Chapter 47 – The Confession and the Monster
The forest rushed past them in a blur of green as Aoi and Mirko leapt from branch to branch. The air was heavy with humidity, and every movement stirred the leaves, sending shadows scattering like restless spirits. As they sped through the canopy, Mirko's sharp gaze never left the boy in front of her. She could tell he was hiding something.
— Aoi, why didn't you tell anyone before leaving? — she finally asked, her voice firm as her body sailed gracefully between the trees.
The boy didn't slow down. He landed lightly on a branch, his expression calm but tinged with something playful.
— Well… I didn't want to worry anyone and end up ruining the vacation. My plan was to handle everything alone, without anyone noticing. But I didn't expect you to follow me.
Mirko smirked, landing right behind him. Her presence carried a mix of teasing warmth and protective sharpness.
— It was sweet of you not to want to trouble anyone… but you also need to learn how to ask for help. After all, that's what we're here for, right?
Aoi chuckled under his breath, the sound light against the oppressive silence of the forest.
— All right… next time I'll call you. But only on one condition.
He shot her a mischievous glance, the corners of his lips curling upward.
— The condition is that I get to sleep on your thighs whenever I want.
He thought the joke would deflect her seriousness, but Mirko's reaction stunned him. Instead of brushing it off, she raised a brow, her lips tugging into a daring smile.
— Fine. I'll allow it. But from now on, you can't lie to me anymore. You have to be completely honest with me.
Her words hit harder than he expected. Aoi almost slipped from the branch beneath his feet, stumbling and barely recovering in time to leap to the next tree. He looked at her, wide-eyed.
— You… you're serious?
Mirko leaned forward, her crimson eyes glinting with mischief.
— Well, I've never found a guy who pleased me. So why can't I just make one for myself? After all… aside from the fact that you're still a brat, you're much more pleasant than the others.
Her voice carried an unusual softness beneath the teasing.
Aoi let out a bitter smile, scratching the back of his neck as his heart thudded in his chest.
— I don't know if I should be happy about that… or sad for still being small.
Mirko reached out casually and placed a hand on his head, ruffling his hair with a gentleness he rarely saw in her.
— You should be happy, right? After all, you finally won over the older sister you're in love with.
Her words froze the world around him. The forest, the branches, even the air seemed to stand still for a heartbeat.
The boy inhaled deeply, as though drawing in courage with the damp night air.
— Well… I can't deny it. I am in love with you. If I like something, I have to say it. I don't want to regret it later.
His confession hung in the air like thunder waiting to roll. Mirko's heart skipped a beat, and her smile widened almost against her will. For once, her bold confidence wavered, replaced by a genuine rush of emotion.
But before she could respond, Aoi's body tensed. A wave of dread swept over him, prickling the back of his neck. His eyes widened in alarm.
— Move! — he shouted.
In a single, instinctive motion, he pulled Mirko against him and leapt to the side.
A deafening crash shook the forest as a massive boulder slammed into the branch where they had stood, splintering wood and sending leaves into a frantic spiral. Dust and fragments rained down around them.
Aoi landed firmly, lowering Mirko onto solid ground. His eyes locked on the shadow that emerged from the thicket, and his breath grew cold.
— What the hell is that?! — Mirko demanded, her fists tightening with anticipation.
From the depths of the trees, the creature rose. Its form was grotesque — the body of a hulking dinosaur twisted together with the armored hide of a crocodile, its gaping jaws lined with jagged teeth glistening with saliva. Towering over four meters tall, the monster's very presence bent the air with menace.
Aoi's chest tightened as realization struck. He knew exactly what this was. This wasn't just an attack. It was a message.
His voice came out low, bitter, almost a growl:
— All For One…
Mirko's sharp ears caught his words.
— You know what this is?
Aoi hesitated, his instinct begging him to deny it. But when he met Mirko's gaze — steady, piercing, and unwavering — he remembered her condition.
— Remember what you promised me, — she pressed.
The boy exhaled slowly, forcing a weak smile.
— I haven't even lived half my life yet… Fine. Once we take this thing down, I'll tell you what I know.
Mirko's grin widened, her fighting spirit igniting like a wildfire. She cracked her fists together, the sound echoing through the trees.
— Then let's finish it first!
— Yes! — Aoi answered, fire blazing in his eyes as he steadied his stance.
The ground trembled as the nomu let out a guttural roar and lunged forward. The trees quaked, leaves bursting into the air as if fleeing the monster's fury.
Side by side, Aoi and Mirko leapt, their bodies moving in perfect sync. The fear in the air was heavy, but so was their resolve. Together, they soared through the night canopy, determined to face the enemy head-on.
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