[ Ω ]—— On another day, in another world, he would likely prance in happiness at the idea of spending time inside so much green that extends to infinity, a tunnel with no exit where all he can see is grass, trees and small animals he can pet, other than a fertile terrain he can grow some vegetables on. The idea of perfect paradise is close to where he’s standing right now, much closer than anyone would think. On the other hand, given what led him and Hikawa there against their will, there’s very little to enjoy at this moment.
It’s unbearably hot. Bangs sticking to his forehead, Shouichi wishes he could take a long, long shower. If only they could retrieve a map, he’d rush to the nearest river or lake and dip in with all his clothes still on him. But there’s no map, nothing to help the two of them gather their bearings, and Shouichi slowly slips into desperation, although only a single thought keeps him from wanting to slam his head against a tree until he falls unconscious.
He’d experienced worse than this. At least he can still walk, talk, breathe on his own, and do something about his current predicament. Some dire situations had him cry, but this won’t be one of them. If he comes to hate the color green because of this, he really is no worth keeping the Agito powers! Thus he marches on, with Hikawa at his side. The presence of his ally, friend and lover is the other thing that keeps him grounded.
“There’s no end to… this,” he huffs in annoyance, hearing both their footsteps as they step on the grass. “And I suppose we’re not alone.” What he also hears are noises that don’t come from either of them, a mysterious source constantly on their tail. He’d like to think it’s just some curious squirrel watching them. However, considering the world they are in, such possibility shouldn’t be taken for granted.
The stressful environment would wear on anyone, and Makoto was no exception. At least there were methods to feel a little less oppressed by the humidity, and the result was him carrying his suit jacket and tie over his shoulder, the top two buttons of his shirt undone. If only he’d been more prepared somehow rather than dressed up for work. His closet wasn’t really equipped for this anyway.
He dropped his free hand on Shouichi’s shoulder. The exhaustion he felt was visibly worse. Makoto couldn’t fix it, but he could try to comfort him somehow. “We aren’t alone even without whatever else is in this forest,” he said encouragingly, then slipping into something wearier. “...But I wish neither of us was here.”
Keeping a lookout hadn’t offered anything yet, but it hadn’t crushed his hope. “They said we have seven days. There must be somewhere we can rest on the way.” Otherwise the heat would kill them much faster than that time limit. It was more awful to think of Shouichi suffering through it than himself.
He offered another shoulder pat before he pulled back his hand. “I’ll find something.”
Without the G3-X, there wasn’t anything else he could do.
