This story is part of the Wanderer series.
The sky grew amber in color. Long shadows stretched across the forest floor. No direct rays of sunlight could be seen. The tall foliage and cloud coverage were enough to absorb it all and scatter as colorful light.
The house, its faded stone walls tinted by this light, was lively with percussive noise. Open to the air, with the back doors slid open, the three ate at the table under the hanging lamp. Though they were each leaned forward over their bowls, each ate their meal in their own manner.
Yuka was the quietest. The steadiness of her movements made her almost invisible at the table, even if her metal spoon did occasionally clink against her porcelain bowl. Rin ate with haste, clattering more often than not. And Nozomi, with her brows knitted and eyes concentrated on the food, ate loudly and furiously.
As Rin ate next to her, she eyed Nozomi with disapproval each time there was a loud clatter of the bowl.
“Can you eat any louder?” she muttered out loud.
Managing to catch a few words, Nozomi perked her head up, cheeks still puffed with a mouthful of soup. “Hm?”
When Rin did not respond, keeping her head faced towards the table, Nozomi quickly returned to her meal without a second regard. However, once the clattering resumed, Rin’s agitation built up enough to express her grievance again.
“I don’t get how you can eat so much and sleep all day and not get fat.”
Nozomi straightened again, this time with her mouth cleared to speak immediately. She looked at Rin with wide, curious eyes. “Get fat? What’s that?”
Blinking, Rin straightened her head. Brows rising, her scorned expression lifted, leaving nothing but blank confusion.
Across the table, Yuka chuckled. “It’s been a long day.”
Nozomi pivoted her way. “Mm mm! I was so hungry!”
Blinking a few more times, Rin turned away and stared blankly at the table’s surface, her forehead still a little furrowed.
“Everyone worked hard today. Makes the meal heartier, does it not?”
“Mm-hmm!” Nozomi nodded vividly.
Glancing, Rin’s eyes narrowed. “Except you.”
Nozomi caught this mutterance, immediately retorting. “I worked hard today!”
“No you didn’t. I did much more.”
“But it was hard for me!”
“Doesn’t change what you did.”
“Everyone put in their best effort, right?” Yuka interjected. “As long as everyone does that, it’s all right. Right?”
“Right!” Nozomi loudly concurred. “I worked hard!”
Turning away, exaggerating her lean to the side, Rin sighed, throwing her eyes beyond the table.