Chapter 2: Invisible links of the storm

Nanami: Taro is a very warm boy, but for reasons that escape me, the villagers show him deep hostility.

Dame Sakura, visibly disconcerted, replica: it's really disappointing. Rejecting such a hatred on a child is unacceptable.

Nanami agrees: I share your opinion, but anyway, we should consider closing the shop, as he suggested to us.

Haru intervenes then: I think we should do the same thing, father.

Mr. Saï, surprised by the reaction of his son, said with him with kindness: "Do you really trust the words of this child?" »»

Haru replied: "Absolutely not ... but you know that I don't believe in superstitions. In addition, it is better to prevent than cure. »»

Hearing this, Mr. Saï smiled and replied: "Very well, in this case, we will also suspend deliveries for these evenings. I can't wait to see what it will give. »»

As he was about to leave, Nanami challenged him: "Wait, Mr. Saï. »»

Mr. Saï: ...

Nanami held out a package to Monsieur Saï and said gently to him: here it is for your wife.

Mr. Saï, surprised, asked him: What is it?

Nanami replied with a smile: it is a very special alga that grows in swamps. She has incredible healing properties, and I am convinced that she will help your wife feel better.

Moved by this attentive gesture, Mr. Saï said to him: Thank you very much, Nanami.

Nanami says gently: let's first wait for your wife to be restored, then you can thank me. To be honest, it was Taro who brought me these algae today to prepare a soup.

It surprised Rika even more. With a smile, she exclaimed: he looked really interesting, this taro. I would really like to become a friend with him.

Lady Sakura, with a kind smile, added: maybe another time, my little Rika, but for the moment, it's time to come back.

They left Mr. Fujisawa's shop, having been warned of the arrival of the storm. Shortly after, Taro decided to go home to take shelter. On the way back, he saw the man that Mr. Fujisawa had expelled earlier from the restaurant.

Taro lived not far from a swamp and, crossing the small forest which led to his home, he found this man, waiting for him in front of the clearing.

Taro: ...

Seeing Taro arriving, the gentleman said to him: Sort of dirty kid, you saw what you did!

Suddenly, another man came out of a bush, grabbed Taro and blocked it. Taro, not understanding the situation, exclaimed: "Hey, but wait, what are you doing?" »»

The angry man approached a threatening air and said: I will make you regret to have humiliated me before Mr. Fujisawa and the others.

He approached a little closer and punched Taro. Hours later, Taro was back home, his body marked with Blues. He took a container, headed for the swamps to draw water, then began to clean his injuries.

Taro murmured: "It hurts ..."

The pain was unbearable, but it did not let a single tear flow. His gaze was rather empty, as if his life had no importance in his eyes. After being treated, he fell asleep.

At nightfall, a violent wind hit the village. The breath of the wind was so powerful that it took the boats parked by fishermen. Lightnings illuminated the sky while an intense rain poured into the village.

This storm was so powerful that it raised the waves of the sea, causing damage to several ships and houses in the village. The house of Taro was not spared either, because the wind won the roof of its cabin, allowing the rain to enter inside.

The Taro hut was aging and required some renovations. However, being often alone, he had never decided to undertake this work. Part of the room was uncovered, exposed to rain. So, Taro took refuge in the only place in the hut which still had a roof.

The next morning, after the storm, Mr. Fujisawa and Nanami went around the village to observe the damage caused by bad weather. Unfortunately, their restaurant had not been spared.

The restaurant was flooded and some were damaged. Noting this, Nanami said, "Fortunately, we closed earlier last night, otherwise I wonder how we could have gotten out of it. »»

It was at this point that Mr. Saï arrived at the restaurant of Mr. Fujisawa, accompanied by his son and his wife, who had recovered. Surprised to see them, he welcomed them warmly: "Mr. Saï, how are you?" »»

Mr. Saï replied with gratitude: I am doing well thanks to you, and I would like to emphasize that if I had not canceled all the deliveries yesterday, my cargo would have capsized at sea, which would have resulted in considerable losses.

Haru added: My father is right, and thanks to these algae, my mom was able to recover very quickly.

Haru's mother intervened with emotion: I can never thank you enough for everything you have done.

Nanami replied with a smile: please, Madame Alma, it was completely natural for us, we did it with great pleasure.

Madame Alma added: I would really like to meet this young boy. I want to thank him in person for what he has done for my family and me.

Mr. Fujisawa replied with courtesy: of course, he should soon arrive. You can wait for it here if it suits you.

Madame Alma: I would be delighted, and while waiting to meet him, we will be delighted to help you clean your restaurant.

A little embarrassed, Nanami retorts: oh no, it would not be correct, you are our guests, we cannot accept ...

Madame Alma, insistently: please, it's my way of thank you.

Another voice then joined: in this case, we will also be happy to lend you a hand.

Going turning, they saw Lady Sakura accompanied by her daughter Rika. She approached them and said with kindness: we will also help you, Mr. Fujisawa.

Mr. Fujisawa answered, a little surprised: but ...

Lady Sakura continued gently: it was a young boy who made it possible to prevent my husband from perished at sea. Thanks to his warning, he canceled his trip and stayed at home.

_I does not dare imagine what could have happened if he had left, but today, I am grateful that he is still among us. This is why I also want to thank this little boy.

Moved by their actions, Mr. Fujisawa displayed a smile of satisfaction. They then decided to help him clean the restaurant. Rika and Haru took charge of the sorting of waste, while their mother took care of passing the mop in the establishment. The men devoted themselves to repairing the damaged part of the restaurant, and Nanami took care of dishes and storage.

Everyone was in harmony. The restoration of the restaurant had been completed only a few hours earlier, and by looking at the time to flow, Mr. Fujisawa Commenta: “Taro is late today. »»

Nanami added: "Yes, it's not in his habits. He surely encountered some problems because of the storm. »»

No sooner had been pronounced his name than Taro began to approach the restaurant of Mr. Fujisawa. Seeing him arriving, the latter exclaimed: “Ah, here he is finally. »»

However, some elements did not seem to go, Taro was not in his usual state. He had difficulty walking and struggled to stand on his two legs. Nanami had noticed it well. Once inside, Taro put down his basket and apologized saying: I'm sorry, Mr. Fujisawa, I could not provide you with your order today.

Mr. Fujisawa, noting his condition, replied: it does not matter, Taro, we will have the opportunity to do it another day. But look at these people who are here.

Taro turned around and saw people who looked at him. Mr. Fujisawa added: “These people came specially to meet you, Taro. They all wanted to thank you for your help. »»

Lady Alma, having noticed that something concerned this young boy, said gently: "Tell me, my child, are you sure everything is fine?" »»

Taro, plagued by breathing difficulties and a troubled vision, could no longer stand on his feet. Speaking great fatigue, he suddenly collapsed on the ground. Nanami, very worried, ran towards him, exclaiming: "Taro !!! »»

She took him in her arms, while Lady Sakura wondered: "What's going on with this child?" »»

While putting his hand on Taro's forehead, Nanami noticed that he was hot. Worried, she added: "He has a strong fever. »»

Mr. Fujisawa then said: he was certainly exposed to the storm last night, it would be better to bring him upstairs.

All went to the floor, where Taro was lying in a bed, burning with a fever. Madame Alma, who was standing by her side, examining her carefully and speaking with concern, she added: her fever continues to increase, and if that persists, it could become dangerous.

Dame Sakura, visibly worried, observed: he seems really very bad.

Nanami went upstairs with a water bowl. She took a clean towel, plunged it delicately into the water, then placed it on Taro's forehead. Visibly worried, she says, "He seems to suffer a lot. »»

Madame Alma replied: "Don't worry, as long as he stays warm and we take care of him, he will quickly get better. »»

She then turned to her husband and added: "Sai, I think I'm going to stay here for a while. »»

Mr. Saï then asked him, "Are you not going to come back?" »»

She replied gently: no, I'm going to stay here to help Nanami take care of this little boy. But you have things to do, I can't keep you here.

Haru replied then: So I stay with you, mom.

With a smile, she said to him: it's really very nice of you, my little haru.

Mr. Saï left by leaving his wife at the restaurant of Mr. Fujisawa. Taro, meanwhile, was well taken care of by these two ladies, and after several hours of attentive care, his fever had decreased. It was then that he opened his eyes gently and saw Dame Sakura, Lady Alma and Nanami at her bedside.

A little dizzy, he tried to get up, but Nanami gently encouraged him saying: you have to stay lying, you are not yet completely restored.

Nanami then saw bruises on Taro's arm and asked him gently: "What happened to you?" »»

Mademoiselle Alma approached to examine this more closely and exclaimed with confidence: "They are blues!" But what happened to you? »»

Although Taro feels weakened, he tried to straighten up in his bed and whispered: "I have to go ... I ... I can't stay here. »»

Nanami, visibly very angry, exclaimed: no, you don't go anywhere! You stay here because you are not able to go. Now it's time that you tell us who did this to you.

Haru, noting the state of the young boy, was amazed. He then allowed himself to suppose: it was the gentleman of the restaurant who did this to you, isn't it?

Meanwhile, Taro jumped out of surprise. His reaction already betrayed his thought. Understanding this, Haru added gently: I suspected it.

Lady Alma turned to her son and asked him: Who are you talking about, Haru?

Haru: He is a very unpleasant man that Mr. Fujisawa had to put to the door yesterday. He behaved badly with Taro, and that is the reason for his expulsion.

_ However, I did not expect the situation to come to the hands with him.

Rika, who was also present, then expressed: he is really a vulgar character. Why attack Taro? It deserves to be sanctioned.

Lady Alma, visibly troubled, replied in a peaceful tone: and he will be, but for the moment ...

He turned to Taro, who had just lost consciousness, and said: "Let us focus on his healing, he needs care."

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