"Haaa..."
How long am I supposed to stay here?
After finding Naoko, I had no idea where to go.
…Could Rei's warning actually come true?
I know I have to get out of here as soon as possible.
…But unfortunately, I have no idea where the way out is.
"Damn it! Am I seriously going to get lost too?
Even though I promised Rei I wouldn't…"
…Calm down, Kaito.
You have to handle this with a cool head…
I took a slow breath and leaned against the tree, letting Naoko sleep on my lap.
I remembered how she cried in my arms earlier.
…Is she okay?
(Rei's POV)
We searched the entire inn—starting from the lobby, terrace, garden, and even all the hallways.
But no matter where we looked, Naoko was nowhere to be found.
"Hey, we've checked every corner of this place. Are you sure Naoko is still inside?" Akane asked, worry in her voice.
"I don't know. But Kaito is searching outside.
Let's hope he doesn't get lost out there," I replied.
"Heeh… Naoko is always like this when she's in a bad mood.
Wait—don't tell me she actually wandered off outside?"
"Maybe that's why Kaito went out," Mika said from behind us.
"But I didn't think he'd know that much about her."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, he only joined the class during the second semester, right?
We've known Naoko since middle school.
Is it normal for Kaito to know her that well?"
"Mika, your imagination is going too far.
He probably just guessed.
Or maybe he searched the whole inn and didn't find anything, so he decided to check outside."
"Huh? You never know—maybe they're secretly close?"
CRACK!
…Huh?
We all turned to Akane, who had stepped on a fallen branch.
The sound echoed sharply in the quiet night filled only by crickets.
"I thought it was something serious, geez…" Mika exhaled in annoyance.
"It was just a branch, don't tell me you're scared?" Akane teased.
"It's not about being scared! The sound was just way too loud, idiot!"
While the two started bickering, I felt my phone vibrate.
A message—from Hana?
Apparently Kaito found Naoko.
No wonder Hana disappeared earlier—so she went searching with him?
"Hey, you two! Knock it off.
Kaito and Hana found Naoko. We just need to wait for them to come back."
"Eh? With Hana? Didn't she say earlier she wasn't going to look for Naoko?"
…Huh?
Hana didn't go to look for Naoko…?
"Yeah, didn't you say that yourself? Hana said she wouldn't search tonight."
If that's true…
Then who sent this message?
[Hana?: Hey guys! Kaito and I found Naoko at a park. Head back to the lobby—we'll return soon.]
(Kaito's POV)
[Currently, your device is not connected to the network. Try again later.]
"Haaah… seriously? No signal even here?"
I exhaled sharply, staring at my phone screen as if that would magically make one bar appear. Of course it didn't. I was in the middle of the forest—quiet, dark, and surrounded by trees that felt like they had been standing here longer than the town itself.
"So how am I supposed to get back…?"
I lowered the phone, slipping it into my pocket.
My thoughts drifted to the tanuki from earlier—the one that suddenly appeared, tugged at my pants, and somehow led me straight to where Naoko had collapsed. And then… disappeared the moment I reached her.
A spirit guide? Really?
"Tch. Yeah right, Kaito. Keep fantasizing like that and you'll end up writing folklore instead of living your life."
There was no way something supernatural was involved. That stuff only existed in old stories.
…Even though a part of me wondered if coincidences could really be that perfect.
WHOOSH—
A cold gust of wind swept past, cutting through my shirt and making me instinctively wrap my arms around myself. The forest at night was so much colder than I expected. It was autumn, so of course the air was chilly, but this was something else—sharp, biting, and eerily persistent.
I crouched down beside Naoko, who was sleeping with her head resting on my lap. Her breathing was steady, but her body felt cold.
Wait.
Something was off.
Her left ankle—right.
I gently lifted her leg and checked the area again. Even in the dim light, I could see the dried blood around the scrape from earlier. Her skin around it looked irritated.
If we stayed here any longer, the wound could worsen. And Naoko… she already looked exhausted.
"There's no other choice," I muttered. "I have to get us out of here. Now."
Carefully, I slid my arms under her and lifted her onto my back. She let out a small breath but didn't wake up. I tightened my grip a little so she wouldn't slip.
Then, I stepped deeper into the darkness.
The problem was—I didn't know which direction was out. I tried retracing the path I took earlier, but I only remembered fragments: a slope, a fallen log, a cluster of tall bamboo. The rest? Gone.
I scanned the area, looking for anything familiar.
Nothing.
Not even the faint sound of the lake I used as a reference earlier.
"Great," I mumbled. "Just great."
My ears strained for any ambient sound. Birds? Crickets? Water?
But the forest was strangely quiet—too quiet. It felt like the whole world was holding its breath.
WHOOSH—
Another gust of wind rushed from the right, cold enough to sting my face.
"…Huh?"
Wind shouldn't be this strong in a forest this dense. The trees should block most of it. But this one felt deliberate—clear, consistent. Almost like it was pulling me toward a direction.
Was it stupid to trust the wind?
Probably.
But trusting nothing at all was worse.
"…Fine. Let's try following it."
I adjusted my hold on Naoko and walked in the direction the wind had blown. Step by step, the air grew colder—so cold it felt unnatural.
"Keehh… seriously? It's getting colder the further we go?"
My breath turned white again.
"Is it because it's getting late, or… something else?"
The temperature drop wasn't normal. Even Naoko stirred slightly from the cold, pressing her cheek against my shoulder.
I tightened my grip and whispered,
"Don't worry. I'll get you back. Just hang on."
The forest around me seemed to stretch endlessly, the path dim and shifting under the moonlight.
Halfway down the road, I saw a large hole. It was the same hole I had fallen into when the Tanuki teased me.
"Ahh! It's the same hole from back then."
I approached it, and sure enough—it really was the same hole. I remembered accidentally breaking a branch when I fell, so I looked around for a tree with a broken branch.
"Ah! Found it."
…And if I'm not mistaken, I passed this way too…
After finding that first clue, I followed the path I had taken when entering the forest. Thankfully, I eventually made it out. I escaped the pitch-dark forest, but now a new problem appeared.
The road was extremely quiet. Maybe because it was so late. But I had forgotten something important: there was a junction up ahead, and I didn't remember which direction I came from.
…How careless can I be…?
I looked right, then left. But unfortunately, I had completely forgotten the direction. Luckily, it wasn't as complicated as the forest. After some hesitation, I managed to pick the correct route and passed the junction safely.
After struggling for a while, I finally reached the front of the inn. I went inside, intending to go straight to my room. But remembering Naoko's injured leg, I decided to go to the lobby first to ask for help.
"Kaito! Where have you been?"
…Huh?
When I walked in, Rei, Akane, and Mika were waiting for us. I didn't know how they found out, but Naoko's condition was my top priority.
"Rei, ask the inn secretary for a first-aid kit. Naoko injured her ankle."
"Okay, I'll be right back!"
She ran to the secretary's office while I gently laid Naoko down on the lobby sofa. Even though I was exhausted, I still had a responsibility to take care of them. And this was also part of my promise to Rei's father.
"How's Naoko? Is she okay?" Mika asked, worry written all over her face.
"She's fine. Naoko just sprained her ankle. Probably from the fall," I explained.
"So, how about you, Kaito?
You look exhausted. Just look at your clothes—did you roll around in mud or something?" Akane asked, glancing at me up and down. Honestly, I was completely drained. I felt like I could collapse any second. My hands were trembling, my body felt cold, and every part of me ached.
"Sorry to keep you waiting! Here's the first-aid kit. How's Naoko?"
…Oh no, do I have to explain again? Sorry, Rei… I'm honestly too tired.
"Mika, please explain."
"Roger!"
I started treating Naoko's ankle. My vision was blurry, but I still had to take responsibility. Fortunately, the wound wasn't that serious—just a graze. But if left untreated, it could have gotten worse.
Oh, right. Hana wasn't here. I didn't know where she was because I rushed out immediately to look for Naoko. But now… I couldn't help but wonder.
"Rei, where's Hana? I don't think I've seen her for a while."
They all froze the moment I asked—like they had just seen a ghost.
"H-Hana isn't with you?"
With… me? I went out alone and came back alone. As far as I knew, Hana was with them earlier.
"Isn't Hana with you guys? When I went out looking for Naoko, I didn't see her at all."
They fell silent—fear written on their faces.
I didn't have the energy to deal with this, but Hana was still one of the people I had to protect.
"Seriously, I'm asking. Where is Hana?"
"We've searched everywhere, but we still haven't found her. We thought she was with you," they said together.
Then I guess I'd have to go look for Hana after this. She couldn't have gone far.
"Okay, let's take Naoko back to her room first. Then we'll look for Hana."
I carried Naoko to our room. It was already very late. When I opened the door, Hana was inside—quietly writing her novel at the desk.
"H-Hana?! I thought you were gone somewhere!" Mika cried, immediately hugging her.
"Kyaah! M-Mika, what's wrong?!"
"I thought you disappeared too!"
"Disappeared?! What do you mean disappeared?"
I stayed silent as I laid Naoko down on the futon. Tonight had been a very long night. Fortunately, I managed to keep my promise.
But… if things continue like this, will I really be able to help them? I struggled enough just with this incident. And seeing them together now… maybe Rei's father was right.
I can't interfere with their relationships. If I do, I'm afraid I'll ruin them. And I… will end up breaking my promise again.
Never mind. I shouldn't think about that now. The most important thing is that everyone is here and safe. Especially with school starting soon.
I just hope nothing happens to them.
Not this year…
My vision is getting blurry… and the sound around me is fading, like someone is slowly turning down the volume of the world itself.
Each breath feels heavier than the last, scraping against my throat.
So this is it…
I've reached my limit…
…right?
BRUCK!
The ground disappears from beneath me—atau mungkin aku yang jatuh begitu saja.
For a moment, everything is weightless.
"K–Kaito!!"
"Kaito, are you okay?! Kaito!"
Their voices.
They're panic.
Warm hands shaking my shoulders.
But they feel so distant… like echoes drifting through an empty hallway.
My eyelashes tremble, but the darkness keeps pulling me deeper.
Ah…
That's right.
I'm already unconscious at this moment.
Good night... everyone...
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[System Alert: An irregularity has been detected.]