Companions

I was alone in the middle of the desert.

There was no one else besides me but a pile of dead bodies.

(Daigo!)

I screamed my best friend’s name in vain, but no reply came back.

We’d always been together.

When we were kids, Daigo would follow a few steps behind me whenever we went out to play.

Since he couldn’t walk very fast, I made sure to look back every now and then so as not to lose sight of him.

When had he disappeared?

(Dai-chin!!)

I yelled again, this time calling him by his childhood nickname.

I searched for Daigo, carefully avoiding the corpses on the ground.

During my search, I accidentally stepped on one of the corpse’s heads, squashing it with a splat.

That’s just a rock. No way is it a human being.

I insisted, vehemently denying the reality before me.

More and more bodies began to litter the desert, narrowing my vision and making it impossible to move.

I then spotted a hulking figure beyond the mountain of bodies.

(Dai-chin! Dai-chin! DAI-CHIN!!)

I waded through the corpses and made my way towards him.

When I was within reach and close enough to tap him on the shoulder, Daigo moved away from me. 

“I have to go now.”

Daigo whispered without looking back. I watched him become smaller and smaller as he disappeared into the distance.

Piles of dead bodies stood in my way and prevented me from going after him.

(Don’t go, Dai-chin!!)

“You’re the one who went ahead first, Ryo-chin.”

Daigo turned around, and his face was covered with blood.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t keep up with you.”

Daigo vanished from my view.

(No, Dai-chin! I—!!)

I awoke from my dream, panting and drenched with sweat. It had felt horribly real.

“Where am I...?”

I was surrounded by large rocks. There was grass beneath my body and a blanket over me.

“We’re in the lizardmen’s cave.”

I swiveled my head around to face the person who had answered me.

“Hey, Saburo.”

“Hey. Good to see you awake, Ryo.”

I tried to get up, but my head spun like mad and kept me pinned to the floor.

“Better not move yet. You’ve lost a lot of blood. Chika’s skill can transfer your wounds, but apparently, it can’t restore the blood you lost.”

That’s right. Yesterday, Chika saved me from the brink of death after being injured by the lizardmen.

“Shizuka and the others are cooking up something healthy outside. You should get some more rest.”

“I’m sorry for causing so much trouble.”

“You should tell them yourself. I tried to stop them, you know. Told them any idiot who goes off by themself deserves to die.”

That sounded like something Saburo would say. He’s absolutely right.

I should’ve discussed my plans with everyone before acting.

As a result of my selfish actions, I ended up dragging my friends into my mess, which could’ve killed them.

I remembered my dream, where I’d lost Daigo by charging ahead on my own.

Standing in the desert surrounded by corpses, I felt powerless and utterly alone.

But I’m not.

Daigo and I may have been separated, but I have a new group of friends here.

“I won’t ever act on my own again. Thanks for saving me.”

At my response, Saburo, who usually remained impassive, seemed to crack a hint of a smile.