The forest had fallen eerily quiet.
Only the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant cries of unseen birds disturbed the silence.
In the middle of a small clearing, Tera lay pinned against the forest floor.
Hikari knelt over her, forcing both of her arms behind her back with one hand while pressing his weight firmly against her shoulders. No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't free herself.
A few paces away...
Morri and Yomi stood frozen.
Neither dared move.
The oppressive atmosphere wrapped around them like invisible chains.
Sweat slowly gathered along Morri's brow before tracing a line down his cheek.
His fists tightened.
Loosened.
Then tightened again.
His eyes searched desperately for an opening.
Nothing.
Tera's backpack rested several feet away where it had been thrown aside during the struggle, its contents still scattered across the ground.
Morri slowly shifted one foot.
Just one.
The faint crunch of a leaf echoed through the clearing.
Hikari's head turned immediately.
"...Don't."
His voice remained almost playful.
Yet the warning behind it was unmistakable.
Morri froze.
A crooked smile spread across Hikari's face.
"Another single step..." as he reached into his pocket and slowly produced a small knife.
The blade gleamed beneath the fading afternoon light.
Without the slightest hesitation, he lowered it to Tera's face.
The cold edge brushed gently across her cheek.
"So much as another step..."
He smiled wider.
"...and I'll leave a nice little scratch across this pretty skin."
Yomi gasped.
Both hands flew over her mouth as terror filled her eyes.
Morri's heart lurched.
"...Stop!"
Hikari merely chuckled.
"What did you say?"
"You're the one making this difficult."
Morri swallowed.
His voice trembled despite his best effort to remain calm.
"...Why are you doing this?"
"There has to be another way."
"We can settle this without anyone getting hurt."
For a brief moment...
Hikari simply stared at him.
Then he laughed.
A slow, mocking laugh.
"Hahaha..."
"Oh, Morri..."
He shook his head.
"You still don't get it."
His smile disappeared.
"You don't get to negotiate."
The knife remained lightly against Tera's cheek.
"You're not the one calling the shots here."
Silence.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!!
The earth trembled.
A tremendous explosion echoed from somewhere deep within the forest.
Towering trees swayed violently beneath the distant shockwave.
Leaves rained from the canopy overhead.
Everyone instinctively turned toward the sound.
Yomi's eyes widened.
Her hands remained clamped over her mouth.
"...K-Kairo..."
Her frightened whisper barely escaped her lips.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Morri's expression turned pale.
"...Oh no..."
Hikari looked toward the distant forest.
A knowing smirk slowly spread across his face.
"Heh..."
"Sounds like they're finally getting started."
His laugh carried quiet confidence.
"Seems to me... he's having fun with Kairo."
He glanced back at the others.
""Kairo doesn't stand a chance.... I'm sure he will get the job done..."
"...assuming your friend doesn't insist on being stubborn."
Morri snapped his head toward him.
"...What do you mean?"
Hikari shrugged as though discussing the weather.
"Danzeki might not look like much..."
"...but he's dangerous once he loses his cool."
A hint of amusement entered his voice.
"And when he does..."
He looked once more toward the distant forest.
"...I just hope he doesn't kill your friend."
The words struck like ice.
Yomi's breathing caught in her throat.
Her fingers trembled against her lips.
Morri stood speechless.
His chest tightened.
His mind refused to accept what he'd just heard.
Beneath Hikari...
Tera quietly gritted her teeth.
She planted her palms against the ground and struggled once more.
"...Ngh..."
Her body twisted beneath his weight.
Hikari clicked his tongue.
"...Now, now."
He pushed her back down with ease.
"Don't struggle."
His grin returned.
"...You'll only make this worse for yourself."
Tera's face flushed with frustration.
"...You don't even know what you're saying."
Hikari blinked.
"...Hm?"
She lifted her head as much as his grip allowed.
Her amber eyes burned with unwavering conviction.
"For everyone I've met..."
"...Kairo is the most resilient person I've ever known."
She drew a shaky breath.
"And when I say resilient..."
"...I mean he never gives up."
"No matter how hopeless things look..."
"...he keeps standing."
A faint smile appeared on her face despite her situation.
"Especially..."
"...when his friends are counting on him."
Hikari smiled.
Not with anger.
But genuine amusement.
"...Well..."
He let out a quiet chuckle.
"Isn't that adorable?"
His eyes drifted toward the distant forest where the echoes of battle still lingered.
"If I were you..."
"...I'd spend less time believing in miracles..."
"...and more time praying."
His smile slowly widened.
"...Pray that Danzeki doesn't lose his temper."
His gaze remained fixed upon the horizon.
"...Because if that happens..."
The confidence in his voice chilled the air.
"...Even where we're standing..."
"...won't be safe."
.....
The clearing fell silent once more.
Only the distant echoes of the battle rolled faintly through the forest.
Hikari's smug smile never wavered.
"...Pray that Danzeki doesn't lose his temper."
His gaze remained fixed on the distant trees.
"...Because if that happens..."
"...this entire forest becomes a battlefield."
The words lingered in the air... No one answered.
Morri lowered his eyes for only a heartbeat.
Then, without moving his head, he glanced toward Yomi.
His expression remained tense.
But his eyes spoke clearly.
Run.
Yomi caught the look.
Her breathing hitched.
She gave the slightest, almost imperceptible nod.
Slowly...
Morri eased one hand behind his back.
His fingers searched carefully along the waistband of his trousers.
Just a little farther...
His fingertips brushed cold metal.
The small throwing knife.
Hidden in his back pocket.
Across from him...
Hikari's eyes shifted.
They followed the movement of Morri's arm.
His smile slowly disappeared.
"...Morriiii."
His voice had changed.
Gone was the playful amusement.
Only a cold warning remained.
"...I'm only going to say this once."
His grip tightened around Tera's wrists.
"...Take your hand away."
The forest became deathly still.
"...Or I'll make sure you regret it."
Morri said nothing.
His fingers wrapped firmly around the knife's handle.
Then—
He moved.
With a shout, he ripped the blade free and charged.
"AAAHHH!!"
Hikari's eyes widened.
"...You bastard!"
Without hesitation, he released one hand from Tera and hurled the knife he'd been holding.
The blade spun through the air.
SHNK!
It buried itself deep into Morri's knee.
"AAAAAGH!"
Pain exploded through Morri's leg.
His stride faltered.
But he didn't stop.
Ignoring the agony, he threw himself forward.
The momentum carried him straight into Hikari.
Both boys crashed heavily onto the dusty ground.
BOOM!
Tera rolled free as the impact broke Hikari's hold.
Morri landed on top of him, both hands gripping the knife as he drove it downward.
Hikari caught his wrist just before the blade reached him.
Steel trembled between them.
Their arms shook violently.
Morri gritted his teeth.
His wounded knee screamed beneath him.
Still...
He pushed.
"Yomi!"
His desperate shout echoed through the clearing.
"Run!"
"Kairo needs us!"
Yomi froze.
Her frightened eyes dropped to the knife protruding from Morri's knee.
Blood streamed down his leg.
Her entire body trembled.
"...M-Morri..."
For a brief moment...
Fear rooted her to the spot.
Then she clenched her fists.
Taking a trembling breath...
She turned...
...and ran.
Straight toward the distant crashes echoing through the forest.
Hikari saw her leave.
His expression darkened.
"...Tch."
His greater strength finally overwhelmed Morri.
Slowly...
Relentlessly...
He forced Morri's knife hand sideways.
Closer.
Closer.
Until Morri's wrist was pulled beside Hikari's own head.
"...Too weak."
Before Morri could react—
WHAM!
Hikari drove a brutal elbow straight into his face.
CRACK!
Pain exploded through Morri's skull.
Blood burst from his nose.
The knife slipped from his fingers and clattered harmlessly across the dirt.
"...Gah!"
Morri collapsed sideways, clutching his bleeding nose.
Hikari immediately shoved him away and rose to his feet.
His chest rose and fell with anger.
His eyes burned.
"...You've done it now Morri."
He cracked his neck.
"You've really stepped on my aggressive side."
His lip curled.
"You pathetic little worm."
Without warning—
THUD!
His foot slammed into Morri's stomach.
"AAAGH!"
Morri curled instinctively.
Another kick followed.
THUD!
Then another.
THUD!
Each blow drove the air from his lungs.
He could do nothing except cry out in pain.
Hikari raised his foot again.
Then—
Tap.
A light touch landed against his shoulder.
He frowned, "...Hm?" Annoyed, he turned around.
PSSSSSHHHH!!
A cloud of insect-repellent spray blasted directly into his face.
"...AAAGH!!"
Hikari staggered backward, both hands flying to his burning eyes.
"My eyes!"
He screamed in agony.
"...YOU BITCH!"
His vision blurred instantly.
The chemical burned relentlessly.
"I'm going to kill you!"
He stumbled blindly, swinging wildly at empty air as tears streamed down his face.
Several steps away...
Tera lowered the canister with trembling hands.
She had retrieved it moments earlier from the backpack lying nearby while Hikari's attention had been fixed entirely on Morri.
Without wasting another second, she rushed toward him.
Dropping to her knees, she slipped one of his arms over her shoulders.
"Morri!"
"Come on!"
"We have to go!"
Morri groaned, struggling to breathe through the pain.
"...I..."
"...I can't..."
"You can."
Her voice was firm.
"We have to."
With tremendous effort, Morri forced himself onto his feet.
His injured leg trembled beneath him.
His stomach throbbed from the kicks.
Blood still trickled from his nose.
Yet he remained standing.
Supporting his weight, Tera pulled him forward.
"Let's move!"
Together... The two disappeared into the trees, putting as much distance as possible between themselves and the now-enraged Hikari.
Behind them...
Hikari staggered blindly through the clearing, clawing at his burning eyes.
"...WHERE ARE YOU?!"
His furious roar echoed through the Dead Forest.
"I'LL KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU!"
"YOU HEAR ME!"
Cursing through gritted teeth, Hikari scrambled toward the rushing stream nearby, desperate to wash the burning from his eyes.
He dropped to his knees at the riverbank and desperately splashed the cold water across his face.
"Ghh...!"
Again.
Again.
The burning slowly faded.
His blurred vision sharpened.
He lowered his hands, water dripping from his face as his jaw slowly tightened.
"...You think you can make a fool of me?"
His fists clenched.
"...I'll make every one of you regret it."
The stream rushed quietly beside him as the forest fell silent once more.