Outside the inn window, the sky was just beginning to pale into a bruised purple. That pre-dawn hush—the city still had a little time before it woke. Yu pushed himself up in bed and let out a slow breath. The heaviness at his core was so much lighter than yesterday. Even when he put weight into his legs, they didn't threaten to give out. The "System Recoil" had faded.

  "...I'm getting back to normal." At his murmur, Rize turned from the window; the tension in her eyes eased. "Good. Then—want to slip out for a bit?" She buckled on her scabbard and spoke lightly, a mischievous glint in her eye. "There's a place where no one will see us. ...Let's go. Just the two of us." Yu's chest beat a little faster at that. When they stepped out, the streets before dawn were startlingly quiet. Dew still clung to the cobbles, catching the soft glow of the dying streetlamps. From shuttered windows drifted the earliest hints of bread baking and the clatter of morning prep. Rize glanced back with a small smile.

  "This way." They left the city gates, slipping past drowsy guards, and walked into the woods. The wind threading through the trees was cool on their skin; somewhere wings rustled. The damp earth smell and the brush of droplets against leaves were all new to Yu—overwhelmingly, undeniably real. ...So it really isn't a dream. Rize's back swayed at the edge of his vision. With each step he matched to hers, the truth settled deeper into his chest. He was walking in her world.

  ?

  The trees thinned into a small clearing—and there, a rough wooden hut stood waiting. It sat quietly in the green, some planks peeling, but sound enough against wind and rain—and more than anything, the air around it kept people away. Rize pushed the door open and beckoned Yu inside. The hinges groaned, but the room beyond was far tidier than the outside suggested. Light through the window brightened a floor layered with fresh straw. A pile of blankets sat neatly folded in the corner; a small box held dried fruit and hard bread.

  "...It's a lot more put together than I expected." When Yu said it, half impressed, Rize nodded—just a little proud. "I found it on a job a while ago. It was run-down, but I figured I could make it work." She paused, meeting his eyes head-on. "I haven't told anyone. This place is mine. ...So I'm telling you. Only you." Her voice mixed a shy show of strength with a clear note of intimacy. On a shelf, an empty sweets wrapper had rolled into a corner. Yu picked it up before Rize, cheeks pink, snatched it back. "T-That's emergency rations! I-It's not like I like sweet things or anything—" "...Oh?" Yu's mouth tugged into a grin. Rize looked away, coughing to hide her embarrassment, and shook out a blanket. "Anyway... no one comes here. It's just us." A quiet settled over the tiny room. The simple fact of sharing a secret narrowed the space between them.

  ?

  The wooden walls shut out the outside air; birdsong was only a distant thread. In the little world apart, Yu drew a deep breath.

  "...Feels like a secret base." He glanced around, curious. Rize planted a hand on her hip and puffed her chest, triumphant. "A base, huh? It's safe, and it's calm. Well, there's a little leak when it rains." "You fixed it?" "By myself. Re-set the boards, stuffed moss in gaps. I'm handier than I look, you know." She gave a tiny, playful snort—so unexpectedly childlike that Yu couldn't help a smile. "What are you laughing at?" "It's just... it's cool that you built yourself a place that's yours." At his honest words, color crept over her cheeks. She turned away, lifting a lantern from a peg to hide her face. "...It's just... needed. To live." Her voice was gruff, but Yu saw the tips of her ears go red. She spread the blanket and set it over his shoulders. "You were wrecked yesterday. Don't get chilled." "...Thanks."

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  The words came out before he thought. Rize blinked once—then smiled, faintly. They were too close. Her face hovered over his shoulder, near enough that Yu jerked his gaze aside. Unbothered, she sat on the straw and patted the spot beside her.

  "Come here. It's comfortable." He did as he was told. The mild, sweet scent of straw mixed with a faint floral scent from her hair; his chest fluttered for no good reason. "Sharing a secret... it feels strange," he said. "Secrets are like handing over a piece of yourself to someone you trust. ...That's why they're special." Her tone was even, but the words rang in his ears. A room for two. A secret for two. For Yu, that alone sent his pulse skittering.

  "...Hey, Rize," he said suddenly. "What?" "In your world... what do people do when they like someone?" Rize blinked and went still, words failing her. A slow wash of pink rose in her cheeks; her gaze wavered. "W-What kind of question is that..." "I'm just curious. How do people here... show it?" He was too serious for her to dodge. She touched a hand to her cheek and let out a small breath. After a pause, she spoke, halting at first.

  "...Broadly? Probably the same as yours. If you love someone, you say you want to be together. Some people marry, have a family." Yu nodded, quiet. She wasn't finished. "But... here it's tied tighter to living. Hunting, defending the town—what matters is whether you can stand side by side." "You mean... if you can carry each other?" "Yes." Rize looked straight at him and went on. "Pretty words don't mean much. Can you stand together? Can you fall together? That's what gets tested." "So... liking someone isn't just sweet." The truth of it landed heavy in his chest. In this world, love lived next door to life and death.

  "...You're strong," he murmured. Rize gave a rueful little smile. "I'm not. I'm just... even when I'm scared, I want to stand next to the person I love. That's what 'like' means here." She bit her lip and turned away again, ears flaming. "...Do you want to know? What happens here when you fall for someone." It sounded like a challenge, but her voice trembled. Yu couldn't find words; he only nodded. Rize waited a heartbeat, then smiled."...I'll show you." The air shifted. Silence drew them together with nothing but breath and eyes. Heat pooled low in Yu's chest; he swallowed. Rize's gaze didn't offer him an escape. They didn't need words anymore.

  ?

  In the hush of the hut, the distance between them began to close. The lantern flame wavered; their shadows overlapped on the wooden wall. Before he knew it, Yu slid his hand along the blanket, stopping just shy of the back of her fingers.

  "...Can I... touch you?" His voice surprised even him, small and thin. Rize's eyes widened for a heartbeat—then her fingers moved, just a fraction, and settled over his. His heart leapt at the softness. Rize, too, quivered faintly. "...This is stupid. I can't believe something like this makes my heart race." Her face was scarlet. Yu fought a laugh and laced his fingers through hers, earnest. Silence fell—but it wasn't heavy. Their two heartbeats filled it up. Rize leaned in, just a little, setting her shoulder against his arm. She weighed almost nothing—and to Yu it felt like the weight of the whole world.

  "...Yu." His name came from right there. Her breath brushed his cheek; her hair grazed his skin. He couldn't hold back; he turned his face toward hers. Their eyes caught. Neither could run. "Here..." Rize whispered, voice shaking. "I can show you all of me." Yu's eyes flew open. The next instant, her face drew close—and the distance vanished as their lips met. The world flipped. His heartbeat exploded; heat blurred his vision. Their shared tremor passed between them, binding them tight and sure. Inside a secret hut, hidden from monsters and systems alike, a promise only they would know began.