Kiyoshi's days began to take shape with a boxed lunch.
It was Hinata Hyuga's first visit since the massacre.
It wasn't that she hadn't thought of coming during those days. Every time she reached the crossroads, her feet stopped first. Today, she came.
The shopkeeper looked up from behind the counter and greeted her as soon as he saw her.
"Miss Hinata, bringing him lunch?"
Hinata set the lunch box beside Kiyoshi's table, the tips of her ears reddening first.
"I was passing by."
She didn't even expect anyone to believe her.
Kiyoshi glanced up at the lunch box and opened it.
The dishes were simple home cooking.
The rice was packed down firmly, with a crooked circle poked into the top with chopsticks.
He looked at it for two seconds, then closed the lid.
The girl sharing the room poked her head out from behind the shelves.
"Hey, lunch ready and waiting. You've got it good, Kiyoshi."
The shopkeeper leaned out from behind the counter.
"Miss Hinata put a lot of care into that lunch."
Kiyoshi didn't respond to that.
He merely drew the lunch box closer to his chest.
Kiyoshi looked up and saw a little white rice still clinging to Hinata's fingertips. She really had made it herself, rather than asking the household servants to prepare it. A young lady of the Hyuga family, she had lowered the brim of her hat the moment she entered, holding the lunch box against her chest to shield herself. She was afraid of being recognized, and even more afraid of becoming gossip.
"Thanks. I appreciate the effort," Kiyoshi said.
He rarely offered anyone those words. Hearing them, Hinata's ears reddened further, but her feet stayed put.
Kiyoshi said nothing more.
But when he opened the lid, he had to pause