"It’s no use. There are too many of them. All we can do is hide and wait for help."
Fee peered out from the shadows at the museum's interior. The number of monsters only seemed to be growing. He kept his voice low as he updated Yui on the situation.
Praying she couldn't see the bodies strewn across the floor, Fee replayed the events that had led them here.
He had escorted Yui to the restroom, but by the time they had finished and returned to the meeting point, Uno and the rest of the group were gone. They had been left behind.
At a complete loss as to where the others had moved, they had been standing there when the monsters attacked. He had instinctively grabbed Yui and ducked into the hallway near the restrooms they’d just left. That was where they remained, huddled in the dark.
The sector appeared to be completely overrun. Aside from the two of them, there wasn't a single soul left moving.
Fortunately, since they were insect-based monsters, their intelligence seemed low. Fee felt a stroke of luck that they hadn't been discovered yet, but an unspeakable anxiety still weighed on his chest.
Those monsters... they changed right in front of us, he thought. They went from bugs to these half-human things. What the hell was that?
The transformation had clearly increased their ferocity. It was hard to believe the change was purely cosmetic; he assumed their combat capabilities had spiked as well.
If that many of them find us... Fee shook his head hard, trying to banish the dark thoughts. As he did, Yui spoke in a small, trembling voice.
"I'm sorry, Fee. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be caught up in this."
"You don't have to apologize, Renjou-san. It’s my fault. I must have misunderstood the instructions, and that’s why we got left behind."
"That’s not true. You were listening carefully. I’m sure there was just a mistake on their end. Please, Fee, don't blame yourself."
The two continued to wait for rescue, apologizing and encouraging one another in turns. After a long silence, Fee whispered softly.
"If I were strong like my brother, I could have beaten those monsters and gotten you out of here... I hate being so weak."
If Yugo were here, he would have fought the monsters to protect Yui and wiped them all out. Fee imagined his brother carving a path through the chaos, then hung his head, feeling pathetic by comparison.
Hearing this, Yui sounded even more crestfallen.
"If we're going to talk like that, then it’s my fault for being blind. If I could see, I wouldn't be such a burden to you. Maybe we could have escaped the building at the very beginning..."
"Ah..."
Fee winced. His own negativity had brought her down.
He was about to sigh and wallow in his own incompetence, but then he remembered his brother's words and bit his tongue.
Listen, Fee. I know it's hard. I know you want to complain when things get tough. But when people are looking to you, you swallow those words and act strong. Smile when you're in a pinch... that’s Hero's Condition #7. Don't you forget it.
Yugo had understood the urge to complain in a crisis, but he also knew that doing so only made everyone else feel more helpless. To reassure those crushed by anxiety, a hero had to act tough and smile, even if it was forced.
Fee saw the truth in those words reflected in Yui’s reaction. Rousing himself, he forced a smile onto his face and looked at her.
"It’s okay, Renjou-san! Someone will come for us! It’s scary, I know, but I’m going to protect you. I might not be the strongest guy around, but... I promise, I won’t let anything happen to you!"
"Fee..."
Yui could see the state of Fee’s soul. Looking at him, she could see the fear and anxiety swirling within him—those dark, negative emotions were there.
But his soul also overflowed with courage—a light so bright it suppressed the fear. Seeing the inner strength he used to overcome his own terror, a small smile finally touched Yui's lips.
"I’m glad I’m with you. You’re very brave. Thank you, Fee."
"Y-You think so? Well, if I helped you feel even a little better, then I'm glad."
Fee smirked bashfully at the direct praise. For a brief moment, a spark of warmth flickered between the two children, holding onto hope in the midst of despair.
Then, a voice cut through the air.
"My, my, my... what a precious little couple. It's so, so, so irritating."