"…Wake up, honey. We should depart now."
Her voice gently pulled me from the depths of sleep. I opened my eyes slowly, and there she was—a vision of beauty standing before me. She smiled sweetly, like a cherry blossom in full bloom. "Fia…" I murmured her name softly.
She nodded, acknowledging my words, then quickly tugged at my hand, urging me to rise.
When she unzipped the tent, sunlight poured in, flooding every corner with its brilliance. It was blinding at first, forcing me to shield my eyes until they adjusted. Even so, I kept hold of her hand, unwilling to let go.
"…Honey, hurry up! What are you waiting for?" She glanced back at me from outside, pulling my hand playfully.
As we stepped out of the tent, the crisp morning air greeted us. The breeze was cool against my skin, while the warmth of the sun embraced me like a comforting hug. Waking up in the heart of the forest felt serene—peaceful, almost magical. If only we could stay here forever, free from the fear of mutants or monsters, it would be perfect.
We continued deeper into the forest, walking along the stone path. Each step was cautious, mindful of the bushes and wild plants that blocked our way. Together, we cleared obstacles, helping each other whenever one of us stumbled over tree roots or small stones.
Whenever poisonous reptiles or similar creatures tried to attack her, I acted swiftly, eliminating the threat without hesitation. My instincts screamed to protect her—to ensure her safety above all else.
After hours of trekking, we finally took a brief rest, eating whatever provisions we had brought with us. Once refreshed, we pressed onward, venturing further into the dense wilderness. By the time the sun began to set, we decided to stop and set up camp once more, surrounded by towering trees.
"This place is safe," Fia assured me as she secured the tent.
"…Let's have dinner first, then we'll sleep. Tomorrow will be tough. Just a few steps ahead, you'll start sensing murderous intent—the dark auras you've felt before. Who knows if we'll make it out alive…" Her tone turned teasing as she added, "So, do you want me to kiss you now?"
Seeing her playful expression, I couldn't help but smile. Until now, I had never been in a relationship with anyone—not because girls weren't interested in me, but because I hadn't wanted to rush into anything.
But meeting Fia changed everything. From the moment our paths crossed, I felt something indescribable. Weird, strange, confusing, surprising, happy, longing, affection—all these emotions swirled within me, blending into an overwhelming sensation. This feeling made me want to stay by her side, yet I doubted whether I was worthy of her.
Without thinking twice, I grabbed her hand and pulled her close, hugging her tightly. Leaning in, I whispered into her ear.
"Don't worry about how strong the Demons are. I promise you—we'll make it through this. So let's save this lovey-dovey moment for later. I'll protect you… I promise."
As I loosened my embrace, I noticed tears welling up in her eyes. She tried to suppress them, hiding behind a fragile smile, but eventually, they spilled over, wetting her beautiful cheeks.
Gently, I wiped away her tears, trying to soothe her sadness. "…I'm sorry. Please don't cry," I said softly.
She held my hand, pressing it against her cheek, and kissed it tenderly. Her gaze locked onto mine—her eyes filled with sorrow and loneliness, afraid of losing me.
"…I don't need anything else besides you. So promise me—no matter what, you must stay alive. Without you, my life means nothing—it's empty. Don't try to be a hero, because I can protect myself too. Okay…!"
I didn't know what awaited us tomorrow, but her words carried the weight of someone preparing for a final battle. If I didn't reassure her, she'd only grow sadder.
"—We'll both survive. We'll fight the mutants, monsters, and Demons together until we can change this world into a peaceful place. Then, we'll be together. For now, let's rest."
With that, I pulled her closer, cradling her in my arms. As she drifted off to sleep, I gazed at her, stroking her head gently to comfort her.
"I'll protect your beautiful and cute smile. I'll protect everyone—and our future. That's my promise."
Leaning down, I kissed her forehead softly.
Once again, I felt someone embrace me from behind, just as she had done the previous night. Now, I was certain it was Remia. Though she remained silent, her presence brought me immense comfort. In a low voice, I expressed my gratitude.
"…Thank you for everything, Remia. I'm truly grateful to have met you."
Her response came not in spoken words, but as a gentle telepathic whisper in my mind. "Thank you, my dear…"
I still didn't understand why both Fia and Remia regarded me as someone special. We had only known each other for two or three days, yet it felt as though we had been together for much longer. My heart swelled with joy whenever I was near them—it was strange and unfamiliar, but perhaps I'd uncover the reason someday.Smiling to myself, I closed my eyes and surrendered to sleep, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.