Toru walked over, handed the plastic bag to her, and said, "Do you want something to eat? I saw you sitting here a few nights ago. You must get hungry this late at night, right?"
Kayako's body trembled, and the small head buried between her legs slowly lifted.
She stared at the plastic bag in disbelief, her eyes instinctively moving upward. The moment she saw Toru's face and the smile on it, she quickly lowered her head again, her gaze dodging.
"Why aren't you saying anything? Do you think I put something weird in the food?"
Toru pushed the plastic bag into her arms and sat down next to her.
From that brief glance, Toru was sure she was actually a pretty girl, but her aura made people instinctively keep their distance.
On top of that, her face was bruised and swollen. Not too severe, but unmistakably the result of abuse.
Kayako stared blankly at the convenience store bag in her arms. She hurriedly shook her head and whispered, "N-no... Are you really talking to me? I... I can't believe it."
Someone talking to her felt unreal.
Even at school, even when she was just sitting quietly, both Teacher and classmates acted like she didn't exist.
Her heart started pounding, and her cheeks grew warm.
So this is what it feels like to be cared for? My heart is beating so fast.
It was the first time anyone had cared about her, the first time someone had given her something. She was so moved she almost wanted to cry.
"It's just someone talking to you. What is there not to believe? Don't you usually talk to people?"
Toru raised an eyebrow and spoke casually.
This girl was strange, her gloomy aura pushing people away.
But for some reason, it didn't affect Toru much. At most, he felt a little uncomfortable.
"Mm, no one talks to me."
Kayako held the bag, looking at the warm rice balls inside. She swallowed instinctively, and her stomach let out a small growl at the worst moment.
Toru chuckled, making her face burn even redder.
"Eat. You're so thin, you probably hardly eat normally, right?"
Kayako carefully opened the rice ball wrapper. Instinctively she took a big bite, then realized it looked unrefined, so she lowered her head and began nibbling in small bites.
Hearing Toru's words, she hesitated. There were things she didn't dare say. She feared people would hate her even more if she said them.
Seeing the faint bruises on her face, Toru could already guess her thoughts.
Kids from families like this never dare talk to anyone. They bottle everything up, isolating themselves more and more until they eventually develop serious psychological problems. Some retaliate against society, some choose to end their own lives.
So instead of waiting for such kids to open up, it was better to ask directly.
Toru asked, "Were the injuries on your face from your parents? Or are you being bullied at school and afraid to go home?"
Kayako's body stiffened. She whispered, "My parents hit me."
"You look underage. Why didn't you call the police? Has no one ever cared about you?"
"No."
Kayako shook her head. She swallowed the rice ball and said, "...I called the police once. They came, looked at me, and ignored it. After that, my father and mother hit me even harder. I didn't dare call again."
She didn't dare tell Toru that even the police looked at her with disgust.
"You're so thin. Are you starving yourself?"
"I only get one meal at home. They say feeding me is a waste of food."
Her words made Toru frown harder. Japan had many strange parents. The news often reported cases where parents starved their kids to death for various reasons.
Looking at the girl in front of him, if this continued, one day she really might starve to death.
"Meow."
The black cat sitting beside her suddenly meowed loudly and pawed at her old white dress.
Seeing this, Kayako quickly broke off a piece of the rice ball and gave it to the cat.
The cat ate it without hesitation.
"Is this your cat?" Toru asked.
"I found Komuro at a garbage dump. Komuro was tiny back then and very skinny. Its whole body was only this big." She gestured with her hands. "I felt sorry for it, so I took it home."
"It's just... I don't have much good food to give it. It must be hard for it, following me."
When Toru mentioned the cat, her gloomy eyes lit up a little. She gestured animatedly to show him how small Komuro once was.
But as she finished, she grew sad again, upset that she couldn't give the cat a better life.
"You can hardly eat, yet you still saved a cat. That means you have a kind heart."
"Look at how attached the cat is to you. It must be grateful you saved it."
Hearing someone call her kind made warmth flood Kayako's chest. She had never been praised in her entire life.
Someone praised her. Someone talked to her. Someone cared about her. She wondered if she was dreaming.
If it was a dream, she wished she would never wake up.
Toru stood, crouched in front of the black cat, and gently stroked its fur.
The cat was very affectionate, rubbing its head against him.
"Wait here for a moment."
Under Kayako's gaze, Toru walked back to the 7-Eleven.
Not long after, he came out holding another bag. He handed it to her and said, "There is some bread in here. Eat it when you get hungry later."
"And I bought cat food. Cats are carnivores. Too many carbs aren't good for them. It's better for it to eat this."
Kayako quickly shook her head. "I... I can't take more from you."
"Take it."
Toru pushed the bag back toward her. "Even if not for yourself, do it for the cat. If this continues, both of you will starve."
Kayako held the bag tightly and whispered, "Thank you."
"How old are you? Are you in school?"
"Mm, I'm eighteen. Third year of high school."
"Eighteen?"
Toru paused. Because she was so thin, he thought she was only fourteen or fifteen.
"There are things I might say that could make you unhappy, so I won't tell you to leave your parents right now. You still can't live alone."
"But you're eighteen. In two years, you'll be an adult. If you take my advice, find a job then, leave your unqualified parents, and live on your own."
"It might be tough at first, but it will definitely be better than this."
Kayako looked up and whispered, "Are you... caring about me?"
"Seeing you like this, anyone with a conscience would care, right?"
"Then everyone in the world is heartless," she whispered.
"Unless something urgent comes up, I run here every night. You can wait for me here. I can buy you something to eat so you don't go hungry."
"But let me be clear. When you turn twenty and can live on your own, I won't take care of you anymore. I can help you for now, but not for a lifetime."
It didn't cost much and could save a young girl's life. To Toru, it was worth it.
He had no ill intentions toward this girl who was only slightly younger than him.
What he needed now were S-rank skill points, not ordinary ones. There was no need to deceive someone's feelings. He was helping purely out of kindness.
But he also wasn't a saint. He could give her a chance to change her life, but whether she could grab it depended on her luck.
Kayako stared blankly at Toru. She never imagined she would meet someone who would actively care for her. His presence lit a small, fragile light inside her dark, closed heart.
"I won't force you to do anything. If you're willing, wait for me here every day. If you don't come, it means you don't want help, and I won't interfere anymore."
Toru stood and said, "It's getting late. I'm heading back to sleep. You should go home too. Even if home is bad, as long as it still shields you from the wind and rain, endure it for now."
"Oh, right. What is your name?"
She answered eagerly, "My name is Kayako Kawamata."
Kayako Kawamata.
Huh? Why does that sound familiar? And creepy?
Toru's body stiffened.
He wanted to slap himself.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)