The Grocery Store

Asahi clenched his fists. “We need to go. Now”

Haruto grabbed his arm. “Wait. If we rush in blind, we’ll be as good as dead.”

Asahi scowled. “We don’t have time for this –“

“I know,” Haruto cut in. “But if things go south, we need a place to fall back to. And store all our resources.”

Asahi exhaled sharply. But he could see logic in Haruto’s words. “Fine. Where?”

Haruto scanned their surrounding before pointing to a nearby building – an old two-story structure with shattered windows and a partially collapsed roof. “Second floor. We clear out a room and stash out supplies there. If we get separated, we regroup there.”

Despite the burning urgency in his gut, Asahi nodded. They hurried inside the building and made their way up to the second floor. It was in a better condition than they had expected. They chose a small room with only one entrance – easier to defend – and stashed their supplies in the corner.

Then another gunshot ran out.

This time, Asahi’s impatience took over and he dashed out of the building without waiting for Haruto’s signal. He sprinted towards the sound. Haruto quickly followed.

They moved quickly, slipping through the back entrance of the grocery store. The hallway inside was dark, only lit by the light filtering in through the broken windows. Their footsteps echoed against the ruined tiles.

Then –

A small boy bolted out from one of the side rooms, his face streaked with dirt and tears. Without hesitation, he ran straight past them and dove through a shattered window.

A man followed in pursuit. “Oi, wait! You brat! Come back here!”

Haruto reacted immediately and stepped in front of the stranger. “Go after the kid,” he ordered. “I’ll handle this.”

“What? No –“

“We don’t have time to argue! Go!”

Asahi clenched his teeth. His instincts screamed at him to stay, but Haruto was already advancing toward the man.

Without another word, Asahi turned around and ran.

The boy was fast. Even injured, he scrambled through the wreckage like a skilled animal. Asahi followed him, weaving through abandoned streets and vaulting over debris. The boy ran even faster after he saw Asahi chasing him.

“Hey! Wait! I’m not trying to hurt you or anything! I’m only here to help!” Asahi shouted but the boy didn’t slow down.

Traversing through the abandoned city was more of a task than Asahi had initially thought. He briefly tripped over some debris before finally regaining his balance. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he caught up to the him.

The boy backed away, his eyes full of fear and terror.

“It’s okay,” Asahi said, raising his hands in what he hoped was a calming gesture. “I won’t hurt you.”

The boy said nothing, but after a long pause, he hesitantly stepped towards him. He felt a sense of warmth emanating from Asahi, as if he were connected to him in some way.

“You must have suffered a lot right? Come. I’ll take you to a safe place to hide.”

With no one else to trust or follow, the boy tagged along with Asahi to the safe spot. Asahi showed him around the room and told him where all the resources and food was in case he needed it.

And then, finally in a hurry, he crouched down to meet his eye level and whispered in what he hoped to be a comforting tine, “Stay here. I’ll be right back. Okay?”

The boy nodded his head. But by then, Asahi had already turned around and was on his way towards the store.

When Asahi arrived, the grocery store was empty.

The only thing left behind was blood.

Thick streaks of crimson smeared across the floor, leading deeper into the building. But there were no signs of Haruto. No sign of the men. Nor any other person.

Nothing.

Asahi searched frantically for any clues. He checked every aisle and every back room, even outside – but the place was completely deserted.

In just a short while, everything was gone. And more importantly, Haruto was gone. As he thought back to what had happened, he couldn’t help but notice that he didn’t hear a single noise as he was chasing after the boy. His mind was filled with the thought that Haruto might as well be… dead.

Swallowing hard, Asahi clenched his fists. He had no choice but to return to the safe house.

His heart pounded in his ears as he climbed the stairs. The boy was still there, his eyes wide with fear.

Asahi sat against the cold wall of the room. Haruto was gone. The men were gone. And the only thing left behind was a quiet, terrified child.

The boy sat curled up in the corner, his arms wrapped around his knees. He was small – far too small for someone who had just run through a warzone. His clothes were tattered, his face smeared with dirt, but his eyes, dark and wide, were the most haunting.

Asahi hesitated, then took a breath and spoke.

“…Hey.”

No response.

He tried again, a little softer. “What’s your name?”

The boy flinched, burying his face in between his arms.

Asahi exhaled, running a hand through his messy hair. He wasn’t good at this. He wasn’t like Haruto, who always knew what to say.

He tried again. “That man… the one chasing you. Who was he? And was there someone else along with you?”

Still nothing.

Frustration bubbled beneath his skin.

“I – “ Asahi faltered. “I lost someone back there.”

The boy’s head lifted slightly, just enough for Asahi to catch a glimpse of his hollow expression.”

“…My friend,” he continued in a quieter voice. “He was there with me. And now, he’s gone. I don’t even know if he’s alive. I don’t know if I’ll ever see him again.”

Asahi let out a bitter chuckle, shaking his head. “And you know what the worst part is? I don’t even know why I’m saying all this to you. You’re just a kid. You probably don’t even understand a word I’m saying.”

The boy’s lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to speak. But no words came.

A lump formed in Asahi’s throat.

He clenched his fists. “Say something.”

Silence.

“I said –“

He slammed his fist against the ground. “Just say something, damn it!”

The boy flinched violently, his entire body recoiling at Asahi’s outburst. Tears welled in his eyes. Then, without a word, he shot up and bolted out of the room.

Asahi’s heart lurched. “Hey – wait!”

The boy didn’t stop. He sprinted down the stairs before disappearing into the ruined city.

“Shit.”

Asahi forced himself to his feet and took off after him.