Previously in NWC-
The mayor called in a favor with the farmers to let Reno stay in a barn. He and Luna made their way to their new sleeping quarters where they quickly fell asleep. Luna suffered from her recurring nightmares but was comforted by a sleeping Reno. Reno, unaware of the fact that he would not be waking up back home, sleeps throughout the night...
In the early morning, before the sun is even halfway up the horizon, the day starts with full energy. "NOOO!"
Luna flies out from under the covers to investigate. "What's wrong, Reno?!"
Reno is sitting upright, holding his head in his hands. "Why am I still here?! I should've woken up back in my real body!"
"Uh oh…"
"Why the hell am I still here?! Maybe I'm just unconscious? Maybe I'll wake up soon? There's no way I'm ACTUALLY in a DIFFERENT of existence, right?"
"Reno…"
"Huh?!" He turns to face her, his face displaying a comical level of confusion and fear.
"I was truly hoping you'd realize this on your own… this isn't a dream. You are here now, there is no way around it."
"But… it doesn't make sense! I didn't die in my other world! I threw 30 pounds of potassium into my parents pool and then it exploded! I wasn't blown up or anything! Last thing I remember was falling backwards…" Reno's head shoots up with realization. "No… it CAN'T be! Did I hit my head on one of those stupid decorative rocks mom was so adamant about putting in the yard?! No… that still shouldn't be enough to kill me… right?"
"Reno…"
"You're kidding me… what about Arthur?!"
"Is Arthur your brother?"
"Yes! The same one who, without me, will be forced to study all day, every day! His future is as good as gone if I die! I can't be here!" Reno's voice continues to become more and more hysterical.
"Uhm, R-Reno! Please try to calm yourself!" Luna, as a result of Reno's behavior, begins to panic herself.
"What the hell do I do? Do I just kill myself here and hope I return?" He grips his head and begins to pull on his hair.
"Reno! You mustn't do that! If we get enough of my power back, I can try to help you!" Luna, who's borderline yelling, floats in front of Reno's face.
"And how the hell do you intend to do that?!" He looks at her, his eyes wide and fearful.
"I can't say for sure, but at the very least I'd be able to use a miracle to let you see him!"
"Are… are you lying to me?" Reno's voice is tinged with hope as he speaks.
"By helping me regain my power, you are doing much more for me than you realize. The least I can do is help you in return."
"But, you're not lying, right?!"
"I promise you, Reno; I'm not lying." Luna does her best to sound as reassuring as possible.
Reno visibly begins to calm down as he takes deep breaths. "I… I trust you."
"I'm very happy to hear that." Luna floats over and hovers in front of Reno again. "I understand you're stressed out, but sitting around thinking about it won't help."
"I know… I just need a minute to calm down." Reno recollects himself before finally getting out of bed. "First things first, I need to earn some money so I can fight those bandits." Reno quickly gets himself ready for the day, leaving the barn.
"Please, don't overdo it…"
"I can either sit around and mope or I can work myself into the ground. Only one of those is productive." Luna tries her best to cheer up Reno but fails to do so before they reach the gate. She quickly hides herself and Reno enters the town hall. "Good morning, Mayor."
"Young Reno, you're up early! The farmers haven't even set out yet!"
"I just really wanted to get to work."
"That's the spirit! I wish the other young men in this village had half as much enthusiasm as you! I won't hold you up then. You already know where the tools are, right?"
"Yes sir." Reno quickly procures the hammer and nails and gets ready to set out.
"Hold on, young Reno."
"Yes?"
"I couldn't help but notice you're wearing the same clothes as yesterday…"
"That…that's right. I don't have anything other than what I'm wearing right now."
"I see… I didn't know your predicament was so severe…" The mayor contemplates. Finally, he reaches a conclusion. "My son was around the same size as you when he left home… would you like some of his old clothes?"
"(I really want to deny him… he's already done more than enough for me, but…)" Reno manages to go against his own wishes. "…Yes please."
"Wait right there then!" Despite Reno feeling like he was asking too much, the mayor seemed ecstatic to help. The mayor enters a door into what is presumably the portion of the town hall where he lives. After a couple minutes he returns with a box overfilling with clothes of various designs. "I know they ain't nothin' special… but I'd be more than happy to see them be put to use. It's sad thinkin' about them sittin', waitin' for someone who ain't gonna come back." Having said that, the mayor goes quiet for a second. Smiling once more, the mayor returns to his seat. "Go on, don't be shy! Why don't you get changed so you aren't workin' in the same clothes again?"
"… Thank you, mayor. You've helped me more than you could ever imagine."
"Oh, c'mon now. Everyone your age just calls me 'Old Man'."
"Thanks… Old Man." Reno gives an awkward smile before picking out a pair of clothes. He chooses a blue short-sleeved shirt and black shorts. "Is it okay if I leave these here until tonight? It'd feel like a waste of time to walk them all the way back now if I'm just going to do it anyways tonight."
"Oh, of course! I'll put them somewhere I'll remember to remind you." The mayor stands up to grab the box before Reno does so.
"If you tell me where, I can move them."
"Don't go thinkin' I can't carry my own weight! This old man'll get the better of you if you don't watch out."
Reno chuckles. "I guess I'll need to start training so I can fight back!"
The mayor laughs loudly in response. "You're damn right! You can set the box right next to me, young Reno."
Reno quickly sets the box down. "You wouldn't happen to have somewhere I could change clothes… would you?"
"Of course! Just head through that door and it will be the second door on the right." The mayor points to the door from which he got the box of clothes.
Reno walks over to the door. "Thank you," he says, opening it. Behind the door is a hallway that leads to the living room. Each side of the hallway has two doors. Repressing his curiosity and desire to explore, Reno enters the second door on the right. "A bathroom? They have this level of plumbing in this universe?" Reno, while intrigued, begins changing clothes. As he goes to take his shirt off, he stops.
"What's wrong, Reno?" Luna flies out of Reno's shirt and hovers in front of him.
"You have to leave."
"Reno… I understand your desire for personal privacy, but I cannot risk being seen. I promise to close my eyes, however."
"How the hell am I supposed to know if they're actually closed?"
"Do you not trust me?" Reno stares, stone faced, at Luna. "You said you trusted me this morning?!"
"It was a moment of weakness." He turns away, crossing his arms.
"Reno… if we're to be journeying with one another then we must establish a stronger level of trust. Besides! I have been hiding within your shirt and you've yet to say a word of protest until now!"
"So when you regain your human form, I get to watch you change too right?"
"Well… that's different!"
"How?!"
"Because… because I'm a goddess!"
"That excuse is getting REALLY old…" Reno bites his lower lip. "Fine, I don't have time for this! I need to get to work." Finally, he gets changed, returning to the old man.
"Find it alright?"
"Yes, thank you. I'll be back later today."
"Before I forget; if you set your dirty clothes on the top of that box, I'll wash them for you!"
"Sir…" Reno watches as the mayor's brow furrows, preparing to protest. "Thank you." Sighing and smiling, Reno sets the clothes down as instructed.
"Don't work yourself too hard, ya' hear? Don't be afraid to give me a holler if you need somethin' to drink or eat!"
"I'll keep it in mind…" Reno exits the building, sighing with relief. "I know he just wants to help, but it feels like I'm taking advantage of him…"
Luna pops the top of herself out of Reno's shirt collar. "He appeared to think otherwise."
"I know… I just." Reno sighs. "From the sounds of it, his son isn't returning. Whether he moved far away or he's no longer among the land of the living; the old man is lonely."
"Perhaps he sees his son in you?"
"This world just keeps getting more and more complicated the longer I'm in it." Reno makes his way to where he left off the previous night. As he's about to get to work, the farmers walk by.
"Thanks fer' your hard work, new guy!" "Thanks for fixing our fence!" "Thanks for fixing mine too!" The men continue to shower Reno with praise as they make their way to work.
Reno blushes slightly and waves shyly. "Just glad I could help…"
Luna waits for all the farmers to pass by before speaking up. "Someone seems quite pleased with themselves."
"Don't ruin this for me. Not counting my little brother, that was more praise than I've gotten in my entire life combined."
"I see… from the looks of it, if you continue to help around the village, you'll be getting much more."
"You think so?"
"I know so."
"I'd better do better than yesterday then!"
TO BE CONTINUED...