The next morning, Musashi felt a sharp elbow dig into his ribs, jarring him awake. His eyes fluttered open to see Rin's red-eyed grin inches from his face.
"Wake up! We've got work to do," she said cheerily.
Blinking away sleep, Musashi pulled himself up, still adjusting to the strange reality of waking up in the Masaharu kids' makeshift base rather than on the streets. His days had always felt like a series of cautious survival decisions. Now, waking up here, there was structure—maybe even purpose.
"C'mon, no time to waste!" Rin urged, practically bouncing on her toes as she led the way outside. "Minoru's put you with Arata today for scavenging duty. Try not to slow him down too much!" She gave him a teasing smile and dashed off to her own tasks.
---
In the junkyard, Musashi found Arata waiting, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. He looked Musashi up and down, his expression unreadable.
"Rin says you're Musashi," Arata said, giving a small yawn before turning to the mountains of junk. "I'm Arata. Let's get to it, I guess."
The pair began sifting through the piles, their hands brushing against cold metal, scraps of wood, and the occasional discarded relic that looked like it had been here for ages. Musashi watched as Arata dug with the calm efficiency of someone who knew this place inside out.
For a while, they worked in silence, each lost in the search. But eventually, Arata spoke up. "So… where'd you learn to handle a knife like that?"
Musashi was taken aback. He hesitated before answering, his voice low. "I... don't know, just instict."
Arata nodded, his expression still unreadable, though Musashi sensed there was an understanding in his quiet acceptance. They worked together, sifting and sorting in a rhythm, and after some time, Musashi spotted something that glinted in the pile.
"Hey, what's that?" he asked, pointing to a piece half-buried under some broken cans.
Arata's eyes followed his hand, and a small smile crept onto his face. "Good eye." He knelt and pulled out a tarnished silver chain, which, despite the grime, looked valuable.
"Looks like today wasn't a waste," Arata said, holding up the chain. "We might actually get a good trade for this."
As they continued working, Musashi began to appreciate Arata's quiet presence. Unlike Rin, who was all energy and enthusiasm, Arata had a calmness to him that Musashi found grounding. There wasn't any need for constant chatter; they could just work side by side in comfortable silence.
"Guess we make a pretty decent team," Arata said casually as they headed back to the base, the chain wrapped safely in cloth. Musashi felt a strange warmth at the comment and gave a shy nod in response. Though Arata was reserved, he felt like someone Musashi could rely on—a rare feeling for him.
---
As the days passed, Musashi settled into the routine. He went on scavenging runs, helped with chores, and even shared meals with the others. Each of them had their own personality, and over the week, Musashi began to see how they all fit together.
Arata, as Musashi had already learned, was reserved and laid-back. But the more time Musashi spent with him, the more he realized that Arata was sharp and perceptive, always noticing things others might miss. They worked well together, and Musashi grew comfortable in the easy silence they shared.
Rin, on the other hand, was a constant whirlwind of energy. She was always smiling, always laughing, and always trying to draw Musashi into conversations or games. If Musashi felt out of place, Rin would be there, nudging him out of his shell. Even when Musashi tried to stay in the background, Rin would grab his arm, pull him into whatever adventure or scheme she had in mind, and say, "Come on, Musashi! You're part of the family now!"
Hideaki, however, was less welcoming. He never missed an opportunity to mock or humiliate Musashi. At meal times, he would make sly comments about Musashi's awkwardness or his unfamiliarity with the group's routines. During scavenging runs, he would scoff if Musashi missed something or made a mistake. Once, when Musashi tripped over a loose pile of junk, Hideaki laughed louder than anyone else.
"Clumsy as ever," he sneered. "Surprised you even know which way is up."
Musashi tried to ignore it, but each jab stung. Yet, every time Hideaki would say something hurtful, Rin would step in, scolding him or distracting Musashi with a joke. Her presence made it easier to bear, and Musashi found himself grateful for her support.
One evening, as they gathered around for dinner, Hideaki smirked and nudged Musashi. "So, what do you even do here, anyway? It's not like we needed another mouth to feed."
Before Musashi could answer, Rin glared at Hideaki. "Enough, Hideaki! Musashi's part of the family now, just like you!"
Hideaki looked away, grumbling, but he didn't say anything more. Musashi glanced at Rin, feeling a surge of gratitude. Despite Hideaki's taunts, Rin's kindness made him feel like he belonged.
---
One night, Hideaki decided it was time to "teach Musashi a lesson." He figured a harmless prank might knock Musashi down a peg and get him to toughen up a bit. He sneaked over to where Musashi was sleeping, his plan already forming in his mind.
But as he approached, he noticed something he hadn't seen before. Musashi's blanket had slipped, revealing a network of scars running across his arms and back. Some were faded, others fresh, but they all told a story of hardship and survival.
Hideaki froze, his initial anger dissolving into an uncomfortable mix of guilt and pity. He couldn't bring himself to go through with the prank. Quietly, he backed away, his thoughts swirling. He hadn't realized what Musashi had been through, and it left him wondering if he'd been wrong about him all along.
---
One evening, unable to sleep, Musashi wandered outside. He found Rin sitting alone, her gaze fixed on the night sky. She glanced over as he approached and patted the ground beside her. "Couldn't sleep either?"
Musashi shook his head and sat down beside her, looking up at the stars. They sparkled against the deep indigo of the sky, and for a moment, there was only the quiet hum of the city in the distance.
After a long silence, Rin sighed. "You know, Musashi, I have a dream."
Musashi glanced at her, intrigued. "A dream?"
She nodded, her eyes still fixed on the stars. "I want to become a shinigami," she said, a soft smile playing on her lips.
Musashi's brow furrowed. "A shinigami?"
"Kind of," Rin said, tilting her head thoughtfully. "But not like in the scary way. I want to help people move on, take their pain away. I want to protect Minoru, Arata, Hideaki… and you too, Musashi. I want us all to be happy."
Her words hung in the air, filling Musashi with a strange warmth he couldn't quite explain. He had never known anyone with such selflessness, such a genuine desire to protect others. He looked away, feeling a pang of guilt. He had thought only about survival for so long, he hadn't stopped to think about dreams.
Rin glanced at him, her gaze gentle. "What about you, Musashi? Do you have a dream?"
Musashi hesitated, caught off guard. He had never considered it. Dreams felt like luxuries, things that people with safe lives could afford. After a moment, he shook his head.
"I… I don't know," he admitted softly. "I've never really thought about it."
Rin's hand found his, giving it a comforting squeeze. "That's okay. Maybe one day you'll find it. And when you do, I'll be there to help you make it come true."
For the first time in a long while, Musashi felt something close to hope. Maybe he didn't have a dream yet, but sitting there with Rin, under the vast night sky, he felt a glimmer of something he hadn't felt in years: the possibility of a future.
(End of a chapter)