Day thirty.
Shuo was woken by the sunlight.
It wasn't gentle light, but the kind that streamed straight through the broken window and hit him square in the face, so bright he couldn't open his eyes.
He lay still, squinting for two seconds to adjust, then turned his head.
The bedding on the opposite bed was neatly folded, and no one was by the window.
He sat up, got out of bed, and washed up.
He had just finished drying his face when Sai pushed the door open, carrying two paper bags.
"Fewer people in the cafeteria?" Shuo asked.
"Yeah. More people working, fewer eating."
Shuo took one and opened it. Salmon rice balls.
He took a bite. The flavor was bland.
Sai sat across from him, eating a plum one, and frowned slightly at the sourness.
The two ate quietly like that, without a word.
After eating, they went downstairs.
The streets were still full of people repairing houses, but things were much more orderly than two days earlier.
What needed demolishing was demolished, what needed clearing was cleared, and new wooden frames had already gone up where rebuilding was needed. Hammering rang out all around.
Shuo walked slowly, his hands in his pockets, loose and languid.
Sai followed quietly beside him.
As they passed the general store, the door was open, and the proprietress was sitting outside in the sun.
She smiled and waved when she saw them.
"You're here?"
"Yeah."
Shuo stopped, took out a piece of candy, and handed it to her.
The proprietress took it, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth.
"Off to check on the shop again?"
"Yeah."
"Go on, then." The proprietress waved them off.
The two continued on.
At the sweet shop, Shuo took out the key and opened the