Chapter 5…
The Light of Daily Life and the Budding of Trust
Several days had passed since they began living in the abandoned hut, and thanks to Akio and the children’s efforts, its appearance was visibly changing. The gaping hole in the roof, which had been open to the sky until just yesterday, was now mostly patched up with freshly cut wood, thickly layered bark, and a makeshift filler made of clay-rich soil. It was now sturdy enough to keep out the rain and wind. The gaps in the walls had also been sealed, drastically reducing the chilly drafts that once blew through.
“Alright, this should make the nights a lot warmer.”
Akio wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked up at the hut with satisfaction. Thanks to the well-maintained axe and saw, the efficiency of processing wood had improved dramatically, and the work was progressing much faster than he had expected.
“Akio-san, what should I do with these next?”
Ayane came over, holding several short logs that she had cut according to Akio’s instructions. Her eyes were serious, filled with a desire to learn from his every move.
“Oh, those go against this wall. We’ll turn them into a simple shelf. A place to put dishes—well, leaves for now—but something to keep things organized.”
As he explained, Akio demonstrated how to fit the logs together and fasten them with vines. His skillful hands impressed not only Ayane but also Alto and Kenta, who had stopped by during their work to watch.
“Whoa… Akio-san, you really can make anything!” Kenta said, eyes shining with admiration.
“Well, this much is nothing. Just an old skill from my younger days,” Akio replied with a slightly bashful smile.
Ayane gazed at his profile, her chest warming with renewed trust and gratitude. If it weren’t for him, where would we be now? she thought.
Their diet was slowly improving as well. Thanks to the traps that Akio had improved and set up with Ayane and Alto’s help, they were catching small animals every two or three days. Akio taught the children how to preserve the meat by smoking it so that none of their precious catches would go to waste. The savory scent of smoked meat wafting around the hut gave them a comforting sense of fulfillment.
“I used to do this as a hobby—making bacon and sausages myself,” Akio said, his expression turning a little distant as he spoke. Ayane found herself wondering about his past life.
Alto and Kenta had now fully taken on responsibilities like chopping firewood and fetching water, while Miko and Yume continued to bring back nuts and edible wild greens, delighting Akio and Ayane with their finds. Ayane, for her part, used every bit of her cooking knowledge, passed down from her mother back in the village, to make the most of their limited ingredients and meager seasonings (basically just rock salt), trying to prepare meals that everyone could enjoy. Sometimes Akio would offer advice, saying things like, “If you use that herb this way, the aroma will really come out,” drawing on his knowledge from Earth.
At night, a small fire crackled inside the hut. Unlike the exposed shelter they had before, this enclosed space with walls and a roof was surprisingly warm and gave them a real sense of security. The children slept huddled together in makeshift beds—wooden frames filled with dried grass and scraps of fur from the animals they caught.
Watching their peaceful sleeping faces, Akio’s mind wandered back to what he had left behind on Earth. Will I ever be able to return? But he quickly shook off the sentiment. Right in front of him were small lives depending on him.
“Akio-san…?”
It was Ayane’s soft voice. She had seemed to be asleep but was now awake.
“What’s wrong? Can’t sleep?”
“No… I just wanted to say thank you, properly. If you hadn’t been here, we…”
“That’s enough,” Akio interrupted gently. “If you kids weren’t here, I’d be all alone in this world. Honestly, I think I’m the one being helped.”
Ayane said nothing, only nodded slowly. Her eyes held absolute trust and a deep, indescribable gratitude toward him. It was still the pure admiration of a young girl—but somewhere deep inside, a tiny spark of something else had quietly begun to take root.
The major renovations of the hut were finally complete. It was no longer just an “abandoned hut” — it was becoming their home.
“Hey, it really feels like this is our real house now!”
The next morning, Kenta said this with a big smile, and the other children nodded in agreement. Seeing this, Akio felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
But as he noticed the forest leaves beginning to change color, he steeled himself. Winter was approaching. They still had a mountain of work ahead: stockpiling food and making proper preparations for the harsh season to come.
