My Parents Locked Me Up, So I Snuck Out.

Chapters 36-40

Chapter 36: Humor in Dark Times

Later that evening, as they prepared for bed, the atmosphere had lightened. Nande was busy cleaning out the kitchen area, muttering under her breath about how Kana had left a trail of mud through the entire underground space.

"You'd think for someone so skilled at sneaking around, he'd know how to clean his boots," Nande grumbled.

Kana, lounging on an old couch, raised his hands in defense. "Hey, I saved us with this place. I'm allowed to make a little mess."

Ashia snorted, trying to suppress a laugh. "Yeah, I'm sure that's how it works."

Mina, who had been quiet most of the evening, couldn't help but chuckle. "These people are insane." But it was a good kind of insane—something she hadn't realized she needed until now.

"Maybe I don't need to be so serious all the time."

Chapter 37: Training for Survival

The next morning, Kana and Nande suggested they all begin practicing survival tactics—just in case the guards from Mina's family showed up again.

"Alright, let's start with something easy," Kana said, tossing a wooden stick to Haru. "Pretend this is a sword. Now, try to hit me."

Haru raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious?"

Kana grinned. "Completely."

With an exaggerated sigh, Haru swung the stick at Kana, who dodged easily. "Too slow! Come on, Haru, I thought you were better than this."

"I'm not trying to kill you!" Haru exclaimed, laughing. "Do you want me to hit you?"

"Yes!" Kana said. "Give it your best shot."

Nande leaned over to Ashia and Mina, shaking her head. "He's always like this. Show-off."

Ashia smirked. "I think it's kind of funny."

Mina watched them, her heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time. "Maybe I don't have to live in fear all the time."

Chapter 38: The Quiet Moment

Later that day, after hours of training and joking around, Mina found herself alone for a moment. She sat outside the underground hideout, looking up at the darkening sky. It was the first time she'd been outside without feeling the need to run.

"Is this what freedom feels like?" she wondered.

She still wasn't sure. But for the first time, she wasn't thinking about her parents, or the guards, or the walls that had once trapped her. Instead, she was thinking about Ashia's laughter, Haru's quiet strength, and Kana and Nande's odd but comforting presence.

"Maybe... this is enough."

Chapter 39: A New Threat

Just when they thought they could relax, Ashia spotted something strange while out gathering firewood. There, hidden in the shadows of the trees, was another one of the black cars she'd seen before.

Her heart pounded as she ran back to the hideout, her mind racing. "They've found us again. How did they find us?"

She burst into the underground space, her voice breathless. "We need to go. Now."

Everyone froze.

Kana jumped to his feet, grabbing his gear. "Where?"

Ashia's eyes were wide. "There's another guard car outside. We don't have much time."

Mina felt a chill run down her spine. "Not again... please, not again."

Chapter 40: Escape, Again

Without hesitation, the group gathered their things and prepared to leave the underground space. "How did they find us?" Nande muttered as she packed a small bag. "We were careful."

"Doesn't matter now," Kana said sharply. "We need to move."

As they headed out through the hidden tunnel, Mina found herself struggling to keep calm. "I thought we were safe here. I thought I could stop running."

But as they moved through the forest, the sound of footsteps echoed behind them. "They're getting closer," Haru whispered.

Kana motioned for them to pick up the pace. "Stick to the plan. We know the forest better than they do."