There's only so much a toddler can do each day. When Kenichi entrusted Rin to the care of the elderly neighbor, all she could really do was pluck a few weeds and pick some flowers to pass the time.
The Hanabuchi family's next-door neighbor was an elderly woman who had lost everything. Her husband had died young, and she'd raised her son alone—only for him to perish in the Shinobi World War, leaving behind a single grandson. Kenichi and that grandson had been childhood friends. Kenichi went on to become a shinobi, while the other lacked talent and turned to business. Ironically, it was Kenichi, whose career was far more dangerous, who survived. The merchant grandson had died during a trade expedition, leaving only the old woman behind.
Kenichi had quietly supported her whenever he could, and she had long since come to see him as her own grandson. So when he came to her with a baby in his arms, eyes filled with earnest pleading, she agreed without hesitation.
She was old now and no longer strong enough to carry Rin. Thankfully, Rin wasn't an ordinary child—she was far easier to care for than most.
"Come on, little Rin, let's put on our shoes. We're going out," the old woman said gently, crouching down and carefully slipping shoes onto Rin's tiny feet.
Rin held onto the wall with one hand and lifted a chubby foot to cooperate. Her fingers were still too soft and clumsy to manage shoes on her own.
Once ready, the old woman stooped over, taking one of Rin's hands while carrying a market basket with the other. Together, they set out to buy groceries.
The sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves above, casting dappled shadows onto the cobblestone street. The pair moved slowly through the village market.
That day, Rin wore a soft yellow dress embroidered with little white daisies. Her delicate, doll-like features were even more striking beneath the bright fabric. She still wobbled slightly with each step, tottering along like a tiny wind-up doll.
"Oh my, isn't that Hanabuchi's little Rin?" The fishmonger's wife was the first to spot them. She immediately dropped what she was doing and squatted down, beaming. "You've gotten even cuter in just a few days!"
Rin gave a polite little bow, her voice soft and sweet:
"Hel～lo Aun～tie～"
That single greeting melted the woman's heart. She quickly picked out the freshest snapper from her stall and tucked it into the old woman's basket.
"This is perfect for soup. It'll be delicious for the little one!"
"Oh, I couldn't possibly…" the old woman began, but the vendor had already affectionately pinched Rin's cheek.
"Our sweet Rin needs to eat more fish to grow up smart and strong!"
The old woman thanked her, slipping a few coins onto the counter. It wasn't enough to cover the fish, but she knew that if she paid the full price, the vendor would refuse. This way, the woman wouldn't take a loss, and she could still feel like she was gifting Rin something. A perfect compromise.
Sure enough, the vendor accepted the money with a smile, tucking it into her apron without protest.
They continued down the row. The vegetable vendor spotted Rin from afar and broke into a wide grin.
"Well now! If it isn't our little princess!"
He deftly bundled up a bunch of greens and added several plump tomatoes.
"These are just for you—sweet as candy!"
Rin accepted the vegetables with a soft, "Thank you, Graaandpa～"
While the old woman paid, the old man's grin widened until his mustache curled up with joy.
At the tofu stall, the vendor lady had already prepared two fresh blocks.
"Rin-chan looks extra adorable today! These were made from the freshest soybeans. Why don't you have your grandma make some tofu soup, hmm?"
Rin nodded solemnly, then gently reached out and touched the woman's rough hand.
"Auntie, your hands are cold… You should keep warm."
The woman froze. Her eyes immediately reddened.
"Oh… What a thoughtful child…"
Rin: Nailed it.
Soon, merchants from all around the market gathered near them. One handed over candies, another slipped her a few fruits. It was such a flurry of affection that the old woman didn't even know who to pay.
The fruit vendor uncle even hoisted Rin onto his shoulders to let her pick her favorite fruit. Rin sat high up, a little shy, clutching his hair and causing the onlookers to burst into laughter.
"What do you want to eat today, sweetie?" he asked with a grin.
"…Oranges," Rin said in a soft voice.
Gasps all around.
"She even sounds adorable!"
The old woman stood quietly nearby, watching with a warm smile as the once-lonely marketplace bloomed with joy just from Rin's presence.
Since Rin entered her life, everything had changed.
Even this quiet corner of the village now pulsed with life, laughter, and tenderness.
It wasn't hard to see why—Rin was just too sweet, too precious.
Even at one year old, Rin's beauty was astounding—like a porcelain doll from a master's painting. Her skin was as pale and clear as freshly fallen snow, tinged with a soft pink that only babies had. It made people want to reach out and gently touch her.
Her eyes were especially striking—long, thick lashes curled upward like two tiny fans, and the corners of her eyes naturally tilted up, giving her a gentle, charming allure. Her irises were a clear amber, catching the light with a golden shimmer, like starlight dancing in warm honey.
Her nose was small and delicate, her lips as pink as cherry blossoms. When she smiled, the corners of her mouth lifted just enough to reveal two tiny baby teeth—so sweet it made hearts melt.
Her hair was soft, thick, and black as ink, with a hint of natural wave. The old woman often tied it into two little pigtails with red ribbons that swayed as she walked, making her seem even more lively and endearing.
Short and round, Rin's chubby hands and feet were like lotus roots—plump and tender. When she walked, she waddled unsteadily like a baby penguin, bursting with innocent clumsiness.
When she sat quietly, she looked like a perfectly carved porcelain doll—almost too perfect to be real. But when she smiled, her crescent-shaped eyes and the tiny dimples on her cheeks made everyone around her instinctively smile with her.
People in the market often said:
"That child's going to be a heartbreaker when she grows up. Even now, you can't take your eyes off her!"
The old woman would always smile and pat Rin on the head, though there was a faint trace of worry in her eyes.
"Being too pretty… might not be a blessing."
Just then, the woman who sold traditional sweets leaned in with a sly grin and handed the old woman a delicate little box.
"These are freshly made sakura cakes—just a little treat for Rin-chan."
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On the way home, Rin's small hands were full of gifts. The old woman's basket was filled to the brim. The setting sun stretched their shadows long across the path.
Rin suddenly stopped walking. Tilting her face up toward the old woman, she said solemnly,
"Grandma… everyone's so kind."
The old woman crouched down and gently pulled the little girl into an embrace.
"It's because you are so kind, Rin-chan. That's why everyone loves you."
Rin buried her face in the old woman's shoulder, breathing in the soft scent of mugwort that clung to her clothes.
For the first time, in this strange new world…
She truly felt like she belonged.
Her bumbling dad, this warm-hearted grandma, and all the gentle people at the market—
They were all just… so good to her.
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