Leave

The forest was extremely dark, with a thick canopy blocking the sunlight from entering. A boy around the age of 7 was seen running while carrying a little girl on his back.

Huff…...huff…...huff..….

His breathing was rough, seemingly getting exhausted from running for a long time. But still, there was no sign of him stopping.

The girl behind his back had her eyes closed. She appears to be asleep. The little girl looked like she didn't even have her fifth birthday yet. Her cute completion can easily trigger anyone's natural protecting instinct.

But right now both the boy and the little girl were in an overly ragged condition. Their clothes were dirty from sweat and dirt. Twigs sticking to their clothes.

"Damnit!" the boy cursed in a hoarse voice. " My throat is drying up, I should have brought some water with me! Why did I do such a stupid mistake?"

While the boy was muttering to himself, there was a subtle movement on his back.

"Umnn…."

The sleeping girl opened her small eyes while a soft groan escaped her mouth.

"Koutaro Nii-chan..….?" the little girl muttered under her breath.

"Ah!? Kaya chan? You are awake!" said the boy while slightly turning his head towards his back.

"Yes..." said the girl softly, while rubbing her still sleepy eyes. Suddenly her eyes became wide as if she remembered something, and she said out loud.

"MOM! K-koutaro nii chan! M-mom s-she….."

Hearing the little girl, the boy, Koutaro came to a halt. He kneeled a bit to get Kaya off his back. He then turned towards her, clasping her soft cheeks with both of his hands.

"Kaya…." he muttered lightly.

"K-koutaro nii….." tears forming in kaya's eyes.

"I know Kaya chan….. I know, but Kaya chan you have to understand. What happened to Hitomi san….. We cannot do anything about that. Those evil people are always like that."

"B-but why! hick* we didn't do hick* anything to them! hick*"

Koutaro took her in his embrace and gently patted her back. While he muttered, "Yeah, yeah I know I know."

"wuu…hick* wuu…hick*" While Kaya cried in his embrace.

After some time she stopped and Koutaro wiped her tears.

"Now we have to do our best to survive. Okay? Even Hitomi san wanted to protect us with her own life."

Kaya slowly nodded and, gazing at her surroundings, asked, "W-where are we?"

"Ah! We are in the southern forest. It's a few kilometers from our village." answered Koutaro.

"T-then mom's…"

Understanding that she was probably talking about Hitomi's corpse, Koutaro went silent.

Seeing his reaction, Kaya didn't say anything and just looked down with a sad gaze.

'She is extremely understanding at such a young age. They would have never acted like her if it was any other child.' Koutaro muttered in his heart.

"Alright then, We have to get moving, we can't stay here any longer."

Saying, he should his back to her.

"Mmnn…" After softly muttering, she climbed on his back and grabbed him tightly from behind.

Soon after both, the figures disappeared from the spot, leaving behind all the lovely memories of their former home.