Trust

Zhou walked carefully along the icy path, half lost in his thoughts while contemplating everything that had happened. He glanced at Toshiro, who also seemed to be thinking while humming softly.

He wasn't quite sure what to make of this person who had discovered his shelter in the forest. Toshiro had certainly seemed rather nice so far, but Zhou had learned from experience that trust wasn't something that should be given so easily.

Call him cynical for a nine-year-old, but he wasn't planning on making that mistake again anytime soon. Or ever.

Zhou was startled out of his thoughts by Toshiro speaking. "You said you liked Chinese food, right?"

He nodded, as it was always nice to get a taste of home. Even if he had moved to America two years ago, he still wasn't accustomed to the pizza and hamburgers this land boasted.

"There are a few restaurants here, which one would you prefer?"

"Uh, it's okay, you choose."

"I don't know all that much about Chinese cuisine. I think you would probably be the better judge of what tastes good."

"I'm not too sure either, but I guess so..." Zhou quickly glanced at the options, displayed on the signs in front of the restaurants: The Golden Dragon, Bamboo Forest, or Miantiao Shijie. He decided for the one that sounded the most legitimate. At least, the only one that was actually in Chinese, even if it translated to Noodle World.

"Miantiao Shijie?"

"Sure." Toshiro pulled open the door, waiting for Zhou to walk inside before he did so himself.

The inside of the restaurant was bustling and cheerful, filled with the chatter of customers conversing and the sizzle of the automated robots making food. A TV blared overhead, showing an ad for the Oasis's newest world.

The two found a table, the screen covering the top of which turned into the menu as they sat down.

"Do you have any recommendations?" Toshiro asked.

"You're Japanese, right? I'll think you'll like these, then." Zhou tapped and swiped a few times until the table's interface changed to an array of a certain type of noodles.

They placed their orders, then sat in silence. Toshiro wouldn't exactly consider himself talkative, but this kid was even quieter than he was. He made an attempt at conversation.

"How old are you, Zhou?"

"Nine."

So he'd been right, that he wasn't more than ten.

Zhou then reciprocated his question. "How old are you?"

"Try guessing."

Toshiro almost laughed as Zhou scrunched up his face in thought, contemplating the question, then actually did laugh at the reply. "Thirty?"

"No, I'm only eighteen. Do I look that old?"

Zhou looked down at the table, embarrassed. Had he offended Toshiro? Thankfully, at that moment, the food arrived, and he was spared from talking.

Toshiro started his own meal, but noticed that Zhou wasn't eating. He was looking at the food with...Toshiro couldn't quite identify the expression...perhaps suspicion?

"You know, the noodles aren't poisoned or anything," Toshiro joked, amused.

Zhou looked startled, but then his look changed to one of being unconvinced.

Wait, had that genuinely been what the kid had been thinking, that the food was poisoned? And did he still think that?

Toshiro tried to figure out what to say to that, but then Zhou spoke himself. The words were extremely quiet, and Toshiro just barely caught them. "I'm sorry...it's just...I can't trust anyone anymore..."

Seriously? If he'd heard that anywhere else, he would've thought it as a joke. How could someone actually lose all trust, especially only a kid?

Yet there was a genuine sorrow to Zhou's tone, reflected his eyes, wide and unblinking. Toshiro felt a strong pang of sadness for Zhou. What could possibly have happened in his past, for a nine-year-old child to lose all trust in humanity?

"Is there anything I can do to assure you that I'm not planning on hurting you?"

The only sound was the soft clinking of chopsticks against the china bowls.

"I'm sorry if I can't help...but I guarantee you the noodles are safe to eat."

Zhou remained silent, and didn't move toward his food. After a few moments, he finally spoke, but the words were even quieter than his previous sentence.

"Why are you doing this for me?"