Please read volume 0 before reading chapter 1. It will help you understand the backstory.
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The rain had been falling steadily for hours, soaking through their clothes and chilling them to the bone. It was the kind of rain that seeped into every crack, dripped from rooftops, and gathered in murky puddles along the broken streets. The sky hung low and gray, as if pressing down on the city itself. Mako and Mei trudged through the rain, their steps heavy, their breaths shallow clouds in the cold air.
Two hours ago, they had hidden most of their belongings in an abandoned car junkyard. Mako had scouted out a rusting sedan with a broken trunk and tucked their things inside, hoping that no one would find them. A desperate, hollow hope. The city wasn't kind to wanderers. Anything left unattended for too long had a way of disappearing.
Now, as the wind whipped at their faces, Mako glanced sideways at Mei. She was struggling to walk under the weight of his coat, which hung loosely over her small frame like an oversized blanket. Her dark hair clung to her face, plastered there by the rain, and her boots squelched with every step. She clutched the edges of the coat tightly, her fingers peeking out from the sleeves.
Mako's chest ached as he watched her. He had given her his coat because she needed it more, but now his body bore the full brunt of the icy weather. The cold gnawed at him, turning his fingers stiff and his face numb. He clenched his jaw to keep his teeth from chattering and tried to hide the violent shivers that wracked his body. His arms hugged himself, but it wasn't enough to keep the cold out.
*"It's unfair. It's so unfair,"* his mind whispered with every step. Each word was a drumbeat of frustration and exhaustion. Mei deserved better than this. *Where do I find shelter for her?* the rational part of his mind asked, but no answers came.
Then, through the veil of rain, a car approached. Its headlights cut through the gloom, bouncing off the slick pavement. The vehicle slowed as it neared them, and Mako's heartbeat quickened. When it came to a stop a few feet ahead, the window on the passenger side rolled down, revealing the face of a middle-aged woman.
She looked at them with a strange mixture of concern and hesitation. Her head was wrapped in a scarf, the kind that might have once been luxurious but had faded with time and wear. The muted colors of the fabric framed her face, which was soft and kind, though marked by faint lines that hinted at a lifetime of both smiles and worries.
Her eyes swept over Mako first, lingering on his shivering form, then shifted to Mei. She took in the way Mei struggled with the oversized coat, her steps faltering under its weight.
"What are you kids doing out here on the street?" the woman asked, her voice carrying a sweet, musical quality. It was a question, but there was no judgment in her tone—only genuine concern.
Mako hesitated. Trust was a scarce resource in this city, and strangers often carried hidden motives. But something about the woman's voice, the way it softened the edges of the question, made him feel like he could let his guard down, if only a little.
"We have nowhere else to stay," he said simply, shrugging as if the words carried no weight.
The woman frowned, her lips pressing together in contemplation. She looked back at the driver, a man who was only a shadowy figure through the rain-streaked window. Her voice dropped as she spoke to him, hushed but urgent, and Mako couldn't make out the words. Then she turned back to them.
"Nowhere at all?" she asked, her brow furrowing deeply.
Mako shook his head, water dripping from his hair as he did.
The woman sighed, a sound that seemed to carry the weight of the world. "Mark here," she said, nodding toward the driver, "runs an orphanage. They usually take kids twelve and under, and you two are clearly older than that…"
Mako's heart sank at her words.
"…but I convinced him to make an exception, at least for tonight." Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "You're too young to be wandering these dangerous streets."
She opened the car door and stepped out. The rain fell harder now, but she didn't seem to notice. Up close, she was taller than Mako had expected—taller than most women he had seen. He instinctively took a step back, startled by her height and presence.
The woman laughed softly, a warm, lilting sound. "I get that a lot," she said, smiling.
She gestured to the backseat. "If you'll come with us, you can stay the night. We'll figure something out tomorrow."
Mako looked at Mei, searching her face for an answer. Her eyes, wide and tired, met his, and she gave a small nod. It was enough.
He turned back to the woman and said, "We'd be happy to join you."
Her face lit up with relief. "Brilliant. Come on, then."
The car's interior was warm—so warm that it felt almost unreal. The heater hummed softly, and the seats were covered in soft, worn fabric that smelled faintly of lavender. As the car began to move, Mako leaned back against the seat and let the warmth seep into his frozen limbs.
"My name is Grace," the woman said, turning to look at them over her shoulder.
"Mako," he replied, though his voice was distant. His mind was already beginning to drift.
The steady hum of the car, the rhythmic swish of the windshield wipers, and the cocoon of warmth made it impossible to stay alert. His eyelids grew heavy, and his body relaxed against the seat. He fought to stay awake, but the exhaustion was overwhelming. His head lolled to the side, and he let out a small sigh as his eyes fluttered shut.
It felt like a dream. The rain outside became a distant sound, like a memory he no longer had to carry. The cold that had gripped him for hours melted away, leaving only comfort in its place.
Then, suddenly, a sharp thought pierced through the haze of sleep.
He felt too relaxed, too sleepy, it was almost as if…
Mako's eyes flew open.