CHAPTER 4 — A Roof That Refuses to Behave
Ren learned something important on his second day in Windmill Village:
Sheds built by drunk carpenters do not obey the laws of physics.
He stood on a crate, hammer in hand, staring at a wooden beam that sagged like a sad noodle.
Kiro crossed his arms. "Hit it."
"I did." Ren tapped the beam again. It wobbled pathetically.
Kiro nodded. "Hit it harder."
Ren swung.
THUNK.
The beam fell off completely and smacked him on the shoulder.
Ren winced. "…This shed hates me."
Kiro shrugged. "Everything in this village hates someone. The trick is convincing it to hate you less."
"That's… not encouraging."
Kiro grinned. "Welcome to life!"
Makino: The Actual Foreman
Footsteps approached from the path.
"Ren? Kiro? Are you still alive up there?"
Makino's head popped into view, basket on her arm.
Kiro saluted dramatically. "Barely."
Makino sighed as she evaluated the chaos: wood scraps everywhere, a half-removed wall panel, dust clouds, and Ren looking like he had fought a tree and lost.
She placed her hands on her hips. "Ren… what happened?"
"The shed," Ren said simply, "is defective."
Makino walked inside, tested the wall with a push, and nearly fell through it.
She blinked. "…Okay, maybe you're right."
Kiro snorted. "Told you—haunted."
Makino shot him a look. "Kiro, you go fetch extra nails from the village store."
Kiro saluted again. "Aye, boss lady!" and ran off.
Ren watched the runaway blur. "…Does he always move like that?"
"Yes," Makino said, smiling. "He's like Luffy, but with slightly more brain cells."
"Only slightly?"
Makino held her fingers an inch apart. "Tiniest amount."
Ren huffed a laugh despite himself.
Training the Timid Carpenter
Makino set her basket down and pulled something out—a small cloth-wrapped bundle.
"For you," she said.
Ren blinked. "What is it?"
She unwrapped it to reveal an old but sturdy hammer, a set of nails, and a measuring string.
"These belonged to the village carpenter before he retired. He said you could borrow them. He's happy someone's using the shed again."
Ren ran his fingers over the handle.
"…This is too much. I don't deserve—"
Makino placed a hand on his shoulder, cutting him off gently. "Ren. When someone offers kindness here, you don't need to earn it. You just accept it."
Ren froze.
Makino smiled softly. "Besides, you're working so hard already. You're not alone, okay?"
Something inside Ren twisted—painful, but warm.
He nodded slowly.
"…Okay."
"Good. Now, let's fix this disaster before it collapses."
Ren blinked. "…You're helping?"
"Of course!" she declared. "I can't let you destroy the shed by accident."
Ren looked offended. "I am not destroying it."
Makino raised a brow. "The roof fell on you yesterday."
"That was the goat's fault."
She laughed. "True."
Enter: Local Chaos Entity
A loud, familiar voice echoed from the cliff path.
"RENNNN! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
Makino groaned. "I knew it."
Luffy appeared, running full speed toward the shed.
He tripped on a rock.
Ren lunged forward as Luffy faceplanted.
SMACK.
The boy lay there, twitching slightly.
Ren stared. "Is he alive?"
Makino sighed. "Unfortunately."
Luffy popped back up instantly. "I FOUND YOU!"
Ren dusted him off. "You nearly died."
"I'm strong!" Luffy declared proudly. "A little rock can't beat me!"
Makino muttered, "Rocks have beaten you multiple times."
Ren whispered, "He has selective memory."
Makino whispered back, "He has no memory."
Helping (Distracting) Hands
Luffy bounced around the shed like an energetic goat replacement.
"Can I help? Can I help? Can I help?!"
Ren hesitated. A child with the energy of a tornado near unstable wood and nails…
"…No."
"Yes!" Makino corrected. "You can help by fetching water from the well."
Luffy saluted. "AYE!"
And ran off at top speed.
Ren watched him disappear.
"…Why do I feel like that was a mistake?"
Makino sighed. "Because it was."
Progress, Slowly
Kiro eventually returned with nails.
The three of them—Ren, Makino, and Kiro—worked together, hammering, patching, and arguing about which wood was less rotten.
Ren measured beams with careful precision.
Makino corrected his angles with practiced ease.
Kiro gave commentary.
"Ren, that plank is crooked."
"It's fine."
"It's very crooked."
Makino checked. "…It's crooked."
Ren groaned. "This shed hates me."
Makino patted his back. "You'll win. Eventually."
Ren gave her a determined nod.
He wouldn't lose to a shed.
Not after surviving a goat.
Village Interactions
Throughout the day, villagers passed by:
Old fishermen offering leftover rope.
Children asking if Ren could fix their broken toys.
An old lady giving Makino rice balls "for the hardworking boys."
Each person added something—a tool, advice, a joke.
Ren wasn't just fixing a shed.
He was being woven into the village.
Little by little.
Step by step.
Makino's Concern
As late afternoon approached, Ren stood outside, wiping sweat from his forehead. The shed still looked awful, but now it was awful with promise.
Makino came out, hands dusted with sawdust.
"You worked hard today," she said.
Ren gave a shy, tired smile. "Thank you… for helping."
Makino shook her head. "No. Thank you. It's been a long time since the village had a kid with this much determination."
Ren blinked. "Determination?"
"Mm." She ruffled his hair gently. "You don't give up. Even when things fall apart. Even when goats hit you."
Ren pouted. "Please stop mentioning the goat."
Makino laughed.
Then she looked at him a little too closely—eyes soft with worry.
"Ren… do you ever get scared?"
He tensed.
"…Sometimes."
"That's normal," she said quietly. "If you ever feel overwhelmed… you can talk to me. Or the mayor. Or Kiro. Or even Luffy."
Ren snorted. "What would Luffy do?"
Makino smiled. "Probably hug you aggressively."
Ren imagined that. It was both terrifying and strangely comforting.
"…I'll keep that in mind."
"Good."
The Sky at Dusk
By sunset, the shed looked… okay.
Not good.
Not great.
But okay.
Ren stood with Kiro and Makino, watching the sky turn orange.
Kiro nudged him. "You're getting there."
Makino nodded. "One day at a time."
Ren breathed in deeply.
The sea breeze.
The scent of wood.
The sound of villagers laughing in the distance.
And beside him—two people who had helped him more in two days than anyone had in years.
Ren whispered:
"…Thank you. For everything."
Makino smiled warmly.
Kiro smirked. "You thanking Makino or me?"
"Both of you."
Kiro looked satisfied.
Makino patted his back. "You're one of us now, Ren."
Ren closed his eyes.
One of us.
He never thought he'd hear something like that again.
When he opened them, he smiled.
Soft.
Small.
But real.
"…Tomorrow, let's fix the rest."
Makino nodded. "Tomorrow."