Offer (2)

Opportunities were given to me by a stranger who I just met.

But who wouldn't accept this? A place to stay, a job to work in. That's what a person needs to live a basic life.

Well, it seems a bit fishy to me, I mean who would be doing this? Isn't this a bit too good to be true?

Although I'm delighted by his kindness, I'm kind of expecting something outrageous in return; like defeating a God or something like that. And doesn't he have some kind of powers as a member of the Maerlyin?

Well, I hope he isn't expecting me to achieve something he couldn't. I mean he did say that I have the potential to do so. But he has the power of the Maerlyin, and I'm just a mere guy who lost his memories….

But maybe there isn't much that he wants in return, I mean he did give me his coat, and he also shared information that he wouldn't say to "normal" people.

Suddenly he interrupted my thoughts about the consequences of his kindness.

"Ah… You seem to be thinking hard and don't worry about it. I won't expect anything in return, I just want you to work, I promise. The things I said about how you could achieve something that I failed to was just a mere saying, even though it wasn't completely false."

Is he serious? Well from the look of his eyes, that didn't change throughout the whole conversation, he seems serious. From the start to now, he has the same expression, an expression of kindness. It's unlikely for a wise old man like him to trick me into doing something.

"You know, I wouldn't just pick a random homeless guy off the streets. I'm seeing serious potential in you."

I was quite shocked, what could he expect from someone who didn't even know their own identity?

"You don't need to flatter me, I'm not good at anything in particular."

A startled laugh burst from his lips before he could stop it.

"I can't—" he gasped between the laughs. "I can't believe you said that." He muttered, still chuckling.

I couldn't help but feel kind of embarrassed about myself. I wanted to disappear, melt on the floor, anything that could help me escape the awkwardness.

"You're such an idiot." He uttered, wiping a tear from his eye.

Why did I say that? I'm such an idiot… He's probably thinking about how foolish I am…

Well at least his expression changed, it was the same throughout the whole conversation, like a robot.

"S-sorry, my bad… I couldn't hold it in anymore." He said while still laughing a little bit.

I forced a smile, but I could feel how fake it was. My mind was screaming at me to just end it.

He burst out in laughter, continuing to laugh at me like I was some kind of amusing clown.

"Y-you're killing me," he stuttered, catching his breath, still grinning widely.

I didn't even know what was so funny but his expression made me smile, I was feeling comfortable with someone I just met. Is the world that easy? Is it that easy to befriend someone in a world where I know nothing about?

Well, it looks like he was holding his laughter in from the beginning.

Wait… Was he here to make fun of me from the beginning?

Is he even serious about the things he offered to me? Or was it all a prank?…

But he did offer me a coat which was more than enough to keep me warm from the freezing air.

Although I'm not sure if he was joking or not, I genuinely hope he was serious about it. I have a feeling that the others won't be as caring as him. I mean I got criticized before just for having unusual clothes, but I guess that's society.

By the time he was done laughing, the weather got even worse. It was so cold that even the coat wasn't enough to keep me warm anymore.

The layers of his clothes he had were similar to mine, but somehow he wasn't reacting to the weather at all. Is he perhaps used to it?

Still, I didn't want to demand anything more than the coat I received. I didn't want him to think of me as a spoiled brat who doesn't care about anything and just thinks for themselves, especially in a world that I knew nothing about.

Well the black old used coat wasn't bad at all, it felt comfortable. For me, it was promising, a gift from an old—kind man. It was a gift that I'm grateful for, something I'd adore. For others, it might seem like old crap, but for me, it's something precious, something that I would never throw away.

…

"See! I calmed myself down."

The old man eventually calmed himself down from the laughter, though I could still see a grin on his face.

What a strange sense of humor he has. Well, it wasn't something bad but it could be tiresome for both me and other people. But I wonder if he even talks to others since he did mention that he wanted to talk to someone.

However, I'm surprised that my first real encounter with this world is a wise old man who's both talented and has a weird sense of humor.

An old man with great knowledge, talents, and kindness at the same time, but I wonder if his weird sense of humor slowed him down.

Still, I wasn't expecting that kind of humor from him at all, I was expecting a lame—no that's too rude, a "normal" sense of humor from an old man.

His eyes looked sharper than ever, that's why no one will assume that he has a strange sense of humor.

Or am I just overthinking this, maybe this kind of humor is normal for this place? Well, I don't want to embarrass myself by asking a strange question about that, it'll only make him burst out of laughter again.

Well, I guess with great knowledge comes wisdom but also side-effects and in this case, it's obvious, but besides that, he's also caring, so that makes up for it.

Wait… Why am I even thinking about this…

I should be thankful that he's giving me a chance. I shouldn't be the one to criticize him.

Well truth be told I don't mind him laughing all the time, I mean it shows that he's enjoying the time he spends with me. Even though it was just a short time I'm starting to feel a bond towards him.

Still, I'm truly grateful, since I had no memories of forming a band with someone, and it kind of feels reassuring to have someone I can rely on. Though I'm not sure how far this relationship between me and him would go.

…

It was getting pretty late, but we still hadn't left the bench yet. To be honest, I was freezing, but I didn't mention it.

Neither of us spoke, silence gradually took over the conversation between Hiroshi and I. The kind of silence that felt both comfortable and unsettling at the same time.

I kept glancing at Hiroshi who was staring at the sky. I wonder what he was thinking about, but he just stared off into the distance like he had all the time in the world.

Finally, he turned his gaze at me. "It's funny," Hiroshi said, breaking the silence. His voice was steady but it carried a weight that made me tense up after hearing it. "You've got the face of someone who's been through it all, like an adult carrying down burdens most can't see…" He slightly turned around to look at me, revealing his eyes with a mixture of pity and understanding. "You're still just a kid, trying to make sense of a world that doesn't make any damn sense." 

… Huh?

I blinked, trying to process what he just said. My chest tightened with a weird mix of surprise and confusion. What did he mean by that? A kid? But for some reason, it felt like the truth. Something he knew, but I don't.

I opened my mouth to say something—anything—but nothing came out. My thoughts scrambled, trying to catch up. Did he see me like that? I didn't know whether to feel offended, exposed, or just plain lost. A chill ran down my spine, and this time, it wasn't from the cold.

A world where nothing made sense? 

What did he mean by that?

This time I was lost…

But instead of questions about what he meant, I feel like I have to find it out on my own.

Of course, I was shocked and confused, but I tried to act nonchalantly as if nothing had happened.

This time he looked serious instead of goofing and laughing around.

But why does it sound like the truth? I'm an adult from the outside and inside a child.

And from the look of his serious eyes, I know that he isn't lying. Though I wonder what he saw in me to come up with this.

Reluctantly I trusted his words.

…

Finally, Hiroshi stood up from the bench, he quickly stretched himself before saying "Come with me" in a reassuring tone that resembled kindness.

"To where?"

Suddenly Hiroshi slung his arms around my shoulder. 

"The place you're going to stay in."

"You're cold aren't you?"

I nodded. "Mhm."

"Let's get going then!"