Deal

“AH!”

Tamashi woke up with a horrified expression and sweat running down his face and all over his body. He hurriedly tried to sit by supporting himself with his elbows, but ended up rolling to the right, since his entire right arm was missing.

Not remembering what had happened, he looked around, then realized his right eye was gone as well.

His breathing grew ragged, and he clutched his chest with his hand, his already halved vision blurring.

Suddenly, someone hugged him from behind, holding him tightly. It was an unfamiliar presence, yet it was strangely soothing. The person’s gentle and caring touch started to slowly calm Tamashi down.

After a while, everything came back to him. The memories he had just dreamed of, as well as the events that had led to him becoming maimed.

“Uyumi...?” Tamashi whispered.

“Yes, it’s me,” she whispered back, then slowly let go of him. “What happened? Did... you have a nightmare?” Uyumi asked cautiously.

“...Something like that,” Tamashi replied, turning around and matching Uyumi’s gaze, their eyes meeting—both being Tamashi's eyes.

Immediately realizing what Tamashi was thinking, Uyumi, who was already kneeling, bowed deeply, pressing her forehead against the wooden floor.

“I’m sorry. Because of me, you lost an arm. You even gave me one of your eyes, while my actions almost cost you your life. I promise I will make it up to you in the future. I am so, so sorry.”

“...What do you think of the view?” Tamashi asked suddenly.

“What?” Confused, Uyumi lifted her head and looked at Tamashi, who was admiring the outside view through a window.

“What do you think of the view?” he repeated calmly.

“It’s... the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” she responded honestly after a while, turning to look outside, as well.

They both just gazed at the scenery for a couple of minutes in silence. It appeared to be late morning, with the sun having already risen behind the lush mountains and forests. Despite being inside, they could both feel the sun’s warmth wash over their faces, causing the two of them to smile; the meaning of their individual expressions was completely different, though.

A while later, Tamashi sighed softly and spoke without turning his head.

“This whole world is beautiful. Every corner of this planet is special. The mountains, the plains, the rivers, the forests, the skies...”

Tamashi closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“The world is kind and fair. Nature is just perfect, perfectly balanced; sometimes cruel, sometimes benevolent. Except one variable... Can you guess what that variable is?”

Turning to Uyumi, he answered his own question before she could try to guess.

“It’s humans. We do nothing but take, destroy, and devour, greedily, non-stop.”

He smiled gently, which had been all the more terrifying given what he was saying.

“I have my own goals, with no intentions of saving this pitiful world. However,” Tamashi paused, his smile disappearing. “That could always change based on the situation. And the way I see it, there is only one option when it comes to truly saving the world...”

“I disagree,” Uyumi suddenly interrupted. “To me, the world is cruel. Why else would it take away the sight of a little healthy girl? But humans? We aren’t perfect, of course, but it was the humans who gave me my sight back. It was you, a human, who made it possible for me to see this world again, however kind or cruel it might be.”

Tamashi looked her in the eye with an unreadable expression.

“I only did that to save myself. If I hadn’t needed you, I would’ve just left you there. That’s not kindness. That’s survival.”

“Everyone is trying to survive. But not everyone can be kind while doing so.”

Uyumi’s words made Tamashi pause. Was there some truth to what she was saying or were they just words coming from a girl trying desperately to repay her savior?

After a while, Tamashi just got up, struggling to retain his balance with his body’s weight shifted drastically.

“Let’s go. I don’t want to worry my family any longer. How long was I out by the way?” Tamashi asked.

“Almost a day. Your friend Awayuki is still sleeping,” she replied, looking over to the table that the fluffy bird was lying on.

“Damn it...” Tamashi grunted. “I’ll go change upstairs and bring you some clothes.”

About fifteen minutes later, they were both standing outside the cottage, dressed in clean, not-shredded clothes. Tamashi was wearing his own that he had stashed here before, while Uyumi was borrowing some of Himawari’s, although they were a bit baggy for her petite figure.

Tamashi had simple shorts and a t-shirt with outdoor shoes that were both light yet durable, making them perfect for the summer heat while tracking difficult terrain.

Uyumi was, strangely enough, dressed the exact same way, the only difference being her clothes were clearly intended for someone of bigger size, even if not by much.

“Before we go, let’s make a deal,” Tamashi suggested.

“A deal?” Uyumi pondered, “What do you mean?”

“Since I got a little too talkative back there, I want to make sure you don’t blab anything to my family,” Tamashi answered coldly.

“I would never say any—” Uyumi protested, but Tamashi cut her off.

“And why should I believe you? You think that because of what we went through we’re suddenly best buddies? As you may have learned, I don’t trust people easily, if ever.”

Uyumi hung her head, perhaps saddened, or maybe in shame.

“So here’s the deal,” Tamashi continued, not paying Uyumi any attention.

“You won’t talk about how I behaved in the city or what I said today. If asked, just say something generic, I don’t care that much.”

Uyumi just quietly nodded, silently agreeing.

“In exchange, I won’t tell your sister, or anyone else, the fact you sneaked off to try to kill yourself.”

Freezing on the spot, Uyumi looked over at Tamashi, alarmed by his harsh words.

“Sounds like a fair deal, right? We both just keep our mouths shut and move on. Also, when we stumble upon another healing spell, I want my eye back. I’ll help provide another one first, of course, I’m not that bad.”

Tamashi extended his left hand, offering Uyumi a handshake.

“Deal?”

Uyumi turned around and looked at the ordinary yet gorgeous view before her azure eye. To her, no matter how much time she spent gazing at this beautiful sight, she would never get bored of it.

He gave this to me, Uyumi thought, realizing this deal was really beneficial to her. Even if unwillingly. Who am I to refuse him?

Uyumi resolutely took his hand after a few seconds of pondering if he actually made this deal while taking it easy on her; her expression was now a mix of worry and determination.

“Deal.”