The Light of Their Lives and the Budding Trust
Several days had passed since they began living in the abandoned cabin, and under Akio and the children’s hands, its appearance was visibly changing. The roof, which had been wide open just yesterday, was now almost fully sealed with freshly cut wood, thick layers of bark, and a makeshift filler made from clay-like soil—enough to keep out the rain and dew. The gaps in the walls were similarly filled, greatly reducing the cold drafts compared to before.
“All right, this should make the nights a lot warmer.”
Akio said, wiping the sweat from his brow as he looked up at the cabin with satisfaction. Thanks to the repaired axe and saw, their woodwork was much more efficient, and progress was faster than he had expected.
“Akio-san, what should I do with these next?”
Ayane asked, carrying several short logs that Akio had instructed her to cut to size. Her eyes were serious, full of eagerness to learn from his every move.
“Ah, those go lined up along this wall over here to make a simple shelf. It’s for holding dishes… well, leaves for now, but a place to put things.”
Akio explained, showing her how to join the logs together and bind them with vines. Ayane worked alongside him, and even Alto and Kenta, who stopped by during breaks, voiced their amazement.
“Wow… Akio-san, you really can make anything!” Kenta’s eyes shone brightly.
Akio gave a modest smile, a little embarrassed. “Well, this much I can handle. Old skills from long ago, I guess.” Ayane silently watched Akio’s profile and felt her heart warm again at how dependable he was. She wondered what would have become of them without him.
Their diet was gradually improving, too. The traps Akio had refined and Ayane and Alto helped set caught small animals every two or three days. Akio taught the children how to smoke and preserve the meat so nothing went to waste. When the smoky, savory aroma drifted around the cabin, it seemed to fill their hearts as well as their stomachs.
“I used to do it as a hobby, you know. Making bacon and sausages.”
Akio said with a faintly distant look, and Ayane found herself wondering about his past.
Alto and Kenta had taken on wood chopping and water fetching duties, while Miko and Yume continued finding edible nuts and wild greens, delighting Ayane and Akio with their finds. Ayane, in particular, was using all her culinary knowledge learned from her mother back in the village to make the most of their limited ingredients and scarce seasonings (mostly just rock salt). Sometimes Akio would offer advice based on his Earth knowledge: “Use that herb this way, and it really brings out the aroma.”
At night, a small fire crackled inside the cabin. Unlike their previous exposed shelter, the walls and roof enclosed them in surprising warmth and safety. The children huddled together on beds of dried grass and animal pelts—leftovers from their traps—spread inside simple wooden frames Akio had made.
Watching their sleeping faces, Akio’s thoughts drifted briefly to what he had left behind on Earth. Could he ever return? But he quickly shook off the melancholy. Right here before him were small lives relying on him.
“Akio-san…?”
Ayane, who should have been asleep, called softly.
“What’s wrong? Can’t sleep?”
“No, I just wanted to say thank you again. Without you, we…”
“That’s enough of that,” Akio interrupted gently. “If it weren’t for you all, I’d be alone in this world. Maybe I’m the one being saved here.”
Ayane said nothing but nodded. In her eyes was an absolute trust in Akio and a deep gratitude that words couldn’t fully express. Though still a young girl’s innocent admiration, beneath it was a small spark—something that might someday grow into a different feeling altogether.
The main repairs on the cabin were mostly done, and it was no longer just an abandoned hut but becoming their home.
“Hey, it really feels like our real home now!” Kenta said happily the next morning. The other children smiled and nodded in agreement. Watching them, Akio felt a profound sense of fulfillment.
Yet, seeing the trees around them slowly change their leaves’ color, he straightened up with resolve. The footsteps of winter were drawing near. Stockpiling food and preparing for the harsh season ahead—there was still so much to do.
What do you think about this chapter?
