At 6 o'clock in the morning, Koujou woke up out of habit. Even though it was his day off, he had grown accustomed to this early waking time from working at the factory. He stretched lazily and gazed at his still-sleeping wife and daughter, their peaceful faces bringing a smile to his lips. What a serene life they led. Quietly so as not to disturb them, he slipped away to the slightly smaller living room.
Since they were a family of three, the Grass Village provided them with a slightly larger room and a smaller living room. However, there was no private bathroom, so they had to use the public washroom outside.
As Koujou entered the living room, he paused for a moment and glanced at the "Outstanding Employee" award hanging on the wall. After a while, a faint smile tugged at his lips as he murmured to himself, "Outstanding employee..."
Not wanting to wake his family, he spoke softly. Feeling a sense of accomplishment, he gathered his toiletries and headed outside.
As he closed the door, he heard a soft click beside him. Turning, he met the eyes of the man who had just come out of the neighboring room. Both of them froze momentarily, but then exchanged smiles and nodded at each other. Next door lived the Ishigami couple, another working pair who had come from the Land of Rain. However, they had no children, likely due to the war and its uncertainties.
They had initially resigned to live out their days like this, but upon seeing the job opportunity, they decided to give it a chance and moved to the Land of Grass. Similar to Koujou and his wife, the Ishigami couple diligently worked in the Land of Grass as well. They were dedicated employees and planned to have a child if they could settle down here.
"Good morning, Mr. Ishigami!"
"Good morning, Mr. Koujou. You're up early too!"
They exchanged greetings, acknowledging the similarities in their work schedules and different work locations that limited their interactions to only a few encounters in the morning and evening.
Dressed in their green protective uniforms, they walked to the bath together, humming a familiar tune. The sight of each other in similar work attire brought warmth to their hearts. They were all fellow workers who had come from the Land of Rain to work here.
They were united by their shared experience as workers. There was no need for formality. As they approached the bath, they joined the company of others who had also woken up early. Smiles and greetings were exchanged among everyone, creating a sense of camaraderie despite the chilly winter morning.
After they finished washing up, they walked back together. When they arrived st their respective doors, Mr. Ishigami held the doorknob and gazed at the heavy snow outside with a hint of emotion. He softly asked Koujou, "Are you planning to go out today with your family?"
"Yes!" Koujou replied, understanding the unspoken meaning behind Mr. Ishigami's question. "It's a rare day off. And are you and your wife also planning to go out today?"
"Yes, we're going to buy some things!"
"You're fortunate."
"Isn't Mr. Koujou as well? And you have a lovely daughter too!"
They exchanged a few simple words before wishing each other a great day and Mr. Ishigami headed into his room.
Koujou smiled, watching him close the door, and then turned his gaze to the snow outside. He murmured, "Such a peaceful life," before opening the door and calling out softly, "I'm back!"
His wife had already woken up and greeted him with a smile. "Breakfast will be ready soon!"
"You've worked hard, Shuko!" Koujou sat down, watching his wife busy in the kitchen, and felt grateful for the peaceful life they now led.
After a while, Ruko woke up too, and the whole family enjoyed breakfast together. It was the first time they cooked at home since arriving in the Land of Grass. Initially worried about how they would manage meals during the holidays without the cafeteria, they were relieved when they received wages and a year-end gift package containing food from the Grass Ninjas.
The family finished breakfast and tidied up. Koujou smiled at his wife, who had the same expectant look in her eyes, as they prepared to go out.
The lights were turned off, windows closed, and the door shut. Ruko clapped her hands in excitement, looking forward to their outing.
"Remember, when we're outside, behave and don't trouble others," Shuko reminded her daughter with a serious expression, though she had a smile on her face.
"I know!" Ruko nodded obediently.
"Don't worry, we have permission to go out!" Koujou assured his daughter with a smile. "Daddy has money today, so Ruko can buy whatever she wants!"
Ruko's eyes lit up, thrilled by the prospect. "Can I really?"
"Of course!"
"Awesome, Daddy is so generous!" Ruko exclaimed happily.
"Koujou~!" Shuko gestured to her husband, reminding him not to let Ruko's enthusiasm lead to excessive spending.
"It's okay! Everyone is so happy today, so let's have fun!" Koujou replied, rubbing his eyes and smiling at his family.
"Let's go!" Both Shuko and Ruko responded enthusiastically.
As they passed through the gate, the Grass Ninja guard bid them farewell with a reminder to return early. The family stepped outside, and along the way, they encountered other workers in green protective uniforms also going out. Smiles were exchanged, and everyone seemed eager for the day.
As they strolled along the busy streets, Koujou's eyes welled up slightly, but a smile of contentment soon graced his face. He whispered to himself, "The Land of Grass is truly lively!"
He tightly held his wife's hand as they walked forward, a sense of appreciation in his heart. Next year, he would work diligently once again to repay the leader for the peace and happiness they now enjoyed.