Chapter 50 A terrible Liar

Five hours had passed, and the afternoon sun cast long shadows over the snowy mountain. Ryo and Krista ascended steadily, leaving their footprints in the thick snow. Despite their slow pace, the exercise kept them warm, generating enough body heat that Ryo, wrapped in his down jacket, was even sweating slightly.

While others on the mountain were bundled up tightly against the biting wind, shivering as they pushed forward, Ryo and Krista seemed to defy the cold entirely. Their preparedness made them stand out, a stark contrast to the struggling trainees scattered across the slopes.

"How are you holding up? Are you tired? Want to take a break?" Ryo asked as he helped Krista over a steep ridge, her small hand slipping into his as they climbed. The ground here was marked by long scratches and deep footprints, evidence of earlier climbers who had stumbled and fallen.

Krista nodded, brushing a stray hair from her face. "It's a bit hot," she admitted, pulling off her hat. A sudden static shock made her flinch, and she let out a soft exclamation.

Ryo chuckled at her reaction, finding her startled expression endearing. "Come on," he said, leading her to a sheltered spot nearby. He unrolled a waterproof canvas on the ground and began unpacking the food he'd prepared.

"Sit down and eat something. You must be hungry after all that climbing," he said, offering her a piece of beef jerky while he pulled out his own ration of compressed biscuits.

Krista accepted the jerky but hesitated, her gaze shifting to the biscuits in Ryo's hand. "Ryo, why is your food different from mine?" she asked, curiosity and concern flickering in her eyes.

Ryo waved her question off with a grin. "This stuff isn't great. You'd better stick to the jerky. Didn't you say you like it?"

Krista pouted slightly, rolling her eyes. "I'm tired of the jerky. I just want to try something different. Those biscuits look... interesting!" Her voice softened as she added playfully, "Please, Ryo?"

Ryo narrowed his eyes, seeing through her act immediately. "Nice try," he said, amused by her attempt to disguise her concern for him as curiosity.

He knew Krista well enough by now. She was kind to a fault, always putting others' needs above her own. If she thought he was depriving himself, she'd insist on sharing—even if it meant eating something she wouldn't like. Her selflessness, while endearing, also worried Ryo.

Sighing, he relented. "Fine. I'll let you try some, but don't blame me when you don't like it. These things are practically bricks," he said, handing her half of his portion. "Just remember to drink water afterward. Here, it's still warm."

He poured a cup of water from the thermos he'd packed, handing it to her with a smile. Krista's eyes lit up as she took the biscuits and water, her lips curling into a radiant smile.

"Thank you, Ryo! You're such a good person!" she exclaimed, her tone full of warmth.

Ryo chuckled dryly. "Great, another good man card for my collection," he muttered under his breath.

Krista took a bite of the compressed biscuit, her teeth sinking into the dense, dry texture. She chewed with visible effort, her smile faltering but still present.

"How is it?" Ryo asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he watched her struggle.

Krista forced a strained smile. "It's... okay. Pretty good, actually," she lied, though her tone gave her away.

Ryo burst out laughing, shaking his head. "You're a terrible liar, Krista. If it's bad, just say so!"

Krista blushed but smiled back, taking another small bite. Even if the biscuits were unpalatable, her determination to share Ryo's burden outweighed her discomfort.

As they sat together, the cold mountain winds howled around them, but in their small haven, a sense of warmth and camaraderie blossomed—a moment of peace amid the harshness of their training.