Maple Village

Jiro and Shira strolled through the vast and beautiful grasslands. The gentle breeze softly caressed their faces, as if welcoming their arrival.

Shira was visibly enthusiastic, running around exploring every inch of the expansive meadow. Occasionally, she would stop to pick wildflowers growing there, inhaling their scent with delight.

"Look, Jiro! This flower is such a beautiful color!" exclaimed Shira, showing a violet flower to Jiro.

Jiro gave a slight smile, observing his friend who seemed so happy. "Yes, it's indeed beautiful. It matches your hair color," he said gently.

Shira giggled and, a bit shyly, tucked the flower behind Jiro's ear. "There, now you look pretty too," Shira teased, causing a slight blush on Jiro's cheeks.

Jiro cleared his throat softly, trying to hide his nervousness. "You… seem very spirited today," he said, trying to change the subject.

Shira nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! This place is so vast and beautiful. It's so different from the dark forest we left behind." She spread her arms wide, as if wanting to embrace the entire meadow.

Jiro observed Shira closely. Though her appearance was now quite different, he still saw the familiar friend he knew—cheerful, innocent, and never able to stay still.

Shira herself didn't realize she had completely changed. Perhaps because she was a fox, she liked these flowers.

Foxes usually love bright and beautiful plants like cherry blossoms, roses, or peonies.

They enjoy spending time admiring the beauty of these flowers and even interacting with them at times.

Shira didn't realize that her acceptance of herself was accelerating, and she perhaps didn't realize that the reason she accepted her transformation was because of her friend.

Jiro and Shira continued to traverse the vast and beautiful grasslands. Although she looked enthusiastic, Shira began to show signs of fatigue after a while of exploring the place.

Shira's breath became labored, and her pace slowed. "Jiro... I'm starting to feel a bit tired," she said, stopping.

Jiro noticed the change in his friend. "Are you okay, Shira? Perhaps we should rest for a while," Jiro suggested worriedly.

Shira nodded slowly, then gradually sat down on the grass. "I'm sorry, Jiro... My body isn't used to this kind of activity. I really want to explore this place, but it's just so difficult," she lamented, looking disappointed.

Jiro approached Shira and crouched in front of her. "Don't push yourself, Shira. You need to adapt gradually," he said softly.

Shira looked up at Jiro. "But I want to see more of this place with you," she pleaded.

Jiro paused for a moment and then gave a slight smile. "Then I'll carry you. You can rest while we walk," he offered.

Shira looked surprised but then nodded slowly. "Alright, thank you, Jiro."

Carefully, Jiro helped Shira to her feet and gently lifted her into his arms. Shira felt a bit embarrassed but decided to rest her head on Jiro's shoulder, enjoying the warmth and comfort provided by her friend.

Jiro began to walk through the vast grasslands before them. Occasionally, he glanced at Shira's peaceful face. His heart beat a bit faster, but he tried to remain calm.

"Jiro..." Shira called out suddenly, making Jiro turn to her.

"Yes, what is it?"

Shira looked at Jiro hesitantly. "What do you think… of my appearance now?" she asked slowly.

Jiro paused for a moment, observing Shira closely. He couldn't deny that his friend looked very beautiful in her new form.

"You… look very beautiful, Shira," Jiro said sincerely. "Your current form suits you very well."

Hearing this, Shira's face turned a deep shade of red. She lowered her head, hiding her blushing cheeks from Jiro.

"T-thank you..." Shira murmured shyly.

Jiro gave a soft smile and continued walking through the expansive grasslands. Shira, feeling comfortable in Jiro's embrace, slowly closed her eyes. In her heart, she felt grateful to have such a good friend as Jiro.

Though Shira was not yet fully accustomed to her new identity, she knew that as long as Jiro was by her side, everything would be okay. They would get through this together as inseparable friends.

Meanwhile, Jiro secretly watched Shira as she slept in his arms. His heart beat wildly every time he looked at his friend's beautiful face. For some reason, he found it increasingly difficult to keep his distance from Shira.

'What is happening to me?' Jiro thought, confused by his own feelings. 'Shira is my friend… Why am I feeling something different?'

Jiro took a deep breath, trying to refocus on their journey.

After walking for quite a while, Jiro and Shira eventually spotted a small village in the distance. It didn't seem too crowded, but it looked safe at least.

"Look, Shira, there's a village over there. Maybe we can find some information and a temporary place to stay," said Jiro.

Shira nodded, "Sure, let's try going there."

Cautiously, Jiro and Shira approached the village. They tried to remain calm to avoid drawing unwanted attention. However, as they entered the village gates, Shira couldn't help but express her awe.

"Jiro, look! The people here seem to be just ordinary humans," Shira whispered with a hint of disappointment.

Jiro nodded, "Yeah, the villagers appear to be human. We need to be careful not to stand out."

They both walked along the village path. Some villagers glanced at them curiously, and some even looked at Shira with lustful eyes.

Shira felt uncomfortable with the stares and whispered to Jiro, "Jiro, they're looking at me with strange eyes. I'm scared..."

Jiro glanced around and pulled Shira closer. "Stay calm, Shira. I'm here, I won't let them harm you."

Suddenly, a friendly-looking old man approached them. "Welcome to Maple Village, young ones. You're not from around here, are you?"

Jiro smiled politely, "Yes, sir. We just arrived in this village. Could you tell us where we might find a place to stay?"

The old man nodded, "Of course, of course. I can show you the inn nearby. But first, may I know your names?"

"Oh, forgive us. My name is Jiro, and this is my friend, Shira," Jiro said, introducing themselves.

"Shira, is it? What a beautiful name for a lovely girl like you," the old man complimented, casting a suggestive glance at Shira. "Alright then, follow me. I'll show you where you can stay."

Jiro and Shira followed the old man through the village streets. Along the way, Shira grew increasingly uncomfortable as several men ogled her with hunger in their eyes.

Finally, they arrived at a modest inn that seemed inviting. The old man stopped at the entrance and turned to Jiro and Shira.

"Here's the inn where you can stay for a while. The owner is a good friend of mine, so you don't have to worry," he said with a smile that felt slightly off.

"Thank you very much, sir. We greatly appreciate your help," said Jiro, trying to keep his tone steady.

The old man nodded, "You're welcome, young ones. I hope you enjoy your stay in Maple Village." He then bid farewell and continued on his way, though his gaze remained lingered on Shira.

Jiro and Shira entered the inn, greeted by a friendly middle-aged woman.

"Welcome to our inn. How can I assist you?" she asked.

"We'd like to book a room for a temporary stay," Jiro replied.

"Very well, please follow me." The woman then led them to a simple but comfortable room.

After ensuring they were settled, the woman excused herself. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to call for me. Have a restful night."

Once the door was closed, Shira immediately turned to Jiro with a concerned expression. "Jiro, I feel uneasy in this village. The people here look at me in such frightening ways."

Jiro nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, I also feel something is off about this village. The people seem to give us odd looks, especially to you, Shira."

Inwardly, Jiro growled lowly. 'If anyone dares to hurt Shira, I won't hesitate to kill them all.'

He turned to Shira, gently placing his hands on her shoulders. "Don't worry, Shira. As long as I'm here, I won't let anyone harm you."

Shira nodded slowly, though fear was still etched on her face. "I... I'm scared, Jiro. What will happen if they try to do something to us?"

Jiro tightened his grip, trying to console her. "I'll protect you, Shira. No one is allowed to harm you, I promise."

Shira bit her lower lip, then bravely asked, "Jiro... can I sleep next to you tonight? I'm... afraid of being alone."

Jiro paused for a moment, then nodded. "Of course, you can sleep beside me."

Shira smiled in relief, then quickly lay down on the bed, moving closer to Jiro. Jiro himself lay facing Shira, observing the beautiful face of his friend.

In the dim light, Jiro gazed intently at Shira. For some reason, he found it increasingly hard to look away from the fox girl. There was something about Shira that captivated him.

Slowly, Jiro raised his hand, gently touching Shira's cheek. Shira flinched slightly but soon closed her eyes, relishing Jiro's touch.

Seeing Shira still sleeping soundly as he touched her, Jiro felt his heart race. He realized his feelings for Shira had changed, growing into something more than friendship. However, he knew this was wrong. Shira was his friend, and he shouldn't let himself fall deeper.

With a heavy heart, Jiro withdrew his hand, then closed his eyes, trying to calm himself. He had to stay focused because they were in an unfamiliar place and couldn't be too absorbed in personal feelings.

That night, Jiro stayed awake, watching over Shira as she slept peacefully beside him.

He knew this place wasn't safe, but for now, they had no choice but to stay at this inn temporarily. Jiro remained vigilant, ensuring Shira's safety at his side.

The next day, they would need to gather information about this place, this world, and find a way out before anything bad happens.