The smell of hot food came from the small red stall at the corner of the street.The boy approached slowly, his throat dry from hunger… Hah! His mouth started watering as he inhaled the delicious aroma.
The old man who owned the stall turned after sensing his presence, calling out something (in Japanese) that the boy didn't understand.But when he saw the man waving his hand, he understood he was being invited.He stepped closer cautiously, and the old man pointed to the seat across from him, then handed him a plate of noodles topped with slices of grilled chicken.
"Brrrrrr~" a clear sound came from the boy's stomach.The old man laughed out loud, while the boy smiled shyly and began to eat.His way of eating was strange, using his hands randomly and quickly, like someone who hadn't tasted food in days.The old man watched in surprise, then quietly continued organizing his things, preparing to close the stall.
When the boy finished his plate, he stood up and said:(Thank you!)(in English)
The old man raised his eyebrows in surprise and replied:(Oh! So you're a foreigner? Welcome, boy! What's your name?) (in English)
The boy froze for a moment, unsure what to say.But when his eyes fell on a sign behind the stall with a man's picture and the word Jack underneath,he stammered:(M-m-my name is Jack.)(in English)
The old man smiled kindly and said:(Jack, right? Nice to meet you again, but I have to close the stall now, sorry!) (in English)
Jack nodded gratefully:(It's okay, thanks again.) (in English)
The entire conversation had been in English.Jack stepped back a little, watching from afar as the old man closed his stall.Then he walked toward a dark alley and sat there, staring at the clear sky,where the crescent moon shone faintly among the scattered clouds.
And suddenly—"Ahhhhhh!"
Jack turned quickly toward the alley where the old man had gone,sharpening his hearing… he heard a man shouting angrily (in Japanese), the words unknown to him,but from the old man's panicked tone (in Japanese), he realized something was wrong.
He ran toward the sound, and when he arrived…he saw a scene that made his blood boil.A masked man was pointing a knife at the old man, who had fallen to the ground, blood running from his face.
Jack stepped forward, cold and steady.The man shouted threateningly:(Back off! Don't come closer! I'll kill you, fool!) (in Japanese)
But Jack did not stop.He moved closer and closer until the man lunged at him with the knife,Jack raised his hand and caught the blade in his palm directly!
A spark of light reflected in his eyes… they glowed with a mysterious shine in the shadows.The man froze in fear, then turned and ran as fast as he could.
Jack dropped the knife and stood still for a moment,while the old man got up in pain and said:(Are you okay? Damn, your hand is bleeding!) (in English)
Jack interrupted in a calm voice:(No, it's okay. It's just a small cut.) (in English)
But the old man insisted, approaching him:(Small cut? No no! I need to treat it immediately. Come with me.) (in English)
He grabbed Jack's hand and led him through the alleys until they reached a small, old building.They climbed the stairs quickly,then entered the apartment, where the old man took off his shoes at the door and said loudly:(Grandpa, you're late again! But luckily, I managed to prepare your favorite meal.) (in Japanese)
And when she tilted her head from behind the door—her eyes met Jack's.
The chapter ends here.