Kido Village was a small, vibrant town, bustling with activity. The streets were filled with cheerful people going about their day, and children's laughter echoed through the air. The buildings were quaint and colorful, and the overall atmosphere was peaceful and self-sufficient. At the heart of the village was a cozy tavern, its warm light spilling out onto the street.
"Hey, did you hear?" a man's voice boomed inside the tavern.
"Hear what?" another man replied, his voice thick with curiosity.
"They finally got rid of that monster that's been terrorizing the village," the first man said, swirling his beer.
"Oh, yeah," the second man chimed in. "I heard Hendrick and his men took care of it, but it wasn't easy. Took them three days to even wound that beast before they finally drove it off."
"I see," the first man nodded, impressed. "Where are Hendrick and his men anyway? They deserve a hero's welcome."
"I don't know," the second man replied, shrugging. "Last I heard, they were chasing some girl for some reason. Seemed a bit off, if you ask me."
"Probably just some village business," the first man said with a dismissive wave.
"Excuse me?" came a soft, feminine voice. The two men turned to see a young girl in a simple waitress uniform, her short blond hair framing her face and her brown eyes sparkling with a mixture of politeness and weariness. "Here are your drinks, sirs," she said, offering mugs of frothy beer to the two men.
"Oi, Yuzu-chan!" the first man chirped, taking the mug with a grin. "How have you been, girly?"
"I've been fine, sir," the girl, Yuzu, replied, her smile polite but a bit strained.
"Still as cute as ever," the second man added, taking his mug and winking at her.
"O-oh no, I'm not, really," Yuzu stammered, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. The two men chuckled, clearly enjoying teasing the young waitress.
"Yuzu-chan!" a woman's voice called out from across the room. "Come on, dear, you still have orders to deliver!"
"Yes, I'm coming!" Yuzu called back, relieved for the interruption. "Excuse me, sirs, I have to go," she said to the two men, bowing slightly before hurrying away.
"See you later, Yuzu-chan," the two men called after her. She offered another polite bow and disappeared into the crowd of patrons.
The tavern was still bustling with noise and activity as Yuzu weaved through the tables, clearing empty mugs and delivering fresh drinks. The work was demanding, but she moved with a quiet efficiency, her expression focused but kind. Finally, her shift drew to a close.
"Phew," Yuzu sighed, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow with a small towel. "It's finally over."
"Good work, dear," a warm voice said. Yuzu turned to see a tanned, plump woman with a motherly smile congratulating her. "You handled that rush like a pro."
"Thank you, Martha-san!" Yuzu replied, her own smile genuine this time. The woman, Martha, reached into a worn leather bag and handed Yuzu a small, heavy pouch.
"Here's your week's payment," Martha said, her eyes filled with pride. "Keep up the good work, and you'll go far."
"Yes, thank you, Martha-san," Yuzu said, bowing her head respectfully.
"I must say, dear," Martha continued, her expression thoughtful. "You're incredibly popular with all the clientele. Have you ever considered working here full-time? You have a real gift with people."
A shadow crossed Yuzu's face, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I'm sorry," Yuzu replied, her voice soft. "But I can't stay for long. I must be on my way soon.''
"I see..." Martha said, a touch of disappointment in her voice, but understanding in her eyes. "Well, whenever you decide to go, just remember you're always welcome here. You're like family to us." Martha opened her arms and embraced Yuzu in a warm hug.
"Thank you, Martha-san," Yuzu said, hugging her back tightly. At that moment, the tavern doors burst open with a loud bang, revealing a pair of battered and bruised men staggering into the room. The boisterous chatter of the tavern abruptly ceased as all eyes turned to the newcomers. A collective gasp swept through the crowd.
"Hendrick? Is that you?" one of the men from earlier exclaimed, his eyes wide with shock. "What in the world happened to you?"
"Ugh..." the man known as Hendrick groaned, his face a mass of cuts and bruises. His clothes were torn, and he moved with obvious pain. "We were attacked."
"Was it the monster again?" the second man from earlier asked, his voice filled with concern and a hint of fear.
"No, it was...it was..." Hendrick hesitated, his face contorted in a mixture of pain and humiliation. He seemed reluctant to speak.
"Yes, out with it, man!" the first man urged, leaning closer.
"It was...a little boy," Hendrick finally confessed, his voice barely a whisper. A stunned silence hung in the air for a moment, and then the tavern erupted in a cacophony of laughter.
"Ha ha ha, a little boy? Please tell me you're joking!" the first man roared, slapping his knee with amusement.
"It's true!" Hendrick insisted, his face burning with shame. "A small blonde-haired boy with no pants on and his...his dog attacked us. He was incredibly strong and quick. We stood no chance, right men?" He turned to his equally battered men for confirmation. His men nodded weakly, their faces grim. The laughter in the tavern only intensified.
"Oh man," the second man chuckled, tears streaming down his face. "The strongest men in our village, bested by a mere lad in his underwear!"
"And his dog!" someone else added, prompting another wave of uproarious laughter.
"What's going on here?" a firm voice demanded. With Yuzu close behind her, Martha pushed through the crowd to see what the commotion was about. "What in tarnation?!" Martha exclaimed, her eyes widening in disbelief as she saw Hendrick and his men in their sorry state. "What happened here?!"
"Get this, Martha-san," the first man responded, still shaking with laughter. "A little boy and his dog beat up your husband and his men!"
"With no pants on!" the second man added, barely able to contain himself.
"Oh my," Martha said, her hand flying to her mouth in a mixture of shock and disbelief. The laughter swelled around them as Hendrick and his men stood there, their pride wounded.
"ENOUGH!" a voice rang out through the tavern, cutting through the raucous laughter like a knife. The tavern fell silent as all eyes turned to the source of the outburst. Yuzu stood protectively in front of Hendrick and his men, her small frame radiating an unexpected aura of authority. Her brown eyes flashed with anger, and her face was set in a stern expression.
"Hendrick-san and his men risked their lives to protect this village from a monster, and they got injured in the process," Yuzu said, her voice trembling slightly with indignation. "Then, to add insult to injury, some mean boy attacked them, and all you can do is laugh at them?!" She glared at the crowd, her gaze sweeping across their faces. "You ought to be ashamed of yourselves!"
The first and second men and many others in the tavern looked down in guilt, their earlier amusement replaced by a sheepish silence. Murmurs of apology rippled through the crowd as people began to disperse, effectively shattering the festive atmosphere.
"We're sorry, Yuzu-chan," the first man mumbled, avoiding her gaze.
"Please don't be mad at us," the second man pleaded, his voice contrite.
"Oh, all right," Yuzu sighed, her anger softening slightly, though her stern expression remained. But this had better not happen again, you got it?"
"Yes, ma'am!" they both said in unison, bowing their heads in apology.
"You tell 'em, Yuzu-chan!" Martha said, a proud smile gracing her lips. "Now that you two are done being idiots, you can help me get these men patched up," Martha ordered, gesturing to Hendrick and his men. The two chastised men hurried to obey, their laughter completely extinguished.
"Yuzu-chan," Martha said, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. "You're done for the day. Go out and have some fun. You deserve it after dealing with this lot."
"Yes, ma'am," Yuzu said, her smile returning as she relaxed. She waved goodbye to Martha and the others and stepped out of the tavern, the sounds of the village greeting her.
Linn and Tomodachi finally arrived at Kido Village, its lively atmosphere a stark contrast to the emptiness of the plains they had traversed.
"This must be the place Madoka mentioned," Linn said, his eyes scanning the bustling streets.
"Do you think the girls are here, Master?" Tomodachi asked, his ears perked up, sensing the many new people around them.
"I don't know, Tomo," Linn admitted, a hint of weariness in his voice. "We just have to look around and see if anyone recognizes them." The pair strolled through the town, searching for any sign of Kaila or Erica. Linn stopped people to ask if they had seen two girls matching their descriptions, but all he got in return were awkward stares, blushing girls, and confused or amused glances from the men.
"I wonder what's wrong with everyone today," Linn muttered, scratching his head in bewilderment.
"It's probably because you're still half-naked, Master," Tomodachi pointed out dryly, his gaze sweeping over Linn's attire (or lack thereof). With a jolt of realization, Linn looked down and remembered that he was still only wearing his boxer shorts.
"Oh, yeah," Linn said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head with an embarrassed grin. "I completely forgot."
"You're very forgetful, Master," Tomodachi said with a sigh.
"In any case, we just have to keep looking," Linn said, trying to regain his focus. "Now, where could they be?" Linn put a finger to his chin in thought. His train of thought was abruptly interrupted by a sharp scream. Linn spun around, his eyes widening as he saw a small girl standing a short distance away, pointing directly at him, her face a mixture of anger and embarrassment.
"W-what do you think you're doing?!" the little girl screamed, her voice surprisingly loud and scolding. She marched purposefully towards Linn, her small frame radiating an unexpected air of authority. Linn got a good look at the girl. She had short, neatly combed blond hair and bright, intelligent brown eyes. She wore a practical pink sweater hoodie, light blue shorts, and sturdy brown boots. "You can't go around half-naked like that!" she scolded, her finger wagging accusingly. "You'll make other people feel uncomfortable! Have you no shame?"
"Wait! It's not what you think!" Linn said, putting his hands up defensively in a gesture of surrender. "I had to give my clothes to my friend here since he didn't have any, and I don't have any spares. It was an emergency!" The little girl's stern expression softened slightly as she glanced at Linn and then at Tomodachi, taking in their somewhat disheveled appearance.
"Okay...I believe you," she sighed, though her disapproving frown remained. "But it doesn't change the fact that you're half-naked," she said firmly. She closed her eyes and wagged her finger admonishingly as she continued her lecture. "You should know better than to walk around like that. What if you catch a cold? Not to mention..'' Linn and Tomodachi's sweat dropped while the little girl went on.
"M-master? What's wrong with her? She won't stop talking," Tomodachi whispered to Linn. "I don't know," Linn whispered back. "She sounds like someone's mother."
"Do you understand?" the little girl asked, finally pausing for breath. Linn and Tomodachi snapped to attention, their postures ramrod straight.
"Y-yes, ma'am!" Linn saluted smartly, for reasons he couldn't quite explain. Tomodachi just sighed, shaking his head at his master's antics.
"Good," the little girl said, her stern expression softening into a small, satisfied smile. The little girl grabbed Linn by the arm. "If you don't have any clothes, I can get you some. Come with me." She turned and began walking away, Linn being unceremoniously dragged along by the arm. Tommodachi hurried up after them.
The little girl escorted Linn and Tomodachi to a small, tidy room in the tavern and provided Linn with some clean, if somewhat plain, clothes to wear. Tomodachi and the little girl waited outside the room while Linn changed. Bored with the silence, the little girl decided to converse with the strange, talking dog.
"So, what were you two doing before you came to this town?" the little girl asked, her tone polite but direct. Tomodachi, who had been lost in thought, didn't seem to hear her. The little girl put her hands on her hips and huffed, her brow furrowing in annoyance. "Hello? I'm talking to you. It's rude to ignore people when they are talking," she scolded, her voice sharp.
Tomodachi blinked and turned to the little girl, his ears twitching. "Huh? Oh, sorry, I wasn't listening," Tomodachi said, flustered and slightly embarrassed. An angry pout etched itself onto the girl's face.
"Geez, what am I going to do with you two?" she muttered, more to herself than to Tomodachi. "First, the boy strolls into town half-naked, causing a scene, and now you're spacing out on me and ignoring basic manners..." The little girl launched into another scolding tirade, listing their perceived offenses with the practiced air of a seasoned lecturer.
Wow. The master was right. She really does sound like someone's mother, Tomodachi thought, his ears drooping slightly as he discreetly plugged them with his paws, trying to tune out the endless stream of reprimands.
The tavern room door opened, revealing Linn in his new outfit. He was wearing a simple but clean blue T-shirt and a pair of practical navy blue shorts. The clothes fit him reasonably well, if a bit snugly in some places.
"I'm done," Linn announced, relieved to finally be presentable. Tomodachi rushed to Linn and threw his arms around him in a dramatic embrace.
"Oh, Master!" Tomodachi cried, comical tears streaming down his face. "It was horrible! That little girl scolded me! She went on and on! I thought I was going to be grounded!" Linn just sweatdropped, patting Tomodachi awkwardly on the back.
"There. You look so handsome and respectable now," the little girl complimented Linn, her earlier scowl replaced by a small, approving smile.
"Thanks," Linn said, blushing slightly at the unexpected praise. These fit nicely. Are they yours?"
"Oh heavens no," the little girl dismissed, waving her hand dismissively. "They were spare clothes that belonged to a... friend," she said, her voice trailing off slightly, a hint of sadness in her eyes. Linn and Tomodachi caught the subtle shift in her tone and decided not to press the issue, sensing that it was a sensitive subject.
"Well, thanks. I appreciate it, uh..." Linn paused, realizing he still didn't know her name. "I'm sorry, I never got your name," he said, his face slightly embarrassed. The little girl looked up and offered a warm, genuine smile.
"My name is Yuzu Katagiri," she introduced herself politely. "And you two are?"
"I'm Linn Tsukiyomi, and this is Tomodachi," Linn introduced, gesturing to himself and his canine companion. Tomodachi, finally freed from the threat of further scolding, perked up and waved a friendly hand.
"Okay," Yuzu said, nodding in acknowledgment. "Now that that's settled, how about I show you around town? You two are clearly not from around here, and it's the least I can do after your... fashion faux pas."
"Oh, no, you don't need to do that," Linn said quickly, waving his hands in protest. "We don't want to trouble you. We'll be fine on our own."
"Nonsense," Yuzu said firmly, planting her two small fists on her hips. "I can tell you two are completely lost. What if you get into trouble? Or worse, what if you don't find what you are looking for? No, I'm showing you around town, and that's final!" Her tone left no room for argument, and her determined expression brooked no opposition.
Linn and Tomodachi exchanged another helpless glance, sweatdropping in unison. Oh boy... Linn thought, a mixture of gratitude and trepidation filling him. He had a feeling this bossy little girl was going to be a handful, but he also sensed a good heart beneath her somewhat overbearing demeanor.