The story begins on a small, sparsely inhabited island called Nonemu. On this island, there is a boy who has searched his homeland for secrets and unexplored places countless times. He has turned every stone, inspected every tree, and overturned every hut. He has been to places where one shouldn't linger and even to places where he probably shouldn't have been. One might think he is a brave boy. However, to best describe this boy's courage, one should use the word "naive" because he constantly throws himself into dangerous situations from which he can barely escape.
Among the inhabitants of Nonemu, Hitshiro is already a well-known figure. The owners of the small shops, in particular, must be on their guard. Hitshiro was never fortunate enough to have a family to care for him. He grew up on the dusty paths of Nonemu and had to learn to fend for himself from a young age. These experiences have made him an independent and curious boy who is not afraid to explore his homeland for secrets. Hitshiro has always had an insatiable desire to explore the mysteries around him. His special interest lies in the hidden caves and deep forests on the island, which he believes could be a source of endless adventures. While Hitshiro constantly finds himself in dangerous situations, he is often plagued by doubts and fears. The voice of reason whispers in his ear, telling him to be more cautious, but his curiosity drives him ever forward. He knows that each time he ventures into danger, but he cannot resist the irresistible allure of the unexplored. And so, the boy finds himself in new problems every time, just like in this moment.
Hitshiro has already ventured far into the forest, driven by his insatiable curiosity. Sunrays penetrate the dense canopy, dancing on his sweaty forehead. A cool breeze caresses his skin, making him shiver slightly, but that's not the reason for his trembling.
Suddenly, a loud growl emanates from behind him, followed by a deep rumble and a dull thud. Hitshiro turns around and freezes in fear. Before him now stands a massive mother bear. Her eyes gleam with rage. She is many times larger than him, and her muscular limbs threaten to pounce on the boy at any moment.
Slowly and cautiously, he tries to retreat. But the bear also takes a step towards the boy, and he realizes that there is only one rational solution to the problem. He must run away as fast as he can, and so he stumbles backward hurriedly, searching for a safe escape. His heart is pounding so hard it feels like it might leap out of his chest. His mind races with thoughts.
Where did the bear come from all of a sudden? What have I done to her? Why does this always happen to me?
Slightly panicking, he looks around and spots a large tree nearby, hidden between bushes and rocks. Without hesitation, he sprints towards it. His legs carry him as fast as they can. As Hitshiro hides behind the tree and holds his breath, he can't hear anything for a few seconds. But as expected, the mother bear is not distracted. Crackling and snapping signal her return. With a tremendous thrust, she now rams her massive body against the tree. The impact is so strong that not only does the tree shatter, but Hitshiro is also thrown several meters away from it.
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"Darn it, what do you stupid bear want? I haven't done anything to you!" he now growls at the bear.
He lands hard on the ground and groans in pain. His body feels numb, and his breath escapes in rapid, shallow gasps. But he doesn't have time to recover. The mother bear is already back on her feet and fixates her gaze on him. Her eyes are filled with merciless and inexplicable anger from the boy's perspective.
Hitshiro knows that he can't escape simply by running away from the bear. He struggles to his feet and looks around for a hiding place.
There must be something here, some way I can escape from the bear. Forests aren't usually this open!
Although Hitshiro should know every corner of Nonemu by heart, his mental map becomes hazy when he finds himself in a situation like this. Nervously and with a slight limp, he zigzags through the forest, until he suddenly catches a glimmer of hope. A heavily overgrown rock with an opening beneath the moss catches his eye.
With the last of his strength, he runs as fast as he can toward the rock. His muscles burn from the effort. The mother bear is hot on his heels, her steps sounding like an unstoppable thunder. Hitshiro feels the bear's hot breath on his neck as he approaches the cave. The darkness greets him like a protective cloak as he slips inside.
A loud thud occurs as the mother bear tries to follow the boy into the hole. However, she is too massive and broad to fit into the small opening, even for Hitshiro. He startles for a moment due to the loud impact, but he quickly realizes that he is safe for the moment. The air, which he had held in from tension the entire time, is released in one breath, and he relaxes into the pit.
That could have gone horribly wrong. I was lucky there was a hole here. Honestly, I should be in situations like these more often. My mind was too overwhelmed with running away, and I couldn't concentrate. I can't let that happen again, or next time, I might become bear food.
As he looks around, he realizes that the cave is much smaller than he had thought. Calling it a cave would be a complete exaggeration. A pit would describe it better, as it's difficult for Hitshiro to turn around in there. But he shouldn't hope to get out of there quickly either because the bear, still furious, is now comfortably stationed outside the rock and doesn't appear to be leaving anytime soon.
Is he really going to wait here until I come out? Then I'll have to spend the night here. Eventually, he'll have to leave again. Then I can disappear from here!
It's quiet now. While the threat of the bear has disappeared, a new one has emerged with the arrival of the mysterious archer. This time, however, Hitshiro is helplessly exposed to this danger.