After the unexpected exit from the party, Ryu slipped away quietly, preferring the comfort of his workshop to lingering in crowded halls. He wanted solitude to think through his ideas and check on Souji's progress. By the time he reached the workshop where he often worked and stayed there, the hum of machines felt almost like a welcome back.
Ryu looked at the prototype he had been working on when Rina and Souji entered with two nurses from the hospital, Shizune, and Tsunade.
Ryu stood at one of the benches as he looked at Rina and Souji.
"Is everything alright?" Ryu asked.
Rina happily answered, "Souji did something I never thought I'd see again."
Ryu looked at Souji. "What? Did he show any movement?"
Rina smiled, her voice catching. "He smiled. Last night at the party—he actually smiled."
Ryu blinked, then a grin spread across his face. In a few quick strides he stood before Souji, bending down for a deliberately exaggerated inspection. He tapped Souji's head like a doctor checking reflexes, testing for a response. He then looked at the big smile Souji gave and pieced together everything that might have happened for such a reaction.
"Souji, you sly dog." Ryu said.
Shizune frowned in confusion at Ryu's playful remarks. "Wait—what are you talking about?"
Ryu straightened, his voice mock-serious. "While we were focused on his index finger, our boy here went rogue. He's been training a much more dangerous muscle group—his smile."
Ryu smirked. "Couldn't resist grinning when Rina was holding his hand, eh? Training for love... Scandalous."
Shizune blinked as the realisation dawned, a blush creeping up her cheeks.
Shizune burst out laughing, relief spilling out in bright laughter. Rina buried her face in her clipboard, crimson spreading to her ears.
Tsunade, who had been silently watching, crossed her arms with a small smile. "Hmph. Looks like the power of love is a medicine in itself."
Ryu chuckled. "Maybe." He leaned back, folding his arms. "At this rate, we'll have to keep you on supervised visits. Who knows which muscles he'll start working next?"
The joke lingered warmly until the door slid open. Dan, Yuki, and Masato entered, bringing the weight of business with them.
"Mr Masato… I hope you enjoyed the party," Ryu said.
"Yes, more than I should," Masato replied.
"How is the communication project going?" Ryu asked.
Masato got straight to the point. "The local village network is ready to launch. We were just waiting for your return."
"Just like you instructed, we built a major tower and six minor towers and constructed them around the city in a honeycomb shape. We had tested the signal strength around the village, and the results were amazing."
Ryu nodded in satisfaction and asked, "What about the next phase?"
Masato replied, "Fire City is under construction. Next is the Land of Rivers, and I'll also oversee Ironheart City along with the River City Tower."
"Good." Ryu handed him a set of blueprints. "These are designs for new devices. They will revolutionise transportation and city planning."
Masato's eyes widened as he studied them. He was impressed by the innovation and knew the designs would play a crucial role in their future.
Ryu continued, "After communications, we will revolutionise the transportation infrastructure… These are designs to help achieve that… High-torque motor without magnets for electric vehicles. A horizontal directional drilling machine for underground pipes. Build the prototypes, start manufacturing here in River City, and then return to the Leaf."
Masato skimmed the diagrams. "Mass production in River City?"
"Exactly. They have raw materials and skilled metalworkers—everything we lack in the Land of Fire. Channel all profits from Solar Paint and Game Boy into motor production and Ironheart City. It will be crucial for the next phase."
Masato hesitated. "All profits? That's a dangerous gamble."
Ryu's eyes gleamed. "It's not just a city. Ironheart will be our primary factory, where all production initiates, and the final products will be assembled in the Land of Fire."
The certainty in his voice cut through the doubt. Masato gave a slow nod and said, "I saw the blueprint of the city. It was …inspiring."
Ryu said, "Thanks. Once it is built, it will be the pinnacle of manufacturing hubs." After saying that, Ryu presented a map. "I have signed mining rights in the area… These are spots with the highest concentration of metals… I want you to hire some miners after the staff quarters are built in the area."
Masato was taken aback when he saw the map. How did he discover the metal-filled areas? He was aware not to pry, though.
"I will start the mining; if we are lucky, we might find rare chakra metal too," Masato said.
Ryu considered the metal of the chakra."It would be great if I could actually get my hands on that. It can channel chakra, but who knows what else it could do? I will think about it if we find any chakra metal … If we don't, I guess I have to buy it."
Then Ryu rolled out another sketch. "Also—I want this." He showed a simple circuit board diagram. "A portable music player. Thousands of songs in your pocket. A side project for side money. I'm confident it will sell out before it even launches."
Masato's eyes widened. "That's… incredible. Where did you even—"
Ryu shrugged. "Got the idea while singing at the party."
Masato smirked. "I didn't know you had a talent for that, too."
"Don't spread it around," Ryu deadpanned, tapping the blueprint. "Fold music into the Game Boy. Also make a cheaper standalone. But communications come first. Once towers are in every major city, we push for satellites."
Masato nodded, already calculating the possibilities after a worldwide network of satellites and local communication towers is ready.
The door opened again. Ikkyu swept in, robes trailing. His sharp eyes scanned the room before settling on Ryu and Souji.
"Ryu-kun," Ikkyu began with curiosity, "what exactly happened at the party last night? People are talking."
Ryu shrugged. "No idea what happened there."
Ikkyu understood that there was no point in asking further into somebody's secrets. But inside he knew Ryu was hiding something, and what happened at the party was not anything normal.
Ryu continued, "I was checking on my patient." He gestured toward Souji. "There's been progress in one of my patients and my new family member."
Ikkyu's expression softened as he regarded Souji, noting the faint twitch of a smile. "I see… that explains it." After a pause, he added, "I'll be returning to the Leaf in three days. Are you coming with me?"
"Yes, I will be coming. I have asked my best researcher to look after projects in the River City until he finds someone to look after them on our behalf. "
"Can you do me a favour?" Ryu asked then.
"What do you need? I do anything in my power, " Ikkyu answered.
"Thanks," Ryu replied. "Can you please arrange transport for Rina and Souji and two more persons as well?"
"The twins from the party?" Ikkyu asked, already understanding his intentions.
Ryu nodded and asked, "Can you arrange to make sure they are well taken care of during the journey? They need special care considering their situation.
"Consider it done," Ikkyu assured him with a smile. "You can leave with me without care; I will arrange a separate convoy from them."
Hearing that Souji will leave soon, the nurse wheeling Souji remembered the bet Ryu made with the bratty doctor.
She said, "And what about your bet with Dr Hoshino? If you leave, then she will spread rumours that you ran away with him without treating him first."
Ryu gave her a lopsided smile. "Forget the bet. Souji's progress is worth more than any wager. He's smiling non-stop now. That's all the proof I need."
Yuki glanced at Ryu with quiet approval.
"We'll keep him here three more days," Ryu continued. "Let every doctor and nurse witness it themselves. Let them see the results firsthand."
Rina squeezed Souji's hand, her eyes soft with hope. Souji was far away from recovery, but his smile was enough to shed all doubts from their hearts.
Ryu gave them both a small wave. "See you at home soon."
Later that evening, Ryu set off with Yuki at his side. Their destination: the orphanage. The building stood quiet, lanterns glowing softly in the windows.
The head of the orphanage hurried to the door, bowing slightly. "Lord Ryu, Lady Yuki—it is an honour to see you."
Yuki's expression warmed. "Thank you for meeting us on short notice."
The head smiled, gesturing toward the far corner where two children sat together. "We have been waiting for you. I already spoke with them about your proposal. After some convincing, they agreed to the adoption."
"Kaia and Akihiro are our brightest stars, though the world calls them broken. I hope you will take good care of them."
Ryu stepped forward. "Before we proceed, I wish to speak with both of them."
The orphanage head nodded and called to an assistant. "Please take Lord Ryu to the twins."
Ryu was led to the twins' room. He noticed the boy's black eye and guessed he had been in a brawl. Using both sign language and speech, Ryu greeted them. "Hello, we meet again."
##PoWeR StOnEs##
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