Weeping of a girl echoed faintly in the dark.
"…"
In pitch-black darkness.
…
Huuhh?
I… I am…? Who… am… I? Where… am… I? What… is this feeling? What is… happening?,
This feels good!.
…
I want to stay like this forever… forever.
"…"
Birds chirping.
The sound of wind gently moving leaves and branches.
He regains consciousness, slowly opening his eyes. He can hear the birds singing, the wind humming, and the blurry green in front of him.
He wakes up under a small tree, in the middle of an unknown forest.
The sunlight pierces through the gaps between leaves and branches, hitting his face. It feels warm.
The tree he woke up under holds a single bud. From that bud, a golden flower struggles to bloom.
Gradually, he gets up. To support himself, he places both hands behind him on the ground, as if it were a pillar.
Closing his eyes, he feels the summer breeze hitting him. It's as if the wind consoles him. His senses heighten—he can hear the distant singing of birds and the faint sound of a waterfall.
He opens his eyes and rises to his feet. Looking around, he notices the only visible pathway is to his right—a narrow trail, both its sides covered with bushes and rubble.
As he moves forward, his gaze falls on the tree where he woke up. It stands alone, surrounded by soft grass and small flowers growing between them.
It's peculiar.
Something feels off. His instincts tingle, but he dismisses the thought and focuses on the path ahead.
As he walks, his gaze drifts upward.
The sunlight piercing through the branches and leaves hits his eyes. He raises his hand to shield them.
As his eyes regain their vision,
He spots a nest in the trees above, where a mother bird is feeding her chicks. The chicks chirp noisily, their impatience evident as the mother gently calms them, giving each its share of food.
A faint sadness washes over him as he watches.
He smiles.
"Aren't you a noisy little fellas"
The mother bird notices him. It stares briefly, but then ignores him, resuming its task of feeding her chicks.
He had been walking for quite a while now. He could see a brighter exit ahead.
As he stepped ahead from the tree where the birds lived, he felt something—like emerging from water. It's strange. He stopped, turning to look at the path he had come from.
It looks different now—bushier and unrecognizable. The road ahead, too, feels unfamiliar.
Is it his mind playing tricks, or is the forest hiding its mysteries?
He shakes off the thought and walks forward, passing the tree where the birds had nested.
Halfway through, a rustling sound comes from the bushes on his right.
He freezes. His calm demeanor doesn't falter, but his guard is up.
The noise grows louder.
A rabbit bursts out from the bushes, darting in the opposite direction.
He closes his eyes and chuckles softly, a beautiful smile spreading across his face.
The birds from earlier notice him again. They stare, as if looking at an angel.
Opening his eyes to catch one last glimpse of the rabbit, he sees—
An arrow strikes it down.
…
His expression doesn't change. His face still holds that faint smile, but his eyes show deep disappointment.
"Got it…"
A voice echoes from the opposite bushes.
From there, a young boy emerges.
"Yes! Finally, I got it! With this, Grandma will praise me and stop worrying!"
As the boy bends down to pick up the rabbit,
"I caught this much faster than before—"
He freezes.
In front of him stands a tall man, his face a mix of disappointment and disdain.
The boy doesn't move.
"Crap what's this?" he thought, "who is this old man?"
…
"You can move now," the man says.
The boy lets out a big sigh of relief.
"I thought I was about to die holding my breath! You scared me there, mister!"
"… Is that so?"
"Yes!"
The two stare at each other, the boy growing more awkward by the second.
"Um… mister, what are you doing here? Hunting?"
"I don't know. I just woke up."
"Huh? What kind of answer is that? Are you an idiot, perhaps?"
The boy grins, placing a hand on his hip while the other clutches the rabbit.
"It seems that's not the case either. I can't remember much," the man replies.
"Heh? You lost your memory? That seems… sus."
"Sus?"
"Yeah, like suspicious sus."
"… Oh."
"Well, I'll get going. I have to deliver this to my grandma before sunset. It's our dinner, after all."
As he turns to leave—
Growl.
"…???"
The boy looks to his right, where the man stands.
Growllll!
"…??"
"Um, mister, you seem hungry."
"… Oh, do I?"
"Are you kidding me? You just-!" Sigh!, your tummy just growled, that means you're hungry". The boy explains innocently.
"… I know," the man replies nonchalantly.
The boy side-eyes him.
"Do you hunt every day for food?"
"Yes."
"Isn't it dangerous? Do your parents allow it?"
"Yeah. It's the only way we can put food on the table. I can't catch something every day, but I try my hardest."
The man stares at the boy, impressed by his determination.
The boy, who couldn't be older than thirteen, had glittering eyes full of energy.
"What a cruel world". sighs, thr man thought
"You should eat something. It seems like you haven't eaten in a while."
"I don't have anything."
The boy stares at his pitiful state.
Upon a closer look, the robe he wore had some kind of stains on it.
"Is that so?"
The boy brightens up.
"Then why don't you come with me? Grandma would be glad to have you!"
"… Oh, can I?"
"Yes! Sure!" the boy replies, smiling brightly.
The sun begins to set. The birds retreat to their nests.
"Then I'll do that. Thank you very much."
"Haha, even if you've lost your memory, you still remember to be polite!" the boy giggles.
The man stays silent.
"Aww, you seem embarrassed!" the boy teases.
"No, I'm not," the man replies calmly.
"Well, follow me quickly, or I'll leave you behind!"
Both walk toward the boy's home
"By the way, mister, I haven't asked your name yet."
"My name is Kayle!, and yours?!".
"… My name is—!"
"…"