Akeno and Boros pressed onward toward the Western nation, navigating treacherous forests and rolling hills.
Night fell, and they finally allowed themselves a brief rest, their weary bodies rejuvenated by the first light of morning.
With each passing day, their conversations grew easier, flowing naturally and deepening the trust between them.
Their friendship strengthened, forged in the fires of shared adventure and mutual respect.
About a week into their journey, they reached a village where summer and winter existed side by side—lush greenery on one side, pristine snow blanketing the other.
Akeno's eyes sparkled with excitement as she took in the surreal sight.
Boros, ever serious, frowned. "Calm down, Akeno. Let's keep moving."
"How can I calm down, Shiro? It's the middle of summer, and it's snowing!" she exclaimed, half in wonder, half in frustration.
Boros's expression remained stern. "I don't care about the weather. We've wasted enough time already."
He glanced at her, narrowing his eyes. "It's been about a week, right? How long until the tournament?"
"Three more weeks—a month, remember?" she replied, flicking his forehead playfully.
Boros rubbed his own forehead thoughtfully. "Good. If we maintain this pace, we'll reach the West just in time."
They trudged through the snow, undeterred by the biting wind and icy drifts. Time lost all meaning, the heavy clouds and mist blurring day into night.
For two relentless days, they pressed onward, their footsteps the only sound in the desolate expanse. The snow had ravaged the land, leaving destruction in its wake.
The village they passed through was gone—erased from the face of the earth—leaving them exposed in the frozen wilderness.
"Shiro?" Akeno's voice was barely audible over the howling wind.
"Yes?" he called back, eyes scanning the white wasteland.
"It's cold," she whispered.
"I know," he replied, his voice low and tense.
"My legs… I can't—" she stammered, collapsing to the ground.
Boros's heart skipped a beat. Horror spread across his face as he sprinted to her side. "Akeno!" he yelled, scooping her into his arms. "Stay with me! Tell me you're just sleeping!" His voice trembled with fear.
Her legs were nearly frostbitten. He quickly wrapped her legs with his clothes, desperate to keep her warm.
Hoisting her onto his back, he ran with all his strength, muscles straining, eyes darting desperately across the desolate landscape. "Shelter… shelter… shelter…" he muttered, a frantic mantra as he searched for refuge from the merciless storm.
At last, a shadowed shape appeared in the distance—a wooden structure, weathered and silver-gray, its beams creaking as if ready to collapse.
"Finally!" Boros shouted, his voice echoing into the night.
But as he turned to reassure her, panic surged. "Akeno? Akeno?" he whispered urgently, shaking her gently.
She did not respond.
Panic surged through Boros as he sprinted toward the dilapidated house, flinging the door open with a burst of adrenaline.
Inside, a woman huddled on the floor, her back pressed against the wall. She looked as if she had been sitting there for hours—maybe even days.
Boros's gaze locked on hers, noticing a flicker of fear in her eyes.
"Leave me alone," she whispered, voice barely audible, brandishing a knife. "I won't give you anything."
But Boros didn't hesitate. He rushed forward, eyes pleading. "I need your help," he said, voice low and urgent.
The woman's eyes flared with anger. 'Help? Can't you see I'm barely holding on?' she thought, tears welling but quickly suppressed.
Boros's words tumbled out in a rush, his gaze unwavering. "Can you hear me? I need your help. This girl—she's hurt. I need you to look after her."
Her eyes flicked to Akeno, then back to Boros, skepticism etched on her face. Then her gaze dropped—and froze. Boros stood there in nothing but his underwear.
Her eyes snapped back to him, face pale with shock. "Y-yes…" she stuttered, voice barely audible.
Boros set his jaw in determination.
"Thank you. I'll be back—I promise I'll protect you in return."
He wrapped Akeno's arms around her and bolted, leaving the woman staring in stunned silence.
"Wait!" she cried, but Boros was already gone.
Collapsing to the floor, she clutched Akeno, whispering,
"I'm sorry, stranger… I'm already at my limit."
...…
Hours later, warmth stirred her awake. Slowly, she opened her eyes, locking on the familiar figure before her.
"It's you… you came back," she murmured, voice husky from sleep.
Boros nodded. "I promised I would." Beside him, Akeno's eyes flickered open.
"Shiro?" she murmured sleepily, rubbing at her eyes.
Boros's face lit up. "You're awake!"
Relief shone in his eyes.
Akeno crumpled into his chest, arms wrapping tightly around him as tears streamed down her face.
"Thank you," she whispered, muffled.
"I heard you," Akeno murmured, voice low and rumbling. "Every time you called my name, I heard you… I'm sorry for making you worry."
He tightened his hold and handed her a piece of bread, eyes encouraging. "Its fine. Here, eat this."
The mysterious woman's voice came as a low murmur. "Is that bread?"
Boros nodded.
"Yeah… want some?"
Her face remained shadowed, but as she reached out, the firelight revealed her features.
Akeno's eyes widened in shock, mouth dropping open.
"Kinuko?" she breathed.
Kinuko's eyes snapped to Akeno's. "How do you know my name?" she asked, low and guarded.
As she stepped closer, wariness melted into shock.
"Akeno?" she whispered, eyes wide with recognition.
Akeno's face brightened as she pushed Boros gently aside and leapt into Kinuko's arms.
"Kinuko!" she exclaimed, voice muffled against Kinuko's shoulder.
"You're okay!"
Kinuko held her tightly, arms wrapping around her with equal force.
"And so are you," Kinuko whispered, emotion thick in her voice.
Boros's gaze shifted between the two women, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
"You know each other?" he asked.
"Yeah, she's a member of my—"
Kinuko's hand shot up, covering Akeno's mouth. Her eyes flicked to Boros, sharp and cautious, before returning to Akeno.
"Akeno," she whispered.
Akeno's smile faltered for just a moment. Then she nodded.
"It's fine. I trust him."
Kinuko studied Boros in silence, her gaze heavy, measuring. After a beat, she nodded.
"Okay… if you say so."
Akeno's smile returned, bright and unapologetic.
"Kinuko's a member of the Eraba Clan," she said proudly.
"I see," Boros replied simply.
Kinuko glanced around the shelter, eyes narrowing.
"That aside… how is this place still standing?" she asked. "And where did you find dry wood for the fire? Not to mention bread and herbs for our wounds."
Her gaze locked onto Boros. She wanted answers.
"You caught on, huh?" Boros said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"I reinforced the pillars with ice to keep them standing. Sealed the windows and patched the roof too keeping the cold out."
Kinuko's eyes widened slightly, but he continued.
"As for the bread, wood, and herbs… remember when I left you alone with Akeno? I went to the part of the forest where it isn't snowing."
Her expression hardened.
"That area is at least two days away."
She narrowed her eyes.
"How did you get there and back in just a few hours?"
Boros shrugged.
"I'm fast."
Then, more quietly,
"And I wasn't about to leave Akeno with a stranger."
"That still doesn't expl—" Kinuko began, but Akeno cut in.
"Wait… Shiro," she said slowly. "You said ice?"
Boros nodded, unfazed.
"Yeah. I'm a Longinus user."
Akeno froze. Her eyes widened.
"And you didn't tell me?" she asked, hurt creeping into her voice.
"We've been traveling together for a week."
Before Boros could answer, Kinuko spoke, her voice low and thoughtful.
"I wonder what caused a snowstorm like this… in the middle of summer."
Silence fell.
Then Boros spoke—flat, unapologetic.
"It was me."