Sword Art Online: Moonlight Swordman.

Ren let out a small smile, feeling the tension inside him gradually fade away.

He reached out and grasped Issin's hand, feeling the warmth and strength from that firm handshake.

A bit of warmth seeped into his chest, dispelling the lingering awkwardness.

"I-I'm Ren. Nice to meet everyone."

"Alright, sit down here. There's plenty of space." Klein patted Ren's shoulder, a warm smile lighting up his face.

He gently guided Ren to sit beside him, as if shielding him from the initial unease.

Ren sat down, still a bit reserved but at least no longer feeling lost.

He clenched his fists slightly to hide the remaining nervousness, his gaze instinctively scanning the surroundings.

Suddenly, a loud thud on the table startled him. Ren looked up to see Klein standing with a beaming smile.

"To celebrate our new member, Ren... Today's on me!"

His voice trailed off toward the end. Klein paused for a moment before continuing:

"...this morning's breakfast."

"Ryotarou, the stingiest guy alive, treating us? Did the sun rise in the west today?" Dynamm rolled his eyes, smirking.

Hearing that, Klein furrowed his brows in mock anger and glared at Dynamm.

"Everyone… except Dynamm."

The group burst into laughter, cheering in delight. The lively atmosphere filled the dining table.

Only Dynamm, his smile still frozen on his face… turned to stone.

"Nooooo! Captain… I don't have a single coin left!" Dynamm groaned, his face twisted in exaggerated misery.

But Klein only shrugged nonchalantly, a mischievous grin forming on his lips.

Turning to Ren, he asked enthusiastically,

"What do you want to eat? Breakfast here is the best." Klein jerked his chin toward the menu before glancing at Dynamm with a smirk.

"Unlike some place that someone led us to... where the food was terrible."

Dynamm's face flushed as he stammered, "H-Hey… but it was cheap… and it was just that one time!" He shrank back slightly, his shoulders hunching as if bracing for more teasing.

Issin burst into laughter, giving Dynamm a hearty slap on the back. "Well, at least he tried."

But then his tone dropped, laced with mockery.

"Just… don't lead us next time. I'll take over."

Dynamm's jaw dropped, about to protest, but before he could, Dale cut in with a long sigh.

"It's always the same, Dynamm. In both the real world and here… you're just terrible at picking places to eat. Remember last time? We wasted a ton of money and didn't even get a decent meal."

Dynamm's face fell as he blinked in helpless defeat.

"..." He had no comeback, only lowering his head like a child unfairly scolded.

Ren couldn't help but chuckle at the lively scene before him.

The warmth and energy of this group felt so different. The heavy weight in his chest seemed to vanish entirely.

As the group continued their cheerful chatter, breakfast was served.

The rich aroma of sizzling bacon filled the air, tickling Ren's senses.

His stomach growled as his eyes landed on the steaming bowl of soup in front of him. Wisps of steam curled upward, carrying the enticing scent of simmered vegetables and meat.

A golden, freshly baked piece of bread rested beside it....its crust crisp and flaky, yet soft inside, exuding the rich fragrance of butter.

Ren's gaze was drawn to the slightly charred bacon, its deep brown sheen glistening under the morning light.

The delicious scent of seared pork fat, mingled with its savory richness, made his head feel light.

'This is... real meat.'

He couldn't believe his eyes. Fresh meat, not the dry, chemically preserved rations he had forced himself to swallow in the past just to survive.

Ren hesitantly touched the warm bread, feeling the heat radiate through his fingertips.

A wave of memories surfaced of stale, rock-hard crumbs, tasteless and dry, leaving nothing but a parched throat.

Of expired convenience store bento boxes, long past their due date.

Of instant noodles that smelled so strongly of artificial seasoning that they almost made him gag.

But those thoughts were fleeting, quickly overshadowed by the rumbling in his stomach. His body urged him to devour the meal before him.

His throat tightened.

'When was the last time I ate meat...?'

The hunger and deprivation he had long endured clawed at him, making him want to take a desperate, greedy bite.

But Ren held himself back. His trembling hands clenched under the table to keep himself from lunging at the food.

He looked around.

Everyone else was eating naturally, chatting away as they enjoyed their breakfast. No one noticed the silent battle within him.

A lump formed in his throat.

Ren blinked rapidly, trying to suppress the unfamiliar emotions welling up inside.

He never thought there would be a day where he could sit at a table with others… and have a warm, hearty meal like this.

…

Ren set his spoon down with a quiet sigh.

His bowl of soup was empty, save for a few remnants clinging to the bottom.

He tilted it slightly, trying to sip the last few drops, but there was nothing left except the lingering aroma.

His plate was bare. The golden bread was gone, only a few stray crumbs remaining.

Absentmindedly, Ren picked up a tiny crumb and placed it in his mouth, chewing slowly, savoring the last hints of saltiness and buttery richness.

The taste lingered on his tongue. He swallowed, a yearning feeling creeping in.

'If only… I could have just a little more.'

His gaze flickered toward Klein's table.

A few untouched pieces of food remained on their plates. The scent of bacon and fresh butter still hung in the air. His stomach was full, yet… maybe there was still room for just a little more?

Ren quickly lowered his head, intertwining his fingers in his lap to keep himself from acting on impulse.

This feeling… it was so familiar. The longing to eat more but the restraint from asking.

He recalled the times he could only watch from afar as others ate to their hearts' content. The taste of dry, flavorless bread and cold water.

'Don't be greedy… Just being full like this is already more than enough.'

Ren told himself. But his eyes still unconsciously followed Klein's movements as he lifted a piece of meat to his mouth.

Realizing what he was doing, Ren quickly looked away, ashamed of his own desire.

'Just a little more…'

But he knew he couldn't ask.

He didn't want to be looked down upon. He didn't want to be a burden to those who had given him a warmth he had never known before.

So, Ren remained silent, his hands clenched tightly to suppress the lingering hunger.

Yet the sweet, tantalizing scent of breakfast still lingered…

Lingering around him, as if deliberately teasing an insatiable craving. 

'I'll eat it every day... when I have money,' a thought flashed through Ren's mind. 

He closed his eyes, envisioning himself sitting before a table full of delicious food, no longer worrying about scarcity or hunger. 

Something bright and hopeful was beginning to bloom in his mind. 

'That's right... I'll eat it every day.' 

This time, the thought wasn't just a mere dream. It became a goal, a promise to himself. Ren's eyes gleamed with determination. 

He would earn money. He would change this life. 

And one day... he would finally be able to enjoy a hearty meal without longing for it in helpless hunger.

...

"…Alright. Now that we've had our fill, shall we go hunting?" Klein glanced at the empty dishes left behind and spoke with enthusiasm. 

"Of course! I'm excited to test out these two new babies." Dynamm swung his brand-new steel sword, a confident grin lighting up his face. 

"So, where are we starting? At this level, those boars barely give any EXP." Issin asked seriously, his sharp eyes filled with focus. 

Klein frowned slightly, his gaze briefly shifting to Ren before he spoke. 

"We should take it easy for a few days… Ren isn't ready to face anything too strong yet." 

Ren stiffened, a wave of embarrassment and self-doubt rising in his chest. 

He clenched his fists slightly, struggling to suppress the discomfort of realizing he was a burden to the group. 

But before he could say anything, Dynamm chuckled. 

"Oh, right. A rookie. Everyone starts from zero." 

Though his words carried a teasing tone, there was no malice in them. Dynamm patted Ren's shoulder with a relaxed smile. 

"Take your time, kid. You'll catch up soon enough." 

Kid? 

Ren looked up, surprised by the unexpected encouragement. A small warmth spread within him. 

Klein nodded approvingly, a gentle smile appearing on his face. 

"That's right. No need to rush. Just take it one step at a time. Alright, everyone, we'll hunt around the outskirts today. Get ready to move out!" 

Dale stood up and gave Ren a firm pat on the back, causing him to stagger slightly. 

"Don't worry. No monster's getting past our defense. Not to brag, but we've leveled up quite a bit… and it's only the third day." 

Ren looked up, eyes widening, not because of their fast leveling speed… 

But because of Dale's towering height. 

He's huge… 

Ren swallowed dryly, his gaze unconsciously scanning the group. 

Not just Dale, but Klein, Issin, and Dynamm… They were all at least a head taller than him. 

It felt like he was surrounded by giants. 

…Is this what happens when you get to eat three full meals a day? 

The thought flickered through his mind, and he let out a wry smile. Lowering his head, that familiar sense of inferiority crept in again...memories of hunger and struggling alone flashing through his mind. 

Dale seemed to notice Ren's silence and tilted his head. 

"Hey, kid. What's with that dazed look?" 

Ren snapped out of it and quickly shook his head. 

"Ah… it's nothing." 

"You're wondering about my height, aren't you?" Dale laughed, puffing out his chest proudly. "I was already taller than my classmates back in middle school." 

Ren hesitated, unsure how to respond. But seeing Dale's relaxed smile, that heavy feeling in his chest lightened just a little. 

Yeah… I'll probably grow taller too… if I can eat properly like they do. 

"How old are you, Ren?" Dynamm asked, curiosity clear in his eyes. 

"1…16… I'm 16 this year." Ren hesitated slightly but answered. 

"16? You look more like 14…" Dynamm frowned, his words slipping out in surprise. 

Ren froze, his eyes wavering for a moment before a stiff smile formed on his lips. 

I knew it… It's always the same. 

The sharp sting of inferiority cut deep, and his hands clenched instinctively. 

Noticing the shift in atmosphere, Dynamm panicked. 

"Oh....wait! I didn't mean anything by that! I just...uh, you know, your height… I mean…" 

He stumbled over his words, guilt flashing across his face at Ren's expression. Scratching his head, Dynamm forced an awkward laugh. 

"As long as you eat properly, you'll still grow. At this age, there's plenty of time! Look at me, when I was 16, I was short as hell… but now I'm taller than my old neighbor!" 

Dynamm laughed loudly and gave Ren a hearty slap on the shoulder. 

Ren looked up, startled by the unexpected sincerity in Dynamm's smile. 

He had no idea why he suddenly mentioned his neighbor… but somehow, Ren felt grateful. 

"…Thanks," Ren murmured, the awkwardness slowly fading. 

Yeah… maybe I'll grow taller too… if I can eat properly like they do.