Haruto hit the ground hard.
The impact knocked the air from his lungs, pain exploding through his already injured body. Just before the blast destroyed the house, he had forced himself through the window, pulling Miyuki with him. Even so, the explosion had caught them both.
Smoke and ash filled the air.
The forest floor was scorched black, and broken pieces of wood burned around them, crackling softly as flames spread through the debris.
Haruto coughed, struggling to breathe. His chest burned with every breath.
Slowly, he turned his head.
Miyuki lay a short distance away, her body curled slightly as she coughed weakly. Dust covered her clothes, and thin cuts marked her skin where fragments had struck her.
Ignoring the pain, Haruto forced himself up.
His legs trembled under his weight, but he didn't stop. Step by step, he made his way toward her and reached out.
"Miyuki…"
She looked up at him, her breathing uneven. With his help, she managed to stand, though her body swayed slightly.
"I'm… okay," she said softly, though her voice lacked strength.
The smoke still hung thick in the air, making it hard to see. The scent of burning wood lingered, heavy and suffocating.
Then
Slowly, the smoke began to clear.
Shapes appeared between the trees.
At first, they were nothing more than dark silhouettes… but as the air thinned, their forms became clearer.
Men.
A group of them.
Haruto's eyes narrowed.
All of them were human.
Beside him, Miyuki's breath caught.
Her body stiffened, and her hands began to shake.
She recognized them.
"…Them…" she whispered.
Haruto glanced at her, then back at the figures approaching.
"They're the ones who attacked your village?" he asked quietly.
Miyuki nodded, fear visible in her eyes.
"They tried to capture me before… I barely escaped."
The men stepped closer, their boots crushing leaves and ash underfoot.
One of them spoke up with a grin.
"Boss, look at this… isn't that the girl from before?"
The leader moved forward.
His gaze locked onto Miyuki, and a crooked smile spread across his face.
"So you're still alive," he said, amused. "Guess your luck ran out today."
His eyes shifted to Haruto.
"And who the hell is this?" he added dismissively. "Doesn't matter. If you're standing with her, you're dying here."
Haruto said nothing.
The leader's attention returned to Miyuki, his expression growing darker as his eyes moved over her.
"…You've grown nicely," he muttered.
A few of the men laughed behind him.
"Boss, looks like we got lucky today."
"Yeah… a demi-human girl all to ourselves."
The leader raised a hand slightly, silencing them, though the grin never left his face.
"Don't worry," he said calmly. "We'll deal with the boy first."
His gaze flicked toward Haruto for a brief moment—cold, uncaring.
"Then we can enjoy the rest of the night properly."
Miyuki's body trembled beside Haruto. Her ears lowered, fear clear in her eyes.
The men behind the leader began shouting again, their voices filled with excitement.
"Let me go after you, boss!" "No, I'm next!" "Don't forget me!"
They argued among themselves until the leader raised his hand again.
"Enough."
Silence fell.
"You'll all get your turn," he said with a satisfied smile.
The forest grew quiet once more.
But this time… the silence felt far more dangerous.