The welfare home wasn't very large.
Yoru and QP strolled along a shaded path, listening to the birds chirping, feeling an inexplicable sense of comfort.
A childhood without parents always left deeper scars than most.
Welfare homes were places meant to heal those scars—at least, most of them tried their best. The people who worked here deserved respect.
To be honest, Yoru deeply admired Oni Juujirou.
In the original Phoenix Memories arc, it was mentioned that Oni had displayed extraordinary talent from a young age, sweeping through junior tournaments and even winning national championships.
When he entered middle school, he turned down offers from prestigious schools and instead led an unknown team to victory in the national tournament.
At first, Yoru assumed this happened when Oni was in his second or third year.
But no—it was something he accomplished as a first-year.
After proving himself by winning the national championship, he transferred to Okayama Oku, abandoning glory just to have more time to care for the children here.
That kind of selflessness was something Yoru respected deeply.
If not for his rough appearance, Oni could've easily been a protagonist-type character.
A man with that much love in his heart…
Yoru suspected Oni had already unlocked the Pinnacle of Perfect Harmony—specifically, the Light of Love within the Aura of Chivalry.
After all, his current persona was that of a kind-hearted "uncle."
Before long, a cheerful voice reached their ears.
"Alright, kids! Time for a leaf-collecting contest! Whoever gathers the most leaves gets this muscle-bear plushie I made!"
Following the voice, they saw a young man with a rugged appearance waving a handmade stuffed toy.
"No way! Oni-nii's plushies are too ugly! I want a panda!"
"Another muscle bear? It looks just like Oni-nii! Lame~"
"Hey, you guys were just complaining! Why are you stealing my leaves now? Cheaters!"
The children laughed as they swept up fallen leaves, their joy washing over the scene like waves.
Watching this, Yoru suddenly stopped walking, feeling something stir inside him.
"QP…"
He smiled. "Let's go buy something."
"Hm?" QP tilted his head, confused.
Without explaining, Yoru pulled QP along, rushing out of the welfare home.
At the gate, he left his tennis bag in the security booth.
"Uncle, could you watch our bags? We'll be back soon."
About fifteen minutes later, they returned, carrying four large bags full of snacks.
"Snacks for the kids?" The security guard smiled knowingly.
"Thanks for your help."
Carrying the bags, Yoru and QP walked straight to where the children were playing.
"Wow~ So many snacks!"
"Are these big brothers volunteers?"
"They're way cooler than Oni-nii!"
"Look, they have my favorite chips~!"
Their arrival drew everyone's attention.
The kids weren't surprised by strangers—volunteers often came to help with repairs or bring treats. But rarely did anyone bring this much.
Still, the children waited politely, not grabbing anything until Yoru and QP started handing the snacks out.
"Go on, don't you want some?" Yoru grinned.
The kids erupted into cheers, and even QP's lips twitched into a faint smile.
Oni's furrowed brows relaxed. Seeing the two distribute snacks, the wariness in his eyes faded.
He walked over and bowed slightly. "Thank you. This must've cost you a lot."
"Worth every yen for those smiles," Yoru replied, shaking his head.
He wasn't just being polite. In his past life, he'd been an orphan too—luckier than most, thanks to social welfare programs.
In this world, he was an orphan again—his father died early, and his grandfather passed not long after. His mother might as well not exist.
If not for Nanjirou and Rinko Echizen, his life here would've been even harder than before. That's why seeing Oni and the kids had struck a chord.
At the children's insistence, Yoru and QP joined the leaf-collecting contest, laughter filling the air.
By the time they finished cleaning up, the sun was setting. The three of them lay on the grass with the kids, watching the sunset in peaceful silence.
As night fell and crickets began chirping, Oni—who'd been dozing off—finally stirred.
Glancing at Yoru and QP, he said, "First time I've seen kids my age come here."
Yoru opened his eyes, his expression softening. "I'm an orphan. So is he."
Oni froze. "...Sorry."
"It's fine. I got lucky—I have foster parents who care for me."
Yoru wondered what it'd be like to be raised by his birth parents.
The Echizens treated him like their own, but it wasn't quite the same.
Not that they loved him any less—in fact, they doted on him more than Ryoma or Ryoga. Nanjirou and Rinko never scolded him, especially Rinko, who spoiled him endlessly.
Yoru knew it was because they feared they wouldn't be enough.
It made his heart ache. Would his real parents have loved him this much too?
A faint wetness gathered at the corners of his eyes.
Noticing this, Oni scratched his head, quickly changing the subject. "I thought you two came to play tennis."
He'd noticed their tennis bags earlier but assumed they meant no harm.
Their sudden snack run had surprised him, though.
"..."
QP didn't understand their conversation, but he savored the moment.
He hadn't spent much time in orphanages, but playing with the kids today felt… nice.
For once, he forgot why they'd come here.
"Actually, you're right."
Yoru sat up, gazing at the rising moon. "We did come to challenge you to a match. But spending the afternoon with the kids was good too."
"So… Oni. Will you play against both of us?"
"Sure."
"…Huh?"
The immediate answer caught Yoru off guard, leaving his prepared arguments stuck in his throat.
It was like catching your girlfriend cheating, ready to explode—only for her to toss you 500 million yen and tell you to shut up.
"Surprised?"
Oni grinned, clearly enjoying Yoru's reaction. "Normally, I'd refuse. But the kids had fun today, so I'll play one match with you."
"Thanks."
Only now did Yoru think to check Oni's stats.
[Name]: Oni Juujirou.
...
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