stars began to fill the sky, Kuroi leaned back against the log, his sword resting by his side. Ryunosuke stretched out on the ground, hands behind his head as he stared up at the heavens.
"Tomorrow," Ryunosuke said, breaking the silence, "we'll start looking for stronger opponents. Together."
Kuroi glanced at him, then back at the dying flames. "Yeah. Together."
As night gave way to morning, the forest was quiet except for the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze. A single leaf floated down, landing directly on Kuroi's nose. He stirred, his brow furrowing slightly before his eyes opened.
"Ugh… what the—?" he muttered, swiping the leaf away. He blinked a few times, groggy and disoriented, then sat up, running a hand through his messy hair.
Looking around, he noticed Ryunosuke was nowhere in sight. "Ryunosuke?" he called out, his voice still heavy with sleep.
A moment later, he heard a faint but cheerful voice in the distance. "Kuroi! Over here! You've got to see this!"
Kuroi sighed, stretching his arms above his head before standing. He grabbed his sword, securing it at his side, and started walking toward the direction of the voice. The forest was dense, with branches snagging at his sleeves and bushes brushing against his legs. He pushed through the undergrowth, muttering under his breath.
"Better be worth it…"
As he continued, he noticed a soft light breaking through the trees ahead. His pace quickened, and soon he stepped out into an open area. The sight before him stopped him in his tracks.
Ryunosuke was sitting on the edge of a large rock, his legs dangling over the side. The rising sun bathed the scene in warm light, casting long shadows across the uneven, rocky surface. Ryunosuke turned his head slightly, grinning. "I didn't even know this spot was here. Isn't it something?"
Kuroi walked closer, stepping carefully over the uneven terrain until he stood beside Ryunosuke. He looked out at the view and felt his breath catch in his throat.
Below them, a vast body of calm water stretched out, its surface shimmering in the morning light. Small, forested islands dotted the expanse, their trees reflected in the mirror-like water. In the distance, gentle hills rose, their outlines softened by a faint morning mist. The sky above was a mix of soft blues and whites, with clouds lazily drifting by.
Kuroi crossed his arms, his expression softening as he took in the scene. "...Not bad," he admitted quietly.
Ryunosuke laughed, leaning back on his hands. "Not bad? Come on, Kuroi, this is incredible! Look at that water, those hills… It's like something out of a story."
Kuroi glanced at him, then back at the view. "It's peaceful," he said after a moment, his tone thoughtful. "Hard to believe a place like this exists when the rest of the world feels so… chaotic."
Ryunosuke nodded, his usual playful demeanor giving way to a rare moment of seriousness. "Yeah. Makes you wonder, doesn't it? How much of the world we miss because we're too busy fighting or chasing something."
Kuroi didn't respond right away. He crouched down, resting his elbows on his knees as he stared out at the water. "I don't know if I'd call it missing out. For some people, fighting is all they've got. All they know."
Ryunosuke tilted his head, studying Kuroi's profile. "And for you? Is that all you've got?"
Kuroi's gaze didn't waver from the horizon. "...I don't know," he admitted. "Sometimes it feels like it. But then I see something like this, and I wonder if there's more. If there could be more."
Ryunosuke smiled faintly, his emerald eyes reflecting the light of the rising sun. "Maybe there is. Maybe we just have to keep looking for it."
They sat in silence for a while, the sound of the wind and the distant ripple of water filling the air. Kuroi stood up, brushing off his hakama as he gazed out one last time at the tranquil scene before them. "Well, time to go," he said, his tone matter-of-fact, breaking the quiet moment.
Ryunosuke leaned back on his hands, raising an eyebrow. "Go? Where?"
Kuroi glanced down at him, his expression calm but resolute. "We need to find clues—anything that can lead us to where a strong opponent might be."
Ryunosuke groaned theatrically, letting his head fall back. "Strong opponents, huh? You're really single-minded, aren't you? Can't we just enjoy this for a little longer?"
Kuroi smirked faintly, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. "You can stay here if you want. Sit around and admire the view all day. I've got work to do."
Ryunosuke sighed dramatically and pushed himself to his feet, dusting off his crimson kimono. "Fine, fine. Guess I'll tag along. Someone's got to make sure you don't get yourself killed."
Kuroi shook his head, already starting to walk away. "If you're coming, try to keep up."
Ryunosuke adjusted the sash around his waist, muttering under his breath. "He's all business, this one…" Then, louder, he added, "Hey, Kuroi, you ever think about why you're so obsessed with finding strong opponents?"
Kuroi didn't stop walking, his voice carrying back over his shoulder. "Because that's the only way to grow stronger. You don't get better by sitting around."
Ryunosuke jogged to catch up, falling into step beside him. "Sure, but there's more to life than just getting stronger, you know. Like… I don't know, food, friends, maybe even a little fun?"
Kuroi glanced at him briefly, his expression unreadable. "I'll think about that after I've reached the top."
Ryunosuke sighed, shaking his head. "You're impossible."
The two of them continued walking