reborn

- ; one

┇✧┇

If you're the type of person who lives in a mundane world, trudging through busy streets and booming buzzes one day after another, you may possibly wonder if a forest is actually located in the same world you're in.

❝ Issen. ❞

Well, that is until you hear the familiar voice of a coworker calling out for your name.

❝ Oh, I'm coming. ❞

And so there I went off, leaving my previous position, from where I was staring deeper into the thick woods, trying to see what lies beyond the vegetation, but my eyes could only see so much.

❝ Geez, you seem busy over there. ❞ One of my seniors, and the male who called out for me, Travis, commented as he was finished putting up his tent. ❝ What are you, on a hunt？ ❞

❝ Please, Trav！ You know Issy, always in his own little world~. ❞ A younger voice chimed, and the next youngest of us here, although the age gap of five years still is pretty huge, if you'd ask me.

❝ I ... honestly don't know if I should take that as a compliment. ❞ I replied to the auburn-haired man as he sat on the log set up in the middle of our site.

❝ Don't 'cha even worry, Issen; Mathias meant no harm！ ❞ This time, a feminine voice spoke up, followed by a faint, silvery laugh. ❝ I mean, take off that serious face, bro, we're not even in the office！ We're on a vacation for a reason: to relax~. ❞

All of a sudden, the girl took my hand, pulling me towards where the logs are, so we could have our seat.

❝ On the other hand, you don't even have to change your personality, Nerissa. ❞ I spoke bluntly, plopping down between two of my coworkers. ❝ You never did seem un-relaxed back at work, so. ❞

❝ Exactly！ I make sure my life is as chill as a snow cone~. ❞

... Blink, blink.
❝ Are. Are you, a five year old, or something？ ❞

❝ More like twenty-five, ❞ And now she sticks her tongue out, making her statement way more unbelievable.

I simply rolled my eyes.

❝ Wow, even after we bring you camping, Issy's still grouchy. ❞ Mathias said after a mock gasp. ❝ Is this a curse！？ ❞

❝ You. Are an idiot. ❞ I sighed, massaging my temples. ❝ A single trip won't change the person I am. ❞

❝ It should at least lighten up your mood a bit, however. ❞ Travis butted in, joining us in our conversation.

❝ Yeah, yeah！ Didn't you, like, ask for this to begin with？ ❞ A simple question, but the femme leaned her body a bit too much to her side, when it should only be a bit of her head.

❝ Perhaps, I did. ❞ I replied, keeping a straight face.

❝ A'ight, then why- ❞

❝ Neri, I'll just get some firewood with Trav for later. Wanna join？ ❞

❝ Oh cool-！ ❞

And now all my companions are up on their feet.

❝ Issen~！ 'Ya comin'？ ❞

❝ I'll ... stay here and keep guard. ❞

❝ Ooh, good call. We'll be back in a jiffy, then~. ❞

And just like that, the trio bid me goodbye as their figures slowly faded away into the deeper parts of the woods.

... Huh, what was Nerissa supposed to say earlier？