The alarm shattered the pre-dawn silence at exactly 4:45 AM. Hiro's hand shot out from under the covers, silencing it with practiced precision. For a moment, he lay still in the darkness, his enhanced hearing picking up the familiar sounds of his house settling, the distant hum of the refrigerator downstairs, his mother's soft breathing from the master bedroom down the hall.
*Field trip day.*
He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. His backpack sat by the door where he'd prepared it the night before—clothes neatly folded, toiletries in a waterproof bag, sleeping bag compressed and strapped to the bottom. Everything according to the checklist Ms. Tanaka had distributed two weeks ago.
The shower was quick and efficient. He dressed in comfortable hiking clothes—dark jeans, a breathable gray shirt, his sturdy boots. By 5:00 AM, he was zipping his backpack closed, double-checking his phone.
**PHONE SCREEN:** "Field Trip Reminder: Depart 6:00 AM SHARP. Don't be late! —Ms. Tanaka"
Hiro allowed himself a small smile. Ms. Tanaka's messages were always punctuated with enthusiasm that seemed excessive for someone dealing with teenagers at ungodly hours.
He hefted the backpack onto his shoulders, testing the weight. Satisfied, he headed downstairs.
The kitchen light was already on.
His mother stood at the counter, still in her robe, her silver-streaked hair pulled back in a loose bun. She looked tired—more tired than usual, Hiro noticed with a pang of concern. The dark circles under her eyes suggested she hadn't slept well.
"Mom?" Hiro set his backpack down by the door. "You didn't have to get up. I could've—"
"Hiro, wait." Her voice was gentle but firm.
She turned, and he saw she was holding something—a small glass bottle, the kind that might contain vitamins or supplements. The amber glass caught the kitchen light, making the pills inside shimmer faintly.
"I made this for you," she said, crossing to him and pressing the bottle into his hands.
Hiro looked down at it, turning it over. The pills inside were small, round, an off-white color. There was no label, no indication of what they were. "What is it?"
His mother's hand came to rest on his shoulder, warm and reassuring. "It'll help with your... predatorial instincts."
The words hung in the air between them.
Hiro's eyes widened slightly, his grip on the bottle tightening. "Predatorial instincts?" He looked up at her, searching her face. "I don't understand, Mom. What do you mean?"
She smiled—that gentle, knowing smile that mothers had when they understood something their children didn't yet grasp. "Don't worry. You will. Just take it twice a day, okay? Morning and evening."
Her hand moved from his shoulder to cup his cheek briefly. "Trust me. It'll help you stay... calm. Especially around others."
Hiro wanted to ask more—what instincts? Calm about what?—but something in his mother's expression stopped him. She looked worried, but also determined, as if she'd made a difficult decision and needed him to simply accept it.
"Okay." He pocketed the bottle. "Thanks, Mom."
"Be safe out there," she said, pulling him into a quick hug. "And have fun. You deserve some time away from everything."
"I will." He picked up his backpack. "I'll text you when we get there."
"Please do."
He was almost to the door when her voice stopped him again.
"Hiro?"
He turned.
"I love you. Remember that."
Something about the way she said it made his chest tighten, but he smiled. "Love you too, Mom."
The morning air was crisp and cool, the sky just beginning to lighten at the eastern horizon. Hiro walked quickly through the empty streets, his breath misting slightly in the chill. The medicine bottle felt heavy in his pocket, a constant reminder of questions he didn't have answers to.
*Predatorial instincts.*
What did that even mean? Sure, he was half-beast, but he'd never felt out of control. Never felt like he might hurt someone. Was his mother worried about something specific? Had she noticed something he hadn't?
He pushed the thoughts aside as Seika Academy came into view. A large tour bus idled at the gates, its engine rumbling, exhaust curling up into the morning air. Students were already gathering, their excited chatter filling the street.
Hiro checked his phone: 5:55 AM. Right on time.
He joined the line of students boarding the bus, handing his permission slip to Mr. Yamada, who checked it off his clipboard with mechanical efficiency.
"Good morning, Tanaka. Glad to see at least one student knows what 'six AM sharp' means," Mr. Yamada muttered, his perpetual frown deeper than usual.
"Good morning, sensei."
Hiro had just stepped onto the bus when he heard it—the sound of running footsteps, rapid and desperate.
"WAIT!"
He turned to see Luna and Yuki sprinting toward the gates, both looking thoroughly disheveled. Luna's usually neat uniform was rumpled, her hair still mussed from sleep, her bag bouncing wildly on her shoulder. Yuki—her rabbit friend whose actual name was Yukiko but who everyone called Yuki—was in similar disarray, her long ears flopping with each panicked stride.
"We're... here...!" Luna gasped, skidding to a stop at the bus door.
"Overslept!" Yuki added, bent over with her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.
Before Hiro could respond, more running footsteps announced the arrival of Kaede and Takeshi, approaching from the opposite direction.
"Wait for us!" Kaede called, waving frantically.
"Sorry! Alarm didn't go off!" Takeshi shouted.
All four latecomers arrived at the gates simultaneously, nearly colliding with each other. For a moment, they just stared at each other, disheveled and panting. Then Luna started giggling. The giggles became full laughter, and within seconds, all four were laughing, the pre-dawn tension breaking like morning fog.
"Let me guess," Hiro said, grinning despite himself. "You ALL overslept?"
Four sheepish nods answered him.
**HONK! HONK!**
The bus horn blared, making several students jump.
"LAST CALL! BOARDING NOW!" The bus driver—a gruff man in his fifties with a permanent scowl—leaned out the door. "If you're not on this bus in thirty seconds, you're staying home!"
The mad scramble that followed would have been comical if it weren't so chaotic. Students pushed and shoved good-naturedly, trying to find seats as the latecomers stumbled aboard. Bags were thrown into overhead compartments. Arguments broke out over window seats.
Hiro found himself in a seat about halfway back, next to a male classmate he vaguely recognized from his mathematics class—Tanaka something. No relation.
He was just settling in, adjusting his backpack at his feet, when a familiar voice spoke above him.
"Hey."
Hiro looked up to find Ayaka standing in the aisle, looking down at his seatmate with an expression that was calm but somehow conveyed absolute authority.
"Can we switch seats?" she asked.
It wasn't really a question.
The boy—looked at Hiro, then at Ayaka, then back at Hiro. His eyes widened slightly in understanding, and he quickly gathered his things.
"Uh, yeah. Sure. No problem."
He vacated the seat with impressive speed. As he passed Ayaka, he leaned over to whisper something to his friend across the aisle. "Lucky him..."
Ayaka slid into the seat beside Hiro with fluid grace, setting her small backpack on her lap. She wore dark hiking pants and a fitted navy jacket over a white shirt—practical but somehow still elegant. Her long black hair was pulled back in a high ponytail.
"Hi," she said simply.
"Hi," Hiro replied, trying to keep his voice neutral. He was acutely aware of the space between them—or rather, the lack of it. The bus seats were not designed for personal space.
"Looking forward to the trip?" Ayaka asked as the last few students found their seats.
"Yeah, should be interesting. You?"
"Mm." She nodded. "I've never been camping before. Should be a new experience."
"Never? Really?"
"My family isn't really the... outdoor type." A hint of something—amusement? Resignation?—flickered across her face. "We prefer hotels. With room service."
Before Hiro could respond, the bus lurched into motion with a hydraulic hiss and grinding of gears. The sudden movement made several students yelp. Excited chatter filled the air as they pulled away from Seika Academy, beginning the long journey to Okutama Forest.
Hiro felt it immediately—the slight nausea that always came with bus rides. The motion, the smell of diesel and recycled air, the confined space—it all combined to make his enhanced senses rebel. He tried to focus on the window, on the passing streets, but that only made the vertigo worse.
*Not good.*
He'd forgotten—conveniently blocked it from his memory, really—that he absolutely hated long bus rides. Something about his heightened senses made motion sickness significantly worse. The gentle swaying that other students barely noticed felt like being tossed on ocean waves to him.
"You okay?" Ayaka's voice seemed to come from very far away.
"Fine," Hiro managed. "Just... not great with buses."
"Oh." A pause. "There's dramamine in the first aid kit up front if you need it."
"I'll be okay. Just need to..." He closed his eyes, leaning his head against the cool window glass. "Just need to rest."
"Okay."
He heard her shifting beside him, the rustle of fabric as she settled in with what sounded like a book. The bus continued its steady journey out of the city, the urban landscape gradually giving way to suburbs, then countryside.
Hiro focused on breathing—slow, steady breaths. But the nausea persisted, rolling in waves that matched the bus's movement. His body, recognizing a losing battle, did what it always did in these situations.
Within twenty minutes, despite his best efforts, he fell asleep.
Toward the front of the bus, Luna sat rigidly in her seat next to Yuki, who was already engrossed in a manga about camping. (How appropriate, Yuki had said cheerfully when pulling it out.)
But Luna couldn't focus on anything except the itch between her shoulder blades—that sixth sense that made her need to look back, to check on something.
*On someone.*
She turned, casual as she could manage, pretending to stretch. Her eyes scanned the rows behind her until they found him.
Hiro. Sitting next to Ayaka.
Luna's chest tightened. Her claws—which she'd been so careful to keep retracted around humans—unconsciously extended, digging small holes into the fabric of her bag.
*It's fine,* she told herself. *It's just a seat. They're just talking. It doesn't mean anything.*
But it didn't feel fine. It felt like something sharp was lodged under her ribs, making it hard to breathe properly.
"Luna?" Yuki looked up from her manga, concern creasing her face. "You okay?"
"Fine." Luna forced a smile that felt more like baring teeth. "Just... fine."
She turned back around, staring determinedly out the window at the passing scenery. But her ears—which she couldn't control as well as her claws—lay flat against her head, betraying her distress.
Yuki, bless her, didn't push. She just quietly closed her manga and pulled out her earbuds. "Want to listen to music with me?"
"Yeah," Luna said quietly. "Yeah, that sounds good."
The bus ride stretched on. Tokyo gave way to its western suburbs, which gradually thinned into genuine countryside. The excited chatter of students faded as more and more of them dozed off, lulled by the engine's steady hum and the gentle rocking.
Hiro slept deeply, his body grateful for the reprieve from consciousness. He dreamed in fragments—running through forests, Luna beside him, the thrill of the hunt singing in his blood. Peace and wildness intertwined.
He didn't feel the bus hit the pothole around hour three.
**BUMP!**
The entire bus shook violently. Students jerked awake with startled yelps. Bags shifted in overhead compartments. Someone's water bottle went rolling down the aisle.
And Hiro's head, which had been resting against the window, fell—landing squarely on Ayaka's shoulder.
Ayaka froze.
Every muscle in her body locked up simultaneously. Her eyes went wide, staring straight ahead at the seat back in front of her. Her hands, which had been holding her book, clenched so hard the paperback crumpled slightly.
*He's. On. My. Shoulder.*
Her heart hammered so loudly she was certain everyone on the bus could hear it. Panic flooded her system. *What do I do? Do I move him? Wake him? He looks so peaceful—no, don't think about that! Just... just...*
But she couldn't bring herself to move. Couldn't bring herself to wake him. Her body remained rigid, afraid that any movement would break whatever strange spell had been cast.
His hair tickled her neck. She could feel the warmth of him, the steady rise and fall of his breathing.
*Breathe,* she told herself. *Just breathe. Act natural. This is natural. People fall asleep on shoulders on buses all the time. This is completely normal and you are being completely normal about this.*
Her face burned red enough to rival her soul.
Luna turned around to check on Hiro again—it had become almost compulsive over the past few hours—and felt her heart plummet straight through the bus floor.
His head. On Ayaka's shoulder.
The sharp thing under her ribs twisted violently. Her tail went rigid, puffing up involuntarily. Every instinct screamed at her to go back there, to... to what? Physically move him? Make a scene?
*Wake up,* she thought fiercely, as if she could will him awake through sheer force of jealousy. *Wake up! Move! Do something!*
But Hiro remained deeply asleep, blissfully unaware of the chaos his unconscious action had caused.
Yuki noticed Luna's reaction immediately. "Luna..." she whispered. "He's just sleeping. It doesn't mean—"
"I know." Luna's voice was tight, controlled. "I know."
But her claws were still digging into her bag, small tears appearing in the fabric. She forced herself to turn back around, to stare out the window at the mountains rising in the distance.
*It doesn't mean anything. It doesn't mean anything. It doesn't—*
But no matter how many times she repeated it, the jealousy remained, coiled tight in her chest like a living thing.
The bus continued its journey west, climbing into the mountains. The landscape grew more dramatic—steep valleys, rivers cutting through ancient rock, forests that seemed to stretch endlessly. The air changed too, becoming thinner, cleaner, carrying the scent of pine and cedar.
By the time they reached Okutama Forest, it was mid-afternoon. The ride had taken nearly ten hours with rest stops factored in. Students stumbled off the bus like survivors of a shipwreck, groaning and stretching cramped limbs.
"My legs are DEAD!" one student moaned, dramatically collapsing onto the grass.
"That was the longest ride of my entire life," another agreed. "I aged ten years in that seat."
Hiro emerged from the bus looking pale but relieved, grateful to finally be on solid ground that didn't sway. Ayaka followed behind him, her face still slightly flushed, carefully not looking at him.
The campground spread before them—a large clearing surrounded by towering cedar and pine trees. A river ran along the eastern edge, its water so clear they could see the rocks on the bottom. Wooden structures dotted the area—a main lodge, storage sheds, covered pavilions with picnic tables.
It was beautiful. Wild and untouched despite the man-made additions. Hiro felt something in his chest expand, like his lungs were filling properly for the first time in days. The forest called to something deep in his nature, something that had been suppressed by city life.
*Home,* part of him whispered. *This feels like home.*
"LISTEN UP!" A booming voice cut through the students' chatter.
A man emerged from the main lodge—the Camp Master, presumably. He was in his fifties, built like a tree trunk, with a weathered face that spoke of years spent outdoors. His flannel shirt and cargo pants were practically a uniform. He carried himself with the confidence of someone who knew these woods intimately and wasn't impressed by city teenagers.
"I'm Hayashi, and I run this facility," he announced. "You'll call me Camp Master or sir. For the next two days, you're under my supervision, which means you follow my rules. First rule: respect the forest. It's been here longer than you and will be here long after you're gone. Second rule: respect each other. Third rule: respect me. Anyone have a problem with those rules?"
Silence. Even the most rebellious students seemed cowed by his presence.
"Good. Now, here's how this works." Hayashi gestured broadly at the campground. "You'll be split into groups of FOUR. Two boys, two girls. Co-ed groups build better teamwork—and before anyone gets ideas, there will be supervision."
Ms. Tanaka stepped forward, holding what looked like a small drone. Its rotors whirred softly as it hovered above her palm, a camera lens glinting in the sunlight.
"We have six drones that will be patrolling the campground at all times," she said cheerfully, as if this were the most natural thing in the world. "They have night vision, thermal imaging, and audio recording capabilities. So if anyone is planning anything... inappropriate..." She smiled sweetly. "Don't."
Several students gulped audibly.
"Each group will be assigned a designated camping area," Hayashi continued. "You'll set up your own tents, find your own food—we'll teach you what's safe to forage—and basically survive together. There are emergency call boxes throughout the forest if you need help, but try not to need help. This is about learning self-reliance."
He pulled out a clipboard. "I'm going to read out the group assignments. When you hear your name, gather your group and collect your supplies from the lodge. Questions?"
No one dared ask.
"Good. Group One: Tanaka Hiro, Luna Sinclair, Yukiko Hayashi, and Mori Takeshi."
Hiro felt Luna appear at his side almost instantly, as if she'd been waiting for permission to approach. Yuki bounced over moments later, her rabbit ears alert with excitement. Takeshi—a quiet boy from their class with dark hair and glasses—joined them with a shy nod.
"Group Two: Nakamura Kaede, Watanabe Ayaka, Sato Miki, and Yamamoto Kenta..."
The list continued. Hiro barely paid attention to the other groups, focused on his own team. Luna stood close enough that their arms almost touched. He could feel the warmth radiating from her, could sense her barely contained excitement.
"This is going to be amazing," Yuki whispered, practically vibrating with enthusiasm. "Real camping! In an actual forest!"
"Let's just try not to die," Takeshi muttered, pushing his glasses up nervously.
Hiro caught sight of Kaede being grouped with Ayaka and suppressed a wince. Kaede looked about as thrilled as someone assigned to defuse a bomb. Ayaka, for her part, appeared serenely unconcerned.
"Group assignments are final," Hayashi announced once the list was complete. "No trading, no complaining. Now collect your supplies and head to your designated areas. You have two hours to set up camp before dark. Move out!"
Group One's designated area was a clearing about fifty meters from the main campground, tucked into a grove of cedars near the river. The sound of rushing water provided a constant, peaceful backdrop.
They stood in their clearing, supplies piled at their feet: a four-person tent still in its bag, sleeping bags, a basic first aid kit, matches, a water purification kit, and some rope. No food—that was intentional.
"Okay," Hiro said, taking charge naturally. "Let's split up tasks. We need shelter and food before dark. Luna and I will hunt—"
"You hunt?" Takeshi interrupted, looking surprised.
"Yeah. My grandfather taught me. Luna's good at tracking." He looked at her for confirmation, and she nodded. "So we'll handle food. Yuki and Takeshi, can you two set up the tent and gather firewood?"
"On it!" Yuki saluted cheerfully.
"I... I guess I can figure out the tent," Takeshi said uncertainly, picking up the instruction manual.
"There's a river right there," Luna added, pointing. "We'll need water too. Once the tent's up, you can fill the containers and treat them."
"Got it. We'll have everything ready when you get back," Yuki promised.
Hiro and Luna grabbed the rope—useful for carrying game back—and headed into the forest.
The trees closed around them, the sounds of the campground fading quickly. The forest was old, the kind of place that felt alive with more than just plants and animals. Sunlight filtered through the canopy in golden shafts, illuminating floating dust and pollen.
Luna's entire demeanor changed the moment they were alone among the trees. The careful, controlled movements she maintained around humans fell away. She moved like liquid, silent and sure, her enhanced senses fully engaged.
"This way," she murmured, her nose tilting up to catch a scent. "I smell deer. Fresh tracks."
Hiro followed her lead, trusting her senses over his own. Despite his half-beast nature, Luna was fully beast-born. Her instincts were sharper, more refined. Watching her work was like watching a master artist—every movement purposeful, efficient, beautiful.
They tracked in silence, communicating with gestures and glances. The forest revealed its secrets slowly—bent grass, disturbed moss, a tuft of fur caught on bark. The trail led them deeper, away from any human presence.
"There," Luna breathed, so quietly he almost didn't hear.
Through a gap in the trees, about thirty meters ahead, a small deer grazed in a clearing. Young, healthy, unaware of the predators stalking it.
Hiro felt something stir in his chest—that predatory instinct his mother had mentioned. But it didn't feel out of control. It felt right, natural, like breathing. The focus that came with the hunt, the clarity of purpose.
Is this what she was worried about?
Luna looked at him, and he saw his own feelings reflected in her eyes. The thrill of the hunt, yes, but also respect. Gratitude for what they were about to take.
"Ready?" she whispered.
He nodded."On three. One... two... three."
They moved as one, exploding from cover with supernatural speed. The deer's head snapped up, eyes wide with alarm, but it was already too late. Luna came from the left, Hiro from the right, cutting off escape routes.
It was over quickly. Efficient. Respectful.
They stood over the deer, both breathing hard from the sprint, and for a moment neither spoke. Then Luna placed her hand on the deer's side.
"Thank you," she said quietly. "For your life. We won't waste it."
Hiro felt his throat tighten. He'd hunted with his grandfather many times, but this felt different. More sacred somehow.
"Thank you," he echoed.
They worked together to prepare the deer for transport, using the rope to create a carrying harness. The work was messy, bloody, but neither flinched from it. This was survival. This was respect.
By the time they started back toward camp, the sun had dropped lower, painting the forest in shades of orange and gold.
"That was..." Luna started, then paused. "That was really nice. Hunting with you."
"Yeah," Hiro agreed. "It was."
She looked at him, and something passed between them—understanding, connection, a shared wildness that couldn't be expressed in words.
"We make a good team," she said finally.
"We do."
They walked back to camp side by side, neither feeling the need to fill the silence. The forest whispered around them, approving. When they emerged into their clearing, they found Yuki and Takeshi had been busy. The tent stood—somewhat lopsided but functional—with sleeping bags arranged inside. A neat pile of firewood sat ready beside a cleared circle of stones for a fire pit. Water containers sat purified and ready.
"We're back!" Yuki called, then her eyes went wide as she saw the deer. "Oh my god, you actually caught something! That's amazing!"
"That's... a lot of blood," Takeshi observed, looking slightly green.
"Yeah, uh, we need to process it," Hiro said. "If you guys want to, you know, not watch, that's fine."
"YES PLEASE," Takeshi said immediately, turning away.
"I'll help with the fire!" Yuki announced, clearly grateful for an alternative task.
Hiro set to work near the river, where he could easily wash away blood. Luna assisted, handing him tools and helping hold the carcass steady. It was messy work, requiring knowledge of anatomy and a strong stomach.
But Hiro's grandfather had taught him well. He worked methodically, efficiently, wasting nothing. The hide could be useful. The organs were either edible or could be returned to the forest. The meat was cleaned and prepared properly.
Behind him, he could hear Yuki and Takeshi working on the fire, their cheerful chatter a counterpoint to his grim work.
"You've definitely done this before," Luna observed, watching him work.
"My grandfather was... traditional. He believed if you're going to eat meat, you should know where it comes from. Should be willing to do the work yourself." Hiro's hands moved with practiced precision. "He said it teaches respect. For the animal, for the food, for the cycle of life."
"My father taught me the same thing," Luna said softly. "That the hunt isn't about dominance or violence. It's about respect and necessity."
"Exactly."
When he finished, Hiro washed thoroughly in the river, scrubbing the blood from his hands and arms. The cold water was shocking but cleansing. He felt... centered. Connected to something primal and pure.
By the time he returned to the fire, Yuki and Takeshi had it roaring nicely. The sun was setting, painting the sky in brilliant purples and pinks.
"Okay!" Yuki announced. "We found mushrooms that match the safe guide, and Takeshi is apparently a rice-cooking genius, so we have side dishes!"
"My mother made me learn," Takeshi muttered, but he looked pleased. A pot of rice cooked over the fire, perfectly fluffy.
Hiro set up a simple grill over the flames using green branches and began cooking the venison. The smell was incredible—meat and woodsmoke and forest air.
They ate together as night fell completely, the fire crackling cheerfully. The deer meat was tender, flavored with wild herbs Yuki had found. The rice was perfect. The mushrooms added an earthy richness.
"This is actually REALLY good!" Takeshi said around a mouthful, his earlier squeamishness forgotten.
"Hiro, you're an amazing cook!" Yuki agreed enthusiastically. "Like, restaurant quality!"
"It's just basic survival skills," Hiro said, but he couldn't hide his smile.
Luna sat across the fire from him, and every time he looked up, their eyes met. The flames reflected in her golden irises, making them seem to glow. She looked... happy. Truly, deeply happy. Content in a way he'd never seen her in the city.
She belongs here, he thought. In the wild. In the forest.
And maybe, a quiet voice added, so do you.
They talked late into the night—about nothing and everything. Yuki told terrible jokes that made them all groan. Takeshi revealed a surprisingly dry wit. Luna shared stories about growing up learning to hunt. Hiro talked about his grandfather's lessons.
For a few hours, they weren't students from Seika Academy. They were just four people, sitting around a fire under the stars, connected by something more fundamental than school or society.
Eventually, exhaustion claimed them. They banked the fire and retreated to the tent, crawling into sleeping bags. Despite the cramped quarters, no one complained. The sound of the river and the rustling trees were better than any lullaby.
Hiro lay in his sleeping bag, Luna in hers just a few feet away. In the darkness, he heard her whisper, "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For today. For... being you."
He smiled, though she couldn't see it. "Thank you too."
Within minutes, all four were asleep, the forest keeping watch over them.
DAY TWO: FREEDOM
Morning came with birdsong and sunlight filtering through the tent fabric. Hiro woke first, carefully extracting himself from his sleeping bag without waking the others. He emerged into a world painted in gold and green, the air so clean it almost hurt to breathe after months of city air.
He stretched, feeling muscles protest and pop. Then he remembered the medicine bottle in his pocket.
Morning and evening, his mother had said.
He pulled it out, looking at the small pills inside. He still didn't understand what they were supposed to do. Yesterday had been fine—better than fine. He'd felt in control, connected, calm. Not once had his "predatorial instincts" felt dangerous or unmanageable.
Should I take it anyway?
But something made him hesitate. Some instinct that said taking unknown pills without understanding their purpose was unwise. He pocketed the bottle again.
I'll decide later.
By the time the others emerged, yawning and rumpled, he had the fire restarted and water boiling for tea.
"You're disgustingly cheerful in the morning," Takeshi muttered, accepting a cup gratefully.
"I'm a morning person," Hiro admitted. "Always have been."
Luna emerged last, her hair adorably mussed from sleep. She caught Hiro looking and quickly tried to smooth it down, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"What's the plan for today?" Yuki asked, stretching like her namesake animal. "More hunting? Fort building? Extreme wilderness survival?"
"Actually," Hiro said, "I was thinking we could just... relax. We've got food left over from yesterday. The camp is set up. We did the hard work. Today could just be for fun."
"Fun?" Takeshi looked skeptical. "In the woods?"
"The river's right there," Luna pointed out. "We could swim."
"YES!" Yuki pumped her fist. "Swimming! I brought a swimsuit specifically for this!"
"Wait, we're allowed to just... not do survival stuff?" Takeshi asked.
"The point is to learn to live in nature," Hiro said. "That includes learning to enjoy it."
After a leisurely breakfast of leftover rice and foraged berries, they made their way to the river. The water was crystal clear, flowing over smooth stones, creating natural pools perfect for swimming. The girls changed in the tent while the boys changed behind trees—though Hiro couldn't help but notice the other groups doing the same thing throughout the forest. The drones Tanaka had mentioned circled lazily overhead, ever-vigilant.
When Luna emerged from the tent, Hiro felt his heart stutter.
She wore a modest two-piece swimsuit—blue with white accents that complemented her silver-white hair and fur. It fit her athletic build perfectly, showing the lean muscle of someone built for running and hunting. Her tail swished behind her, currently showing her good mood.
Hiro felt his face heat up so fast he thought he might spontaneously combust. He quickly turned away, suddenly extremely interested in the pattern of stones at the river's edge.
Don't stare. Don't stare. Don't stare. She's your friend. This is normal. People wear swimsuits. This is completely—oh god, why is she so—NO. Focus on literally anything else.
"You okay?" Luna asked, appearing at his elbow. "You're really red. Did you get too much sun already?"
"FINE," Hiro said, his voice cracking slightly. "Totally fine. Just, uh, warm. Very warm. Let's swim!"
He practically dove into the river to hide his embarrassment. The cold water was a blessing.
Luna, behind him, felt her tail wag involuntarily. She'd noticed his reaction. And despite her attempt at playing it cool, she couldn't suppress the small, pleased smile that curved her lips.
The day unfolded in perfect, lazy freedom. They played in the river like children—splashing, diving for smooth stones, seeing who could swim fastest (Luna won easily, her beast nature giving her an unfair advantage). They built a small dam, creating a deeper pool to jump into from a large rock.
Even Takeshi, usually reserved, loosened up. He and Yuki got into an epic splash battle that ended with both of them laughing so hard they couldn't breathe.
Hiro and Luna ended up floating on their backs, letting the gentle current carry them, staring up at the canopy of trees overhead.
"I could stay here forever," Luna said dreamily. "Just... this. No school, no expectations, no having to pretend to be something I'm not."
"Yeah," Hiro agreed. "I get it."
They drifted in comfortable silence.
"Do you ever feel like the city is..." Luna paused, searching for words. "Like it's crushing something inside you? Something that needs space and wildness?"
"Every day," Hiro admitted. "But what choice do we have? We have to live there. Go to school. Pretend everything's normal."
"I know." Luna sighed, her breath rippling the water around her. "But days like this... they make me remember what it feels like to just be. Without all the masks."
"We should do this more often," Hiro said. "Find places outside the city. Even if it's just for a day."
Luna turned her head to look at him, still floating. Water droplets clung to her lashes, making her golden eyes seem even more luminous. "I'd like that."
Their fingers brushed in the water—accidental or intentional, neither could say. Neither pulled away.
"GUYS!" Yuki's voice shattered the moment. "We found a perfect rock for jumping! Come on!"
They swam back to join the others, the moment tucked away but not forgotten.
By afternoon, they'd exhausted themselves with swimming and decided to rest on the riverbank. Someone—Takeshi, surprisingly—had thought to bring a watermelon, which had been cooling in the river.
Hiro cut it open with his knife, the blade slicing clean through. The inside was perfectly red and ripe, sweet juice already running down the sides.
"This is HEAVEN!" Yuki declared, biting into her slice with gusto. Seeds and juice went everywhere, but no one cared.
"Best field trip ever," Takeshi agreed, looking more relaxed than Hiro had ever seen him.
They sat in a loose circle on the grass, still in their swimsuits, letting the sun dry them. Luna sat close enough to Hiro that their shoulders touched. She made no move to shift away. Neither did he.
"We should probably head back soon," Hiro said reluctantly as the sun started its descent. "Get cleaned up before dinner."
"Do we have to?" Yuki whined. "Can't we just stay here forever?"
"Unfortunately, I think Ms. Tanaka would hunt us down," Takeshi said. "And those drones definitely know where we are."
As if on cue, one of the surveillance drones buzzed overhead, its camera swiveling to track their group.
"Big Brother is watching," Luna muttered, waving sarcastically at it.
They gathered their things and made their way back to camp. The walk was quiet, everyone tired in that pleasant way that comes from a day spent outdoors. The forest felt different now—not just a place to survive, but a place that had given them something precious. Space. Freedom. Connection.
Back at their campsite, they took turns using the privacy screen to change back into regular clothes. The evening passed in comfortable routine—reheating leftover venison, cooking more rice, sharing the last of their foraged mushrooms.
As darkness fell and the fire crackled to life again, Hiro felt a deep sense of contentment. Tomorrow they'd return to the city, to school, to all the complications of their normal lives. But tonight, they had this. This circle of firelight, these friends, this wilderness that asked nothing of them but to exist honestly.
Luna caught his eye across the flames and smiled.
Yeah, he thought. This is enough.
The next morning brought the bittersweet awareness that their time in the forest was ending. They broke camp efficiently—tent collapsed and packed, fire carefully extinguished, campsite restored as close to its natural state as possible. Camp Master Hayashi had been clear: "Leave no trace."
By 10 AM, all the groups had gathered at the main campground, bags packed, faces sunburned and happy. The excited chatter of the first day had been replaced by tired but satisfied conversations.
Hiro noticed Kaede approaching, and his concern immediately spiked. She looked... rough. Her usually neat hair was disheveled beyond the point of "camping casual." There were dark circles under her eyes. She walked like someone who'd been through a war.
"Kaede?" Hiro moved to intercept her. "You okay? You look really beat up."
"Do I?" She laughed, but it sounded brittle. "Can't imagine why." "What happened? Was it the camping? The food?"
"Nothing happened," Kaede said quickly. Too quickly. "Just... stuff. Ayaka was... difficult."
The way she said it made Hiro's instincts prickle. There was something she wasn't saying, something that put that haunted look in her eyes. But before he could press further, she waved him off.
"I'm fine. Just need to get home and sleep for about a week. Maybe a month."
"If you need to talk—"
"I'm FINE, Hiro." She softened slightly. "Really. Just tired. How was your trip?"
"Good. Really good, actually."
"Lucky you." She glanced past him to where Ayaka stood with her group, looking as pristine as if she'd spent two days at a spa rather than camping. "Some of us weren't so fortunate."
The bus arrived with a hiss of brakes and a cloud of dust. Students began loading their bags, groaning about the long ride home.
This time, Hiro deliberately sat next to Takeshi, avoiding any potential awkwardness. He caught Ayaka's eye as she boarded—she looked at the empty seat next to him, then at Takeshi, and continued past without comment. But something flickered across her face. Disappointment?
Luna and Yuki took seats across the aisle, close enough to talk. As the bus pulled away from Okutama Forest, Hiro watched the trees recede through the window. Part of him felt like he was leaving something important behind.
The ride home was quieter than the journey there. Most students dozed, exhausted from two days of outdoor living. Even the teachers seemed worn out, Ms. Tanaka sleeping with her head against the window, mouth slightly open.
Hiro found himself in that pleasant state between waking and sleeping, his mind drifting. He thought about the hunt with Luna, the perfect coordination between them. The way she'd looked in the firelight, in the river, in those moments when she forgot to guard her expressions. The easy friendship that had developed with their entire group.
And he thought about the medicine bottle, still unopened in his pocket.
What had his mother been worried about? He'd spent two days in close quarters with others, including Luna, and nothing had gone wrong. His instincts had been sharp but controlled. Helpful, even. The hunt had been successful because of those instincts, not despite them.
Maybe she's just being overprotective, he thought. Parents worry. It's what they do. But the nagging feeling remained that there was something he was missing.
Across the aisle, Luna wasn't sleeping. She was watching the countryside roll by, but her attention kept drifting back to Hiro. She replayed the last two days in her mind—hunting together, swimming together, those moments of connection that felt more significant than anything that had happened between them at school.
He didn't take her seat on the bus, Luna thought, that warm feeling returning to her chest. He could have. Ayaka would have sat with him again. But he chose Takeshi.
She knew she shouldn't read too much into it. But she couldn't help the small smile that curved her lips.
Yuki, next to her, was actually asleep, her rabbit ears drooping, making small sleeping noises. Luna pulled out her phone, scrolling through the photos they'd taken—the four of them by the river, the sunset over the forest, a blurry action shot of their splash battle.
She lingered on one photo in particular: Hiro laughing at something Takeshi had said, his guard completely down, looking happier than she'd ever seen him at school. The forest behind him, the fire's glow on his face.
I wish we could have stayed, she thought.
But the city grew closer with every mile, and with it, reality.
The bus pulled into Seika Academy just after 8 PM. Students stumbled off like zombies, parents waiting to collect them, everyone desperate for real beds and hot showers.
Hiro shouldered his backpack, said his goodbyes to the group—"See you Monday!"—and started the walk home. His legs ached. His clothes smelled like woodsmoke. He was pretty sure he had at least three new bruises from various outdoor activities.
He'd never felt better.
The house was quiet when he entered. "Mom? I'm home!"
"In here!" Her voice came from the living room.
She appeared in the doorway, and Hiro was struck again by how tired she looked. The shadows under her eyes seemed deeper than when he'd left. Had she not been sleeping?
"How was it?" she asked, pulling him into a hug despite his protestations about being dirty.
"Amazing. We camped, hunted, swam—it was really great."
"I'm glad." She pulled back, studying his face. "You look happy."
"I am."
Her eyes dropped to his pocket—the one where the medicine bottle created a small bulge. "Did the medicine help?"
"Actually..." Hiro pulled out the bottle. Still full. Still unopened. "I ended up not using it."
His mother's expression shifted—surprise, confusion, something else he couldn't identify. "What? Why not?"
"I just... didn't need it, I guess? I felt fine. My instincts were fine. Everything was under control." He held out the bottle. "I don't really understand what it was supposed to do anyway."
His mother took the bottle slowly, turning it over in her hands. She was quiet for a long moment.
"Mom? What are these pills really for?"
"Hiro..." She sighed, and suddenly she looked even more exhausted. "Can we talk about this tomorrow? You should get cleaned up, get some rest."
"But—"
"Tomorrow," she said firmly, but not unkindly. "I promise we'll talk. But tonight, just enjoy your good mood. Okay?" Hiro wanted to push, but the weariness in her voice stopped him. "Okay. Tomorrow."
She kissed his forehead. "I'm really glad you had a good time. Go shower. You smell like a campfire."
"Thanks, Mom," he said dryly, but he was smiling.
Upstairs, he dumped his bag's contents onto his bed, sorting dirty clothes for washing. The medicine bottle sat on his desk, amber glass catching the light, full of questions he didn't have answers to.
Tomorrow, he told himself. Tomorrow I'll get answers.
He showered until the water ran cold, scrubbing away two days of dirt and sweat and smoke. When he finally crawled into his bed—his real bed, with actual sheets and a real pillow—he felt his entire body sigh with relief.
But before sleep claimed him, he pulled out his phone. A message from Luna waited:
LUNA: Today was really special. Thank you for making it so fun.
He smiled, typing back:
HIRO: Thank you too. We should do it again sometime.
LUNA: Definitely. Sleep well.
HIRO: You too.
He set the phone on his nightstand and stared up at his ceiling. The events of the last two days played through his mind—the hunt, the river, the campfire conversations, Luna's smile across the flames.
The medicine bottle sat on his desk, its contents a mystery.
His mother's words echoed: It'll help with your predatorial instincts.
But what instincts? What was she afraid of?
Hiro closed his eyes, exhaustion finally winning.
Tomorrow, he thought again as sleep pulled him under. Tomorrow I'll understand.
Outside his window, the city hummed with its usual nighttime energy. But in his dreams, Hiro was back in the forest—running through trees, Luna beside him, both of them wild and free and perfectly in control.
Whatever his mother was worried about, whatever those pills were supposed to suppress, it hadn't been necessary. He'd been fine.
Everything had been fine.
Hadn't it?