While huddling within the grasses, I began to reflect. Why did I flee? I wanted to die with dignity, to leave this world quickly and painlessly, and I was in a position where I could’ve done so. So why did I back away? Was I just a coward? Maybe so, and because of that, I had let a way out of this place slip away from me. And unfortunately, it was now too late to go back and try again.

I paused as I thought about this. On the other hand, it probably wouldn’t hurt to check and make sure.

I couldn’t see much from where I was due to the grass blocking my view. Additionally, there was a constant ringing sound around me since I escaped the carriage, which made it difficult to hear anything else.

So to get a better look, I moved a little bit into the road, just enough to be able to peek towards either side of myself. Once I got far enough, I took a glance toward my right. And as I did, I was able to see the back of the carriage in the distance. By now, it was too far away for me to reach, even if I tried. But with that in mind, what else could I do?

If I wasn’t willing to take a chance at leaving, then what could I do while I was here?

Continuing to look around, I was able to make out what looked to be empty space hidden behind some trees, not too far off to my left. I paused, recognizing what I was looking at. I’d put that off for a while, hadn’t I? So much had happened in the past hour or so since I had left, and I wasn’t sure whether I should even show myself again. However, I did promise her earlier that I would return. And with that in mind, it probably wouldn’t hurt to say goodbye.

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After I crossed the road, I went up to the top of the ledge, looking down at the forest floor below. The slope was steep and jagged. Though I had done so before, I still had doubts that I could make it down in one piece. How could I be sure I wasn’t just lucky when I fell down the first time?

My thoughts were interrupted as I began to hear a sound—the ringing finally beginning to cease. And, to my alarm, the sound I heard was one of crackling. I didn’t know where it was coming from, so I began to look around for a source. And almost immediately, I saw flames on the grass surrounding me. For a moment, I froze. Left unattended, even the tiniest flame can erupt into an inferno. And it was impossible to predict how far it would spread—and who it would affect—in the process. As such, it was better to put it out before it reached that point.

There wasn’t any water nearby, from what I could tell, so instead I used myself to try and put out the flames. Since I couldn’t feel temperatures, I also didn’t feel any pain while doing this. Fortunately, this seemed to work, as the blazes went away as I smothered them. However, as I went back onto the road, it was clear that at least some damage had been done. In the patch of grass that the fire had burned, not a single grass continued to grow, charred ashes being all that remained.

I wasn’t exactly sure how this fire had started. After all, things don’t just spontaneously combust. I looked around until I noticed an area on my back side that was glowing white. Did the fire start because of that? And if so, was it possible that I had caused a fire to start on the other side as well?

To make sure, I looked toward the other side of the road, back to where I previously was. And to my dismay, I was able to see a fire burning. To make matters worse, this fire was even larger than the one I had just put out. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to put this out. But at the same time, I didn’t see anyone else around who would.

So as quickly as I could—which wasn’t all that fast, all things considered—I crossed the road again, back toward where I previously was. I could only hope that I wasn’t too late.

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Once I made it across, I leaped onto some of the burning grasses, hoping to smother the fires out. This was successful for the shorter grasses. However, this fire had reached the shrubs, which were too tall for me to climb in just one jump.

Still, I continued. I turned toward the shrub and leaped onto its stem, causing it to fall over as the fire continued to roar. And as this happened, I inched along the stem of the plant, trying to maintain my balance as I did. It wasn’t long before I reached the top of the shrub, where the fire was strongest. And from here, my weight was enough to pin the shrub to the ground. And I stayed on top of it as I tried to smother the flame. This probably wasn’t the best method to put out the fire—especially since I was still warm—but my options at the moment were quite limited.

Fortunately, before long, I was able to extinguish this flame. But afterwards, I was faced with two issues. The first of which were the red splotches that had begun to populate my view, no doubt a consequence of my effort to put out the fire. And unfortunately, these splotches made it more difficult for me to see. But the second issue was far more severe. While I was putting out the fire on this first shrub, the fire continued to spread, growing more and more intense as it did.

Despite this, however, I wasn’t ready to give up. I turned to another burning shrub and leaped towards it. But this time, I had far less success, and I instead crashed into some burning foliage. And this only served to further cover my view with more splotches. And it wasn't long before I could barely see anything at all. Still, with what little vision I had left, I looked up. And when I did, I was able to make out a flame interacting with the leaves of one of the trees.

In desperation, I tried leaping toward the leaves—as high as I could. But it was to no avail; the leaves were far too high for me to reach. And as I fell back to the ground, the last thing I saw before my vision was covered in vibrant red was the leaf beginning to burn.

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After a few moments had passed, I tried getting back up again. However, I was unable to tell whether I actually had, as the sea of red covering my view made it impossible for me to see anything else. Because of this, I was also unable to see the fire, though I could hear it blaring around me as it continued to spread.

I wondered if there was anything I could still do to put out the fire. However, since I couldn’t see where I was going, I had no idea whether I would actually be putting out the fire. If anything, I’d probably be making things even worse if I ended up causing even more fires.

I could wait until I cooled off and could see again, although I had no idea how long it would take for that to happen. For all I knew, it was possible that while I was waiting, I would burn away myself. Even still, I wasn’t sure what else I could do. Like this, I was a danger to everyone and everything around me. Whenever I moved, fire would certainly follow. I suppose this is the consequence of sticking myself into situations where my presence clearly wasn’t needed or wanted. In the process, all I did was create even more problems.

Perhaps it would be for the best if I simply remained still and did absolutely nothing for the time being. I was used to it, at the very least. Besides, so much had happened in the past hour or so. Perhaps what I needed was some form of rest, even if actual sleep wasn’t possible.

But before I did, I thought back to those I had met and befriended recently: Sobue, Oyakawa, Aikawa, little Kouji, and all the others—even Yabuki. Hopefully they made it out safely—if they were still around, that is. I also recalled the trees. And as for them—well, I could take or leave them, if I was being honest. Still, unless the fire makes it to the bridge, they could probably just head over to the other side. I had seen some of them do so earlier.

And finally—I thought back to the girl in clearing. She seemed nice enough, and I didn’t want her—or any of the others, for that matter—to suffer from my mistakes. Still, there wasn’t much I could do myself, so I could only hope that she had a place to weather the fire. It probably wouldn’t hurt to check when this was over, but until then, I would just have to wait.

After I finished with my thoughts, I remained still, waiting for myself to cool down and for the inferno to run its course. But I wouldn’t get the chance to do that, for I would soon be interrupted by a familiar voice.