Shinji: The Disastrous

"She does," Shinji replied, keeping his face carefully neutral. It felt strange standing face-to-face with Masato, the man who had been there when his father died.

Even though Shinji had changed, he still experienced the same feelings he'd had before remembering his past life. He could vividly recall the hollow ache in his chest when Masato had lifted the cloth, revealing his father's lifeless face. He didn't blame Masato—of course not—but looking at him still felt different now, heavier somehow.

Masato glanced Shinji over, noticing his thin frame. "Make sure you eat plenty and heal properly. They'll be relying on your strength in this house," he said, patting Shinji reassuringly on the back. He then turned to Ren and Hana, tousling their hair affectionately with a warm grin before stepping away to gather his tools and leaving.

Shinji watched Masato's retreating figure, a complicated mix of emotions swirling inside him. Finally, he turned toward his house, but as soon as he took a step, his knees buckled beneath him, and he collapsed to the ground.

"Shinji!" Hana screamed, immediately rushing forward to help him up. Her cry snapped Ren out of the strange daze he'd fallen into while staring after Masato, and he quickly joined Hana in supporting Shinji.

Shinji felt a flash of irritation at his weakened state. He had so much he wanted to accomplish, but first he had to rebuild his strength. "I'm fine, guys, really," Shinji said, trying to reassure Hana and Ren as they guided him gently into the house, where his mother was already waiting for them.

She approached quickly, pulling Shinji into a tight, comforting hug. "I'm so glad you're home," she whispered softly.

Shinji returned her embrace, holding her tightly. It felt unusual. In his previous life, after his sister had passed away, his mother had withdrawn, never showing him warmth or affection again. This unexpected kindness from his mother in this life shook something loose inside him. Tears rose suddenly, and despite his efforts, he couldn't stop them from rolling down his cheeks.

Hana noticed his tears and initially thought something was wrong, but she soon realized Shinji was simply overwhelmed, probably just happy and relieved to be back home. Witnessing this vulnerable moment touched Hana deeply; tears welled in her own eyes, and a tightness formed in her chest. She placed a gentle hand on Ren's shoulder, quietly signaling him to step back and give Shinji some space.

Ren glanced at her, confused at first. But when he saw Shinji crying quietly in his mother's arms, Ren froze in shock for a moment before stepping away to allow them privacy. He still didn't fully understand why Shinji was crying, was he still hurt or in pain?

Shinji held onto his mother even tighter, his hands gripping her robe as his shoulders shook slightly from quiet sobs. He tried to steady his breathing, tried to stop the tears, but once they'd started, he found himself unable to hold them back. His mother didn't say a word, she simply held him close, gently rubbing soothing circles on his back.

After a few quiet moments, Shinji finally managed to regain control over his emotions and slowly released his mother, wiping his eyes and taking a deep breath to steady himself again.

Sada gently brushed Shinji's cheek with her thumb, giving him one last reassuring smile before stepping back. "You've gotten so thin," she said softly, a mother's worry clear in her voice. "Sit down and rest, I'll prepare something nourishing for dinner."

Shinji nodded gratefully, still feeling the warmth of his mother's embrace lingering around him. He slowly sat down, Hana quickly rushing forward to help him ease into a comfortable position on the cushions near the low wooden table. Ren hovered awkwardly nearby, unsure whether to stay or go.

Sada noticed his hesitation and warmly called out, "Ren, stay for dinner tonight. I'm making stew. I'm sure your mother won't mind."

Ren brightened instantly, nodding eagerly. "Thank you, Aunt Sada."

As Sada moved toward the small kitchen area and began to chop vegetables, the rhythmic sound of her knife filled the comfortable silence. Hana handed Shinji a cup of water, watching him closely as he drank, still cautious and protective. Ren sat cross-legged beside them, picking at the edge of his sleeve in thought.

"It's weird," Ren began softly, breaking the silence first. "Ever since the attack, the monster hasn't come back. Not even once."

"Maybe they scared it of," Hana replied, setting down the cup carefully. She lifted her chin slightly, trying to sound confident. "Maybe it realized that it's not so easy to attack our village."

Ren glanced up, eyes darkening slightly as he shook his head. "Or maybe it's just waiting for the perfect time to attack again. Monsters don't get scared."

Shinji considered Ren's words. He flexed his fingers lightly, feeling the subtle, steady pulse of chakra beneath his skin. He remembered vividly the overwhelming rush of heat and power he'd felt that night, just before collapsing. The monster hadn't returned yet, but Ren was right, things weren't usually that easy. 

"I think you're right," Shinji said quietly. "It could just be waiting. Watching."

Ren lifted his gaze, meeting Shinji's eyes. Determination hardened his expression, and his voice grew firmer. "It doesn't matter if it comes back tomorrow or in a year. I'm going to kill it."

The raw conviction in Ren's voice made Hana glance at him sharply, with an unreadable expression. Sada paused briefly at Ren's declaration, the knife in her hand frozen mid-chop. She looked over her shoulder, her expression unreadable, then slowly continued preparing dinner, offering no comment.