Chapter 3
849 Words
HATORI'S POV
"Hello, Eddie-san. How can I help?" He asked. He put down his cart.
"Hatori, my daughter is getting married the day after tomorrow and we need rice. Hyo-san said you delivered a bag earlier this morning so I was hoping you still have one left." Eddie said while chasing his breath. Eddie is one of the villagers who has quite a fortune.
"I still have five left, Eddie-san."
"Great, I'll take one."
"Sure, let me carry it to your house." Hatori offered.
"No, it's okay. You take something to eat because it already lunch. I can carry the rice bag." Eddie refused. He knew that Hatori might be tired already walking around the village for hours.
Eddie left carrying the bag after giving the payment to Hatori. He sat down on his cart to rest when a young woman approached him.
"Hatori...." A sweet voice beside him whispered. His tiny hair all over his body shivered.
"H-hey L-lori—" there is the usual sweet scent from the lady's aura.
"Marry me today, Hatori-kun." The lady said in her seducting voice. He stiffened and cleared his throat. Among the young women in the village, Lori is the most beautiful yet the most intimidating one. She is the daughter of the mayor of the village.
(Adding 'kun' and 'chan' after the name is an informal way of addressing a person. Close friend , sibling or a junior.)
"Yes?" He asked.
"I said, marry me."
"You know what, I-I still need to sell—" he was cut by her glare. He composed himself and look at her. He can't even remember how many times he was asked by this young lady but he can't turn her down just like that. Hatori is too kind to say that he don't want to marry Lori. "Lori—"
"Hmph!!! I know you can't do that because of your family. I know, I know. I just tried my luck today." She replied smiling. She's a fine lady but Hatori's priority is not marriage but his Family. He needs to stand as a father, think about what is good for his mother and sibling before his own.
"I'll get going. It's afternoon now and the sun will set soon."
"Alright, alright. Here." Lori handed a bento box to him. The strong aroma of rice balls and soup reached his nose. His stomach went on a rampage and he wasn't able to stop it so Lory was able to hear the rumbling of his stomach.
"T-thanks." They laughed together.
After eating lunch Hatori once again took his way to finish delivering the rice. On his way to the last house who needs the rice he smelled an unusual odor nearby. He sniffed again to verify if his haunch is correct. His eyes widened when he identified the scent. There's fire nearby so he ran to find where the fire is by following the scent. He heard someone yelling for help, he drop the cart's handle and run towards the house.
"Yuki-san! Are you alright!?" He asked the lady who is the house owner. He looked at the smoke coming from the window.
"Hatori! Hatori-san, help me please."
"What is going on?" He asked while shaking the lady's shoulder. She is panicking and at the same time worried.
"I went out to the market and I just came back! I left my key inside of the house and I forgot put away the lighted candle on the table." She said in her tears.
"What is happening?"
"Fire at Yuki-san's house."
"Come on bring some water."
Some of villagers are arriving one after another and the scene became a crowded.
"I'll destroy the lock, Yuki-san." Hatori said and kick the door even before Yuki's permission. Two men from the neigborhood followed Hatori inside carrying a bucket of water. The house is old and it's made of wood. The fire had reached the walls and about to reach the ceiling. More men from the outside helped to kill the fire with water. Hatori and the neighbours was able to stop the fire although there's a small casualty. It took some time to finally settle the fire and clean up the mess.
"Thank you, Hatori-san! I owe you a lot, boy. We might lose the house if your not around."
"Don't mention it, Yuki-san. I smelled it and I just happen to be nearby." He said while sipping a glass of water.
"I'll take the rice so you can go home now." Yuki said.
"Yes, this is for you since you mentioned yesterday that you're out rice already."
"You're such a kind young man, Hatori-san. If I happen to be younger and at you're age I will definitely marry you. I can take care of your family too." Yuki said frankly while smiling. Hatori gulped. This middle age woman is joking about marriage and it creeps him out.
"I'll be on my way home now, Yuki-san. Thank you!" He said and go out of the place before Yuki offered a marriage with her only daughter.
"Take care!"
- Writer
