Natsume Yushio wanders through the forest, belonging to the latter of the dreamer category. His long, jet-black hair was tied back in a half ponytail, the length of which reached just before his broad shoulders. Other than the black hoodie and long pants he wore, the covered shoes especially spoke volumes about his experience as a seasoned dreamer.

A serious and firm expression hung on his face, as he observed his surroundings with hawk-like precision. 

"Hmm, seems like they're not patrolling here today," Yushio thought to himself, knowing fully well that such a lull in security meant he could delve deeper into the heart of the forest. He pressed on, his mind and body fully attuned to the dream world's unique possibilities and dangers. 

To his surprise, the serene ambiance of the forest was abruptly shattered when a piercing scream reverberated through the air. It appeared to be the cry of a girl, and the source of the scream seemed to be emanating from the skies above.

A girl’s voice?

He had been wandering in the forest, lost in his thoughts, when he heard her scream. He looked up and saw her falling, tumbling through the air in a free fall. Panic seized him as he realized he couldn't do anything to stop her descent.

As she hurtled towards him, he tried to move out of the way, but it was too late. She crashed into him, and he felt the impact knock the breath out of him. He stumbled backwards, trying to regain his balance, and felt her body land on top of him.

For a moment, he was too stunned to move, too shocked to even comprehend what had just happened. The girl lay on top of him, her body scraped and bruised from her fall. He could feel her heart pounding against his chest, and he realized that she was just as disoriented as he was. Perhaps even more than him, considering her immense fall. 

As Yushio lay there, dazed and confused, he heard the person apologize frantically, “Oh my god! Are you okay?”

He opened his eyes to see a girl on top of him, looking flustered. He couldn't help but notice how pretty she was, with her scarlet hair cascading down her back and her big, doe-like amber eyes. But he quickly shook off those thoughts, realizing that he was lying in an awkward position with a girl he had just met.

“I’m fine. Can you… get off me first?” he finally managed to say, feeling his face turning red. 

She quickly got up and dusted herself off, apologizing once again for the accident. 

“Thanks for saving me by the way. If it weren't for you, I can’t imagine what would have happened,” she said, looking at him with gratitude.

But I wasn’t trying to save you… He propped himself up and offered her a smile tinged with awkwardness.

“It's no problem. If there’s nothing else, I’ll get going,” he said, turning around to leave with his ears blushing. 

As he walked away, he could feel her eyes on his back. He turned around to see her shuffling her bare feet nervously, clearly unsure of what to do next.

“Wait!” she called out to him. “Can I follow you?”

He looked at her in disbelief, raising an eyebrow. “Why?” he asked.

“I don’t know where I am and you’re the only person I’ve met here so far,” she replied earnestly.

Yushio furrowed his brow, studying her expression. She didn't seem to be lying. Perhaps she was a new dreamer. 

“Fine, you may follow me for today,” he relented. They walked in silence for some time, with the girl trailing behind him.

Suddenly, the girl asked with curiosity, "Oh, do you hear footsteps? Is there anyone else here besides us?"

Yushio's heart pounded in his chest as he heard the sound of footsteps. Yumeno's inquiry about other people in the forest made him realize that there could be danger lurking nearby.

He quickly scanned their surroundings and saw three menacing-looking men approaching with weapons at the ready. Yushio cursed to himself. How could he forget the main purpose of coming to this dangerous forest in the first place?

Without hesitation, he grabbed the girl's hand and pulled her behind a tree, shielding her from view. As the group drew closer, Yushio's muscles tensed in preparation. He couldn't let them harm this girl, who was still so inexperienced in this dream world. He silenced her with a gentle yet firm hand over her mouth and whispered for her to stay quiet.

He wished he could have spied on the group himself, but with this girl by his side, he knew he couldn't risk it. He could feel her trembling against him, like a newborn bird frightened by the world around her. The men's voices grew louder and more menacing as they approached.

"Hey, are you sure you heard correctly? I see no girl in sight," said one of them.

"I'm definitely sure. It was from this direction," replied another.

"We must get her. It's been long since our last capture and Boss is getting impatient," added the third.

Yushio's heart raced as he realized they were being hunted. He turned to Hana, placing a finger over his lips to signal her to remain quiet. "Those men are after you," he whispered urgently. "They're dangerous, and we have to get out of here now."

The girl's eyes widened with fear and confusion, but she nodded in agreement, her grip on his hand tightening. Yushio scanned their surroundings once more, making sure the coast was clear. "We'll sneak past them," he said in a low voice. "Just stay close to me and do exactly as I say."

Together, they moved stealthily through the undergrowth, trying their best to avoid being seen or heard. Yushio knew that being caught by those men would be disastrous, so he was extra cautious.

As the sound of footsteps grew louder, the girl gripped onto his shirt tightly. Just as they were about to pass the men undetected, a twig snapped loudly under the girl's foot, shattering the silence of the forest.

"Did you hear that?" one of the men exclaimed, turning towards their direction.

Yushio knew they had to act quickly. Without hesitation, he pulled the girl behind a nearby bush, their bodies pressed close together as they hid. The men searched for a minute longer before giving up and continuing on their way, their voices gradually fading into the distance.

The girl let out a deep breath, and Yushio could feel her tension easing as she relaxed in his embrace. He couldn't help but notice the way her eyes lingered on his, and he found himself staring back. 

Clearing his throat, Yushio broke the tense silence between them. "We need to keep moving," he said urgently. "They might come back."

He led the girl through the forest with a sense of purpose. They moved quickly, weaving through the trees and undergrowth with ease.  Abruptly, the sound of rustling leaves caught their attention and they both spun around, on edge. Yushio held his breath, hoping it was just the wind, but his fears were confirmed as one of the men appeared before them.

As the man’s eyes fell upon them, his eyes glinted with a twisted delight. He had been expecting only one dreamer, but the sight of two was a stroke of unexpected luck. He savored the moment, relishing in the thought of capturing them both and delivering them to his boss. It was indeed an auspicious day for him.

"Hey! There they are!" he shouted to alert his comrades, while raising his weapon.

Yushio didn't hesitate. He grabbed the girl's hand tightly and started to run, pulling her along with him. The forest blurred past them as they sprinted towards the outskirts.

Behind them, the man gave chase, voice raised in anger. Yushio could hear his footsteps growing closer, and his heart raced with fear.

Just as he thought they were about to be caught, he remembered there was a secret hideout within the forest.

Hope welled up in his chest as he urged the girl to keep running.

"We're almost there!" he encouraged, his voice strained with effort.