Yushio noticed the girl slowing down, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. He turned to her, concerned etched on his features. "Are you all right?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.

She shook her head, trying to hide the grimace of pain on her face. She didn't want to burden him.

Yushio's eyes swept over her form, noticing the blood on her bare soles. Guilt washed over him - how could he have been so careless? He had failed to notice that she had been running without shoes this entire time. He felt a deep sense of responsibility for her pain and knew that he had to take care of her. 

Not forgetting the urgency of the situation, Yushio turned his back to her and crouched down. With no time to waste, they could not afford to slow down. He had to think fast and come up with a plan to get them out of this situation safely. He knew that carrying the girl on his back was the best option, despite feeling slightly uneasy about it. But there was no other choice.

Yushio noticed Hana's hesitation and realized that she was struggling to keep up with him. "Hop on," he said, gesturing for her to climb onto his back. Though she seemed embarrassed, she didn't protest, knowing that they needed to move quickly.

Soon, Yushio could feel her arms wrapped tightly around his neck and her body pressed against his broad back. With her weight secured, he hoisted her up as he rose to his feet, not breaking his stride for a moment. They resumed their mad dash towards safety, with Yushio's powerful strides propelling them forward.

As the men's angry voices grew fainter and fell behind, Yushio couldn't help but feel a sense of relief washing over him. Finally, the danger that loomed behind them seemed to be subsiding. He allowed himself a moment of calm, even though he knew they were not completely out of the woods yet. Regardless, they were going to make it out alive.

Before them, their footsteps halted before a large bush. Yushio cautiously scanned the area to ensure that they weren't being followed. Carefully, he pushed aside the verdant vines cascading in front of them, revealing an enchanting courtyard with a cozy cottage nestled in the center.

The girl's eyes widened in amazement as she took in the sight before her. It was like something straight out of a storybook, and the beauty of it all left her breathless.

As they neared the small house, Yushio remembered the letter he had received from a fellow dreamer. It contained a code that would unlock the door and grant them access to a safe hideout.

With the girl still on his back, he fumbled in his pocket for the crumpled piece of paper. His heart leaped with excitement as he felt the familiar texture of the parchment. Quickly, he input the code on the lock, and with a satisfying click, the door unlocked.

As Yushio rushed inside, he gently placed Hana down on a couch, which was a plush beige fabric with fluffy pillows. He made sure to lock the door behind them. 

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude and admiration.

"Thank you. I don't know what I would have done without you,"  the girl said. “I’m Hana, by the way”.

Yushio felt a warmth spread through his chest at her words. He had never expected to be anyone's hero, but the way Hana looked at him made him feel like he was capable of anything. He couldn't help but smile at her.

"You can call me Yushio. Remain still," Yushio instructed, his tone firm yet reassuring. "I'll retrieve the medicine."

Hana could do little more than nod in response, her attention wandering around the interior of the house.

The couch sat in the center of a cozy living room, with a small coffee table set in front of it. The table was adorned with a vase of fresh flowers, adding a touch of elegance to the space. However, the rest of the room was cluttered with stacks of cardboard boxes, making it clear that the house was not yet fully unpacked. Despite this, the space still felt inviting, with a warm and comfortable atmosphere.

Yushio quickly rummaged through the cupboards, searching for the first-aid kit. His heart thumped in his chest as he checked the contents, relieved to find it fully stocked. He picked out a bottle of antiseptic and gauze, feeling a sense of satisfaction at the sight of them.

He turned to Hana, who was still sitting on the couch with a blank expression. He approached her, kneeling down to inspect her wounds. Her feet were bruised and bloodied, with cuts and scrapes all over. It was no surprise that she was in pain.

Yushio uncorked the bottle of antiseptic, the smell of it filling the room. As he soaked a piece of gauze in the liquid, Hana exclaimed, “Wait wait!”

Yushio paused, looking up at her with a raised eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

“I’m scared… Let me prepare myself.” she admitted, taking a few deep breaths to steady herself. 

Yushio looked at her amused. 

Hana grabbed a cushion from the couch, clutching it tightly as she closed her eyes tightly in preparation. "Go on," she said, steeling herself for the pain.

“Alright. It will sting just a little,” said Yushio as he carefully dabbed it over her injuries.  At the point of contact, her body instinctively flinched at the jolt of pain. However, the sting was too intense to stifle. With a sharp intake of breath, a pained "ouch" escaped her lips, her face contorting in discomfort.

"Just a little bit more. It’s almost done," he reminded her. Hana clenched her jaw and nodded with determination. Once the antiseptic had been applied, he carefully wound the bandages around both her feet.

"Try not to strain your feet so much. You should rest," he advised as he tidied up the first-aid supplies and returned them to their proper place.

As the chaos of the events settled in her mind, Hana finally gathered enough courage to break the silence.

"Can I ask you a few questions?" she inquired, determined to get the answers she wanted this entire journey.

Yushio paused, his back still turned towards her. Was he taken aback? Not really. In fact, he had been expecting this moment.

"Go ahead," he replied, turning to face her. "What do you want to know?"

Hana took a deep breath, steadying herself before speaking. "Where is this place? I remember I was clearly sleeping before I got... transported to this world?"

It was not surprising that Hana did not guess that it was a dream. Afterall, it was a term only known to Lucids.

Yushio made his way over to the couch and took a seat beside her. He began to explain in a slow, measured tone the distinction between Lucids and Muggles, and went on to detail how the dream world functioned.

"... So, this place we're in right now is the dream world. It's a place where our subconscious can manifest itself. You were able to enter this world because you are one of the selected few that has the ability to dream consciously,” he finished, his eyes fixed on Hana.

Hana sat there in silence, trying to process everything that had been said. It sounded like a fairytale, something that belonged in a storybook rather than reality.

"But how is that possible? How can I be dreaming and yet it feels so real?" she asked in disbelief. 

Yushio spoke, his expression grave. "That's because in the dream world, anything is possible. Time flows differently, and our senses are heightened. It feels real because, in a sense, it is.” 

Hana nodded, her mind racing with new information. It all seemed so unreal, yet the events that occurred so far had been too vivid and too real to dismiss as simply a dream. 

"Thank you for explaining everything to me. I...I still have so many questions, but I think I need some time to process all of this," she said.

Yushio nodded in understanding. "Take all the time you need. We have a lot to do, but we can worry about that later. For now, let's rest and focus on healing your wounds."

Hana gave a grateful nod, her body feeling exhausted and in need of sustenance. As she did, her stomach emitted a loud growl, causing her cheeks to flush with embarrassment.