Chapter 45
AKIRO Later that night, after dinner had been shared and laughter had faded into yawns, the camp settled into a soft, peaceful silence. A few of the others had already crawled into their tents, while some stayed out just a little longer, bundled up by the last glow of the fire, talking in low voices under the moonlight. Tamaro and I hadn't said much since our moment by the lake. But something between us had shifted—something unspoken, fragile, and safe. I unzipped the flap of our tent, stepping inside first to spread out the sleeping bags. It wasn't much—just two foam mats, some extra blankets, and the sound of the night outside—but it felt like a small world of our own. Tamaro followed me in quietly. He sat down beside me and began removing his shoes. I handed him a small towel and a
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