‘Exhausted...? That’s it? That’s not like you.’

  With protective, worried eyes, Ren knelt beside her. His usual dumb, boyish smile was gone—replaced by quiet concern. His brows furrowed as he angled his face carefully, scanning hers: pale cheeks, tightly pressed lips, and eyes that refused to meet his.

  His voice was careful, low—protective.

  “Just exhausted?” He asked softly. “You’re not fine. Just say what you need—I’ll handle everything.”

  She shook her head again, forcing a half-smile. “It’s fine, Ken. Don’t worry. I’ll just rest here.”

  She still wouldn’t meet his eyes.

  ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have asked him in the trap. He doesn’t talk to me the same anymore. Not even after we escaped the trap. If I join in… master won’t even speak to me. Just that alone makes everything harder.’

  ‘I didn’t even have the courage to tell Dad. I just told the Master like… ‘I’ll forget it if you don’t agree’. But recovering from something like that... it’s not easy.’

  She shut her eyes for a moment, Her hands clenched on her dress. A faint tremble ran through her fingers before she stilled them.

  ‘I thought I was strong. Maybe… I’m not.’

  Ren’s frown deepened. His heartbeat quickened. Something in her voice—something in her silence—it felt like a wall she didn’t want him to break through.

  ‘Why does her voice sound like that?’

  “…You don’t want to go into the trap? That’s fine. But don’t look dull, please.” He murmured, unable to hide the concern that now flared in his chest.

  She gave a small nod.

  Then, his expression softened—just a faint smile.

  “I’ll handle it,” he murmured, brushing a hand through her hair before standing. “You rest here. That’s all I need.”

  Yui stepped forward, tilting her head toward the trap.

  “Huh? That sink mud trap… he said there are two crystals. So, one person goes in, and the other pulls with the branches when someone gets stuck.” ‘Wet mud… with leaves and twigs?’

  Her tone wasn’t harsh—just observational.

  Then she turned.

  “If she’s not playing—”

  Ren’s eyes snapped to her, sharp and sudden. His voice came fast and serious, slicing clean through the air.

  “She said no. That’s enough. Don’t push her.”

  His hands curled into fists at his sides, shoulders tightening as he stepped forward.

  “We’ll play. If it doesn’t work, we’ll stay and try another trap tomorrow. You don’t get to decide for her.”

  Yui blinked. “I’m not fo—”

  Her words cut off as she caught the change in Ren’s expression. His face… was cold. That soft, dumb smile she always mocked—gone. For the first time since they met, his eyes burned with quiet fury.

  He wasn’t yelling. But it hit deeper than a scream. The tension around him crackled like fire on dry leaves.

  ‘W-What...? Is this... really him?’

  Then, a voice echoed in her mind.

  – ‘Hey, his daughter just said she’s exhausted. Can you play when you're exhausted?’

  – “Right… I didn’t think. I was too focused on the trap and the crystals…”

  She shifted her weight between feet, suddenly unsure where to look. Her voice softened, lips pressing together in regret.

  “I didn’t mean it that way. I didn’t think—my bad.” She sighed. “...Well, the three of us will play, then.”

  Nearby, Kazuma stood silently. He didn’t glance at Sakura. Didn’t speak. His arms hung relaxed at his sides, expression unreadable.

  **********

  Miko’s group—Inori, Haruki, Esha, Hina, and Miko—watched the whole scene on the mini screen.

  Miko frowned, arms crossed.

  ‘Tch. Yui… use your brain. That’s his daughter. She said she’s exhausted. Do you even think before you speak?’

  She let out a long breath, eyes narrowing as she focused on Ren’s face.

  Inori blinked, stunned.

  “Why… Why is he angry?” she murmured, eyes still on Ren. “I’ve never seen that expression on him before. Well… I’ve only met him once, but he seemed like a calm man.”

  Continued “Even when Yui acted like a boss, teasing him, treating him like a kid… he never reacted. But now he looks different.”

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  Miko's arms crossed. “Huh... Yui’s mistake is clear. The other team already got a crystal, so they backed out. And she said she was exhausted. But Yui didn’t listen even that”

  Inori turned toward Miko, “Senpai…!”

  She lowered her voice. “Please calm down. She’s your daughter. And it’s not like she acted reckless. You know that. It’s just a misunderstanding.”

  Miko nodded slowly. “I know. ”

  ‘Yes, she didn’t force her. But to him… it must’ve felt like that. I’ve never seen him angry before, either. Not like that… maybe it was because of his daughter.’

  Nearby, Esha, Hina, and Haruki remained quiet, sensing the tension.

  **********

  They turned their focus back to the trap zone. It was a muddy pit covered in damp leaves, twigs, moss. Ropes tied around thick branches for support.

  *********

  The pit was formed from a blocked water channel—

  it looked like soft, walkable ground,

  but step in, and you’d slowly sink. Not deadly, but hard to move, needs teammates to pull out by using long branches. Crystals are placed in that

  Kazuma’s eyes swept the area, calm and calculating. “I and Yu-Yui-san can go in. You hold the branches and pull us up if needed. Or… you and she can go, and I’ll handle the support.”

  ‘Dense … wet mud… and we have to search for crystals inside that mess?

  Heh. Great.’

  Yui shrugged, already stepping forward.

  “Okay, I’ll go. You two decide who’s coming with me.”

  Ren turned to Kazuma, asking softly,

  “Can I go? You don’t necessarily need the crystal, right?”

  Kazuma exhaled slowly, nodding.

  “It’s your wish. But don’t go far. Both of you need to search side by side.”

  He cast a glance at Sakura, then quickly looked away.

  ‘Idiot… you’re the one who said and now you're just sitting there, looking dull. I know it’s not easy—not like it was before. But you were trying so hard to act normal until now. Me? I can’t act like that.’

  ‘Still... Please smile again, you idiot.’

  Sakura looked at Kazuma the moment he glanced at her. Then her eyes dropped, her face pale.

  Ren and Yui stepped carefully into the trap zone, Branch ropes tied around their hand led back to Kazuma, who stood above, both hands clenched around the vines, ready to pull.

  Kazuma had smartly tied the rope’s end to a thick tree nearby.

  Even if his grip failed, the knot would hold, keeping them from sinking completely.

  The pit was an uncomfortable mess of thick mud, and each movement felt like wading through molasses. Ren gritted his teeth, trying to keep his focus.

  “All right,” Kazuma instructed. “First, just sink and feel with your hands and legs slowly. Don’t move quickly or panic, or you’ll sink faster. If you touch a crystal, call out. Once you start sinking too deep, I’ll pull you up. Then move to the next spot.”

  “God, this stuff is disgusting,” Yui muttered, poking through the sludge with her hands. “Who even hides crystals in a mud trap?”

  They moved in silence for a few moments, searching with the other hand which was not tied, feet sinking deeper into the cold mess. Ren’s fingers moved through the sludge, cold and slick like guilt itself. Then—

  “…Hey,” Ren said quietly.

  Yui didn’t look. “Hmm?”

  They searched through the mud inch by inch, using one hand and one leg, focused.

  “…Sorry.”

  Her hand paused mid-search. “Huh? Why?”

  Ren’s voice was quiet, almost guilty. “I just… I didn’t see her before. So that’s why. I got angry at you back there. Sorry”

  Yui sighed through her nose, the corner of her mouth twitching. “You’re really saying that now? When I’m waist-deep in a swamp?”

  Ren said nothing.

  “Tch…” She rolled her eyes. “I already forgot, you dumb idiot.”

  “I’m not dumb..” he replied in a sulky tone.

  with a sulky tone “In your dreams. You’re dumb. But…” Her tone softened just a little. “I get it. Don’t worry about it.”

  They kept searching, silent again—but this time, it wasn’t heavy.

  Above, Kazuma’s hands stayed tight on the rope. His eyes never left the pit.

  Ren fingers brushed against something smooth and hard. He paused. “I think I found it”

  “Huh! Why are you only always found? Well…..good job”

  Her foot struck something hard.

  “Wait—I think—there’s one here!” Yui exclaimed.

  She reached down—

  “Uh-oh—” Yui slipped, body sinking fast into the mud.

  “Pull!!” Ren yelled.

  “Hey wait one sec, I am trying to pull, You found crystal with hands but I am with legs”.....’Shit this thick mud i don't even move leg freely’

  Kazuma Slowly instructing “Yui san , don't panic you already sink under chest level, Just brush your hands at that place”

  “Well… pull “

  In a single motion, Kazuma yanked the branches. The vines strained, but held strong.

  First Yui was pulled up, gasping with a small blue crystal in one hand.

  Then Ren came out second, crystal clutched tight. The moment Ren and Yui were pulled free, they rolled onto the grassy ground, covered in mud from head to toe. They lay on their backs, eyes blinking at the blue sky above them, clothes soaked and caked with wet mud. The air was quiet except for their exhausted breathing.

  “Ugh… remind me never to do this again,” Yui groaned, her arms spread out, eyes half-lidded.

  Ren wiped a streak of mud from his face and lifted one hand. A shining blue crystal nestled in his palm. “We got both crystals, though.”

  Takshiro (Thakshiro in English Pronunciation) , arms folded, looked down at them with a smirk. “Huh. Yui, guess you got lucky. If you'd started from the other side, you would've had to search everything.”

  “Haaah… it’s over at least,” Yui muttered, with a sigh “Now we have to share another one, right, Takshiro-san?”

  “Yes. After that, it's your choice if you wanna steal.” His tone was sarcastic as always. And he went near the tree and sat and leaned back towards the bark of the tree and started sleeping.

  “Okay,” she sighed again, then rolled a little to the side, facing Ren with a serious gaze. Her hair was a mess, but she didn't seem to care anymore.

  Ren noticed her gaze and shifted uncomfortably, scratching his cheek. “Oi… I said sorry already. Why are you still looking at me like that? You didn't forgive me?”

  “Huh?” Yui raised an eyebrow. “Do you even realize how scary your face was back then?”

  Ren didn't talk and stayed quiet. Yui looked at him, her expression unreadable for a second—then she smiled lightly. “Can I hit you again? You don’t get angry, right?”

  “What? Why do you always want to hit me?” he wants to tell but is not able to “You know me, Right? I’m—..”

  “I know,” she cut him off, gently.

  Yui looked away slightly, her fingers brushing the grass. “Even though I know… I still want to hit you. Just a little.”

  She turned his side and added with a small shrug, “By the way—I agree to the Mind Voice Exchange Art.”

  “Wait, huh? You—” Ren stared. “You said earlier you didn’t trust me.”

  “I didn’t, back then,” Yui said, her voice plain and honest. Eyes staring up at the sky, her voice soft. “But I kinda realized something.”

  Ren stayed silent.

  “If I didn’t trust you,” she continued, “I wouldn’t hit you or argue or talk casually. I'd keep my distance and do my part. But you let me yell, stomp on your head, even mock you—and you never snapped.”

  Ren gave a tiny laugh. “So me getting bullied means I’m trustworthy?”

  Yui chuckled “No no idiot, I am just saying if I don't trust you, I didn't do those things. You also started calling me normally—like you forgot I’m thirty.”

  Ren blinked. “I mean…”

  “I know …. But That means we’re friends already, right?” Her voice was quiet, like a passing thought, but her eyes searched his.

  ‘Friends? After barely more than half a day?’

  Ren wasn’t sure how to answer that. But he didn’t dislike the sound of it.

  He gave a half-smile. “Can I?...”

  Before he could finish, Yui stomped lightly on his head, not enough to hurt.

  “Oi—”

  “I told you I trust you,” she said with a teasing smile. “This is how I prove it.” Yui’s voice dropped a little. “Hey… sorry, too. I didn’t pay attention to what she was saying. Maybe if I did, you wouldn’t have gotten so angry.”

  Ren’s gaze shifted. Not at her—but toward Sakura, who sat quietly with Kazuma, who stood beside her in the distance. A faint, practiced smile on her lips…

  “…I overreacted,” he muttered. “Still, sorry. It wasn't your fault.”

  Yui rolled closer, shoulder brushing

  against his, her whisper just barely audible. “After what Yuki said… I thought then”

  They both turned slightly toward each other, still lying down, their shoulders barely touching. Not a romantic gaze—just a raw, grounded kind of look. Like two strangers who’d only met half a day ago… somehow now… it felt like they’d been arguing for years.

  Yui looked into his eyes. “You’re weird, you know that?”

  Ren blinked. “What now?”

  “You accept everything. Me hitting you, ….. I know why you get anger, But that look not suit you, Try as much as possible to not look like that”

  Ren faintly smiled “well, I will try”

  ********

  The screen displays Ren and Yui lying on the grass, chatting like old friends. Laughing, teasing. The mood between them was oddly soft, not romantic—but way too comfortable for two people who’d barely known each other for a few hours.

  Haruki stared with half-lidded eyes, arms crossed, lips slightly puckered. “Why… is she getting friendly with him?”

  Inori leaned closer with a teasing grin. “Hmm.. Haruki, are you jealous?”

  “Wha—! Why would I get jealous, Inori-sama?” Haruki turned away, sulking. “I mean… I know he’s already married. That’s not the issue.”

  He muttered the next part under his breath. “But… she never talks to me like that. I try to speak and she just… gets mad and walks away. Even when I went to ask politely for substitution, she didn’t even listen.”

  Esha asked with doubt “He’s married?”

  Beside her, Hina’s eyes sparkled. “Eh!? Then... does that make him uncle? But... I wanna call him Niisan only! That suits him better!”

  Miko glanced sideways at Hina and

  ‘Call him whatever you like… but his memory isn’t twenty-five.’

  Inori tapped her finger against her cheek, looking toward Miko. “Senpai… you said you registered both, right? What was he like then? I mean, his behavior? He and Yui got along weirdly fast. That’s not like her at all.”

  Miko remained silent for a moment, recalling the first time she’d seen Ren. He looked so small… a kid tossed into the wild, yet with eyes that had seen too much.

  ‘Even now… I’m confused.’

  She smiled faintly. “Well… he was a good kid. That’s all I can say. I registered them both, yeah. And since then, I’ve seen them whenever I get a chance.”

  She looked down at her tea, swirling it slowly. “They used to call me aunty, you know. And I kinda… felt like that. Like their mother or like that.”

  ‘Strange? No… it's weird. After knowing everything. They’re not just kids. Kazuma is Her son, I didn't even imagine…well, Present they are 25’

  She exhaled. ‘But I respect their decision, They have to say to everyone’

  Haruki bit his lip. “Still… Yui doesn’t talk with others like that with that much close”

  Miko Sighed “Haruki Don't worry, He is like that”

  Inori gave him a teasing pat on the back. “You should try harder. It’s your job to convince her, isn’t it? We can’t interfere in that.”

  “Tch…” Haruki looked away. “I know Inori sama, Plz Don't tease me”

  Author Note : Which character You like the most from so far Introduced Characters? Which Trap is Interesting to you?