Right as the two were to begin, Arata's heart sank. He could barely hear what Naroshi would have said, as he was already staring over the younger boy's shoulder at the looming beast behind him. This extremely tall and wide boar, one which towered over Naroshi, would be the creature behind him, breathing heavily, drooling like the pathetic, stupid, dangerous beast it is. He could barely tell whether or not Naro had noticed himself, as Arata continued staring at the red, bloodshot eyes it held. Seemingly, the creature had a foam falling from its mouth, a telltale sign of a rabid beast, meaning that he and his friend were in even more danger than previously thought. It would be no doubt in the elder male's mind that this large creature would sooner kill them both than to return to minding its own business, though what had attracted it to them, he wondered. Could it be that fruit which had harmed Arata so, the purplish pink food which had dropped from the tree? It must be quite a devilish fruit indeed, if the scent of the juices which had lightly dribbled itself onto the grass had attracted the creature.

"I-I don't know.." Arata would respond to his friends' asking him as to what they should do. He didn't wish to abandon Naro to the beast, as it seemed more fixated on him than Arata himself, but the boy was crippled with fear, with ignorance on how to handle this. When the creature screeched, about to charge towards the two, Arata would have already bolted off in a different direction than his friend would have taken, instinctively running off in fear. He could hear Naro scream for them to run, but Arata had already known that or, at least, his body already knew to do that. 'I should try to make sure Naro is okay.. Why can't I move from the direction I'm already taking?' He would think to himself as he continued to run off at full speed. He would crush fallen branches and leaves under his feet though he didn't hear the sounds of a rampaging beast behind him. It seems Arata was right in assuming that it went after Naroshi and, with a sigh of relief, he would hide behind a tree, waiting.

"Stupid, stupid stupid!" He would say furiously to himself as the sinking feeling arrived. He had abandoned his friend to get most likely killed by that boar. He could hate himself all day for this as he had felt guilt. The one person that he actually befriended, and now he left them behind. Talk about a great friend Arata was, he knew he should have just minded his own business back then, when those bullies were attacking Naro. If he had, he felt neither of them would be in this mess now. He knew he had to do something, but what? His legs trembled with fear, a silent prayer to an absent God would be made, prayer to give him the power to make him able to save his friend, though as usual there would be no answer. Night after night of prayer for his father to show up, for his mother to just give up her concern about her personal appearances and just love her son, yet once again, when the boy truly needed it, the Crickets had Arthritis. Knowing no one else would be around to save his friend, Arata would have to suck it up and try to do it himself. Naro was a kind boy, Arata knew that much, he knew that if anyone deserved to be mauled by a Boar, it would be him instead of Naro.

One trembling step would be taken after the other as Arata would step from his hiding place. The steps would grow faster as he would go off in the direction he assumed Naro had taken, and soon they would increase to a jog, then running, and then a sprint. "I'm coming for you, Naro!" Arata would say, still ensure about his choice in doing this. Second thoughts had already crashed upon him like a wave, screaming about how he can still turn back and try to forget about him, and that he won't be connected to what had happened if they found the body, that he can still turn his life around and try to be a better kid, that Naro wasn't worth it, though those were lies, he knew. Naro was worth it, it's the one with those thoughts that really isn't. Sprinting on and on, Arata would quickly attempt to scope out where Naro and the Boar had gone, only to eventually end up seeing the Boar itself, or at least its backside, as it had begun to slowly close in on something out of sight.

The creature was but a few meters away, and all Arata would have is a broken branch he would pick up from nearby, hoping the shattered, jagged end would be enough to hurt the creature. Slowly he would attempt to near it, though another intense pulse would shoot through his skull, echoing the word "Calm" while Arata himself would hold his head, his eyes closed. "Calm" He would say, and as he said it, the pulse would cease, and his eyes would open. When he had stepped towards the beast once more, the leaf he had just then crushed by accident would make no sound, surprising Arata himself for a moment, though he assumed that perhaps his prayers were answered, after all. He had no time to figure out what had just occurred, and instead he would focus on the Boar itself, whom of which didn't seem to hear him in the slightest. He would run as fast as he can towards the back right side of the animal, thrusting the jagged end of his stick towards its hide, attempting to pierce it in the section of skin in between its thigh and rib-cage.

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