Gyomei gently pushed open the door and ducked beneath the frame. In just one night, his body had grown yet again—now towering at nearly six feet tall. Judging by the structure of this youthful body, he estimated it to be around thirteen years of age. His height and bearing were anything but ordinary.
Inside, a man in a dark suit sprang to his feet, his hand instinctively reaching for the knife tucked at his belt.
"Who are you, stranger?!" the man barked. "What gives you the audacity to barge into my house?! Leave, now!"
The reaction was expected. Anyone would be frightened by the sudden appearance of a towering, muscular stranger.
Gyomei bowed deeply, voice calm and respectful. "My name is Gyomei Himejima, Takoyoru-san. I have returned with the logs I promised as part of the bargain with your wife."
Without waiting for an answer, he turned toward the door, ready to take his leave. He had no desire to intrude on a family's reunion.
Behind him, he sensed Harime rise from her seat, her gentle hands urging her husband to lower the knife.
"Himejima-kun, it's alright. Please, come in for dinner," she called.
Turning back, Gyomei studied the man before him—Mr. Takoyoru. Broad-shouldered and clad in an expensive-looking suit, he carried himself with pride. His face was lined not just with age, but with laughter and love, especially when his gaze fell upon his wife and daughter.
"Takoyoru-san," Gyomei began softly, "there is no need for further generosity. My request was only for a single bowl of rice. You and your wife have already given me far more than I asked for."
Harime shook her head firmly, waving her hands as if to dismiss his modesty. "No, no! It's fine! Please, come and meet my husband properly. He can be rough at first, but he's very kind at heart."
"Harime! We don't even know this man's intentions! What if he—"
Mr. Takoyoru's sentence died midair as his wife calmly picked up the same knife he had just discarded. Her eyes sparkled with calm menace.
"Hello, Himejima-kun!" she said with a disarming smile. "Is it alright if I call you Gyomei?"
The sudden shift in tone was so dramatic, Gyomei faltered for a moment.
"...Of course, ma'am."
From the corner of his awareness, he felt the vibrations of Mr. Takoyoru's rapid heartbeat. The man was sweating, his nerves frayed and trembling. Beneath his bold exterior was a soul marked by fear, and perhaps... something darker. His stress was intense enough that a single hair on his head turned stark white in the space of a heartbeat.
"Alright, Gyomei, let's speak plainly," Mr. Takoyoru said, straightening his back and adopting a sterner tone.
"You're here because of my wife's kindness. And you'd do well to remember that, you little—"
Harime raised the knife slightly.
The man paused. Gyomei winced. He could sense faint scars near the man's crotch—remnants of past "disagreements." There was no mistaking it now. Harime was not just the heart of the house.
She was its ruler.
Gyomei whispered a mantra beneath his breath.
"Namu Amida Butsu."
Best to pray when faced with such formidable forces.
Mr. Takoyoru coughed awkwardly and changed his tone.
"As I was saying... we could use your help. Stay here. We'll provide you with food and shelter. In return, you'll chop logs and do heavy labor. Fair enough, yes?"
Gyomei nodded solemnly.
But the man raised a single finger.
"However, I have one final condition."
Harime brandished the knife again, but Mr. Takoyoru's eyes were alight with newfound courage. For once, his spirit shone without fear.
"If there's ever a fire, you burn first. If pirates come, you face them before any of us. You will be part of this family. We'll care for you, feed you, love you like one of our own. But in return, you protect us. Protect my daughter like a true older brother. Protect this home like a filial son."
He extended his hand.
"Deal?"
The moment was silent but powerful.
Gyomei reached out and grasped the offered hand.
"Deal," he said simply.
And in that handshake, he felt it:
Not fear.
But acceptance.
And for the first time since awakening in this new world, Gyomei Himejima was no longer alone.