The air in the forest grew heavier. The trees whispered secrets no one could understand, and something primal stirred in the shadows.
"Everyone, stay back!!" Bachi's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. His instincts had flared — something was wrong.
Back at the campsite, the class teacher scanned the group with furrowed brows. "Are we missing… four students?" she asked, turning to Tumaki.
Tumaki, trying to appear calm, said, "They're probably exploring more. You know how those four are."
The teacher didn't look convinced. "Find them," she ordered. Panic flickered in her eyes. The weight of responsibility was settling on her shoulders like cold iron.
Meanwhile, in the Depths of the Forest…
Bachi stood frozen in a small clearing, face-to-face with a towering bear — a six-foot beast with glowing red eyes. Its massive frame heaved with every breath, and the sharp stench of hunger hung thick in the air. The bear's food had been stolen by forest predators, and now its bloodlust had turned toward the nearest prey.
Them.
The adrenaline surged through Bachi's veins. His eyes locked with the beast's, and something snapped inside him. His fists clenched. His breathing deepened.
"Let's get out of here," Kaguro whispered, pulling on Bachi's sleeve. "We need to run!"
But Bachi wasn't moving. His body shook — not with fear, but with anger. His veins bulged under his skin. "I won't! If you want to run, then go!" he shouted.
Kaguro's eyes widened. "Oh, shit… it's messed up now," he muttered.
And then, chaos.
Bachi leapt toward the bear with his knife, slicing at its stomach. The beast roared in pain, its paw swinging wildly. Bachi barely dodged the counterattack. Kaguro shouted, trying to pull him back, but Bachi ignored him, charging again with reckless rage.
Panic at the Campsite
Back with the class, the teacher was on the verge of collapse. "Four students lost in the woods, and now we hear a bear's roar?" she said, her voice trembling.
Another scream echoed from the forest — louder this time. Several students gasped.
Tumaki, now truly worried, said, "Ma'am… I think they're in the direction of that scream."
Without hesitation, the teacher ordered, "Form two teams of three and search. Find them before something horrible happens."
Back at the Clearing
Bachi plunged the knife into the bear's back and twisted. The creature howled, shaking the trees. Blood splattered across Bachi's arms, but he didn't stop. The bear lunged, swiping its paw, but Bachi rolled out of the way. Kamiko, hiding with Kashimo behind a thick bush, yelled, "Go for the eyes! It won't stop unless you blind it!"
He threw a second knife to Bachi, who caught it mid-run. He ducked under another blow, sprang into the air, and drove the blade into the bear's eye. The scream that followed wasn't just of pain — it was pure agony.
The bear, now half-blind, relied on smell. It sniffed out Bachi and launched a brutal punch straight into his chest, flinging him across the clearing. He hit a tree and slid down, but didn't scream. His body ached, but the adrenaline numbed everything.
He stood again, shaking but determined.
Charging from behind, he ripped the blades from the bear's back and carved two deep gashes across its ribs. Then he darted around and stabbed the creature's stomach again, blood spurting as the knife sunk deep.
Kaguro and Kashimo emerged, throwing themselves at the bear's arms, holding it down with every ounce of strength. Kamiko dashed forward, grabbing the bear's legs, trying to trip it.
"Now, Bachi!" Kamiko shouted.
Bachi didn't hesitate. He unleashed everything — stab after stab, until the knives were slick and the bear's movements slowed. He climbed onto its chest and drove one final strike deep into its heart.
The beast shuddered. Then silence.
It collapsed.
Bachi sat on his knees, panting heavily. His body trembled as the adrenaline drained away. Then he simply… fell.
The Fallout
The group stood in shocked silence. Blood coated their clothes. The forest was still again.
But it wasn't over.
A group of park guards, alerted by the screams, arrived. They froze when they saw the carnage — a dead bear and four students standing over its body.
Without speaking, the guards radioed in. The children were taken to the local station, questioned, and later escorted to court under charges of animal abuse. Despite the bear's aggression, the legal system had to process it.
Meanwhile, a student who had lagged behind stumbled into the clearing — now a crime scene. A guard blocked his path.
"Were there… four students here earlier?" the boy asked, his voice shaking.
The guard nodded. "Yes. And they killed a bear."
The student's eyes widened in horror. "Is… is that for real?"
"Yes."
He ran back and informed the class teacher. Her hands trembled as she dialed numbers. "We have to inform their parents immediately," she said, her voice breaking.
The Courtroom
The courtroom was silent as Bachi stood alone before the judge. Kamiko, Kashimo, and Kaguro sat behind him, unable to speak.
The prosecution made their case — a violent killing of an endangered animal by minors. A tragic, unlawful act.
Then Bachi stood.
"I did it," he said. "Not them. Just me. I stabbed the bear. But… it was self-defense. The bear attacked us first. I didn't want to die."
His voice didn't tremble. It was firm, raw, real.
The judge reviewed the case. A lie detector confirmed the truth. The friends testified. Even the guards acknowledged the situation's complexity.
Fifty minutes passed.
The verdict came: Not guilty. It was self-defense. The court acknowledged that in such extreme, life-threatening situations, the children acted instinctively.
Bachi was free. But the burden weighed heavy.
Back to the Capital
The judge allowed the students to use the court's phone to contact their families. Kamiko nervously dialed his mother. Kashimo spoke to his father. Kaguro silently stood by.
Bachi just looked at the floor.
They were free… but changed. The trip that was supposed to bring memories had instead delivered trauma. They had survived something horrifying — not just the bear, but the system, the judgment, the weight of killing something that breathed.
As they waited for their families, none of them spoke.
Bachi stared out the window, watching the world move on.
But something inside him had stayed back in that forest.
Chapter 12 Ends
To be continued...