people like merchants

In this country, classes end in the morning.

　I have to help around the house in the afternoon.

　Sensei wakes up, stands up from his seat, and walks up to the podium.

　The steps are wobbly as if they were just waking up.

"Well, that's all for today's class. As soon as you get home, please do your homework."

"""""Yes!"""""

　Everyone stood up at once and started getting ready to go home.

"Okay, let's go home too."

"Come on, I'll be home early."

　They both want to go home as soon as possible. I can't help but worry about the conversation in the morning.

"That's right. Let's go home then."

"..."

　A little brisk walk on the way home.

　When you leave the center of the village, you can see the forest.

　Return the way you came in the morning in the same way.

　Normally, you would just go straight and get to your house, but when you enter the forest, there is a small road on the side of the main road. Become.

　There are many roads in the forest so that the serfs of the village lumberjacks can easily transport the trees when they cut down trees. are doing.

　So now, lumberjack serfs don't go into this forest, and unless you're a school-going kid like us, almost no one goes through this forest's side roads at this hour.

　Everyone is at work right now.

　Many trees stand tall, and the sunlight filtering through the trees illuminates the ground, making it brighter than in the forest.

　It's fun to go home in the countryside, but this place where you can enjoy forest bathing is my favorite place.

"If you enter this path, you should be fine. Kai, you can teach me already. Hurry up and teach me!"

"Yes. Tell me what Kai thinks! I promise not to tell anyone."

　The two of them hurried up the topic of the morning.

　It seems like I can't help but want to know as soon as possible.

"I understand. I'll tell you both what I'm thinking, but it's really a secret. Don't tell them even to their families. If any weird rumors get out, this village might get glared at by the Empire. No. I'm telling the two of you that our house is along the border and there are various dangers, so please be careful."

"Oh, I promise. Leave it to me!"

"Yeah, I promise. Kai is worried about me so he told us. I'll definitely protect him."

　He said he would promise.

　However, in my mind, I don't really care if we don't make a promise.

　These two have a deep trust and share many secrets. A secret has never been leaked.

　For example, when my father crouches down on his elbows while eating, my mother tells me coldly, ``You can't be a good example for Kai. Like saying something while smiling. It was such an insignificant topic that the two of them laughed in amusing ways.

　If the topic seems interesting, I might end up talking about it with my family.

　Since they were neighbors and knew each other's families well, it would have been natural for them to think, ``This is something I can talk about,'' but this conversation never leaked out.

　If it had leaked, my father's iron fist would have fallen on my head, and I think my mother's scolding words would have flowed from right to left in my ears.

　If you tell these two people "it's a secret," then it becomes a secret only for us.

　I love this relationship. We can trust each other no matter what.

　Even in my previous world, I couldn't build friendships like this.

　... In such a hopeless world, being able to make such good friends is a relief to my heart.

"Okay, then I'll tell you what I think. However, I want you both to think about it a little. I wonder why you said 'like a merchant'."

"Hmm, maybe it's because you don't seem like a merchant?"

"Are you acting like you're not a merchant?"

　As expected of Irene. The word "gesture" suddenly came to mind.

　Haiku says such abstract words at times like this, which brings out the two's personalities.

"Yes, as you two said, there are some people who behave in ways that make them seem like they are not merchants.They may not be conscious of it, but they behave in a way that is ingrained in them.Like hiking. "

"Me!?"

"I want you to remember from your taijutsu training. The hikers do a quick quick step before moving on to the throw, and their steps are very similar to that."

"…What do you mean?"

``When Haiku performs a throwing technique, his steps are very quiet, he moves quickly, and he throws the ball with great force. Their gait is ingrained in their bodies as if they were hiking. They don't just walk, their feet always move silently. Normally, when they walk, they make a "peta-peta" sound. They seem to be making noises, but sometimes they don't make a sound. They walk in silence."

"Is it possible that there's no sound? ...How does Kai know that?"

"Hike keeps throwing me around! I'm the one who gets thrown at me the most in my school! That's how much you'll understand!"

　I quickly tried to throw a hike, but it was thrown right back at me.

"Well, learn to throw me faster."

"...Uu, why am I the only one who gets thrown... Thanks to that, I'm only getting better at passives."

"Why are you teary-eyed? You're doing this because you love me, aren't you? Come on, stand up."

　Saying that, Irene extends her hand.

…Ah, after all, these two are always kind to me.

　The appearance of Irene overlaps with the appearance of Hyke reaching out when he received physical training at school.

　I hold his hand and pull myself up from the ground for the umpteenth time today.

"Looking at you just now, I somehow understood that Haiku moves quickly. …But can you say that you're not a merchant just because you walk fast?

"That's right. I'm sure there are people who walk fast. However, it would be nice if they just walked fast and made no sound, but that's not all."