"...Listening to you, you actually sound guilty?"
Hearing Aaron's words, Kiana suddenly snorted with laughter.
"Don't think so much. We've been in danger ever since we got here, but I've faced this kind of danger before..."
She recalled the pressure she felt from Honkai Beasts, and then she paused.
"...A few times?"
"Whatever, it doesn't matter. The point is, we're partners. If partners worry about every little detail, it's easy to grow apart over nothing."
Without giving Aaron a chance to argue, Kiana suddenly stood up and said softly.
"You're pretty much clean. I'm going to get changed. Same rules..."
"No peeking!"
"Do you really think I have the strength to turn my head right now?"
Aaron snapped at the girl behind him, then quickly added.
"Let me know when you're done."
"Okay~"
.......................
Minutes later, after they had both changed, Aaron thought for a moment. He kept two sets of the women's clothes he'd bought in his storage space and gave all the rest to Kiana.
"You... just how many sets did you buy? Wait, how much money did this cost?!"
After stashing all the clothes, Kiana looked at Aaron with an unreadable expression.
"What exactly *is* your job? How are you so rich?"
"Give me a break. The System gave it to me. Where would I get this kind of money?"
He laid out dried rations, canned food, drinking water, a first-aid kit, rope, a Swiss Army knife, a metal bat, and other items. Then, Aaron looked up at Kiana.
"Take one of each, just in case I pass out again and you can't access this stuff."
"Hurry up. Once you've got it, we need to move."
This...
Glancing at the pile of items on the ground, Kiana felt like her companion's image was starting to overlap with that of a certain blue robot cat from a Far East manga.
One of the world's top ten mysteries: Just how much stuff did Aaron buy and shove into his storage space before coming here?
As Aaron watched Kiana store the items, he was about to say something.
But the instant he opened his mouth, Kiana clamped her hand over it and dragged him behind a large tree.
"Koro, are you sure this is the place?"
On the outskirts of the forest, Seryu watched Hekatonkheires barking wildly at her, and she frowned.
"Hmm. It's not strange for an injured enemy to hide in the woods. But I just sensed a Teigu's energy fluctuations over on the other side."
"Conversely, there are no fluctuations here... No, not even a trace of residual energy from a Teigu. Are you sure it's this way?"
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
"Alright, alright, I get it."
Pushing aside the branches, Seryu stepped reluctantly into the woods.
Only now did Aaron understand why Kiana had acted so suddenly.
The negative debuff from Ittou Shura had caused his physical condition to plummet to an appalling level.
But Kiana was different. She had just been beaten up by Aaron *during* his Ittou Shura, but he had used his fists, not the D-rank metal bat, and had even held back. So, aside from some bruises, she was fine.
That's why *she* had clearly heard the footsteps in the distance.
And because Kiana had plenty of wilderness survival experience, she knew to move deeper into the forest to avoid danger, rather than resting on the outskirts.
If they had stayed on the edge, they'd be facing Seryu and Hekatonkheires right now.
But it was only a matter of time before she searched this area. If this continued...
The thought that Aaron was this weak because of her made Kiana's heart pound with anxiety.
If this kept up, they would definitely be found.
Even if she could still fight, Aaron was so weak... if a battle broke out, the chances of him kicking the bucket were high.
Think. What should I do?
Wait, why am I focused on fighting? That person outside...
Whatever. I can't escape anyway. I'll just have to try it!
Having thought of a plan, Kiana suddenly looked at Aaron.
After hesitating for less than a second, Kiana made a difficult decision.
W-wait, Miss Tuna, what are you doing?
Seeing the absolute determination in Kiana's eyes, Aaron suddenly felt that something was wrong.
In the next instant, Kiana's hands flew, undoing the buttons on her shirt...
—And she pushed the weakened Aaron to the ground, pressing her lips directly against his.
.............................