At night, Kazumi knocked on Ryuma's door. "Son, I am coming in." She gently opened the door and stepped into the room. The soft light from the hallway spilled inside, illuminating the quiet space. As soon as she entered, she saw Ryuma lying asleep on his bed. However, as she walked closer, Ryuma slowly opened his eyes and pushed himself upright, looking toward his mother. His eyes were still slightly drowsy, and traces of sleep lingered on his face.
Looking at Ryuma, Kazumi smiled faintly. "Well, here, I brought your dinner for you. Have your dinner."
Hearing this, Ryuma nodded and got up from the bed. Leaving his room, he headed to the bathroom and washed his face to clear away the remaining sleepiness. The cool water instantly made him feel more awake. After freshening up slightly, he returned and ate his dinner.
Once he finished eating, Ryuma went and sat in front of his parents, who had also completed their meal. Both his father and mother were sitting straight while looking at him with slightly nervous expressions. He knew exactly where that nervousness was coming from. They were probably worried that he would once again become stubborn about becoming a ninja.
But that was not the case anymore.
"Father, Mother," Ryuma said, "although I don't want to become a ninja anymore, nor do I want to practice swords in any dojo, I would still like to continue becoming stronger. Since I can't become a ninja, I decided that I will focus on practical physical exercise instead. It will not only keep my body fit, but also increase my physical strength. At the very least, it will be useful for self defense. So, I was thinking of buying some weights to train my body."
The moment he finished speaking, both of his parents visibly relaxed. The tension that had been lingering around them seemed to disappear.
"Well," his father said after a moment, "that is a very small matter. Of course, you can buy weights. Tomorrow, we will go and buy them for you."
Hearing his father's words, Ryuma instantly smiled. It really felt good being an only child. They clearly doted on him a lot. With that thought in mind, he returned to his room and went to sleep. After all, the fatigue from everything that had happened had not completely disappeared yet.
The next morning, Ryuma woke up feeling completely refreshed. There was not even a trace of fatigue left in his body. Clearly, this was because of Zoro's physique. After a good night's rest and proper food, all his exhaustion had vanished, leaving him feeling energetic and full of strength.
Stretching slightly, he thought, Well, let's go for a run. I don't have any weights yet, so running should be a good way to train for now.
With that thought, he finished his morning routine, greeted his mother, and left the house. The morning air was cool and refreshing as he headed toward the nearby training ground.
Meanwhile, inside the house, Raito and Kazumi watched Ryuma's departing figure through the doorway. For a few moments, neither of them spoke. Then Raito slowly stood up from his seat.
"Well, I will go and follow behind him," he said.
Kazumi immediately understood his intentions and nodded. Because of what Ryuma had done yesterday, neither of them could completely put their worries aside. Even though Ryuma appeared calm and normal now, the memory of him trying to take his own life was still fresh in their minds. As parents, it was impossible for them not to worry. Therefore, after Ryuma disappeared down the road, Raito quietly left the house as well, intending to follow from a distance without letting his son notice. Only then did Kazumi finally let out a small sigh, silently hoping that Ryuma was truly moving forward.
Raito followed Ryuma from a distance, carefully keeping himself hidden behind trees, walls, and the occasional roadside stall whenever the opportunity presented itself. His eyes never left his son's back for long. As for Ryuma, he appeared completely unaware that his father was following him. Soon, Ryuma entered the training ground.
The moment Ryuma stepped onto the training ground, Zoro's voice entered his ears.
"Well, start running. You have to, at the very least, run for twenty kilometers."
As soon as Ryuma heard that, his mouth twitched. "Well, are you joking with me? I don't think I can run for twenty kilometers."
Zoro immediately replied in a stern, authoritative voice. "I didn't ask you. I told you to run. So just run."
Hearing his tone, Ryuma could only sigh. There was no point in arguing, so he started running around the training ground.
At first, it wasn't too bad. His breathing remained steady, and thanks to Zoro's physique, his body felt far stronger than an ordinary child's. However, as the distance gradually increased, the burden on his legs became more and more obvious. Sweat began dripping down his forehead, and his breathing became heavier. The pleasant morning air no longer felt refreshing.
After running around five kilometers, Ryuma felt like collapsing on the spot. His legs felt heavy and his chest burned. Every step felt more difficult than the last. Just as he wanted to stop and catch his breath, Zoro's voice rang out again.
"Don't you dare stop right now. Continue running!"
The sudden shout nearly made him stumble. For some reason, Ryuma felt as if Zoro was standing directly behind him with a stick in his hand, ready to smack him the moment he slowed down. He didn't know whether it was merely his imagination or perhaps some strange authority possessed by Zoro himself, but whatever the reason, it was effective.
Gritting his teeth, Ryuma continued running. One kilometer, then another, then another. The training ground seemed endless as time passed slowly, his footsteps continuing to pound against the dirt path. By the time he crossed ten kilometers, his entire body was drenched in sweat. By fifteen kilometers, his legs were practically screaming in protest. Yet every time he thought about stopping, Zoro's stern voice echoed in his head.
So he endured. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he somehow completed the full twenty kilometers.
The moment he stopped, all the strength seemed to leave his body. Panting like a dog, Ryuma instantly fell onto the ground. His chest rose and fell violently as he stared at the bright morning sky above him while the clouds drifted lazily overhead. I think I'm dying...
Meanwhile, hidden behind a nearby tree, Raito watched everything unfold. When he saw Ryuma suddenly collapse onto the ground, his heart nearly jumped out of his chest. Without even thinking, he almost rushed forward, taking two quick steps before he noticed something. Ryuma's eyes were open; he was simply lying there while breathing heavily and staring at the sky. There was no sign of danger or distress beyond simple exhaustion.
Realizing this, Raito slowly stopped. He remained hidden behind the tree and continued observing quietly. After watching for a while longer, Raito understood something: Ryuma was definitely not planning to take his own life again. The determination he saw now was completely different from yesterday. There was conviction in the boy's actions. Even though it was merely basic physical training, Ryuma had clearly found a new direction to focus on—a new purpose. Perhaps it was not becoming a ninja, and perhaps it was not swordsmanship, but he was moving forward.
Seeing that, a faint smile appeared on Raito's face. The heavy worry that had been weighing on his heart since yesterday finally eased. Satisfied, he quietly turned around and left.
About half an hour later, after resting on the training ground and recovering enough strength to walk properly again, Ryuma returned home. As soon as he arrived, he thoroughly washed himself. The cool water washed away the sweat and exhaustion covering his body, leaving him feeling refreshed. Afterward, he sat down with his father and ate breakfast. The meal was simple, but after running twenty kilometers, it tasted incredibly good.
Once breakfast was finished, both Ryuma and his father prepared to leave for the fields. As they left the residential area and continued down the village paths, the scenery gradually changed. The ground was still muddy from yesterday's rain. Puddles reflected the morning sunlight, while the fresh scent of wet earth lingered in the air.
Ryuma looked around as they walked. Stretching across the surrounding area were vast fields filled with vibrant green crops. Everything looked fresh and full of life. It reminded him of how trees and plants seemed to awaken after rainfall, becoming brighter and healthier than before.
Raito began explaining the basics, starting by showing Ryuma exactly how much land he managed.
"This section is ours," Raito said while pointing toward one field. "Those plots over there are also under my care."
Ryuma listened attentively, carefully memorizing everything his father said. After all, from today onward, he would be helping him manage these fields. Since he had decided not to become a ninja, understanding this work was important.
As they continued walking, Raito introduced the different areas one by one. He explained which crops were planted where, which vegetables required more attention, how water was managed, and which sections would soon be ready for harvesting. Ryuma followed closely behind, occasionally asking questions while committing every piece of information to memory.
By the end of the tour, the two of them had traveled across nearly all the land under Raito's care, allowing Ryuma to gain a clear understanding of both the fields and the work that maintained them.
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