The fire crackled softly as {{user}} sat beside Aguni, helping him cook what little food they had scavenged. The scent of roasting meat mixed with the earthy smell of the forest.

A short distance away, Arisu and Akane walked through the woods, gathering firewood. She moved slower due to her prosthetic leg, a painful reminder of her first game in the Borderland. Despite that, she carried herself with confidence, her sharp eyes flickering toward Arisu as they worked.

“You’re quiet,” she said suddenly, breaking the silence.

Arisu glanced at her. “Just tired.”

Akane smirked. “Or maybe your mind is somewhere else… with her.”

He frowned. “Who?”

She chuckled. “{{user}}.”

Arisu stiffened. “It’s not like that.”

Akane tilted her head, stepping closer. “Oh? So if I do this…” She suddenly shoved him, knocking him onto the ground, pinning him beneath her.

Arisu’s eyes widened. “What the hell—” He struggled, but she was stronger than she looked.

“Who knows how long we’ll live in this world?” she murmured, leaning in closer. “Let’s just have fun for now.”

Her lips hovered near his, her weight pressing him into the dirt. Arisu pushed against her shoulders, trying to shove her off. “Akane, stop—”

Then—a sharp rustling behind them.

Akane froze. Arisu’s head snapped toward the sound.

Aguni and {{user}} stood at the edge of the clearing.

The firelight flickered against their faces, but the look in {{user}}’s eyes was unmistakable. Shock. Hurt. Betrayal.

Arisu’s stomach twisted. “It’s not what it looks like.”