It was a rainy afternoon when Lauren regained consciousness.
The ceiling was cracked, and rainwater was leaking into the house through several spots. The window was broken, and the straw bedding he used to sleep on was completely soaked. Small puddles of water covered the floor.
Lauren lay on the wet straw, holding his teddy bear tightly.
Then, the memories came rushing back.
The war.
His parents' illness.
His injured friends.
The destroyed school.
Everything flashed through his mind at once.
Why does all of this keep happening? Lauren thought. Am I the problem?
Tears began streaming down his face.
He continued crying for hours.
Until the afternoon faded away and night arrived.
Lauren got up, still feeling sad, and opened the crooked door to his room. It could barely close properly.
Luckily, Ryuzo had placed some fireflies inside a jar to illuminate the kitchen during the night.
Lauren walked over there.
When he reached the kitchen, he climbed onto a plastic chair and opened the cupboard.
It had only one door.
The inside was completely covered in dust.
And empty.
Lauren closed the cupboard, climbed down from the chair, and put it back in its place.
His stomach growled.
He lowered his head.
Once again, he would have to go to sleep hungry.
Lauren returned to his room, lay down on the wet straw, and hugged Ash'vour tightly.
A few minutes passed.
Then, someone opened the front door.
Lauren heard footsteps.
The person placed something on the table and closed the door.
Then, they opened the door to Lauren's room.
The footsteps slowly approached.
The person sat down on the wet floor beside the bed and let out a sigh.
"Lauren... It's me. Ryuzo."
Lauren turned to look at him.
Ryuzo noticed that his eyes were still filled with tears.
"Hey, don't cry. Lauren, none of this was your fault."
The tears began falling again.
Ryuzo gently wiped them away.
"Our emotions can be incredibly powerful. Anyone can lose control when they're suffering... You don't have to carry all of this alone."
Ryuzo ran his hand through Lauren's hair, gently patting his head.
Lauren sat up and hugged him.
The hug lasted for a long time.
He let out the last of the tears he had been holding back.
After a while, Lauren pulled away and took a deep breath.
"Come on. Let's have dinner. I brought some food."
Lauren's eyes briefly lit up.
He jumped out of bed, excited.
Ryuzo let out a small laugh.
"Easy. I still have to cook it."
The two of them left the room.
Lauren hurried to the kitchen and sat down on the chair.
Ryuzo took an iron pot that he had made himself and filled it with water. Then, he added the instant noodles, the seasoning, and a few chicken hearts.
He placed the pot on the stove he had found somewhere and cleaned up.
Ryuzo took a match and lit the fire.
Lauren began swinging his legs impatiently.
"Careful, you're going to fall," Ryuzo said.
Lauren stopped for a few seconds.
Then he started swinging his legs again.
Ryuzo simply laughed.
After a few minutes, the food was finally ready.
He took a wooden plate and used his water power to wash it.
Once he was done, he put the noodles on the plate and placed it in front of Lauren.
Then, he took a plastic fork, washed it with his power, and handed it to Lauren.
Lauren held the fork.
Before he started eating, he remembered his parents.
They had always told him to be thankful for his food.
Lauren closed his eyes for a moment and silently gave thanks.
Then he started eating.
Very quickly.
It was as if the food might disappear at any moment.
"Slow down, Lauren. The food isn't going anywhere. Eat more slowly so you don't choke."
Lauren nodded and slowed down.
When he was almost finished, Lauren noticed something.
Ryuzo wasn't eating.
He pointed at the food and then at Ryuzo.
Ryuzo understood what he meant.
"Why am I not eating?"
Lauren nodded.
Ryuzo smiled.
"Don't worry. I'm not hungry."
Lauren continued eating.
A few minutes later, he finished everything.
He stood up, carried the plate and fork to the sink, and left them there.
Then he returned to Ryuzo.
Lauren lowered his head in gratitude and then hugged him.
"You're welcome, Lauren."
Ryuzo gently patted his head.
Lauren opened the door to his room, went inside, and closed it.
Meanwhile, Ryuzo washed the dishes and put them away.
Then his stomach growled.
Ryuzo placed a hand over it.
"Argh..."
He looked at the little food that remained.
"The money wasn't enough to buy food for everyone... At least I managed to buy Lauren's parents' medicine. And there was still a little instant noodle left."
Ryuzo took the medicine and the food he had saved for them and walked to Lauren's parents' room.
Carefully, he helped them sit up and gave them their medicine and food.
After a while, Ryuzo fell silent.
"Tomorrow, I need to talk to Lauren about something important."
Meanwhile, somewhere else...
In a city not far away, a counselor hurried into the king's chamber.
"Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! The only school in the country has been destroyed!"
The king continued drinking calmly.
"Oh... Who cares?"
The counselor was stunned.
"My lord?"
The king placed his drink on the table.
"As long as that person doesn't destroy my palace, leave them alone."
"But, my lord, we're talking about an entire school! There are people who were injured, and—"
"Enough."
The counselor fell silent.
The king stared at him.
"And if you continue questioning my orders, you'll be the one going to the guillotine."
The counselor swallowed nervously and lowered his head.
"Yes, my king."
Elsewhere, the rain was falling violently.
Thunder echoed across the sky.
A lone figure walked down the road, completely drenched.
They looked at the path ahead.
"I'm almost there..."
The figure quickened their pace.
"Ryuzo said it was this way."
They looked around, trying to figure out which path to take.
"But is this really the right way?"
A flash of lightning illuminated the sky.
The figure kept walking.
"If it is... I think I'll arrive the day after tomorrow."