The fire had settled into something quiet.
Small orange tongues licked at the wood, crackling softly, like they had no urgency left in them.
The kind of fire that didn't demand attention anymore. The kind that let you think.
I sat there, elbows on my knees, staring into it.
"…Huh pretty."
That was it. That was all my brain managed to produce after everything that happened today.
(Fell from the sky, nearly froze to death, almost getting drowned, got hunted and eaten, killing that frog, and finally got up the camp and cooking dinner.)
"…Yeah, it a pretty normal day."
A pause.
"…Very normal."
The fire popped.
I exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of my neck.
"Okay… no, seriously… what the hell was that."
Silence answered me.
Well. Not exactly silence.
"Scree~"
I glanced to my right.
Exe floated there, slightly above shoulder level, his ribbon lazily swaying.
"…You're way too calm about our situation."
"Scree."
"Yeah, I know you almost solo'd a giant murder-frog. Good for you."
The ribbon nudged my arm.
I sighed, leaning back slightly.
"…I'm joking, but… seriously…"
My eyes drifted back to the fire.
"…That frog almost killed me."
There it was.
The part I kept skipping.
The part I joked over.
The part I ran past like it wasn't there.
I swallowed.
"…I was inside it."
The smell came back for a second.
My stomach twisted slightly.
"…I really thought that was it."
A small laugh escaped me.
Weak.
"…And my brilliant plan was 'hit it harder.'"
"Scree."
"…Hey,I know it worked."
Another pause.
"…Barely."
I rubbed my face slowly.
"…I talk a lot right now, don't I?"
Exe tilted slightly.
"Scree?"
"Yeah. Like… a lot."
I gestured vaguely.
"Jokes, sarcasm, random nonsense… talking to imaginary readers…"
I stopped.
"…Okay that last one might be a problem."
"Scree~"
"…I also ok about that."
I leaned forward again, staring into the flames.
"…It's just… easier, you know?"
The words came out quieter this time.
"…If I don't take it seriously."
The fire cracked.
"…If I start thinking too much about what actually happened today…"
A pause.
"…I might panic."
That one sat there.
Heavy.
Honest.
I exhaled slowly.
"…So I joke."
I shrugged lightly.
"…I talk nonsense. I act like it's all some kind of game."
A small smirk formed.
"…Because if I don't, then I have to admit I got dropped into another world with a body I don't fully understand, no real strength, no plan…"
I glanced at Exe.
"…and the only reason I'm still alive is because of a floating sword."
"Scree!" ✨
"…Yeah yeah, don't let it get to your head."
The ribbon tapped my arm again.
Gentler this time.
I looked at it for a second.
Then smiled faintly.
"…Still."
I reached out and lightly flicked the ribbon.
"…Thanks."
Exe didn't move away.
If anything, he drifted a little closer.
Good.
I leaned back, letting my weight rest on my hands.
"…You know what actually helped today?"
"Scree?"
"Cooking."
I let out a small breath.
"…Sounds stupid, right?"
I shook my head.
"…But when I was cutting that meat… organizing it… figuring out what was usable…"
My eyes softened slightly.
"…Everything made sense."
No monsters.
No panic.
No falling from the sky.
Just…
"…Steps."
I lifted a finger.
"Cut here."
Another.
"Separate that."
Another.
"Cook slowly."
I let my hand fall.
"…It's simple."
A small smile appeared.
"…Controlled."
I glanced at Exe.
"…Nothing jumps at you while you're cooking."
A pause.
"…Well. Usually."
"Scree~"
"…Don't jinx it."
I chuckled quietly.
"…Back where I came from, cooking wasn't just… normal."
I paused.
Something quieter settled in my voice.
"…My mother loved it."
A small breath.
"…She's Japanese… but obsessed with French cuisine."
I let out a faint laugh.
"…Like, completely obsessed."
My eyes stayed on the fire.
"…She used to watch shows from Philippe Etchebest like it was religion."
A small smile.
"…She always said she wanted that level at home."
I rubbed my thumb lightly against my palm.
"…So she cooked. A lot."
Pause.
"…And she made me cook too."
A softer tone now.
"…Hundreds of recipes. Maybe more."
I shook my head slightly.
"…At first it was annoying."
Then—
"…Then it wasn't."
The fire flickered.
"…It became… our thing."
I swallowed lightly.
"…I even worked in a restaurant once."
A short laugh.
"…Thought I'd go all the way with it."
Then—
"…I hated it."
Flat.
Simple.
"…The pressure. The noise. The people."
I exhaled slowly.
"…It killed everything I liked about it."
A pause.
"…So I quit."
Silence.
"…That was the only time she looked… disappointed."
My gaze lowered slightly.
"…Not angry."
"…Just… disappointed."
A long breath.
"…I think that's the only thing I regret at that moment."
The fire cracked again.
I stayed still for a moment.
Then—
"…But cooking itself?"
I shook my head.
"…That never left."
A faint smile returned.
"…Because it wasn't about the job."
I glanced at Exe.
"…It was about that feeling."
I tapped my chest lightly.
"…Calm."
Silence settled again, and confortable this time.
Exe slowly drifted down, his ribbon wrapping loosely around my forearm again.
I glanced at him.
"…You really like doing that, huh."
"Scree~"
"…Yeah, yeah. 'Sticky type.' I remember."
I didn't pull away.
Instead, I let my arm rest naturally.
"…It's fine."
A small pause.
"…Actually…"
I exhaled slowly.
"…It's nice."
The words surprised me a little.
But they felt right.
I looked up at the sky.
Stars.
( Certainly different constellation, but at least there still stars around.)
"…Day one, huh…"
A faint smile.
"… and I'm not dead."
I tilted my head slightly.
"…That's already a win."
"Scree."
"…Yeah. Big win."
I pushed myself up slowly, stretching a little.
"…Alright."
I glanced at the tent.
"…If I stay awake too long, I'm going to start overthinking everything again."
I pointed at Exe.
"Rule number… whatever: we sleep."
"Scree?"
"Yes. Sleep. Very important human activity. You should try it sometime."
He floated in place.
Judging me.
"…Don't give me that look, I was really joking now."
I stepped into the tent, crouching slightly as I entered.
The sleeping bag looked… way too comfortable.
"…This is really comfortable ."
I poked it once.
"…and definitely suspicious."
Still—
I slid in.
(Warm.)
Immediate regret for every life decision that didn't involve this earlier.
"…Okay… yeah… this is good…"
I sank deeper.
My body finally… finally relaxing.
Outside, I heard the faint crackle of the fire.
Inside—
"Scree…"
Exe drifted in quietly, hovering near the entrance.
Watching.
Guarding.
I turned my head slightly.
"…You staying there all night?"
"Scree."
"…Yeah… thought so."
A small smile.
"…Good."
I closed my eyes.
Just warmth.
"…Hey, Exe, I still expect that all that journey are still a dream and I will just wake up at a hospital bed…"
"Scree?"
"…So…tomorrow…"
A pause.
"…Let's try not to get eaten again."
Silence.
Then—
"Scree~" ✨
"…Yeah."
A faint breath.
"…Sounds like a plan…"
And just like that—
Sleep took me.
(Mom….Dad….I…really…hope…you're…ok…where..your…are)