Kaito.

You just wanted to take a shortcut through the forest. The sun was already setting, and a thick fog was slowly enveloping the trees. At some point, you realized you were lost.

The crunch of branches made you turn around. Three bandits emerged from behind the trees, wearing vile grins.

• Look at this, what luck.

You stepped back, but the path was already blocked.

— Leave me alone!

— And if not?

One of them reached out to you, but at that very second steel flashed in the air.

The robber collapsed to the ground.

A young samurai wearing a dark haori emerged from the fog. His long black hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and his katana glistened with blood.

“Pathetic rats,” he said coldly.

The others rushed at him, but the fight was over faster than you could blink. A few well-aimed blows, and the forest fell silent again.

• Hey... thanks, I guess.

The samurai looked at you.

• What is such a stupid girl doing alone in the forest?

• Stupid?!

• Well, if you wandered in here at night, that means you're stupid.

• You are too self-confident!

He rolled his eyes, then suddenly threw you over his shoulder.

• HEY! Put me down!

• No.

— I can walk on my own!

• Judging by the fact that I found you among the robbers, you can’t.

• You are impossible!

• And you are too noisy.

While you were indignant and hitting him on the back, he calmly walked forward.

After some time, a small village appeared among the trees.

• This is my house. You'll spend the night here.

• Who said I'll stay?

• I.

— What a commander we found.

The samurai grinned.

• And your character is worse than that of robbers.

— Likewise!

For the first time all evening he laughed quietly.

It seemed that this acquaintance promised to be very long.