After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back

Kagura Hikaru calmly assessed the situation.

Having dodged that poisonous snake earlier, they had taken so many turns in the mountains that they had completely forgotten the path they had come. Moreover, with the possibility that the snake might still be on the original path, going back was not an option; they could only press on into the darkness.

Fortunately, with his outdoor survival skills at Lv3, equivalent to that of a standard army scout, he should be able to walk out successfully.

Even in the worst-case scenario, if they couldn't find a way out and died trying, they could still survive on materials gathered from the mountain and wait for a rescue team to arrive.

It would just cause a lot of trouble for Teacher Yamazaki and the others.

"What should we do next?" Kiryu Hina asked, holding her hands and gently rubbing them together, her expression complex.

"Let's try to find the path first, preferably the stone steps we took when we climbed the mountain," Kagura Hikaru said.

"What if we can't find it?"

"We'll keep looking for it while walking downhill. We'll most likely find it, but just in case, I'll try to find some edible things along the way."

"Okay, I'll follow your lead."

After a series of unexpected events, trapped in the silent and deserted depths of the mountains, she had only one person to rely on.

Even as stubborn as Kiryu Hina was, she had to admit that she needed to cooperate with Kagura Hikaru if they were going to get off this mountain.

In the days of their once close relationship, Kiryu Hina had long understood that Kagura Hikaru was a person who could be called all-round capable, with a great deal of miscellaneous knowledge, and she trusted that his wild survival skills were among them.

In this respect, Kiryu Hina herself had limited knowledge and no physical advantage, so she could only do her best not to hold him back.

The two rested for a while to recover their strength, then set out once again.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The terrain of the mountain was rugged, and it was very dangerous to walk straight downhill, so they had to take detours according to the situation.

Kagura Hikaru used a compass app on his phone to determine the direction, remembering the location of the camping site and planning their route.

In theory, they should be able to find some water sources on the mountain.

After all, Teacher Yamazaki had mentioned a small waterfall at the foot of the mountain, which indicated the presence of running water on the mountain.

Generally speaking, when lost in the wilderness, following water sources is always the right move.

It's convenient for water access and for rescue personnel to locate you. Experience more content on empire

Before they knew it, two hours had passed.

Kagura Hikaru and Kiryu Hina had not only failed to find a way down the mountain but had also failed to secure the most critical water source.

The entire mountain seemed like a labyrinth; though they weren't stuck in the same place despite walking for so long, the two of them did have the feeling that they weren't actually making their way downhill at all.

Kagura Hikaru wasn't sure why he was feeling that way; he was definitely walking in the direction of the campsite, and even if he hadn't seen it by now, at the very least, they should have gotten down the mountain.

However, the reality was that they were still at the foot of the mountain; looking down, they couldn't see the bottom at all, and there were no signs of human traces.

It was as if some invisible force was confusing his perception, leaving no hope in sight.

But Kagura Hikaru firmly believed it was just an illusion and told Kiryu Hina not to worry.

In an unknown environment, negative emotions are the greatest enemy.

Even if he himself found it strange, he would not let it show and make his companion fall into confusion and lose her calm, which would greatly reduce their chances of survival.

On the climb up, the mountain's valleys and orchids had been a delight for him and his teacher and classmates.

However, now facing the same scenery, Kagura Hikaru and Kiryu Hina saw it entirely differently.

Utter silence.

Not even the calls of birds or animals could be heard, just the sound of footsteps on the leaves, brushing through the underbrush, and each other's breathing.

Loneliness, coupled with worry and fear for the future, seemed like a pair of black hands slowly enveloping their hearts.

Another two hours passed.

The sun was gradually setting, and dusk was approaching, with mist mysteriously spreading over the mountain, further obstructing their vision.

Even Kagura Hikaru had to admit they were completely lost.

Not only could they not find their way back, but it was also doubtful whether they were even walking in the right direction.

Several hours of walking in the mountains had completely drained Kiryu Hina's energy, and their stomachs were shriveled with hunger.

Kagura Hikaru found an open spot with a clear view, and sat down on a rock with Kiryu Hina to eat.

The food was wild fruit he had picked along the way, looking like miniature red tomatoes, confirmed to be edible and without side effects.

But the taste definitely couldn't compare to modern cultivated fruits.

Kiryu Hina bit into one, her brow furrowing immediately, the fruit was much bitterer than she had imagined.

Still, she clenched her teeth and swallowed it, not wanting to show weakness in front of Kagura Hikaru.

Kagura Hikaru cleaned the dust off the wild fruit with a paper towel he'd brought, and ate one without changing his expression.

In truth, he also felt the bitterness was explosive, but he just didn't want to show it.

To a third party, the two of them now seemed to be in a contest, waiting to see who would break first.

It could be seen as finding amusement amidst hardship.

While eating the fruit, Kiryu Hina massaged her calf, feeling her muscles had become as hard as rock, and she worried about whether she could still walk after this.

Noticing her actions, Kagura Hikaru spoke, "Let's set up camp here. I'll go find some materials to set up a roof and a bed soon. You should prepare to spend the night here."

Kiryu Hina's gaze carried a trace of worry, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"No need, this isn't a big deal."

As Kagura Hikaru said this, both knew that building a shelter in the wilderness was no small feat, a task that could take one or two hours for one person, just gathering the materials would be exhausting.

It was purely because Kiryu Hina's physical strength was too weak and she couldn't help, so he was giving her a way out.

Kiryu Hina fell silent.

Ayakoji Chiyoko had mocked her physical fitness earlier, which she didn't mind, but now, she truly regretted neglecting exercise.

Ultimately, she had become a burden.

Each of them holding a wild fruit, they looked in different directions, eating and zoning out.

After a while, Kiryu Hina suddenly said, "Thank you."

"Hmm?"

"Back when I fell down the mountain, you jumped down after me."

If it wasn't for Kagura Hikaru, she alone couldn't have handled that venomous snake.

Maybe by now, she would have been bitten.

Kagura Hikaru shook his head, "I didn't think that much."

"Is that so....."

Kiryu Hina lowered her gaze, looking in another direction, her fingers touching the rough surface of the stone, the wound on her palm from sliding down the slope still smarting.

Only someone in distress knows how touching it is when someone else throws themselves into danger to save you in your hardest moment.

If the roles were reversed, Kiryu Hina didn't believe she could do the same.

Even though I treated you like that, why are you still...

In silence, the tense and rejecting atmosphere that had always existed between the two seemed to momentarily turn into something softer.

It was an indescribable feeling.

However, at that moment, something disrupted them.

The sound came from ahead, like a large animal moving, the cracking noises of leaves and branches being crushed intermittently reaching them.

Kagura Hikaru and Kiryu Hina both stood up at once, staring in that direction, their faces taut.

Among the shadows of the trees and the hazy mist, they could vaguely make out a spot of red.

Then, a person emerged.

About 1.4 meters tall, a pretty little girl dressed in a red dress.

Upon seeing them, she exclaimed with surprise, "Ah, I've finally found people! Hello, my name is Komori Ai. Do you know how to get back to town? I'm lost."