Chapter 7

The girl seemed to be having a bad dream, her brows furrowed and her face contorted in agony.

She looked to be around middle or high school age.

Her youthful features and straight, long hair without any curls suddenly reminded me of Iiris, a companion from another world.

Next to the girl was a half-empty bottle of water, and there didn't seem to be any other food or drink around.

I hesitated for a moment before touching her, but I knew I had to wake her up. I put down my backpack and gently shook her body through the blanket.

Her long hair fell over her face, and she let out a small groan as her eyes fluttered open.

"…Are you awake?"

I asked in a deliberately gentle tone, using the brusque way of speaking I had gotten used to in the other world.

However, her reaction was to widen her eyes upon seeing my face and let out a small scream.

"Ah… I’m not going to eat you or anything?"

I was a bit put off by her obvious display of fear, but I raised both hands while still crouching next to her.

"…I…?"

"I?"

"Are you… alive?"

The girl, perhaps out of defensive instinct, pulled the blanket closer to her chest as she spoke.

Her hands and voice were trembling.

"Hmm? Well, as you can see…"

"…Sorry. I said something strange."

She blinked a few times at my puzzled expression before sitting up and sitting on the sofa.

"No, it’s fine…"

The girl, still wary, kept glancing at me. Her long black hair, which reached her waist, had lost its luster, and her serious-looking face appeared somewhat haggard.

Judging from the lack of food other than the nearby water bottle, I suspected she hadn’t been eating properly.

"Um… are you here to rescue me?"

"I’m just passing by."

When I answered her strained question in one word, disappointment spread across her face.

I opened my backpack and took out some portable rations and water I had picked up from the lower floor.

"…Anyway, do you want something to eat? I have water too."

"…Really?"

I could tell the girl was gripping the blanket tightly.

"Don’t be shy. There’s still plenty downstairs."

I placed a variety of portable rations on the sofa where the girl had been lying, thinking one wouldn’t be enough. She took one with a trembling hand, swallowed hard, and asked again.

"Um, are you sure it’s okay?"

"It’s fine. If you need more, just let me know."

"Thank you…"

Hearing my response, the girl thanked me and, as if making a decision, opened the package of portable rations and slowly put it in her mouth.

As she chewed, she began to sniffle.

"S-Sorry. It’s been three days since I last had food in my mouth."

She wiped her tears with her sleeve, a sheepish smile on her face.

From the situation, it was clear that she hadn’t been eating properly even before that.

Not knowing how to respond to her words, I simply said,

"Take it easy and chew properly."

She nodded and continued to eat, her sniffles gradually subsiding.