They both looked at him, their thoughts clear on their faces. Itsuki noticed but chose not to say anything.
He grabbed an empty bowl and began serving the food.
"With these limited ingredients, I did my best. I hope you like it."
Each of them took their bowl and began to eat slowly.
With each spoonful, a spark of joy returned to their faces. They hadn't expected it to taste this good.
Like a warm soup on a cold winter night by the fireplace, surrounded by family.
That quiet, safe warmth sank into their hearts, too overwhelming for them to resist.
Yule, stunned by the emotion, felt tears well up in his eyes as joy flooded his face.
Hiro, on the other hand, looked down at his bowl, as if rejecting this unwarranted kindness.
Once Yule finished, he wiped his tears and said:
"This is strange. It's just a bowl of soup with meat… but I've never tasted anything like it in my life."
"You're exaggerating now. But hey—some say hunger is the secret ingredient that makes any food taste better.
Still, I won't deny I'm a first-class cook. You should be grateful to taste one of my dishes."
"He was just waiting to brag," Hiro thought, rolling his eyes.
Yule chuckled and agreed, "You're right. This meal deserves to be served in castles and five-star restaurants."
But Hiro couldn't enjoy the moment fully.
His guilt lingered, especially for how coldly he had treated Itsuki earlier.
Finally, he asked the question that had been burning in his mind.
"…Why are you doing all this?
We're not worth your kindness. We might end up trying to kill each other again in a few hours.
Why go through all this trouble—healing us, feeding us… What's your goal?"
Itsuki paused, clearly thinking. Yule also seemed eager to know the answer.
But Itsuki simply said:
"I'm not telling you."
"…Huh?"
"Earlier, you said this wasn't my business and told me to stay out of it.
Now it's the same for me. What I do isn't your business either."
"What!? That's not the same! My reasons were different—besides, I'm not the only one involved—"
Itsuki cut him off with a smile.
"I know. I was joking. No need to get so worked up."
"…Sorry."
Itsuki looked up at the sky, his expression calm.
"Do we really need a reason to do something?
We were all born free to choose between good and evil.
Some choose darkness…
And I chose kindness."
He continued, his voice more serious now.
"But how can I know if helping you was the right thing?
Maybe you'll both choose evil in the future, and then I'll have helped bring more pain to this world.
Or maybe… maybe you'll choose to do good.
And then, I'll have helped two souls who might go on to help many more.
Everyone has the power to change. Everyone can start over.
No one—not even themselves—can stop that."
Those words hit Hiro deeply.
He had always worn a mask of pain and misery, like he was the only one suffering.
But now, he realized he could also be free of his chains.
"But honestly," Itsuki said, shrugging, "I just felt sorry for you. You were starving.
I didn't want to interfere—I just thought maybe I could give you a short break. That's all."
Silence fell over the group.
None of them knew what to say.
So Itsuki spoke again.
"Anyway, how about a little game?"
"…A game?" Yule asked.
"Yeah. Let's say I'm the wisest person in the world.
You can ask me anything—anything you want to know."
Yule's eyes lit up.
He had been waiting for this.
"…Then tell me.
What's the point of this life?
This empty, dull existence.
Why should I go on living?"
He lowered his head, desperation plain in his voice.
Itsuki raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the depth of the question.
Even Hiro leaned in, clearly interested.
Itsuki laughed softly.
"What's the meaning of life, huh?
Well…
No matter what you are—beast, immortal, or god—
you'll face the same ending: death.
Good, evil, powerful, forgotten—everyone fades into the same silence.
Their names become stories told to children, and then even those stories fade.
So what's the point? Why suffer just to die?"
Both boys nodded solemnly.
"But maybe… we're asking the wrong question.
Instead of 'Why should we live?'
Shouldn't we ask,
'Why were we born in the first place?'"
Yule frowned.
"…Isn't that the same question?"
"No.
It matters where you start.
Not 'Why live,'
But 'Why were we created?'
All of us were born without knowing our purpose.
Some die without ever even wondering about it.
But look around.
This world—every atom, every star—is built with such precision, such perfection.
From the tiniest cell to the farthest galaxy, everything is crafted with care.
Is it really logical to believe all of this just… exists by accident?"
The first rays of dawn spilled across the sky.
Itsuki stood, the sun shining in his eyes.
Both Hiro and Yule sat, captivated by his words.
"So what are you saying?" Yule asked.
"What are we here for?"
Itsuki looked at them and answered plainly:
"There is a Creator—
a force that made everything, controls everything.
A will beyond ours.
The mere fact that you exist is proof enough."
Hiro was overwhelmed.
"…If that's true, then what's the purpose we were created for?"
The fire crackled softly between them as Itsuki packed his things.
Both boys felt that this peaceful moment—the warmth, the food, the talk—was coming to an end.
As he turned to leave, Itsuki finally said the words they had been waiting to hear.
"You're right to ask.
That is the purpose of life—
To seek out and understand the One who created us.
To discover why we were made."
Hiro quickly finished the last of his food, hanging onto every word.
"But don't think it will be easy.
You'll suffer. You'll lose people.
You may face death more than once.
But when you finally find that truth—
You'll understand the meaning of life itself."
He paused, then asked:
"Any other questions before I go?"
"…Yeah," Hiro said, "That smoke… what was that thing?"
Itsuki froze, his expression going cold.
"I don't recommend looking into it.
Let's just say… that smoke was the King of the Earth.
Or at least, a fragment of it.
As for what the King of the Earth truly is—that's another matter.
All you need to know is:
You cannot deal with it.
Not even I can stop it."
"Huh?" Yule frowned. "That makes no sense.
From what I saw, you had the upper hand."
"That's only because it was playing.
Attacking at random is the last thing that creature would do."
He turned, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
"Anyway… don't worry too much about it.
It probably won't come after you again.
I don't know if you enjoyed the meal, but…
I haven't cooked for anyone in a long time. So thanks."
Both boys lowered their heads in silence.
He could see the emotion in their faces—was it guilt?
Or sorrow that this strange, kind boy was leaving?
Itsuki smiled.
"Stop with the sad faces already. You're not kids.
We never know when goodbyes will come.
Life is like that. Nothing ever goes as we expect."
He paused.
"You might be thinking you'll never meet anyone who understands you like I did—
someone with the answers you've been searching for.
But who knows?
We might die before the sun sets today.
Or… we might meet someone who changes our lives."
He started to walk away.
"Don't die too quickly, alright?
And remember—
No good ever comes from the King of the Earth."
---
The two boys stood in silence, watching him disappear into the distance.
For a while, they said nothing.
Then one of them broke the silence:
"…He called us friends. Twice."
"What kind of friends try to kill each other?"
"…What a weird guy. But…
Those words… they really saved me."
"Tell me, Hiro. What do you think we should do?"
"…Hiro? I'm Hayami."
"I know. But like Itsuki said—
anyone can start over at any time.
Hayami was the guy I wanted to kill.
But right now, there's only Hiro here."
Hayami paused, then nodded slowly.
"…That doesn't mean we have to be friends.
But I don't mind the idea.
And I don't want all of Itsuki's efforts to go to waste.
So… I'll at least try to do what he asked.
To repay his kindness."
He extended his hand.
"Goodbye, Yule. Good luck."
Yule smiled, accepting both the name and the farewell.
"…Goodbye, Hiro."
And with that, they walked their separate paths,
leaving behind all the reasons that once held them back.
Each heading toward a brand new beginning.