Chapter 3 – Clues Always Come Uninvited
A faint click echoed as the handle turned. The shabby wooden door creaked open ever so slightly, but whoever was inside remained cautious—the door was left ajar by only a narrow slit.
Through that slit, a single amber-colored eye peeked out, blinking warily at Narusei Renjiro.
"Excuse me… who are you?"
The voice that followed was small and timid, almost like a mosquito's buzz. Still, Renjiro could easily tell from the tone that it belonged to a little girl.
And when it came to dealing with children, a gentle approach was best.
"Hello, little sister," Renjiro said softly, forcing a strained smile. "I am the son of a merchant… we were attacked by bandits, and I barely escaped."
The girl looked him up and down, her gaze lingering on his filthy clothes and the faint sour stench that still clung to him. Her amber eyes flickered, as if she was thinking of something, then she darted back inside, disappearing into another room.
Renjiro understood. She had gone to ask her parents. The simplest solution would have been to kill the whole family outright—after all, Toshi Ameyashiki was bound to be nearby, perhaps even searching for him already. Standing exposed in front of someone's house was reckless.
His body tensed. He shifted slightly, planting the ball of his foot against the ground, left hand pressing against the door, ready to burst in the moment it opened wider.
But then—
"Big brother, you can come in!"
The girl's cheerful voice floated out, dispelling the tension. Renjiro eased his stance and entered the house.
The interior was as simple as he expected—worn-out furniture, cobwebs clinging to the lightbulb. His gaze swept over the little girl who now stood before him.
Her long black hair nearly brushed the floor. A pale, innocent face framed by unadorned simplicity. Her clothes were patchworks of mismatched fabric, but her small frame and soft features marked her as no older than ten.
"Merchant's son," a frail female voice spoke from deeper inside. A woman in her forties appeared, thin as if hollowed by hardship, faint tear stains still fresh on her cheeks. "Please don't mind how humble our home is. We have little to offer."
Renjiro bowed his head slightly. "Madam, thank you for your kindness. I only need lodging for three days before I leave. I will, of course, compensate you generously."
The woman nodded, and under her guidance, Renjiro was shown to the bath. The place was ordinary, filled with nothing more than basic washing supplies.
He knew well—staying in a stranger's home was dangerous. Vigilance was essential.
With a ripple, an identical figure of Renjiro appeared at the bathroom door—his water clone. If anyone tried to break in, the clone would strike first.
"Big brother, here are your clothes."
The girl's sudden voice outside made the clone stiffen, ready to attack.
"Thank you, little sister," Renjiro quickly called out. "Just leave them by the door."
After bathing, free at last from the grime and stench, a rare sense of refreshment washed over him.
"Big brother, come quickly, dinner's ready!"
Renjiro followed her to the modest dining room, where the woman had set the table. Her smile was warm now, her earlier tears wiped away.
"Madam," Renjiro said politely, inclining his head. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is… Emiwarai (Smile). I am truly grateful for your help."
He had no intention of using his real name. In this world, concealing one's identity was often the only way to survive.
"Emiwarai?" The woman repeated, eyes softening. "That's a beautiful name. Your parents must have loved you dearly. Just call me Madam. This here is my daughter, Hanako Sakuragi."
She studied him quietly. Those calm, still eyes of his held no malice. For now, she chose to believe he wasn't a threat.
They ate together, exchanging light conversation. When Renjiro mentioned that he was an orphan, the woman's tone grew even more gentle, her compassion toward him deepening.
Knock, knock!
Suddenly, the sound of fists rapping against the door broke the calm. The woman rose at once, heading toward the entrance to see who it could be.
Renjiro's heart sank. Don't tell me… Toshi Ameyashiki?
Without hesitation, he edged closer to little Hanako Sakuragi, ready to seize her as a hostage if it truly was him.
"Get out! Get out of here right now!"
"...Sister-in-law, I'm sorry! I really came to apologize this time—"
"Shut up! Don't you dare call me sister-in-law! I'm not your family! If it weren't for you, if it weren't for you—Ayao wouldn't have…! It's all your fault!"
The furious argument came muffled through the door. The woman inside pushed desperately against the man outside, forcing him away again and again. Then—bang! The door slammed shut.
Her strength spent, the woman collapsed to her knees, sobs spilling out uncontrollably.
Hanako hurried to her mother's side, wrapping her tiny arms around her trembling shoulders, eyes brimming with tears.
"Don't cry, Mama… please don't cry. When I grow up, I'll protect you."
Renjiro had caught a clear glimpse of the man outside. It was indeed Toshi Ameyashiki. So this family had a connection to him.
And from their exchange, he understood—they knew each other well once. But because of some man named Ayao, their relationship had soured, turning into bitter hatred.
"Madam, are you alright?" Renjiro asked calmly. "That man just now… that was Toshi Ameyashiki, wasn't it? Did he harm you?"
At the mention of the name, her body shook violently. Fresh tears welled in her eyes as her voice broke.
"He's a murderer. If not for him, Ayao would never have… He never gambled, never once in his life. But Toshi dragged him into it. The debts swallowed him whole… In the end, he saw no way out but to take his own life. We could have faced it together… but instead—"
Her words dissolved into weeping.
Renjiro's gaze remained steady, impassive as always. But within, he was already calculating, planning, envisioning how best to kill Toshi Ameyashiki. At last, he had a lead.
From her story, the picture was clear:
Ayao, her husband—once upright, never a gambler.
Toshi Ameyashiki—his so-called friend, who lured him into ruin and drove him to suicide.
After a long while, the woman finally composed herself, apologizing before retreating to her room. Dinner ended in heavy silence, the air thick with grief.
---
Night descended. Cicadas cried softly outside, stars glittered across the sky. The damp night air carried a faint chill.
"Big brother, may I come in?"
Before Renjiro could respond, Hanako padded in barefoot, her wide, innocent eyes fixed on him.
"Big brother… you're not really a merchant's son, are you?"
Her gaze suddenly sharpened, becoming cold and piercing. The shift in her tone startled Renjiro.
"If you were truly the son of a merchant, attacked by bandits, you'd be frightened, panicked. Not calm like this. And earlier—you were about to kill me, weren't you? If I hadn't convinced Mama to let you in, we'd probably both be dead by now."
Silence. Renjiro's tranquil eyes regarded her steadily. Though her transformation was surprising, he wasn't shaken. Everyone had another side. And his own cover had been riddled with holes from the start—it was only natural she noticed.
"I'm not saying this to drive you away," Hanako continued quickly, fear flickering in her voice now. "I just… I want to ask you to make me stronger."
Renjiro studied her. He could already guess her reason. She wanted strength to kill Toshi Ameyashiki—to avenge her father.
"Alright," he said simply.
Her face lit up instantly, the sharp edge gone, replaced by the innocent joy of a little girl.
Renjiro's eyes betrayed no emotion, remaining calm as ever.
"Then starting tomorrow—two hundred push-ups, one hundred sit-ups…"
But before he could finish, Hanako's head drooped. Her eyelids fluttered shut, her small breaths evening out as she mumbled in her sleep.
Still just a child, Renjiro thought, turning his gaze to the window. A meteor streaked across the starry night, leaving behind a faint, beautiful tail of light.