Chapter 29 - Vigilance

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Even though Takayo and Mia were distraught, unable to process all the catastrophic events that had unfolded throughout the day, they wanted to believe that things would eventually get better.

What kept them going was knowing that the Beastman had always been there, even in the worst moments of their lives.

The moment the children entered the nearby tent, Kazuki went over to Rei, who was sitting next to her, looking up at the starry sky.

— The kids are in the tent. I'll keep watch in the meantime — the man said, his voice trembling but his posture still firm.

Ah, his voice sounded so sad.

The events of the past few days still weighed heavily on him. Every time he thought about how both Mia and Takayo were mentally trapped in an even worse experience, reliving the trauma over and over again, it only deepened his sense of sadness.

The only thing that crossed his mind was that the moment they found even a shred of stability, he had to help them get back on their feet, no matter what the hardships.

A few seconds after Kazuki spoke, Rei felt a sudden pressure, as if those words made him forget how determined and angry he had been before.

— It's okay, you don't have to worry about the children. They're strong. I'm sure they'll make it, — Rei said, noticing that the man was lost in thought.

His head was throbbing. If only his mind wasn't so clouded. If only the conflicts and consequences of the war didn't exist.

Trying to shake off these thoughts, Kazuki answered Rei's comment with a question:

— But... how? I can hardly talk to them, especially Takayo! He's visibly shaken and it's understandable considering everything he's been through.

— He hardly says anything, he can't express himself, his eyes are lifeless... What should I do?

Before answering, Rei took a deep breath and thought for a moment. He knew very well that the emotional burden of taking care of two children was weighing on Kazuki.

With a serious expression on his face, he replied in an unbiased tone:

— Dude, you shouldn't force a conversation right now. What they need is time to process everything. Whether you like it or not, all this just happened today... It's still fresh.

After Rei's advice, silence fell for a few moments. Not that the atmosphere was heavy, — on the contrary, it felt more like a moment of reflection.

Then, looking up in doubt and uneasiness, Rei continued with his perspective:

— I think you should wait. Give her time. I'm not saying to leave them alone, but don't force a conversation. They're probably not ready.

Finally, he added, trying to lighten the mood:

— Well, if it were me, I wouldn't be ready either... hehe.

— Here. Make yourself comfortable. — Rei gestured to the other side of the tent and invited Kazuki to sit down.

Hearing his words, Kazuki sat down on the floor, leaned his back against the tent and tilted his head in the same direction as Rei.

The two of them sat side by side, looking up at the sky while the cool night breeze brushed against their faces.

It was almost romantic... for anyone who found this kind of thing romantic. Which wasn't exactly the case for them, considering how clouded their minds were.

— Why are you doing this for me? You must think I'm pathetic in this situation, especially since I don't know how to help them properly, — Kazuki said, his ears drooping slightly as he looked up.

— No, you're just being protective and caring. That's something else.

— ...

Noticing his hesitation, Rei quickly broke the silence.

— Look, I don't think I'm the best person to give you advice or anything, but you don't seem okay either.

— You always worry about everyone else, but what about you? Have you ever made yourself your own priority? I'm just saying that you should take care of yourself first, before anything else, — he added, choosing his words carefully so that they wouldn't offend him.

After hearing him out, Kazuki turned to Rei a few moments later and gave a small smile.

— You're right... I've always been like that, especially with my siblings.

The moment he mentioned his family, he quickly changed the subject. Not that it bothered him, but talking about the past would only bring back tragic memories.

— To be honest, all of this still feels more like a dream than reality, - Kazuki admitted. — I never thought that cities could be destroyed so quickly... it's kind of surreal.

— Yeah... even I can't believe it, — Rei agreed. — Man, I can still remember all the trouble we went through to get here... what a mess.

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly stood up from where he was sitting.

— Well, I don't know about you, but I'm heading into the tent to change. I'm exhausted. Man, I wish I had hot water right now to take a bath like you do... hehe.

He turned around, opened the tent flap and stepped inside.

Before Kazuki could follow, Rei stopped him abruptly.

— Whoa, whoa. I have to change first. Would you mind waiting outside? I'll be quick.

Hearing this, Kazuki simply nodded and went back to his previous position.

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Inside the tent, when he put his hands on his pants, Rei noticed that his clothes were partly dirty. Especially his silk shirt, which had absorbed a good amount of sweat during the day.

He considered sleeping in it, but after thinking about it, he changed his mind.

In the end, still exhausted from the whole situation, he used his creation ability once again to materialize a blue men's kimono, similar to the pajamas he used to wear on Earth.