Rookies

By the time the wagon was loaded, the market stalls were winding down for the day.

Red stood beside the driver, overseeing every tied-down sack and crate: rice, flour, dried meats, spices, salts, soap bundles, firewood. All packed tight, sealed for transport to the edge of Silverhaven.

At the last minute, without a word, Red stepped away and entered a small tailor's shop tucked near the end of the merchant lane.

Lio leaned against a barrel outside the wagon, chewing jerky.

"…Wait, where'd he go?" he mumbled. "More food? Does he want us to feed the city?"

Inside, Red kept his voice low. He pointed at sizes. Gave no names. Choose soft fabrics. Simple patterns. Tough seams. Durable stitching. Warm boots. A winter cloak in a smaller size for each of the girls.

And a modest, sea-blue dress.

For someone who didn't even know she'd be coming back.

He paid in full and told the tailor to deliver it separately, in plain wrapping.

The wagon rolled toward the eastern gate just before dusk.

Red walked beside it in silence, eyes scanning the treeline without obvious movement. Lio trailed beside him, arms behind his head, whistling a tune that didn't quite match his steps.

"I gotta say, the wagon's a good call," Lio said. "If we carried this much on foot, I'd be dead. Like, dead dead. Bones-in-the-woods dead."

Red didn't respond.

His attention was elsewhere.

He felt it.

That subtle weight. That presence.

He glanced left, into the scattered alleys and the narrow, dusty street behind them.

Footsteps. Soft. Trying to match theirs.

Whoever it was, they weren't dangerous. Not bandits. Not scouts. Too light. Too hesitant.

A civilian.

And as they left the main road and entered the less-traveled path toward the forest, Red confirmed it with one glance over his shoulder.

Yuzu.

She was following from far behind, ducking behind walls, then trees.

Poorly.

She didn't know Red had already adjusted the pace of the wagon, slower now, deliberately smooth, just to ensure the trail was safe.

Lio, of course, had no clue.

"…Man, my legs hurt," he groaned. 

Lio: "Next time, I'm bringing a stool. Or a smaller house. Do we need this much salt?"

Red didn't answer.

He just kept walking. Quiet. Measured. Unbothered.

But fully aware of the second pair of eyes behind them.

By the time they arrived at the cabin, the last light of day had dipped below the trees.

The wagon driver grunted and started unloading the crates under Red's direction, while Lio ran inside to announce their return.

Inside the house, Selena came out with a cloth on her hands, and the twins, Lia and Lana, peeked from behind her legs.

"Welcome back" Selena called.

Lio waved. "And still alive! Somehow!"

Red stepped off the trail, brushing leaves from the nearest crate, and turned to help with the unloading.

That's when it happened.

"Big Brother…?" Lana whispered, tugging on Lio's sleeve.

"Hm?" Lio turned.

She pointed past the bushes near the treeline. "There's a girl watching us…"

Lio blinked. "What?"

Lia added helpfully, "She's really bad at hiding."

Lio squinted, finally noticing the faint shimmer of a white dress crouching awkwardly in the shrubs.

Lio: "…Wait a second…"

The bushes rustled.

And Yuzu froze mid-step, caught mid-crawl, cheeks bright red.

"H-Hi…?" she said weakly.

Selena blinked. "Do you know her?"

Lio's face went pale, then red. "Y-Yuzu?! What are you doing here?!"

She stood up slowly, dusting off her knees. 

Yuzu: "I just… um… I wasn't following. I mean, I was. But not in a creepy way. You just… left. And I didn't know if I'd see you again."

Selena looked from Yuzu to Lio.

Then at Red.

Then back to Yuzu.

"Friend of yours?" she asked.

Yuzu looked down shyly. "I guess… he's my first friend."

Selena's expression softened.

Lia and Lana giggled.

Red said nothing.

He simply turned back to the bags and resumed unloading.

But he didn't stop her from walking closer.

Lio scratched his head, smiling awkwardly. "Well… I didn't invite her, but uh… I guess it's not bad that she's here?"

Red stared at Yuzu for a moment. Not cold. Not welcoming. Just studying her.

Then he turned away.

Red: "Selena."

Selena: "Yeah?"

Red: "She's your guest."

Selena smiled. "Got it."

That evening, Yuzu stayed for dinner.

She sat near the edge of the table, quietly sipping broth and watching Lio, Selena, the girls, and Red with wide eyes.

She didn't talk much.

But she didn't leave.

The next day, she came again.

And the day after that.

Sometimes she brought fruit. Sometimes sweets. Sometimes nothing but questions and that same soft smile.

She sat near the porch when Lio was chopping wood. Followed Selena to the stream. Listened as the twins recited words she didn't know.

And Red?

He never told her to go.

He never had to.