Chapter 8: Keep going, and you’ll reach your destination
"I can't... continue... I need... to rest... a little," Julian's body was being pulled toward the ground, and his mouth was wide open, struggling to inhale oxygen.
"A little rest won't hurt," Hinako was more exhausted than him, but she kept pushing herself and motivating her mind by imagining a pristine lake ahead, with fish jumping here and there.
But now, she truly wanted to rest—the imaginary lake wasn't going anywhere.
They were about to sit down when they noticed familiar things on the ground.
"Hahaha, this... hahaha... hahaha!" Julian collapsed to the ground, laughing hysterically and uncontrollably.
"Impossible, how can this be?!" Hinako froze in her place, unable to believe what she was seeing.
Scattered across the ground were oranges, pomegranates, and apples. Two oranges were peeled, a pomegranate was smashed on the ground, and an apple had a bite taken out of it.
These scattered fruits on the ground were like a cold blade piercing their hearts.
Even Hinako, who had been encouraging herself moments ago, was utterly shattered at this sight.
'I'm finished,' she thought as she dropped to her knees, a dead expression on her face.
Julian stopped laughing and looked at the 'lifeless' Hinako with a strange expression.