The forest exhaled as the afternoon sun began to dip behind the trees. Shadows stretched long across the mossy floor, dappling the ground with shifting patterns. Somewhere further in the clearing, the trio—Xitij, Rosé, and Einar—had decided to make camp, setting up their modest tent a little ways from the Resting Centre.
Meanwhile, Koga sat by the window, arms crossed, glancing out occasionally, while Yelena moved quietly about, checking supplies and tidying what little they had. Both were aware the trio had left late, and their absence gnawed lightly at the edges of her calm.
Koga (softly, to himself): "They're… a little reckless, aren't they?"
Yelena (without looking up): "They always are."
That One Girl (teasing):"Ahh, yes, classic overconfident heroes setting up camp. I bet they'll be tripping over tent ropes before sunset. It's gonna be hilarious… oh, and slightly tragic."
Koga exhaled, leaning back against the wooden wall. The sunlight fell across his face, catching the faint lines of fatigue from the morning hunt. Yelena had already tended to the small scratch on his arm, and now she allowed herself a small moment of reflection. Both had known loneliness, both had carried its invisible scars, but neither had voiced the weight of it. The quiet of the Resting Centre amplified that unspoken connection between them.
Koga: "I… still worry about them, you know."
Yelena (softly): "I know."
Narrator (jokes):"And there it is. Two stoic types, quietly worrying about third parties who are probably arguing over who left the kettle too far from the fire. Classic. You're welcome."
Outside, the forest seemed to hold its breath, the distant rustle of leaves carrying the faint echo of the trio's laughter and cursing as they fumbled with stakes, canvas, and poles. Yelena's eyes narrowed slightly, though her lips curved ever so faintly in amusement.
That One Girl (in awe, whispering):"Wow… look at her… calm but… tense. I can feel it. She's like a storm barely contained. Huh… I think I like this."
The light shifted, now softer and warmer. Koga, still seated by the window, traced a line in the dust on the sill, absentminded but thoughtful. His thoughts wandered, not to Yelena directly, but to shared memories—small, quiet routines from their pasts that had anchored them when the world felt too heavy.
Koga (murmuring): "They're fine, right? The trio… they'll be fine."
Yelena didn't answer immediately. Instead, she moved to a small shelf and adjusted the herbs, checking labels and supplies. Her mind flicked to the trio, imagining Xitij's exaggerated gestures, Rosé's sharp eye for detail, Einar's oblivious confidence. She couldn't help but smile slightly at the chaos they were undoubtedly creating a short walk away.
Narrator (teasing):"Meanwhile, somewhere out there, the trio is probably trying to figure out which pole goes where, arguing over who gets the smaller sleeping bag, and wondering if Einar can actually lift it without falling. Fun times."
A few minutes passed. The afternoon light softened into a golden hue, and Koga finally stood, stretching lightly, moving toward the window to watch the trio's distant campfires begin to flicker. Yelena followed, settling beside him, her shawl wrapped tightly around her shoulders.
That One Girl (teasing):"Aww… look at them, side by side, staring at kids playing pretend outdoors. Heart-melting, much? Ugh, why am I… feeling things."
Koga rubbed the back of his neck, a small, self-conscious grin appearing.
Koga: "You don't think they'll get eaten by something, do you?"
Yelena (dry, calm): "Not unless a monster takes a vacation early."
Koga (smirking): "Yeah, but… still."
Narrator (jokes):"And there you have it. Stoic warrior, cautious soul, pondering doom while their reckless friends are about 50 meters away, probably arguing about marshmallow roasting techniques. Classic contrast. You can't make this stuff up."
The forest gradually shifted. Birds began their evening calls, and the faint smell of smoke wafted from the trio's small fire in the clearing. Koga and Yelena remained by the window, quietly observing, the tension of the day melting into a soft, shared rhythm.
That One Girl (in awe, whispering):"H-huh… wow. Look at him… like he's… um… protective? Not in a weird way! Shut up, me. And she… oh wow… calm, steady… okay, stop thinking."
The Nerd appeared briefly, peeking in with a notebook.
The Nerd (awkward, scribbling): "Uh… hi… I thought I'd… um… see if the energy patterns from the campfire… or maybe… the forest… were… interesting. Yeah. Totally interesting."
Koga (teasing lightly): "You keep staring too long at those notes, you might catch fire yourself."
The Nerd (blushing, stammering): "I-I… uh… just observing… patterns… nothing dangerous… probably…"
Narrator (in awe, joking):"And yes, audience, watch as subtle meta chaos enters quietly. Nerd plus stoic warrior plus calm healer plus tsundere commentary. It's like a perfectly balanced sitcom you didn't know you needed."
The sun finally dipped below the horizon, and the forest darkened into deep indigo. The trio's campfire flared orange and yellow, tiny sparks rising into the twilight. Koga and Yelena continued to watch from their vantage point, sharing a quiet closeness that required no words.
Koga: "I… like seeing them like this. Even if they're reckless. Safe enough… mostly."
Yelena (soft, thoughtful): "It's nice… watching them from here. Calm. Quiet. We can… just be."
That One Girl (teasing, muttering):"Ugh… stop being so… peaceful… I can't… why does this feel so… right?"
Narrator (jokes):"And there it is, folks. Evening campfire vibes, quiet bonds, tsundere commentary, nerdy observations… and yes, I might be a little jealous of their peaceful window-watching gig. Don't tell anyone."
The fire in the clearing crackled, sending ribbons of smoke spiraling into the night sky. Koga leaned slightly closer to Yelena, though not enough to cross a boundary. It was the small, careful motions—the tilt of a head, the soft exhale, the shared silence—that mattered most.
Time slowed, the world outside fading to background noise. For a fleeting evening, there were no monsters, no trials, no points. Just firelight, shadows, and quiet companionship.
That One Girl (in awe, whispering):"Wow… okay… this… this is nice… really nice… stop… stop it heart."
The trio's laughter and muffled arguments carried faintly through the trees, mingling with the distant calls of the forest. Koga let a small, contented sigh escape, resting back lightly against the wall, while Yelena remained seated near him, shoulders squared but calm.
Narrator (jokes, teasing):"And there we leave them, folks. Evening fading, bonds quietly solidifying, little fires burning, and tsundere commentary over every scene. Tune in next time, when probably something explodes. Or maybe just someone trips. Either way—classic Evertale."