The raindrops pattered continuously, drumming against the wooden roof. Logan sat quietly in the simple hut, the night outside as dark as ink. The serene beauty of the day was nowhere to be seen, and the distant, unseen sea had turned into a black, surging tide under the pouring rain.
The weather at sea was always unpredictable, one moment cloudless skies, the next a torrential downpour. The fishing village where Logan resided was naturally affected. The muddy land stretching inward and the scattered houses on firmer ground, stood under the flickering lights in the cold, rainy night.
The fire crackled, maintaining warmth within the hut. The sound of the burning wood contrasted with the gushing water flowing through the less-than-ideal drainage system. Logan's closed eyelids twitched as he sensed the chaotic environment outside. He could sense the leaves beaten down by the rain, the fish jumping for air, the insects burrowing into the soil. Suddenly, there was a new sound, the creak of a door opening, the rain soaking the dry wood, and trudging footsteps approaching.
The source is not far away, only about fifty meters away from him.
When the footsteps stopped outside the door, Logan opened his eyes.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Hattori-san, it's me..."
"Come in."
Logan's calm words, as he already expected this, cut off the person outside mid-sentence. The young man outside the door awkwardly shut his mouth, feeling strange as this scenario had happened multiple times.
"Excuse me."
The door opened, and the sound of the wind and rain grew louder for a second before the door was shut again.
"What is it?" Logan took a look at the visitor and didn't pay much attention. His percept range told him it was from the house of the troublesome little girl, and the visitor is her brother, Kazuya.
The young man named Kazuya came in and took off his raincoat, revealing a face that was only seventeen or eighteen years old. The constant sea breeze had given him a tougher appearance compared to others his age. When he came in, he saw Logan sitting there impassively.
Kazuya knew the man in front of him has always had a calm expression since he came to this small fishing village. Except for becoming a little softer when talking to his sister, he always gives off a clear 'keep your distance' vibe.
"Um..." Kazuya rubbed his hands, and a simple smile unconsciously appeared on his face, " It's nothing much, I just came to thank Hattori-san for looking after my sister these past few days. Also, sorry for any trouble she caused."
Logan didn't need to look at the other party's face to know that he was talking in a roundabout way.
"Mm, she has been quite troublesome." Logan replied bluntly.
"..." Kazuya was not prepared for such a straightforward response. He froze for a while and awkwardly scratched his head, "Also, I heard my sister said something inappropriate today..."
Logan raised an eyebrow, recalling the unpleasant afternoon, 'It turned out to be this.'
"Such as?"
"Such as..." Feng smiled awkwardly and said bravely, "Mai said that you are a wanderer who envies Samurai-sama and can't afford a long sword..."
"Wasn't it you who said that in front of her, and she picked it up?"
"Well, Hattori-san must have misunderstood something. Mai is young and speaks without thinking." There was no trace of redness on Kazuya's tanned face, and he did look genuinely concerned.
Seeing the hardworking brother who had been out laboring all day looking so awkward, Logan decided not to hold it against him and waved his hand, "It's fine. So, you came all the way here on such a rainy night just for this?"
"Yes, I'm truly sorry..."
"..."
Logan was rendered speechless by this. In the end, Kazuya didn't stay any longer. He bowed, put on his raincoat again, and returned to the unrelenting wind and rain. He comes and goes so quickly.
Listening to the sound of Kazuya's footsteps fading away in the rain, the door creaked open and then shut again. The house, which accommodated two people no better than Logan's dilapidated hut, became quiet.
After a while, the lights went out.
Logan sighed. He came here two months ago and got acquainted with these siblings when they were so poor they could hardly afford food.
Back then, it was Mai, who couldn't help but knock on the door of their new neighbor due to hunger, but she only had time to finish her words before her brother scolded her and brought her back.
They had just lost their father, who had been solely responsible for raising them. He went out to sea and did not return home all night. What came back a week later was only a broken fishing boat.
The big brother, who was not yet proficient in fishing skills, followed others out to sea, but his harvest was very poor. He couldn't even solve their food problems and had borrowed from everyone in the village, reaching the end of his rope.
Logan had merely given them some food and money, nothing more.
After that, Kazuya seemed to realize the unreliability of going to the sea and began to work in the city. Because he was young, he managed to find a job as a coolie. Although the work was hard, it was at least stable and rewarding. Then, at the end of the day, he would weave fishing nets and made shoes, enabling the siblings to sustain themselves.
It's not easy for these siblings. They cling to each other and struggle in a small fishing village, holding on to the ray of hope that still exists.
Therefore, in the hearts of these siblings, Yu Xiaobai, the new neighbor who suddenly arrived, held special significance, as his help in the most difficult time is very memorable. Mai loves to play with him, and Kazuya felt reassured by his presence. When he learned that his sister had said something impolite, he braved the rainy night to apologize.
Logan has seen many pitiable situations, and to be honest, it's not surprising to him. However, he felt that the sincere bond between this brother and sister, in such a chaotic world, was genuinely endearing.
After confirming that everyone in the fishing village was asleep, Logan silently opened his door. The wind and rain poured in, and hit his unmoving body.
Without wearing a straw hat and raincoat, Logan walked directly into the rain curtain.
After speeding up, his dark figure sped across the muddy beach. As the first wave crashed in the night, Logan leapt into the air, then landed steadily on the rolling waves.
His clothes were soaked, and the waves continuously crashed against his sturdy frame. Logan relied on his Chakra to stand steadily. In this weather, there were no ships or people on the sea.
As soon as he stepped on the sea, the churning waves beneath him rippled unceasingly. He swiftly sliced through the rain, vanishing into the distance.
Amidst the torrential downpour, occasional flashes of lightning flickered, but not from the sky, rather from the lower altitudes.
Those unpredictable, seemingly random auroras appeared once again on this stormy night, out in the vast ocean.
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