Chapter 74 An Odd Encounter, Part One

Spirits were low the following morning, a byproduct of what happened between Takagi and me. In spite of that, we efficiently packed the camp and marched ever onward.

As usual, Takahashi appeared with ashen hands. Considering that he used it as soap, it was clear what he had been doing.

We walked for hours and hours. From the crack of dawn to the late afternoon, we slogged forward. During that time, Takagi, albeit slightly, returned to his old self.

It looked like my confrontation with him yesterday helped, though not in the way I'd hoped. He was pulled out of his shell, but at the cost of his view of me. He was always rude, but now he saw me with genuine disdain. I became a lightning rod to absorb all of his negative emotions.

'I guess it doesn't matter. So long as he doesn't get us killed,' I sighed.

Since I made my first impression, I was finally getting used to being the "black sheep" in the group. I told myself it didn't matter how they felt about me as long as we were alive. In the end, that's all that mattered.

I did consider just leaving and striking off on my own, but I'll admit a bit of curiosity rooted me here. Curiosity to find out more about this new world I found myself in. Besides, somehow, I felt responsible for the three who risked it all to save me. I couldn't abandon them so easily anymore, my pride and honor wouldn't allow it.

So I trudged on, ignoring the glares of disdain I was showered with.

The day was nearing dusk when we found a spot to camp out. Near it was a small, crystal blue pond. Though the moon was just a dim crescent, its few pale rays brightly collided with the pond's surface. The light reflected chaotically as small water ripples formed and flowed outward.

"Maybe we'll get some fish fer breakfast!" Suda drooled, staring at the pond longingly. "Can we, Yuu?! Can we stay an' fish awhile in the mornin'? I'm SO tired of squirrel." She tilted her head and looked at Mizuno pleadingly.

Mizuno lifted a finger in protest, but Suda's begging must've overwhelmed her. "Okay, fine. An hour. You have an hour extra, that's it."

Suda's face lit up with joy at Mizuno's words. "Thank ya, Yuu! I love ya!" she ran to hug Mizuno but was repelled.

"Eat and get to sleep; we're waking up an hour earlier than usual. So you'll need it," Mizuno turned from Suda, forming a slight smirk.

"Absol- Wait, what?" Suda stood in visible confusion, then nervously laughed. "Yer jokin', right? Yer jokin'? You know I'm not a mornin' person, Yuu!"

But Mizuno remained unresponsive, opting instead to start roasting our usual meal.

After dinner, we all went straight to sleep; the group dreaded the early morning that came afterward.

I tried to stay awake the night to help the three keep watch, but the call of unconsciousness became overwhelming. I had stayed up too many nights to resist it anymore. Eventually, my eyelids betrayed me and forced me to sleep.

***

A crack of a branch shocked me from my sleep. I unlatched my bloodshot eyes and tightened my fist, expecting an enemy encounter.

The moon stood high in the sky. Its sliver of luminance was only interrupted by the occasional passing cloud. After one drifted away, revealing its light, I saw the scene of a sobbing Hikari being comforted by her sister.

They sat near the pond with Hikari's head cradled deeply into Ayame's arms and chest. They looked to be isolated within their own world together.

Without revealing myself, I inched closer. It was terrible to snoop, I know, but it was necessary. I had to learn the mental condition of each group member to assess what threats they might pose to the group as a whole. Any amount of instability could mean death in the wrong situation.

I propped myself behind a tree, sat out of their sight, and eavesdropped.

Hikari's voice was hoarse and staggered. "Sis... Can we...go home? I just want to go home..." she pulled her head from Ayame's chest and looked up at her sister pleadingly.

Ayame took a hand and wiped the tears from Hikari's bloodshot eyes. She then stroked the back of Hikari's head and held her tight.

"We will... I know we will..." Ayame grimaced but soon forced a tender smile. "You remember when we only worried about our next exam?" Following her reminiscing, she let out a saddened but charming laugh.

Hikari, though somber, giggled too.

"Mom always bought us tons of dark chocolate and blueberries a few days before it. 'It boosts brain function,' she'd always say," Hikari said and chuckled again.

"Huuuuuuhhh," Ayame yawned and stretched an arm upward, "what I wouldn't give for some chocolate right now."

Hikari smiled sweetly but soon returned to dejection. "Do you..." she winced. "Do you think mom misses us? Like, is she looking for us?"

Ayame embraced Hikari lovingly, holding tight as if to squeeze out her sister's every bit of unease. However, during the hug, Ayame's eyes flooded with melancholy.

"Y-Yes, I'm sure she does. I'm s-" she stopped and took a deep breath, resealing her emotions. Only after stemming the tears did she end their embrace and pull away. She must've wanted to appear strong for her sister. "I'm sure she is," Ayame said with fake confidence.

"Do you... think she'll find us?"

With Hikari's final question, Ayame couldn't hold it in anymore. Fluids burst from the ducts within her eyes as she hugged Hikari tighter again. "I hope so..." she whispered back with a pained expression.

They sat together for the next hour, comforting the other's emotional agony. I was about to leave when I was approached quietly by Suda.

"Whatcha doin'? Spyin'?" she whispered and eyed me with distrust.

I wanted to say no or claim innocence, but I WAS spying. No matter my reasons, I was spying on the two near the pond. "I was... I wanted to see their emotional state." Though what I did was questionable, I felt explaining my reasons would absolve me from guilt.

Surprisingly, I didn't detect any animosity from her. Instead, Suda stood beside me and leaned on a tree's trunk while crossing her arms. "And ya can't do that by askin' 'em directly?"

"I can't... Not when everyone distrusts me so much," I let out a quiet chuckle.

"An' whose fault is that? It can't be helped when ya just up an' attacked us." Her words stung me to my core. Being reminded of that incident filled me with shame.

I rested my head within my hands, pondering everything I'd done till now.

For a moment, there was just silence between us. Until Suda sighed audibly. "Look at me," she ordered. "I dunno why I didn't just do this in the first place."

I turned my sight up toward her widened eyes. At first, it was awkward. Several seconds later, a strange sensation assailed my mind. I felt as if my innermost thoughts became bare for all to see.

She began to mouth a question but stopped and looked away with widened eyes.

As soon as the sensation started, it ceased. I came back from my trance to see Suda staring at the sisters.

"What the hell?" she questioned.

When I turned to see for myself, I witnessed dozens of shifting blue-glowing lights. Their misty figure twisted and changed as they emerged from the water.

Despite their movement, they didn't disturb the water's still surface. It was as if they didn't have a physical form, but that was impossible. They were visibly rising and twirling in front of us, after all!

Granted, given the absurdity of this world... I guess even this was possible. Hell, I'd even say it's likely.

Soon, hundreds of them wafted out from the water. They filled the space above the pond and formed what looked to be a sparkling nebula of azure light. It wasn't long until their combined luminance painted the surroundings around the pond a deep blue tint.

More and more of my countrymen woke up to the disturbance as the light grew.

"What are those things?" A dazed Agawa pointed toward the strange apparitions while rubbing her eyes.

I looked to Suda and Mizuno for answers, but both had equally puzzled faces.

Given their confusion, these entities were totally unknown. In the military, you were taught that anything "unknown" was dangerous. "Always assume the world is out to kill you" was a phrase my instructor instilled into my platoon.

I turned to Suda; she'd already pulled her bow and prepared a shot. But, if what I saw with the water was any clue, I doubted an arrow would greatly affect them. As far as I could tell, those things didn't have a physical form.

"We should go," I warned Suda. "We need to go...now!"