Morning in the deep forest was exceptionally quiet.

Sunlight filtering through the leaves illuminated the damp soil, and a thin mist flowed slowly between the trees. Only the cries of birds and the sound of leaves rustling in the wind filled the silence of the woods.

The stillness was broken by a single arrow.

The arrow pierced the deer with precision. The deer stumbled for a few steps before collapsing onto the grass. Akito emerged from behind a tree, lowered the bow in his hand, and approached the deer with practiced movements.

"Better finish this up and get going..."

Akito leaned down to check the deer's condition. Its breath was already nearly gone. Normally, there would be no reason to hesitate here. He would just hunt what was necessary, clean up the tracks, and head to his next destination.

However.

He heard the sound of something rustling through the leaves in the distance. Akito looked up at the sound of footsteps getting closer.

Soon, a person appeared from between the trees.

His bluish hair was disheveled, and he was running toward this spot, unable to even catch his breath. He didn't even seem to notice Akito's presence, which he normally would have detected.

Toya ran straight to the deer.

Falling to his knees, he carefully gathered the deer's body in his arms. He placed his fingertips on its neck and brought his ear close to its chest. A heart still beating very faintly.

Toya's eyes shook violently.

In that moment, the forest changed.

Even though no wind blew, the branches shook all at once. Birds that were far away descended one by one, and rabbits and squirrels emerged from the grass. The small animals gathered around Toya and looked at the deer.

Akito watched the scene in silence.

"...Who the hell are you?"