The forest grew thicker as we walked, the soft crunch of dried leaves underfoot marking our path. Sunlight filtered through the canopy in broken beams, dancing across the dirt trail ahead. Koji led, his slingshot resting loosely in his grip. Rina walked beside me, occasionally glancing my way. Taro trailed behind, unusually quiet, kicking at stones now and then with the tip of his sandal.
No one spoke for a while. Just the wind, birds overhead, and the occasional creak of shifting branches.
I didn't mind the silence. It gave me space to think.
They'd accepted me. Cautiously, sure—but they hadn't run, hadn't screamed, and most importantly, hadn't dragged me off in ropes. That had to count for something.
Still, I could feel their eyes on me—Koji's whenever we paused to check the path, and Rina's quick glances whenever she thought I wasn't looking. I couldn't blame them. I looked like something out of a storybook—the dark Akatsuki cloak, the blue hair, the paper flower still tucked behind my ear. Even I wouldn't trust someone like me.
"You sure you're okay walking in that?" Rina asked after a while, gesturing to my cloak. "It looks… kinda heavy."
"It's fine," I said. "Not as hot as it looks. I'm used to it."
She raised an eyebrow but didn't push.
Eventually, the trees thinned, revealing a wide clearing. Beyond it, nestled against a low hill, was the village.
It wasn't large—maybe twenty or so houses, pale wood and thatched roofs, with thin smoke curling from a few chimneys. Children darted between homes, shouting and laughing. A woman hung laundry on a line, and two men worked on a fence nearby.
It looked peaceful.
But the moment we stepped out of the forest, every pair of eyes turned toward us.
Well… toward me.
I didn't blame them.
"Wait here," Koji muttered, then jogged toward one of the houses.
Rina turned to me. "Just... let us explain things first, alright? Once they've heard us out, you can answer questions if they have any."
I nodded,"that makes sense".
Taro added quietly, "Daichi's the one in charge. He might ask a few things—just be honest with him."
Oh? Is he giving me advice? What a sweet young man, I really appreciate it.
And before I could say anything else, a stocky older man stepped out from one of the houses and walked toward us. His steps were steady and unhurried, but his eyes were sharp, like someone used to solving problems before they turned into bigger ones.
He stopped a few feet away.
"I'm Daichi," he said. "Acting chief while Elder Haru's away."
His gaze lingered on me. "You're not from this island, are you?"
I blinked. Rina hadn't had a chance to say anything yet.
"No," I admitted. "I just... woke up here. I don't know how or why. But I mean no harm."
His expression didn't change, but something behind his eyes shifted. Then he looked to Rina, who gave a small nod—not confirmation, just reassurance.
Koji had returned by then and stood nearby, arms crossed.
"You're not a pirate?" Daichi asked.
"No."
"Not a bounty hunter?"
"No."
"Not here to stir up trouble?"
I hesitated. "Only if trouble finds me first."
That earned a soft huff of amusement from Rina.
Daichi didn't smile, but his stance relaxed slightly. "Alright. You can stay in the old storehouse for now. We'll figure things out once the elder returns."
"Thank you," I said, bowing slightly.
"Rina, show her where it is," Daichi said, turning to walk back toward the village square.
We headed in the direction he'd pointed. Taro looked at me. "You handled that pretty well."
"I wasn't trying to," I said. "Just being honest."
Rina opened the storehouse door—it was small but dry. Folded blankets sat in the corner, and a barrel of water rested near the wall. The air smelled faintly of dust and herbs.
"Welcome to your temporary castle," she said with a smirk.
I stepped inside and sat on the edge of a crate, letting the cloak settle around me. A narrow shaft of sunlight cut through a gap in the wall, painting a thin line across the floor.
Not much, but it's definitely better than not having a place to stay.
Rina lingered by the door. "We'll bring you something to eat in a bit. And Maybe later… you can meet the others."
I nodded. "Alright."
When the door clicked shut behind her, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.
So far, so good.
But I couldn't shake the feeling that this village, as quiet as it looked, held more than it seemed.
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A/N: I keep wondering--am I describing things too much? Should I dial it back? And is the story staying consistent? Let me know what you guys think!