When Haruki realized his attempts at evasion had failed, he raised his hands like a guilty man and spoke with honest confession.

  "Alright, alright… I was following you, but with good intentions."

  The boy raised an eyebrow, waiting for a better explanation from Haruki.

  Haruki could clearly see the disbelief in his eyes, so he protested louder in defense.

  "Oh, come on! I just want to get out of this world. Seraphine said the way out is by fighting bosses or something like that, but I don't understand a thing, so I thought…maybe we could support each other and get out together or something like that."

  The boy's expression shifted in an instant, as if an idea had struck him. He placed a hand under his chin in thought, then turned back to Haruki with a serious expression, saying.

  "Alright… we're together."

  Haruki's whole face lit up, and he leapt forward, hugging the boy tightly without caring about personal space, shouting in joy.

  "You're the best!"

  Annoyance showed on the boy's features as he curled one corner of his mouth and grabbed the back of Haruki's shirt, trying to push him off, muttering to himself.

  "I'm already starting to regret this…"

  Haruki released the boy from the hug, his smile stretching across his cheeks up to his eyes, excited at the thought of having a new friend.

  But the moment was broken by the sound of his growling stomach.

  Haruki bit his lower lip, placing both hands on his belly in embarrassment, then looked back at the boy and asked.

  "Do you have any food?"

  The boy rolled his eyes with a sigh, clearly exhausted from Haruki's antics.

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  Without another word, he returned to his seat near his robot.

  Haruki followed closely and sat in front of him like a child waiting for his mother to serve him food.

  The boy pulled his leather bag lying beside the tree trunk, untied the brown straps, and searched for something to eat.

  It didn't take long before he found a canned meal, the last one he had. He handed it to Haruki.

  Haruki's face lit up completely as he received the can eagerly, wrapping his hands around it and opening it.

  A strong aroma wafted toward him, instantly awakening his senses.

  "Thank you!"

  Haruki said gratefully, then began eating ravenously.He didn't know exactly what kind of food it was, but it was undoubtedly delicious. He felt bliss filling his stomach.

  When he finished, he let out a short burp, raised his fist to his mouth, and muttered.

  "Sorry."

  The boy remained silent the entire time, paying no attention to any of Haruki's actions, creating an eerie quiet between them.

  Finally, Haruki broke the silence, saying.

  "Thanks for saving me again."

  Haruki smiled as he spoke to the boy, and even when the latter stayed silent, that warm smile never left his face.

  The boy cast a cold sidelong glance at Haruki and didn't respond, prompting Haruki to speak again, introducing himself.

  "By the way, my name is Haruki. You should know it since we'll be together from now on."

  "I don't care… I'm Noroi."

  The boy's tone remained sharp and distant, as he pulled the hood of his cloak over his black hair, seemingly isolating himself once again.

  Yet, Haruki was happy at the thought of having a new friend, and he managed to get closer to the boy who had saved his life.

  Even if he was mean and cold, Haruki still owed him his life.

  Haruki moved closer to Noroi, extending his hand in a friendly handshake, saying.

  "Nice to meet you, Noroi."

  Noroi extended his hand and shook Haruki's, officially marking the beginning of their cooperation to escape this world.

  The boys didn't know whether they would be able to get out or how long it would take, but they were together now, and that was all Haruki could think about.

  Noroi gathered a handful of dirt and smothered the burning logs.

  Darkness fell as the last flame was extinguished, leaving the only light coming from the moon that night.

  Noroi returned to his spot beside the deactivated robot.

  Wrapped in his cloak and leaning against a tree behind him, he looked at Haruki, who seemed to be dozing off in his seat, waking just in time each time he nearly fell backward.

  Noroi's gaze drifted to his bag, which he pulled closer, then spoke in a calm tone.

  "Let's sleep. Tomorrow, I'll start explaining everything to you."

  Haruki fell backward asleep like a dead man, as if he had been eagerly waiting for those words.

  "How foolish."

  Noroi muttered to himself, weary, astonished by the boy's confidence and the limited scope of his intelligence.

  He then lay down on the grass as well, facing the sky, his eyelids gradually growing heavy until he succumbed to sleep, exhausted.

  Haruki spent that night with Noroi-or as Haruki liked to call him: his first friend in the world of Malvora.