As the days stretched deeper into spring, the warmth lingered longer, and the fields grew fuller with life. The villagers stayed busy, planting and tending to their crops carefully each day. Shinji helped his father in the fields every morning, pulling weeds and checking rice plants. The gentle, repetitive tasks often made him feel calm, even as questions remained unanswered in his mind.
On a quiet evening, when the sky softened to a gentle purple and pink, Shinji followed Hana to the riverbank. They carried small woven baskets, hoping to catch crickets for Ren's pet bird. The crickets sang loudly along the river's edge, their chirping blending softly into the fading light.
Hana knelt carefully in the grass, eyes narrowed as she quietly reached toward a cricket perched on a blade of grass. "Quiet now," she whispered to Shinji, slowly moving closer.
Shinji watched her carefully, holding his breath slightly. With a quick movement, Hana cupped her hands around the cricket, lifting it carefully into the basket. She smiled proudly, looking at Shinji.
"One down," she said softly. "Now your turn."
Shinji moved forward, eyes scanning the tall grass carefully. His mind wandered slightly, distracted by quiet thoughts of the warmth he had felt before. Without meaning to, his attention slipped, and the cricket he had nearly caught jumped away, chirping loudly as it vanished into deeper grass.
"You're distracted again," Hana said gently, standing beside him with a patient smile.
Shinji sighed quietly, nodding. "Sorry. My mind keeps wandering lately."
She touched his shoulder softly, guiding him further along the riverbank. "It's okay. Just breathe slowly and listen. You'll find your focus again."
He nodded again, kneeling carefully beside the grass. Taking a slow breath, he felt himself calming slightly. He reached slowly, carefully, and this time, successfully caught the cricket, gently placing it inside the basket with Hana's.
"See?" Hana said softly, smiling warmly. "You just needed to concentrate."
As they continued collecting crickets, Shinji slowly relaxed. The quiet evening around them seemed peaceful and safe, gently pushing away his worries. When their baskets were full enough, they sat quietly at the riverbank's edge, feet dangling slightly above the softly flowing water.
Hana tilted her head thoughtfully, staring quietly across the river. "Shinji, do you ever think about what you want to be when you're older?"
He hesitated, unsure how to answer. He had been so focused on the strange feelings inside him that he had hardly considered his future. "I don't know," he admitted quietly. "I never really thought about it."
She smiled gently, nodding. "Sometimes, I think about it. Maybe helping Mother more with medicine. I think I'd like that."
"You'd be good at it," Shinji said softly, smiling back. "You're always good at caring for people."
She laughed quietly, nudging his shoulder lightly. "And you're always good at listening, even when you don't understand."
He smiled faintly, feeling warmth gently rise inside him again. This time, it felt simpler, like being wrapped softly in a warm blanket.
They sat quietly, the evening air soft and gentle around them, the only sound the quiet song of crickets and the gentle whisper of water over stones. It was a peaceful moment, simple but meaningful.
Suddenly, distant voices carried quietly from the village path nearby, making Hana tense slightly. Shinji glanced toward the sound, noticing two men walking together, speaking in low voices. They wore dark cloaks and unfamiliar headbands, their faces serious and watchful.
"Who are they?" Hana whispered softly, watching them with careful eyes.
Shinji felt a sudden, quiet unease rise inside him. "I don't know. Travelers, maybe?"
They watched quietly as the men passed, their voices fading softly into the distance. Only when they were fully gone did Hana relax slightly, gently sighing.
"They looked serious," she murmured thoughtfully.
Shinji nodded slowly. "Maybe they were just tired from traveling."
Hana stood slowly, dusting her skirt gently. "Maybe. But people don't usually look that serious just from traveling."
He stood beside her, holding his basket carefully. Her words made him feel quiet worry again, like a shadow creeping gently into the edge of his thoughts.
"Come on," Hana said softly, gently taking his arm. "It's getting late. Ren's bird needs his dinner."
They walked slowly back toward the village, the peacefulness slightly changed by the strange visitors. Shinji stayed quiet, thoughts wandering again. Who were those men? And why had they come here?
Ren was waiting for them, pacing impatiently near his house. He quickly took the baskets from them, carefully transferring crickets into a wooden cage holding his small brown bird. The bird chirped happily, hopping excitedly inside.
"You took forever," Ren complained softly, teasingly.
"Shinji was distracted again," Hana said gently, glancing sideways at her brother with a soft smile.
Ren tilted his head thoughtfully. "By what?"
Shinji shrugged slowly, avoiding their eyes. "Just thinking."
Ren considered quietly, watching him carefully. "Is it the thing you won't tell us about?"
Shinji felt his face flush slightly. He hated worrying them but didn't know how to explain himself. "Sort of," he admitted softly. "But it's nothing bad. Just something confusing."
Ren studied him carefully, nodding slightly. "Well, stop thinking so much. You'll make yourself sick."
Hana laughed quietly, nudging Ren's shoulder lightly. "You're always thinking too little."
Ren grinned, shrugging cheerfully. "It keeps me happy."
Their teasing made Shinji relax slightly again, warmth returning gently. He smiled softly, comforted by their easy friendship. No matter how confusing things got, he knew they would always be beside him.
As night slowly settled, Shinji and Hana said quiet goodbyes and walked slowly back toward their house. The sky darkened softly overhead, filled gently with tiny stars twinkling faintly. Shinji's thoughts drifted quietly again, but this time more peacefully, comforted by Hana's steady presence.
At home, he settled quietly onto his bedding, staring upward at the dark ceiling. The strange men still bothered him slightly, but the gentle warmth of friendship and family made the worries fade slowly away.
He touched the bent nail in his pocket gently again, feeling its familiar shape. Maybe answers weren't so far away. Maybe they were closer, hidden quietly among the simple, peaceful moments like tonight.
Outside, crickets continued singing softly, their quiet songs filling the night gently. Shinji listened quietly, comforted by their familiar rhythm, until sleep gently wrapped around him, peaceful and safe.