The sun beat down on Hinata, stacking weights of heat and exhaustion onto him. Travelling during an afternoon like this on foot was an ordeal. With each step it felt like his feet were dragging miles of heavy chains along with them. He sweat like a waterfall, to boot. Slowly he eased his head towards his partner.

Komaeda looked like he'd just strolled out of an air conditioned building. The white-haired boy was still full of energy, walking (Nearly skipping, even) carefreely along the road, like no one had told him they'd been hiking for five hours.

He's so thin and fragile… the look of someone who'll complain of sore feet after 10 minutes of walking… but he isn't, even now… dammit… where the hell is he keeping all this energy…

Hinata relaxed a little when signs of a nearby town fazed into sight, just on the horizon. Downhill, too. "There it is, Hinata-kun! Good thing, my feet are beginning to hurt." Oh, your feel hurt, do they...

After awhile it was clear that the town, named Harvest Breeze, was ringed in by a large, rapidly flowing river. At first Hinata huffed, wondering if they'd have to tread the perimeter until they found means of crossing, up until he noticed there was a small boat service to ferry visitors to the isle town directly down the road. He grinned briefly, but once they were close enough there appeared to be a small gathered mob around the dock. The pair struggled to listen in on the discussion.

"Where is the boater?" "I demand to know what the holdup is!" "I was supposed to get my sword repaired in Harvest Breeze ages ago!" What was probably the boater's apprentice shook his hands at the mob, quietly trying to calm them down and insisting that he hadn't the faintest clue either.

"Looks like the man in charge of transporting the boats is missing… and has been for awhile." Komaeda observed. It didn't look like anyone was getting into town anytime soon. Hinata sighed heavily, and looked around. The sun was descending. The air was cooling. They needed somewhere to stay. And Harvest Breeze wasn't looking possible.

"Where are we gonna sleep?" Komaeda spun around the area, stopping in the direction of a couple trees with large, sturdy branches, and smiled. "Hinata-kun, have you ever slept in a tree before?"

Had he ever slept in a tree before? No. Will he look forward to ever sleeping in a tree again? HELL no. Hinata woke up with a charming all-inclusive complimentary package of pain, featuring a stinging headache, sore limbs, and an aching back. He grunted uncomfortably as he shifted himself to the side, rubbing his eyes and seeing the white-haired boy already up and at it. He sat calmly on a rock, watching the crowd wake up and slowly gather once more at the docks. What struck his interest was that he was nibbling on something. Driven by hunger, he pulled himself out of the tree and towards the other.

"Good morning, Hinata-kun!" He chirped kindly. "I see you had a… erm, probably a rough night." Hinata ruffled his hazelnut clump of messy spiky hair, praying it didn't look like he had climbed out of a sewer. Or a tree. "What are you eating?" He looked to what the other was munching on, with a hopeful look.

"Grass." Komaeda grinned.

"Grass?" Hinata asked quizzically.

"Grass." Komaeda shrugged, showing off the grass roots in his palm.

"...Grass…." Hinata scowled at the "meal".

"I think when we get into Harvest Breeze we should consider getting actual traveling food, Hinata-kun." He mumbled. Hinata-kun couldn't have agreed more. His empty stomach ached and gurgled, but grass just wasn't going to cut it. "Of course, for you, I mean. You don't need to do anything for me. I can live off grass if needed!" Komaeda added, chuckling a little. The brunette was more than aware that the other boy was just as hungry, if not more, and he was not going to let him eat grass like goddamn cattle. They were both going to eat a decent meal, whether Komaeda complied or not.

The situation on crossing the river hadn't changed. Eventually the point was driven across that the visitors just needed to suck it up and wait already. Komaeda, however was unconvinced, and approached the apprentice directly.

"Can you tell me where the boater is?" He gazed deeply at the anxious apprentice, almost intimidatingly. Komaeda's stare didn't waver at all, and all focus was directed at him, almost hypnotizingly. "I ask because if he's in danger, we can go check." The apprentice looked like a nervous wreck. He shook and looked around, while Komaeda didn't budge an inch, remaining serene and calm.

Apparently this relaxed focus seemed to do the trick. "He… he owns a mine, just down the road. He heard news that a tribe of goblins have taken over the cave, and ran into it full of rage… w-when he didn't return, I, uh, well, a mage offered to go look for him, and…. they… haven't come back either." Komaeda nodded, and stood up, satisfied with the information.

"Are you really going to go in there…? It's not safe… wh-what if he-" The white-haired boy looked behind his shoulder back to the apprentice. "Are you really just going to sit here and worry? Is that truly the extent of your hope? Awfully pathetic, if you ask me." A look of puzzlement was the reply. "I expect to see a more optimistic expression when we return, okay?" He turned to the apprentice. Still puzzled. But Komaeda took that as an acceptable reply, regardless. Hinata scooped up his old, splintery blade. It looked like a quest was in action.