This was no ordinary forest… no, it was far from that. Nobody knew where it began or ended, but everyone knew one thing—there was no escape here, only death.
The darkened trees twisted unnaturally, their warped faces turning toward Hayase as he walked through the suffocating fog.
"Where do you think you're going, kid?"
"Look who's arrived!"
"You're so pretty, lil' boy!!"
Their laughter slithered through the mist, shrill and cruel.
This is bullsht,* Hayase thought, his fists clenching.
After being hurled into the forest, he had hit the ground hard, breath knocked from his lungs. Panic gripped him when he realized Amber and Yusuke weren't beside him. Without them—without Yusuke's strength or Amber's quick reflexes—Hayase had only his mind to rely on.
He paused mid-step. The forest had gone eerily silent.
Then, from between the trees, a figure emerged.
"Amber?" Hayase called, his voice cracking as hope surged. He hurried forward.
The girl smiled faintly and waved.
"N-no!"
Hayase skidded to a stop.
"You're not Amber…? But you look just like her!"
The girl's tone was soft, almost melodic.
"Avery."
"Hayase," he said cautiously.
"What are you doing out here!?"
"I was walking through the woods, and suddenly… I appeared here!" she pleaded, eyes shimmering with fear.
Hayase stepped closer, brushing her arm to check for wounds.
"You look fine to me…"
But she suddenly broke down, tears spilling as she wrapped her arms around him.
Hayase froze, face turning red.
"I'm scared… I don't know what to do."
"Don't worry. I'll protect you," he said firmly, though his heart pounded.
They pressed onward, fog curling like ghostly fingers around their faces. The sunlight barely pierced the canopy, fractured into sickly beams.
Soon, they reached the mouth of a cave.
"Wait here. I'll get some wood for a fire," Hayase said, scanning the area.
Avery nodded, though unease clouded her expression.
As he ventured deeper into the forest, the trees whispered again, voices slick and mocking.
"Cute girl you got there!"
"Oh, she's a beauty!"
"You'll make the perfect couple!"
"That girl's gonna be your doom!"
"When's the wedding, huh?"
Hayase gritted his teeth and ignored them, though thoughts of Avery lingered in his mind.
"Maybe if I save her… I'll win her heart," he muttered with a smirk, gathering firewood.
Despite his lack of strength, determination pulsed through him.
When he returned, Avery waved brightly, her smile warming him.
They built a fire, sitting close as the flames cracked between them.
"So, where are you from?" Hayase asked, lying back against a rock.
Avery's words stuttered on her tongue.
"Nervous?"
"Y-yeah..!"
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
Hayase wasn't used to talking like this. Amber and Yusuke were allies, but Avery… she felt different.
"I come from a small village… out on the outskirts…"
"Is it as beautiful as you are?" he teased.
Avery's cheeks flushed pink.
Their playful back-and-forth gave way to quiet. Soon, Avery fell asleep by the fire.
Hayase gazed at her peaceful face.
Am I… in love with her?
His eyes drifted to his necklace. Once, it had glowed a brilliant green. Now, it was as black as coal.
He wondered when it had changed. More than that, he wondered about his brother… and Amber.
As he dozed off, the world around him faded.
Kimiko stood before him in a dark abyss.
"What now? Have you come to spill your troubles again?" she asked, voice cutting through the void.
Hayase hesitated, lost for words.
"I'm… not sure," he murmured.
Her gaze fell to his necklace.
"It wasn't always this color, was it?"
"It was… but I don't remember when it changed. I don't know anything anymore."
Hayase clenched the pendant, frustration bubbling.
"Ever since I got this gift, you've appeared in my dreams… but why?"
"I told you before—I'll only explain once you find your light."
"What the hell does that mean!?" Hayase shouted.
Kimiko smirked, unshaken.
"You're doing it again…"
"I don't care what you think of me!"
"If you keep on like this, you'll only sink deeper into the dark."
Hayase's jaw tightened.
"Is that so…"
Kimiko turned, fading as the void brightened to a faint light.
"Guess it's time for me to leave again."
Her figure vanished, and Hayase jolted awake—Avery's lips were on his.
He flinched back, stunned.
"W-what are you doing?!"
Avery blushed, looking away.
"I-I just wanted to thank you…"
Hayase's mind reeled.
A cute girl… just kissed me?
He coughed, forcing composure.
"I think we should keep moving—maybe we'll find someone out here."
Avery nodded. Together, they pressed deeper into the woods.
Leaves cracked underfoot. The trees whispered again.
"There goes the couple!"
"Look—it's the boy and Avery!"
Hayase stiffened. How do they know her name?
Avery's hand slid into his, and heat rushed to his face.
For a fleeting moment, joy swelled in him.
Then Avery stopped and pointed left.
"What is it, Avery?"
"M-m-my family… they should be that way," she said softly.
"Family? You have family here?"
She nodded.
Hayase frowned but brushed it off.
"Alright, let's go."
The deeper they went, the heavier the air grew. The trees' voices twisted into hunger.
"What a cute couple!"
"He looks delicious!"
"Couple of the century!"
Hayase clenched his fists. He had to protect Avery.
Through the dead bushes and tangled vines, a dark cabin appeared.
"They should be in there," she murmured, pressing closer to him.
Hayase hesitated at the door, heart pounding.
"A-are you sure they're i-in h-here?"
Avery nodded.
The forest roared.
"He's here!"
"Finally!"
"Another one!"
Hayase swallowed hard. For Avery, he pushed forward.
He opened the door—
And a hulking shadow bent low, smiling.
"Well, hello there!"
Hayase stumbled back, eyes darting to Avery.
She smiled.
"What's wrong, Hayase?" Her voice curled, sinister and mocking.
Avery's form melted into a deformed shadow.
The trees shrieked with glee.
"Oh, he's done for!!"
"They're hungry, HAYASE!"
"Run, run, run!!"
Realization hit him like a blade. He ran.
Four shadowy figures surged after him.
The forest roared with laughter as he sprinted, lungs burning.
"How the hell did I get tricked like this?!" Hayase shouted.
One creature leapt, slamming him to the ground.
"Where do you think you're going, boy?"
Its mouth split open, teeth jagged and endless.
The others circled.
"Let me go!!"
"We can't let that happen…"
"Where the hell is Avery!?"
One of the figures morphed, grinning in her form.
"Hello, Hayase!" she sang sweetly.
His eyes widened. He was done.
The creature lunged—
But a fireball ripped through the dark, blasting it to ashes.
The others turned.
Amber stood, hair flaming like her rage.
"I thought you were a damn goner, Hayase!"
"Amber!" Relief flooded his face.
Amber's palm ignited.
"Fire Style: Fireball!"
Blazing spheres of fire tore through the shadows. They shrieked and vanished.
Hayase staggered to his feet, breath ragged.
"How the hell did you find me?!"
"I tracked the Seikai. Those things carried traces—it led me right to you."
Her glare was sharp enough to cut steel.
"Now… how did you get yourself into this mess?!"
Hayase rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling.
"It's a long story…"