At high noon on the following day, Ryuuji Takeda's eyes snapped open, his body springing from the bed with newfound vigor.
But Machi was nowhere to be found in the room, leaving Ryuuji to ponder her whereabouts.
Glancing at the aged clock on the wall, Ryuuji realized it was already past noon.
"Gurulu..."
His stomach grumbled in protest at the meager portions of rice soup he'd been subsisting on.
Touching his belly, Ryuuji rose from the bed and spotted a bowl of rice soup on the table, likely left by Machi before she ventured out.
He stared at the bowl in silence for a moment, warmth flooding his heart as thoughts of Machi, a kind and caring girl, filled his mind. Determined, Ryuuji silently vowed to keep her from joining the ranks of the notorious Phantom Troupe.
With a resolve formed, Ryuuji hastily washed up in the bathroom before downing a few mouthfuls of the cold rice soup to quell his hunger.
Afterward, he resumed his training, knowing well the perils of the Hunter World, where strength was the only shield and weapon.
Delving into mindfulness, Ryuuji sought to enhance his control over nen, utilizing his own methods to progress step by step.
As he meditated, he pondered the various levels of nen manipulation, from subtle awareness to complete mastery.
Though still a novice in the realm of manipulation, Ryuuji's unique abilities allowed him to progress rapidly, bypassing the usual stages of learning.
Despite his swift progress, Ryuuji remained focused on honing his nen manipulation, determined to unlock his full potential.
In Machi's absence, Ryuuji dedicated himself to spiritual practice, eagerly awaiting her return to resume his language lessons.
Days passed, marked by solitary meals of plain rice soup, prompting Ryuuji to vow to improve their diet once he understood Meteor Street's situation.
Half a month later, Ryuuji had mastered the basics of nen manipulation and acquired a rudimentary understanding of the local tongue, thanks to Machi's guidance.
Now, armed with knowledge and skill, Ryuuji was ready to explore Meteor Street and improve their circumstances.
Meteor Street, once a waste landfill area, had been designated as such for over 1,500 years. Here, any nation had the liberty to dispose of anything deemed undesirable.
Garbage, corpses, infants, industrial waste... Anything deemed worthless found its way to this desolate place.
Despite the abundance of refuse, the streets of Meteor Street remained surprisingly clean and modest. The buildings, predominantly yellow and white, were constructed from decent materials. If one disregarded the surrounding dump, Meteor Street could easily be mistaken for a typical town.
The inhabitants of Meteor Street were all forsaken souls, belonging to the world's underbelly. Birth records were non-existent, and the residents relied solely on recyclable materials scavenged from the landfill for sustenance.
However, amidst the heaps of waste lay industrial byproducts, failed chemical experiments, and hazardous substances harmful to human health. Venturing into the landfill without proper protective gear was a perilous endeavor.
Hence, Machi donned protective clothing whenever she ventured into the garbage dump.
Survival in Meteor Street demanded self-sufficiency; even helpless children were not afforded any privileges. It was an environment where only the fittest could thrive.
On the twenty-fourth day since Ryuuji's arrival, perhaps spurred by dwindling food supplies, Machi prepared to scour the landfill for valuable items to trade for sustenance.
"Ryuuji, from today onwards, I won't be providing you with food. If you wish to avoid starvation, join me at the landfill," Machi stated calmly, clad in her protective attire.
This time, Machi didn't seem inclined to venture out alone.
Pronouncing "Ryuuji Takeda" proved challenging in the common tongue. To simplify matters, Ryuuji opted to drop "Takeda," adopting a single-character surname.
"I've been eager to explore for a while now!" Ryuuji exclaimed, a smile gracing his lips as he cracked his neck. Previously confined by unfamiliarity with the environment and language barriers, Ryuuji now felt unencumbered. He was eager to step outside and take in his surroundings.
Moreover, enduring daily meals of rice soup had grown tiresome.
Observing Ryuuji's enthusiasm, Machi's eyes gleamed with approval. She nodded and retrieved a gas mask from the wall before leading the way to the door.
"You owe me twenty-four days' worth of food. I'll be charging triple interest. Accommodation fees are waived, but the stone's redemption fee will be calculated separately," Machi declared, halting just before the threshold.
Ryuuji's forehead creased with frustration upon hearing this. "Alright, alright. And it's not a stone, it's called jewel!" he retorted with a sigh.