"Peace is loud, if you've never heard it before."
— Kazuto Aoi
Previously...
Kazuto, once a celebrated celebrity, woke in a mysterious forest far from the world he knew. With no summons or purpose forced upon him, he used his only ability—Camping Mastery—to build a quiet life around a firepit and a kettle. That night, under stars unfamiliar yet kind, he slept deeply. Unwatched. Unjudged. Free.
Now...
The forest whispered in early morning mist. Sunlight dripped through the trees like warm syrup.
Kazuto knelt by the stream, washing his pot from last night's soup. He moved quietly, rhythmically, almost like it was a form of meditation. The system hovered faintly at the corner of his vision but said nothing.
A small chirp from a strange bluebird echoed in the trees. Then another. And then—
Snap.
Not from a bird.
From branches.
Fast movement.
Kazuto turned his head—not sharply, not with fear, but caution. He stood and listened.
Then he saw her.
She burst out of the undergrowth—barefoot, breathing hard, blood trailing down her leg, a small blade in one hand.
She was younger than him. Maybe seventeen or eighteen. Wild brown hair, tangled and full of leaves. Eyes like an animal that had learned not to trust.
She froze at the sight of him.
He didn't speak.
Didn't raise his hands.
Didn't even move.
Just stood still, eyes calm.
[System Notice: New Presence Detected – Threat Level: Low]
"This soul is wounded. Both skin and spirit."
[Camping Aura: 'Safe Zone' triggered – Passive Calm Radius expanding.]
The girl swayed, blinking. Then she collapsed to her knees. The blade slipped from her hand and clattered onto the stones.
Kazuto walked to her slowly and knelt beside her.
He said nothing.
She flinched when he reached for her, but didn't pull away when he took her arm gently and wrapped a clean towel around it. She smelled like dirt, ash, and metal.
He didn't ask questions.
He didn't pry.
He simply carried her to the campfire and laid her near a bedroll made of stitched furs and woven reeds. He placed her knife beside her within reach.
☀️ Midday – Silence Over Stew
She woke sometime later to the smell of something real—not battlefield rations, not stolen scraps. A stew of roots, herbs, and mushrooms simmered in a low pot. Warm, rich.
Kazuto sat nearby, sipping his own bowl. He didn't look at her directly, but slid a wooden bowl her way.
She stared at it. Then at him.
Suspicion.
Then hunger.
Then… hunger won.
[System Notice: "Shared Meal – Soul Bond Initiated"]
"Two who eat in peace beside the same fire may yet understand each other."
Buff Granted: +Emotional Stability (Minor), +Wound Recovery Rate (Moderate)
Kazuto glanced at the fading system window and smiled faintly. "Still don't know how it knows all that."
Minutes passed.
Then: her voice, rasping.
"...You're not afraid I'll kill you?"
Kazuto stirred the fire. "No."
"…Why?"
"I don't want anything from you."
She stared. That was new. Unbelievable.
He added, "If you want to stay a night, you're welcome. If you want to leave after, that's fine, too."
She hugged her knees. "This is too quiet. Too… weird."
Kazuto looked up at the treetops. "I know. It took me a while to get used to it too."
🌙 Evening – Her Name
She watched him all day. His movements. His silence. His way of preparing food, chopping wood, checking traps, boiling water with care—not urgency. Not paranoia.
She finally spoke again, after sunset.
"…Lyla."
He blinked. "Hm?"
"My name. It's Lyla."
Kazuto smiled gently. "I'm Kazuto."
She nodded once. Tight. Like it hurt.
She didn't say anything else.
But she didn't leave.
And when Kazuto placed another log in the fire, he noticed her gaze soften. Like a wild animal realizing—for the first time—it didn't have to run.
[System Notice: Companion Candidate Identified – Status: Cautious Acceptance]
"The fire is warm. The stars are still. You are no longer alone."