The morning waves lapped gently against the rickety pier, as if mocking Kenji with their calm. He squatted with his fishing rod, eyes bloodshot from too many sleepless nights of plotting "new techniques" that were mostly just him changing where he sat.
Kenji (muttering): "Alright, ocean. I've fed you worms, sweat, and my pride. Today, you're feeding me back. Deal?"
Beside him, Sora swung his legs, humming, crab pot nestled in his lap as usual.
Sora: "You'll do it today, Papa Kenji! I dreamed of a fish last night. It was huge—this big!"
The boy spread his arms comically wide, nearly falling into the water.
Kenji chuckled, steadying him.
Kenji: "Let's start smaller, huh? Like… sardine-sized. But hey, if your dream's right, we'll be rich in no time."
He cast the line, watching the bobber ripple. The minutes stretched. Villagers passed by, already smirking.
Villager 1: "Empty Bucket's back."
Villager 2: "Think he's aiming for seaweed this time?"
Kenji forced a grin, though his stomach knotted.
Kenji (thinking): Ignore them. Just one fish—that's all I need. One win to shut them up.
Then—the line tugged. His eyes widened. He yanked.
Something wriggled on the end. Small, silver, but alive.
Kenji (shouting): "I GOT ONE!"
Sora leapt up, clapping wildly.
Sora: "Papa Kenji caught a fish! Papa Kenji caught a fish!"
The villagers paused, squinting. It was just a sardine, flapping pathetically in the sunlight.
Villager 1 (snorting): "That's it? Barely a mouthful."
Villager 2: "Hey, at least it's not seaweed this time!"
Kenji ignored them, grinning ear to ear. He carefully dropped the sardine into his bucket.
Kenji: "Ha! That's one. And where there's one, there's more!"
By noon, he'd managed three sardines. Tiny, yes, but proof he wasn't cursed. Proof he could fish.
Kenji (panting): "Three fish… three whole fish. Alright, buddy, time to sell these beauties."
Sora bounced beside him as they carried the bucket toward Minato's market square. It wasn't much of a market—just a few stalls with rough tables, baskets of clams, smoked fish, and vegetables from inland traders.
Kenji approached the fishmonger's stall. The man was broad-shouldered, with hands calloused from years of gutting fish. He raised a skeptical brow at Kenji's bucket.
Fishmonger: "What've you got there, newcomer?"
Kenji straightened his back proudly, showing off the sardines.
Kenji: "Three fresh sardines. Caught 'em myself."
The fishmonger snorted.
Fishmonger: "Three? That's barely worth the trouble. I'll give you… four copper."
Kenji blinked.
Kenji: "Four copper? For three whole fish?"
Fishmonger: "They're scrawny. Take it or leave it."
Kenji opened his mouth to argue, but his stomach growled loudly enough that even Sora giggled. He sighed, holding out the bucket.
Kenji: "Fine. Four copper."
The fishmonger tossed him the coins with a smirk. Kenji caught them like they were made of gold. He turned to Sora, crouching to show him the little stack.
Kenji: "Look, buddy. Our first money."
Sora's eyes sparkled.
Sora: "Papa Kenji! That means we can buy bread, right? Real bread?!"
Kenji ruffled his hair, smiling despite himself.
Kenji: "Yeah. Bread. And tomorrow, maybe fish and bread."
At the baker's stall, the smell of warm bread nearly knocked Kenji over. He hadn't realized how desperately he craved it until now. He handed over two copper, and the baker passed him a small loaf—hard and crusty, but heavenly to his empty stomach.
Sora tore into it with pure joy, crumbs scattering down his chin. Kenji watched him, biting his own half slowly, savoring every chew.
Kenji (thinking): It's not sushi, but… damn, this might be the best bread I've ever tasted.
Daigo wandered by, eyebrows raised at the sight of Kenji eating.
Daigo: "Well, well. The sea finally took pity on you, eh?"
Kenji grinned, lifting the last copper coins in his hand.
Kenji: "More than pity. She paid me in copper."
Daigo chuckled.
Daigo: "Don't get cocky. Four copper won't buy you more than scraps."
Kenji: "Yeah, but it's a start. And from now on, it's only up."
That evening, Kenji counted his coins by lamplight in Daigo's hut. The soft glow made the copper glimmer like treasure.
Kenji (thinking): Four copper… it's nothing compared to my old world's salary. Back in Tokyo, I'd blow more than that on vending machine coffee. But here… here, it means survival. It means I'm not useless.
Sora leaned against him, yawning.
Sora: "Papa Kenji… when we're rich, can we buy a big boat? One with a cabin? And maybe a blanket that doesn't smell like crabs?"
Kenji chuckled, pulling the boy close.
Kenji: "Yeah, buddy. We'll buy the biggest boat in Minato. But first… we'll catch more fish tomorrow."
The boy drifted off, smiling. Kenji stared at the coins one last time before tucking them away carefully.
Kenji (thinking): This is only the beginning. Today, bread. Tomorrow… who know.