Chapter 3: The First Friend.
Kazuka stepped forward and stomped his foot hard on the ground.
"Hey, you guys are so many, why don't you go do something useful instead of bullying others here?"
Hearing that, the three turned around, their faces arrogant.
"Huh? Another beggar? Ahaha, trash hangs out with trash."
"Ha, let's see if you can beat me!"
One person on the right charged forward, holding a stick in his hand. He swung it vertically toward Kazuka. The boy immediately dodged to the side and threw a punch straight into his face, sending him flying right to the feet of the other two.
Seeing this, the two's expressions changed. They clenched their teeth, their eyes showing a slight tremor—the tremor of fear.
The two charged simultaneously. The one with the dagger stabbed toward the boy, but was blocked. Kazuka tightly grabbed his hand and lifted him up. Kazuka used great force, and the man's hand dropped the dagger to the ground.
While they were charging, one of the men was hugged by Takeshi, who wrestled him to the ground and rained down several punches.
After dealing with the situation, Takeshi helped Satsuki up and carried her on his back. He walked closer to Kazuka and held out his right hand, wanting to shake hands.
"Thank you, you really saved us. We would have been in serious trouble without you."
The little girl Satsuki, sitting on Takeshi's back, also smiled.
"Thank you, Sir."
Kazuka was scratching his head when Takeshi asked, "Hey, what is your name?"
"My name is Kazuka Kai."
"And mine is Takeshi Rin."
"I am Satsuki."
"Hey, Brother Takeshi, your face is all bruised! Did that guy punch you earlier? Does it hurt?"
"Of course not! I am quite strong, you know."
Satsuki, hearing that, stuck out her tongue to tease him.
"You are as weak as a snail! We would have been done for without Brother Kazuka earlier."
"Huh? That's not true! I just needed those three to take one more step, and I would have taken them all down!"
"You are just being dramatic."
Kazuka burst into laughter after listening to them talk. Seeing this, the other two also burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha."
"Hey, why don't you two come to my house? Although we do not have a lot of food, please come to my house. I will treat you to a meal as thanks for helping me."
Kazuka's eyes lit up. Saliva ran from his mouth. He rubbed his small belly, covered by the dirty and torn shirt.
"Really?"
"Yes, really! My mom is a great cook."
Kazuka jumped up.
"Full speed ahead to Satsuki's house!"
Takeshi, seeing Kazuka's enthusiasm, had no choice but to agree.
They walked along a dirt road. A small house could be seen far in the distance.
Takeshi was carrying Satsuki. The little girl pointed with one hand ahead, the other clinging tightly to Takeshi's neck, almost strangling him. Takeshi's face was distorted.
"Satsuki, please sit still."
"Look, that is my house! Hurry up... Hurry up, Brothers!"
Arriving at the door, Satsuki jumped down as if the wound on her leg never existed.
"Mom, I am home!"
The door opened, revealing Satsuki's mother. She had a very pretty face with brown hair. She was surprised to see two other people with her daughter.
"Huh? Who are these people, Satsuki?"
"Just now, three guys about Brother Takeshi's age pushed me against the wall and asked if I had money. He also said he would give me a beating I would never forget if I didn't hand it over."
"Luckily, these two rescued me, Mom."
"Let me introduce you, this is my mother, her name is Yuzuki Kanzaki."
The mother's face was quite surprised.
"Oh, is that so?"
"Mom, can you cook for these two? I promised to repay them with a meal. I also told them you are a very good cook!"
"Let me go out and buy some food. The house is almost out. I cook a little slowly, so how about you boys go take a bath in the river over there?"
Kazuka immediately took a money pouch from his person and held it out.
"Please take this to buy something, Auntie."
"No, how can I do that?"
"It is okay! We will all eat together."
Satsuki stared intently at the money pouch, her eyes glued to it. She leapt up and snatched the money pouch from Kazuka's hand.
"Hehe, I know a kind of delicious candy! I will go shopping with Mom. You guys go take a bath!"
"Satsuki, you should not do that, dear."
"It is okay, Auntie Yuzuki. Let her go."
Satsuki immediately pulled her mother's hand and rushed away.
"Hurry up, Mom!"
Kazuka and Takeshi watched the two leave, then ran into the house to find flint and steel. Then they ran toward the right side of the house. After running a short distance, they saw a river.
One person started a fire, and the other hung clothes on a branch. Then they jumped straight into the river to bathe.
"Woah, the water is so cool!"
"Hey Kazuka, how old are you?"
"Me? I am probably 13 years old."
"Then you are two years younger than me. I am 15 years old."
Takeshi's face showed a smug expression.
"Hurry up and call me 'Brother.'"
"Huh? If we are friends, why do I have to call you that?"
Takeshi's face showed a bewildered expression, a big question mark appearing above his head.
Kazuka immediately dismissed Takeshi's thoughts with a question: "Hey, is your home also here?"
Takeshi's face immediately darkened. His eyes lowered, looking down at the slow-flowing water. The atmosphere gradually became silent.
"I do not have a home. I lived in an orphanage, but a year ago, someone burned down our house. In the chaos of the fire, men in black clothes took advantage of the blaze and kidnapped the children there."
"I was the lucky one who managed to escape."
The scene shifted to a large fire. It was a large monastery, and the flames were engulfing it.
Guards were directing everyone to evacuate the site of the fire.
One person was shouting the loudest there. His clothes were no different from the other guards, but the stripes on his clothes had a different color. He grabbed a guard running past.
"Hey, where is the man with our Water Element? Why hasn't he arrived yet?"
"Y-Yes, Sir... that man is guarding the other side of the village. It will take a while for him to get here."
"Damn it! At this rate, this place will turn to ashes!"
A faint source of light surrounded him. His eyes closed as if he wanted to concentrate. His eyes then snapped open, his teeth clenched. Just as he was about to rush in to save people, a dark shadow flashed past his face. Confusion was clearly visible on his face.
"What... what just flashed past?"
A shrill scream rang out. It was not just one child but many children crying out.
"Ah... Help!"
His face changed color. He bit his lip until it bled to calm himself. He rushed into the fire. But after taking only two steps, a sharp, immense pain hit the back of his head. His vision blurred, and he fainted.
Inside the fire, Takeshi was yelling loudly when he saw a man in black taking the children away.
"Let go of them immediately! What are you trying to do?"
A kick was delivered. Before Takeshi could even compose himself, he was sent flying straight to the lower floor of the monastery. Blood sprayed from his mouth. The pain radiating from his stomach, where he was kicked, was excruciating. His pupils dilated, and his teeth were tightly clenched.
In front of him was the Sister, crushed by debris. He ran to lift the stone piece, but the stone was too big; he could not lift it.
"Sister... Sister, try to endure... Try to endure! I will help you!"
The Sister's face was covered in blood, and her body was trembling.
"Do not worry about me, child. Run outside now."
"What are you saying, Sister? How can I abandon you? I will not do that. Just trust me."
Takeshi strained to lift the stone while speaking.
Just then, a column of water poured straight into the monastery. The fire was extinguished. The guard team immediately ran in to look for people.
"Hurry up! There are definitely still people inside!"
Takeshi was carried out unconscious, along with a few other children.
Returning to the present, Kazuka could only stand silently in the water, listening to Takeshi's story. Leaves swayed with the gentle breeze. The space was extremely quiet. Suddenly, Kazuka spoke up, breaking the silence after a moment of reflection:
"Do not be sad. If the Sister saw you sulking (ủ rũ) like this, she would definitely scold you. You should be cheerful like me. Do not be sad like that."
Kazuka smiled as he spoke.
Suddenly, a loud call rang out through the leaves. It was Satsuki shouting loudly:
"Hey, you two, come back here! It is dinner time!"
Hearing that, Kazuka immediately jumped onto the bank, put on his clothes, and turned to look at Takeshi.
"Let us go! I am starving! Do not keep that expression. You should smile more, Takeshi! After all, we just met, and you already told me so much."
"Thank you for trusting me. Let us be friends from now on, okay? I am going first!"
Hearing Kazuka's words, Takeshi lowered his face to the water, looking at the flowing current.
He raised his head, clenched his hands, and jumped onto the bank.
"Alright, we are friends."
Inside the small house, the lamp light flickered. Kazuka ran straight in, raising both hands to the sky.
"Alright, we are going to eat!"
Seeing Kazuka, Satsuki immediately ran closer and held out the money pouch.
"Here, I am returning it to you. I only used a little."
"Huh? Why is there still so much? You can keep it; you do not have to give it back to me."
"How can I do that? And where is Brother Takeshi? Why didn't he come with you?"
"Ah, he is running right behind me."
Kazuka glanced to the side and saw food on the table. His eyes lit up.
"Woah, that looks delicious! Why is Takeshi taking so long? I am so hungry!"
Just as he mentioned Takeshi, the boy ran to the door, panting heavily, hands on his knees.
"Why... why are you so fast?"
Auntie Yuzuki came out of the kitchen, carrying a pot of steaming hot soup. Smoke was wafting up.
"Alright, kids, sit at the table."
Kazuka jumped onto a chair, his eyes twinkling as he looked at the food spread. Satsuki immediately took a bowl and a spoon, scooping a bowl of soup for Kazuka and placing it in front of him.
"Here is yours."
On the table was a plate of fragrant meat, a pot of soup with meat and vegetables inside, and finally, a plate of freshly baked bread.
Auntie Yuzuki went to replace an incense stick that was about to burn out, then also sat down at the table.
"I know it is still early, only the Hour of the Rooster (5 PM–7 PM), so I cooked a lot so you can all eat until you are full. Eating too early means you will easily get hungry again at night."
Kazuka kept eating with his head down, continuously stuffing food into his mouth.
"Hey, eat slowly! No one is going to eat it all up!"
"Hehe, let him eat."
Night fell. Kazuka and Takeshi were lying on a treetop, two branches jutting out. Each lay on one branch.
"Woah, my stomach is about to explode, haha!"
"You eat like a starved tiger."
A voice called up from below.
"Hey, are you two not afraid of the cold? Come down and sleep inside the house."
Kazuka yelled back down.
"We are fine sleeping up here! You do not need to worry about us! We are not cold! You just go inside and sleep!"
After saying that, Kazuka turned back, eyes looking up at the starlit sky. His two hands were clasped behind his head.
"Hey, have you made any plans yet, Takeshi?"
Takeshi's face turned thoughtful.