A Newfound Family

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The Circus Life

For the first time in what felt like forever, Makoto felt safe. The performers of Mana Walker's circus welcomed him with open arms, laughing at his awkward introductions and showering him with kindness despite his strange clothes and clueless demeanor.

Mana had insisted he share a meal with them. The performers gathered around a large campfire, their faces glowing in the warm light as they passed around bowls of hearty stew. Makoto sat quietly between Mana and a cheerful acrobat named Lily, his hands cupped around a steaming bowl.

"Eat up, kid," Mana said, nudging him gently. "You look like you've been through a lot."

Makoto hesitated. "I—I don't want to take food from you guys. I mean, you've already done so much…"

"Nonsense!" Lily said with a grin, plucking the ladle from the pot. "We've got plenty to go around. Besides, Mana never turns away a lost soul."

Makoto's face flushed, and he ducked his head. "Thank you," he murmured, his voice barely audible.

He ate slowly, savoring every bite. The stew wasn't fancy, but it was warm and filling—comfort in a bowl. As he ate, he listened to the chatter around him, the performers laughing and teasing one another like a big, chaotic family.

For someone like Makoto, who'd always been painfully ordinary, it felt like stepping into another world entirely.

Later that night, as the camp quieted down and the performers retired to their tents, Mana led Makoto to a small spot near the edge of the clearing. They sat side by side on a fallen log, the distant sound of crickets filling the silence.

"So," Mana began, his voice gentle, "want to tell me where you came from?"

Makoto fidgeted with the hem of his sleeve. "It's… hard to explain. I don't even know where to start."

Mana waited patiently, his gaze warm and unjudging. Makoto took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts.

"I was walking home from school," he said slowly, "and then… something happened. A light, maybe? I don't really remember. When I woke up, I was here. I don't know where this is, or how I got here, or—"

He stopped, realizing how ridiculous it all sounded. "I'm sorry," he muttered, staring at the ground. "I know it doesn't make any sense."

Mana chuckled softly. "It makes more sense than you think."

Makoto blinked, looking up in surprise. "It does?"

"This world is full of strange things," Mana said, his gaze distant. "Things that can't be explained by logic alone. If you ended up here by some twist of fate, then maybe there's a reason for it."

Makoto frowned, unsure how to respond. He'd always thought of himself as ordinary, someone who had no grand destiny or special purpose. The idea that his presence here might mean something felt… overwhelming.

Mana patted him on the shoulder, his smile reassuring. "Don't overthink it, kid. Sometimes it's enough just to keep moving forward."

The next morning, Makoto woke to the smell of frying bacon and the sound of laughter outside his tent. Mana had given him a place to sleep—a small, cozy space with a thick blanket and a pillow stuffed with straw. It wasn't much, but it was more than Makoto could have hoped for.

As he stepped out into the morning light, he saw Lily balancing on a tightrope stretched between two trees, her movements graceful and precise. Below her, a grumpy-looking clown was chasing a mischievous monkey that had stolen his hat.

"Morning, sleepyhead!" Lily called, waving at him. Her sudden movement caused her to wobble precariously, but she quickly righted herself. "Hungry?"

Makoto smiled shyly, still feeling out of place. "A little."

"Well, grab a plate," she said, gesturing toward a table piled high with food. "Mana's in charge of breakfast today, so there's plenty."

Makoto helped himself to a modest portion, his stomach growling in anticipation. As he ate, he couldn't help but feel grateful. The circus was chaotic, noisy, and unlike anything he'd ever experienced—but it was also full of warmth.

It wasn't long before trouble found him again.

As Makoto wandered near the edge of the clearing, he noticed a small girl crying beside a toppled basket of apples. A burly man was berating her, his voice loud and angry.

"You clumsy brat!" the man snarled. "Do you know how much those cost?"

"I—I'm sorry!" the girl sobbed, shrinking away from him. "I didn't mean to—"

"Hey!" Makoto called, stepping forward before he could stop himself. His heart pounded, but he couldn't just stand by and watch. "Leave her alone!"

The man turned to glare at him, his expression thunderous. "And who the hell are you?"

Makoto swallowed hard. "I—I just think you should calm down. She's just a kid."

The man sneered. "And what are you gonna do about it, runt?"

Makoto's knees wobbled, but before he could answer, the man took a step toward him—and slipped on an apple. His arms flailed wildly as he fell backward into a nearby puddle, soaking his clothes.

For a moment, there was silence. Then, the girl burst into laughter, her tears forgotten. The man scrambled to his feet, sputtering curses, but by the time he turned to glare at Makoto, Mana was standing behind him.

"Is there a problem here?" Mana asked, his tone light but firm.

The man paled. "N-no, sir. No problem at all."

With one last glare at Makoto, he stomped off, muttering under his breath. Makoto let out a shaky breath, his legs threatening to give out beneath him.

"You okay?" Mana asked, resting a hand on his shoulder.

Makoto nodded, though his heart was still racing. "I think so."

Mana smiled. "That was brave of you, standing up for her like that."

"I didn't really do anything," Makoto said, his face flushing. "He just… fell."

"That's what makes it funny," Mana said with a laugh. "You've got some strange luck, kid. But maybe that's not such a bad thing."

That evening, Makoto sat alone near the campfire, lost in thought. He kept replaying the incident with the angry man in his mind, trying to make sense of it. Had it really just been luck? Or was there something else at work?

He glanced down at his hands, flexing his fingers. For a moment, he thought he felt something—a faint warmth, like a spark of energy just beneath his skin. But when he focused on it, the sensation faded.

"Makoto?" Mana's voice broke through his thoughts. He looked up to see the man approaching, his patched coat fluttering in the breeze.

"Yeah?" Makoto said, hastily lowering his hands.

Mana sat beside him, his expression unusually serious. "I've been thinking about what happened today."

Makoto shifted uncomfortably. "I'm sorry if I caused trouble."

"You didn't," Mana said quickly. "But that kind of luck… it's not normal."

Makoto's stomach twisted. "What do you mean?"

Mana hesitated before answering. "I think there's more to you than you realize. Something… special. Have you ever heard of Innocence?"

Makoto shook his head, confused. "No. What is it?"

Mana's gaze grew distant, his tone quiet. "It's a power that chooses its host. A weapon against the darkness in this world. And I think… it's chosen you."

To Be Continued…