shuro frowned, looking at everyone in confusion.

"oh, that one must've been partnered up with the one i threw away..."

laios sheepishly smiled, and shuro could only sigh.

"i guess i'm staying in camp then-"

"actually, i think i should stay in camp. shuro would be more useful in hunting."

[name] offered out, already making her way to her brewing stand only to be held back by laios as he takes her hand and began leading her away.

"nope! we're hunting together, and that's final! good luck everyone, may the best hunter win!"

and off they went to the woods, not bothering to even glance back.

"wait, what are the qualifications for winning again?!"

"he didn't even tell us if it has a time limit or not..."

marcille and chilchuck complained, watching as the carefree duo hops off to wherever they planned to hunt poor animals that probably think they're gonna have a fine ol' dandy day like usual.

"oh well, let's get hunting then! the sooner we finish, the sooner we get food on the table!"

falin clapped her hands enthusiastically and began dragging marcille along, much like how laios did.

"c'mon, marcille! let's work together to catch a boar!"

"a boar?! i can't even catch a squirrel!"

"well, let's get going i guess. what should we even catch?"

namari sighed as she starts walking to a different direction, followed by chilchuck who grabs his weapon of choice, which is a bow and arrow.

"i'm not sure, but it has to be big right? that's my own interpretation of "best". and by the way, i'm leaving the hunting to you, namari."

"yeah, sure. oh yeah, watch over our stuff, shuro!"

shuro kinda just stood there and watched them go before releasing a heavy breath, rubbing his forehead.

"...oh well, more alone time for me i guess."

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

"this is fun! it's like the first time we met!"

laios exclaims as he ties a rope around a tree securely, while [name] watches him while pulverising a small burgundy pebble she found from the ground.

"mhm, it feels sort of nostalgic."

[name] hummed, putting the pulverised rock in a small vial.

"the first time we hunted for food together, you tripped on your own trap and scared the rabbits away, so you had to chase them around for a long while."

the teasing tone made laios groaned, rubbing his face in embarrassment.

"oh please don't remind me..."

he was already waking up in a cold sweat every night when he dreams about how those rabbits made him run around the forest, while also calling for backup to basically gang up on him and attack him with rabbit kicks and punches. he wasn't even aware that they were capable of doing that, so he was basically boxing with a ton of rabbits just to get food for the two of them.

"i will forever cherish that memory. you made an effort to help me when i was starving without knowing it. i am grateful to you, laios."

[name] says as she looks up at the sky, a serene expression on her face.

laios found her very beautiful. there may not be a lot of things that he found attractive on people, but [name] is certainly on top of his list.

"and who would have thought? that we would actually meet again despite the paths we took? i find that very fascinating, how fate brought us together under such different circumstances."

laios bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from smiling as [name] slid a string necklace over his head, the small vial containing the crushed rock hanging on it.

"don't you think so too?"

[name] smiles as she walked forward, standing in front of him. laios couldn't deny that her smile was contagious, it was a rare sight that he'd love to see more often.

"i think fate is trying to say something."

"and that is?"

laios glanced at the ring on his finger, then to her own ring and inhaled deeply, mustering up the courage to say something he never thought he'd find himself saying out loud.

"i think we-"

SNAP!

the two of them were startled at the sound of a stick snapping as the rope that served as a trap suddenly pulled something up, stringing it over a branch by its leg.

"is that an antelope?"

"it looks like it is..."

laios was quick to kill the animal, snapping its neck and untying the rope off of its leg.

"i guess this is a pretty good catch. it looks like a pretty healthy one too."

the young man carries the animal over his shoulder, having already forgotten of their previous conversation and what he was about to say.

"the only thing that can top this off is either a boar or even an elk, but i doubt there are any around this area."

"i was not aware that antelopes are native in this island, more specifically, this mountain."

[name] had her brows scrunched down in confusion, wondering how the hell a species that is not usually seen in this type of environment ended up here in the first place.

"laios, are you sure that is not a monster of some sort, disguised as an animal?"

"i haven't heard of anything like that before... at least not in this mountain."

laios adjusted his hold on the antelope, making sure it wouldn't fall off of his shoulder.

"besides... there's a valley not too far from here. maybe it just wandered off? or maybe it's a species that's habituated in forest areas."

he brushed off with a goofy smile, saying it in the usual factual tone that he uses whenever they talk about animal and monster stuff.

"oh... you're right. i guess that is a possibility."

[name] shook her head and sighed, massaging her temples.

"you okay, [name]?"

"yes, yes... perhaps i was just being paranoid. shall we go back to camp now?"

"sure!"

laios started trudging back to the path they came from after giving the rope they used for the trap to [name], but noticed how she was lagging behind, constantly glancing in all direction.

there was something bothering her.

"hey, you'll get lost if you lag behind like that. wanna hold my hand?"

laios offered out his unoccupied hand for the girl to take, and [name] seems to snap out of her unnerved state and walk faster, reaching for his hand.

"this forest... i am not quite sure how to word it out, but i feel like it is alive."

"geez, don't say scary stuff like that out of nowhere, [name]."

his joking tone wasn't reciprocated, as [name] just continued to stare at a certain direction with narrowed eyes.

"err... let's just head back. i think the others are already there."

"hm..."

once the two made it back to the camp, they expected to see shuro there, but strangely enough... they found no one.

"huh? where'd shuro go?"

laios looked around as he placed the dead antelope down on the ground.

"the tents are already set up, along with the bonfire."

[name] noted as she crouched in front of the unlit bonfire that barely had enough wood in it.

"it is possible that he went out to gather wood by himself."

"it's a bit dangerous to go by himself... maybe i should look for him."

the concern in his tone didn't go unnoticed by the girl, and [name] stood up from her crouched position.

"maybe you should. i'll stay here and keep watch of the camp."

"but... it's dangerous to leave you by yourself too."

"nonsense. go now, i doubt that he wandered that far from here."

convinced by her reasoning, laios nodded and jogged to the opposite path they came from, take another one.

"i'll come back immediately if i don't find him!"

"mhm, be careful."

and so [name] sat down and waited for laios to return, digging in her bag to see what she could do to pass time.

she didn't even know he brought her alembics. she has no idea how laios even fit that thing in there.

while she preps her tool and waits for a bit to use it, [name] took what seems to be an amulet of some sort from the pocket of her bag, raising it up in the wind for a moment.

it glowed faintly, and [name] placed it back inside her bag, closing her eyes as she began thinking.

'the all-knowing eye, a crystal that can determine and reveal magic from a mile away. the glow is faint, but it still appeared. that could only mean one thing...'

standing up, [name] made her way to her cauldron and began dragging it near the fireplace, snatching a few broken branches nearby and placing them below the cauldron before throwing a small vial containing red and orange liquid inside, watching as it erupted into flames the moment it hits the ground.

[name] throws salt and glowing dust in the water, stirring it for a moment before taking her amulet out once again, and dipping it in the glowing, opaque water.

'...that confirms it. this mountain is cloaked in mana. it is faint, almost as if it is attempting to conceal itself. why? is the mountain sentient? if it is, then what is its intentions?'

crouching down and touching the ground, [name] frowned. the strange feeling of being watched wasn't just her imagination after all.

'maybe the animals themselves are watching us. or is it the trees? the sky cannot be it, although i would not doubt that it may disguise itself as one of the clouds. but what is it?'

"[name]?"

startled out of her mind, [name] lost balance and fell on her bottom, looking up to meet shuro's eyes as he stared at her in slight concern.

"sorry for startling you... but i've been calling your name for a while now. are you alright? you've been staring at the ground so intensely."

it took a few seconds before she realised that shuro had his hand out for her to take, and she breathes out a sigh of relief and took his outstretched hand.

"i was just thinking about... something."

'...ah, what was i thinking again? i forgot what got my mind so boggled.'

strange. she couldn't even remember what got her so worried. why was she worried?

shuro pulled her up to her feet, and [name] didn't realise that she didn't exactly let go of his hand while she stares at nothing, spaced out and lost in her own thoughts.

"uhm, [name]?"

once again, [name] was snapped out of her trance and she met shuro's dark orbs that stared back at her.

"seriously, are you okay?"

"i am... just a little spaced out. i apologise."

she shook her head and tried to clear her thoughts.

"laios went out to look for you. did you see him?"

"oh. i did, actually."

he awkwardly rubs his nape with his other hand, and that's when [name] realised she was still holding his hand.

yet she didn't pull away. she didn't really find any reason to. in fact, his touch kept her grounded from whatever was distracting her from focusing.

"he told me he came across falin and marcille and went to help them out so i headed back first since he told me you were all alone... honestly, i don't get how he can just leave you all by yourself in a place like this."

"there is no need to chastise him too much, i was the one who sent him out to look for you."

"you were worried about me?"

something lit up in shuro's eyes, and [name] raised a brow but didn't comment on it.

"yes, of course. you are a member of our party, so of course i would worry for your sake."

"that is... very kindhearted of you. even though we haven't known each other much..."

he smiled as the two of them sat down on a log, with shuro being a little closer than usual.

"i'd have to be honest with you... i find you very endearing, [name]. i may not... get along with marcille perfectly. she is quite.. uh, intimidating, with her dirty glares and such, but you're the complete opposite. you've shown me compassion."

'compassion...? i don't remember when...'

the girl sweatdropped as shuro turns to her fully, a look of sincerity on his face.

"shuro, you-"

"please, call me toshiro. shuro is not my name..."

[name]'s eyes fluttered in surprise, and she tilted her head curiously.

"all this time... i thought that was your name?"

"it's not. that's what laios calls me... and everyone just ran along with it, and i'm too tired to keep correcting people. but please, i would like you to refer to my real name, [name]. it'll really make me feel heard."

"alright, toshiro."

toshiro sighed in relief, a smile tugging on his lips.

"thank you. it feels refreshing to finally have someone call me by my real name..."

[name] began tugging and playing with strands of her hair awkwardly, sensing the shift of mood around them. no, it's not sexual tension, don't get freaky. it's even worse...

'no... this cannot be happening. romance is my weakness... i am doomed!'

while [name] is absolutely gorgeous and stunning to many people, no one knows the truth. when it comes to love, she has the composure of a grandma trying to flirt after 800 years of avoiding romantic relationships.

nervously looking at toshiro, [name] began sweating. what the hell is she supposed to say? and why does he look like he's about to make out with her?

"listen, [name]... i know we're mere strangers, but i would like to get to know you better. if it is possible... i would like to get your hand in marriage in the future."

"pulverised blaetzcoal can be a substitute for drugs like ecstacy..."

"...pardon?"

[name] kept sweating with a straight face on, trying to hide how nervous she actually is on the inside.

"sorry, i say that when i nervous shawty- i mean shur- I MEAN TOSHIRO."

toshiro had a blank expression the whole time as she stumbled over her own words, and she clasped her hands together, resting her forehead against it like a troubled father.

"...sorry, i say shawty when i'm nervous."

"it's... fine, i guess."

toshiro cleared his throat, rubbing his neck sheepishly.

"but my words still stand, [name]. i... can't explain it clearly. but there's just something about you that fascinates me, and i wish to be more than just 'party members' or any of that sort."

'we can be friends or something then' was what [name] wanted to say, but the sincerity on toshiro's voice made her think twice. yes, she's a whole train wreck when it comes to romance, but she's still willing to give anyone a chance... maybe.

"i will... think about it, toshiro. you said it yourself, we are mere strangers."

"i'm willing to wait."

[name] is grateful her members weren't here to witness the absolute tornado of an interaction they had. oh well, it's better than being distant with her party members, right? at least she has one less person to worry about now.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

- i will legitimately bury myself underground if no one got the kurtis conner reference in shuro's conversation with mc bcs wow that would be so embarrassing OWBDUWHXUWHSUWHSHWHSYHWXYHSHWHSHHWHSHS PLS TELL ME SOMEONE UNDERSTOOD

someone is gonna kith at the final chapter. idc who, idc how, idc when, idc if its ooc, SOMEONE IS GONNA KITH.

btw i forgot to put this in the disclaimer but its okay to be a little freaky with characters like laios, senshi, toshiro, falin or any other characters that look of age bcs lets admit it, they're fine asf, but pls dont be freaky with characters that look young :'D u guys prolly already know what im talking abt so i wont go into details! there are characters that are genuinely just short but look like adults, so that's okay too. im just saying this bcs ik i prolly wont be able to stop the freaky comments anyways 😭

AND ABSOLUTELY NO SEXUAL STUFF ABT IZUTSUMI, TADE AND LEED OR ISTG I WILL GO FERAL. IDCCCC I SEE SM PPL SEXUALISING THEM IN PINTEREST LIKE I WILL FORCE CEMENT DOWN UR THROAT IF U DONT FUCKING STOP.

ehem, sorry. i got carried away.

(and abt toshiro, yes ik his real name was toshiro, i just forgot to change it in the characters introduction when i first made this ff, which at the time i didn't know abt it bcs i haven't finished the manga and i wasn't paying attention in the anime :'> but i already fixed it! i actually planned to get [name] to call him by his name correctly like this, so that's probably why i forgot to change his character introduction sorry guys!)

and yk yk yk abt the toshiro hatred? i kinda see it but at the same time like i feel bad he seems like he has some issues himself the same way laios struggles with certain things so i cant really dislike him 😭

still tho. leave my homegirl falin alone she's lesbemiasm for marcille. 🙏

and if u think im done with the spooky shit haha no sister, i am not 😈 (btw when i say sister i meant in a gender neutral way :3)