A month had passed since Sentarō arrived at Ujiyuki's home. And is recovery has been progressive but slow, the ferocious attacks of the tiger-bear dealt a lot of damage to Sentaro. Unlike his first night at the house where he and Ujiyuki were at odds with nothing to talk about, Sentaro and Ujiyuki had gotten a little close, not enough to interfere with each other's private matters but still enough to talk and share.
Spring, the season of blooming flowers, gentle breezes, radiant sunlight, and the beauty of nature's rebirth. For most, it was a time of love, warmth, and well-deserved rest after winter's harsh bite.
The sun rose slowly, brightening the entire plain, painting the sky gold, and declaring the start of another day. Morning had arrived, and with it came the return of daily activities. Inside his home, Ujiyuki stirred as the rays of sunlight pierced through the paper windows and landed directly across his face. Though he twisted and turned, the light refused to leave him alone, its warmth tugging him back to consciousness. In the end, he had no choice, nature herself had chosen to wake him from slumber.
Groggy, Ujiyuki rummaged through a pile of clothes by his side, pulling out what seemed to be an all-yellow kimono, though its color was a little faded with age. He scratched the back of his head, let out a yawn big enough to rattle the hallway, and shuffled toward Sentarō's room.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
His knuckles landed on the wooden door.
"Hey, kid, don't tell me you're still sleeping," he called, his voice half-annoyed, half-expectant.
He waited. Silence. Not even a stir.
Confusion knit his brows. He knocked again, harder this time, his irritation growing.Thud! Thud! Thud!
Still nothing.
His frustration boiled into anger, his voice echoing through the hallway. "HEY, KID, WHY THE HELL AREN'T YOU REPLYING?!"
No answer. Not a sound.
That was all it took for Ujiyuki to burst open the sliding door with force, ready to scold the boy. "You damn kid, you really thought you could ignore…"
But his words froze on his tongue. The room was empty. The futon neatly folded to the side. Sentarō's clothes and few belongings carefully organized.
Ujiyuki blinked, his anger melting into a small, begrudging smile. "Huh… seems he's already up and out." Satisfaction replaced his fury, it wasn't disobedience, it was determination. Sentarō hadn't grown lazy. He'd gotten up early to train.
As he made his way to the kitchen, a new thought crossed his mind. In all the time Sentarō had been with him, the boy had only seen one place: the house. His world was still painfully small.
He began preparing breakfast, but soon realized something troubling, the shelves were nearly empty. Feeding two grown mouths drained food stores faster than expected. If they didn't restock soon, meals would be nothing but plain rice.
"Damn, I'll have to make a trip to the market," he muttered. Then his face mildly lit up as an idea struck him. "I wonder if the kid would like to go."
Grabbing a woven bamboo basket and some bandages, he left the house and followed the path into the forest, heading toward the stream.
He wandered for some time, weaving through the woods. Along the way, vibrant flowers colored the forest with shades of yellow, pink, and violet. Birds chirped. The air carried the soft fragrance of spring.
Finally after a few minutes of weaving through trees, he arrived, he arrived at a stream. The sunlight shimmered on the surface of the flowing water. Green grass carpeted the land, dotted with blossoms glowing in the light..
There was Sentarō, finished with his daily duty of washing and drying his and Ujiyuki's clothes leaving him completely soaked with water. But for some reason, Sentaro didn't head back after he finishing, he was engaged in push ups.
"Ten… eleven… twelve… thirteen…" His voice was steady, but his pace was already slowing.
Ujiyuki stayed in the shadows, arms crossed, observing quietly as the boy's determination baffled him. He noticed immediately, the kid's movements were losing speed.
"Nineteen… twenty… twenty-one…" Each rep took longer, Sentarō's arms shaking under the pressure. Finally, at twenty-five, he collapsed, lying on the ground and staring at the sky as birds fluttered overhead. His chest heaved with ragged breaths.
Ujiyuki finally decided to step out with a smirk. "Don't tell me you're tired from just washing a few clothes …That's pathetic, kid." Ujiyuki said, choosing not to bring up Sentaro secret training.
Sentarō flinched at the voice. "Mr. Ujiyuki?" He scrambled to his feet, brushing dirt off his blue-and-white striped samue. He stared at Ujiyuki in confusion. "What are you doing here?"
But the sight of him triggered Ujiyuki's earlier annoyance from the morning. His eyes narrowed, finger pointing accusingly. "You damn kid, why'd you ask me to wake you if you could wake yourself, huh?!"
Sentarō blinked, then burst into a laugh. Ujiyuki's grumpy face looked more comical than scary. "Haha, sorry, Mr. Ujiyuki. I guess I've gotten used to waking up early." He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
Ujiyuki froze, his smirk fading, a flicker of guilt passing across his face. His hand went to his mouth, and he gave a fake cough. "Ehem."
"I'm heading to the market. We're running a little low on supplies, hehe." He scratched his head nervously, clearly avoiding the question.
Finally, he asked, almost awkwardly: "So… do you wanna come along, kid?"
Sentarō tilted his head. Ujiyuki's voice carried an odd nervousness. He noticed it but ignored it. His heart leapt at the opportunity. He had lived his whole life within the boundaries of Ginbayashi his home village. To step beyond, to see the world, even just a market was something monumental.
"Follow you to the market? Let's go!" His excitement lit up the clearing.
Relief washed over Ujiyuki, his tension fading."Alright. Let's go. I know a way to the market from here."
They departed from the stream, walking through the forest until they reached a dirt road. Sentarō's eyes widened in disbelief. A proper road existed only a few dozen paces away, yet he had never noticed.
Travelers dotted the path. Some pushed carts laden with goods, others walked with children in tow. Sentarō's world grew with every step, his gaze darting from one passerby to another.
After a long walk, they arrived at the market. The sheer number of people left Sentarō frozen in awe. Voices overlapped in a lively chorus. Stalls brimmed with fresh vegetables, fabrics, trinkets, and spices. The smells of grilled fish and steaming dumplings mixed in the air. "Welcome to Fubukichō"
Sentaro gasped in disbelief "Wow! Mister Ujiyuki, the people here could occupy an entire village!" His excitement nearly burst out of his chest.
"Of course they can, this is obviously a village" Ujiyuki responded as he shook his head and gave Sentaro a sideways glance, bewildered by his reaction. To him, this was just the common market of the Kurogane District.
"Hey, kid… your parents never took you to a market before?"
The joy on Sentarō's face dimmed. He lowered his gaze. "To be honest… my parents never took me anywhere except within our village."
Ujiyuki cursed himself internally. He hadn't meant to hit a nerve. Quickly, he tried to patch the mood.
"Well then, since this is your first time, let's get you something nice."
The effect was instant. The frown disappeared, replaced with a grin so bright it could rival the sun. "Thank you, Mister. Ujiyuki!"
Together, they stepped into the bustling Fubukichō market. Sentarō's eyes widened with every new sight, soaking in the overwhelming tide of people and colors. For the first time, the world felt bigger than he had ever imagined.