At best, it was a question of whether she'd survive one second or ten.
Ryuuske grew increasingly anxious, struggling to push himself up to look for her. But his body no longer obeyed him—aside from his still-functioning mind, even moving a finger had become a Herculean task. Being saved by a girl didn't wound his pride, but if Green died because of him, the guilt would haunt him forever.
Even if he had killed before, it didn't mean he had become a monster devoid of basic human empathy or shame.
The secrets of this world remained beyond his grasp for now. Rather than waiting for his soul to be torn apart, he had chosen to gamble everything on fulfilling Mewtwo's resolve. But in hindsight, he had acted rashly, letting the strain on his soul override his usual rationality.
From now on, I'll take it step by step. Grow stronger steadily. Once my power is sufficient, I might yet uncover the truth and find a solution.
Having brushed against death, Ryuuske felt he had matured further, his spirit tempered stronger. This wasn't like surviving in the wild—this was true life-and-death desperation. If Green had been even a few minutes slower recalling Mewtwo, he would have been beyond saving.
Leaning against the rubble, he rested until footsteps approached. Only when Green appeared before him, unharmed, did he finally relax.
No—not entirely unharmed.
Crimson trails streaked her skin, fresh blood still dripping, lending her delicate features a fragile, mournful beauty. But compared to losing her life, these wounds were trivial—a bit of medicine, and they'd heal within days without scars.
"Are you okay, Green?"
His voice softened unconsciously as he gazed at this girl he barely knew, his expression complicated.
"Does this look 'okay' to you?!"
Green glared at him, swiping a hand across her cheek—only for her fingers to come away stained red.
She tossed the Master Ball onto Ryuuske's lap, as if spitefully blaming Mewtwo for abandoning her, then sat down and rummaged through her high-tech bag for medical supplies.
"What about Mew?"
"Gone."
"Gone?"
Ryuuske's voice rose slightly in disbelief.
He had overestimated Mew's fighting spirit. A childlike Pokémon fleeing after being beaten down made sense. But if they had provoked something like Rayquaza instead, their fate would have been a wrathful, unrelenting retaliation.
Still, survival was what mattered.
After hastily treating her wounds to stop the bleeding, Green finally turned to Ryuuske. "...How's your body?"
"Too many past injuries from wilderness survival. The minor ones have already scabbed. Some medicine later, and they'll be fine. Right now, I'm just too weak to move. Rest will fix that."
Green studied him carefully. The squirming veins beneath his skin had receded. Though his face was still pale, he no longer sweated profusely. The grotesque, shifting patterns on his left arm had settled back into place, leaving only what now resembled elaborate tattoos.
She debated whether to leave now, but seeing Ryuuske's frail state, she decided to stay a little longer.
"Can you do me a favor, Green?"
"Depends on what it is. I don't owe you anything!"
This time, she was cautious, refusing to volunteer blindly.
"My mouth's parched. Could you get me some water?"
"Get it yourself!"
"Look at me. How exactly am I supposed to do that?"
His voice was weak, punctuated by a few deliberate coughs for emphasis.
Green's eyes sparkled mischievously, her lips curling into a teasing grin. "...Fine. I'll feed you water—but only if you say something nice first!"
She looked like a cat toying with its prey.
"Hmm..." Ryuuske pretended to ponder.
Just as Green thought he'd refuse out of pride, he suddenly pitched his voice higher, shamelessly chirping:
"...Big Sis Green!"
For a moment, Ryuuske wondered if he'd turned into a certain shrunken detective.
Green froze. The term inexplicably reminded her of a little boy who had called her that for years. But unlike those nostalgic memories, Ryuuske's imitation sent a shudder down her spine. This guy is older than me! And that voice is disgusting!
"Ugh, never mind! Just shut up!"
She waved her hands frantically.
"What's wrong? For all I know, you might be older than me."
Ryuuske raised an eyebrow from his spot against the wall. "...How old are you, Green?"
Silence.
Green knew her age, but from five years old until now, the past decade had been… unspeakable. She had never celebrated a birthday. She wasn't afraid of memories—she just refused to dwell on them.
Wordlessly, she pulled out her canteen, then fished a soft cushion from her bag to prop Ryuuske up more comfortably. She held the canteen to his lips, carefully wiping away stray droplets with a handkerchief.
She was good at taking care of people.
The canteen was her own, the rim still carrying the faint scent of her lips. As the life-giving water touched his cracked mouth, Ryuuske couldn't tell if it was his imagination, but the water tasted sweeter, infused with an indescribable fragrance.
"Actually... I meant for you to grab the water from my bag."
Perhaps self-sabotage was human nature. Ryuuske could have enjoyed the moment silently—but no, he had to point it out.
Green stiffened, her cheeks flushing. Then, remembering how he'd manhandled her when she was unconscious, she decided embarrassment was pointless. Shooting him a glare, she leaned back against the rubble and closed her eyes. Facing Mew alone had drained her mentally more than physically.
A weight suddenly pressed against her shoulder. Green opened her eyes to find Ryuuske—completely devoid of vigilance—fast asleep against her.
After a brief hesitation, she didn't push him away.
She let him rest there.
To be continued…
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