The situation at the Tigerlilly tea store, from Mikasa's point of view, was progressing fruitfully. The heart of that brave, hardworking, and loving woman was filled with happiness as she watched her son, Benji Shoyo, already see himself as a member of the family. Benji had learned to get up early, he was already on his feet even before Mikasa, and he had begun to organize certain matters in the tent, for the night before, before going to sleep, Hinata had given him certain instructions at his request. The moment Mikasa got up, after saying good morning to both Hinata and Benji, she opened the Tigerlilly with particular enthusiasm and eagerness to face that day.
"Breakfast is ready, mom, Benji..." Hinata had taken care of the first meal of the day right after she was ready to go to school. Benji immediately came to finish setting the table for breakfast. Mikasa couldn't erase the happiness ingrained and tangible on her face. "Benji, how about walking me to school? That way we could talk and get to know each other better on the way." Hinata asked, with some embarrassment on her face and staring at her plate, as she popped a bite into her mouth. Benji swallowed thickly, looked at his sister, and then at his mother with a surprised expression. Mikasa, who had established a great deal of excitement in her expression upon hearing those words, looked at Benji waiting for a positive response from him. "Of course, I'll accompany you, of course." Benji, by the time he gave his answer, the expression had changed and was now one of total happiness, the happiness
he didn't know how to repay.
Hinata pauses for a moment and throws a look full of enthusiasm to her brother, nods animatedly, and continues eating.
"That way I'll take advantage of being on the outside to look for work... I know something about mechanics that I learned before I was locked up, and while serving my sentence I expanded that knowledge by reading." Benji added with conviction and assurance seconds before he began to devour his breakfast and did not stop until he had finished.
After a few minutes when everyone had finished their breakfast, Benji and Hinata found themselves saying goodbye to Mikasa at the doors of the Tigerlilly. It's a beautiful day and you can see it with the naked eye. Mikasa, before returning to her chores, watches her children get further and further out of sight as they walk away. "Tell me, Hinata, are you a good student? Surely you're better than I was?" asks Benji, with some embarrassment in his expression, but Hinata's face made it clear to him that she wasn't an exemplary student either. They both let out a brief chuckle-worthy of a pair of accomplices. "Don't say anything to Mom. I try hard, and I'll keep doing it until I make it." Hinata said, smiling hopefully. "Do it, Hinata... Now I am here to help you and never, never hesitate to tell me whatever it is that is distressing you or is complicating your life. I will, as much as possible and however, I can help you." Benji had adopted such a serious expression that, in the first instance, it caused Hinata a little fear, but then she felt deeply protected by her newly acquired brother.
They had finally arrived at Hinata's school and Hinata said goodbye to her brother with a tight hug for which she had to stand on the tips of her toes to give him. Benji hugged her back tightly and rested his hand on her head for a couple of seconds. On the way back, Benji began to stop at all the workshops that crossed his path, of which there were not many. Some were not looking for personnel and those that were looking for someone did not trust him, as Benji did not seem to have experience. A few hours had passed and Benji's hopes of getting anything that day were dying.
*That old man looks like he needs help...* Benji thought, as he made his way with slim hopes towards a large auto shop that was located a few yards behind the Tigerlilly store. "Those nuts and bolts look like they need to be degreased...maybe by being cleaned and polished, they'll fit into place better and you'll get the problem with those parts fixed." Benji comments to the old man, looking at the parts closely.
The old man was sitting on the floor, covered in grease even down to his white hair, which seemed to be painted black in certain parts, but in reality, it was grease and dust merging due to the wind that circulated in that wide car shop. "You sure are nosy, boy. What do you want?" the old man turned to look at Benji out of the corner of his eye as he shifted his cigarette from one end of his mouth to the other. "Work, sir. I need it badly, I have a family to show that I can bring money into the house." Replied the boy, in a neutral tone and immediately upon hearing the question. The old man stopped his activities for a few seconds, stood up, and turned to look at Benji and he could see that particular gleam in the boy's eyes. "Tell me, do you know anything about mechanics?" asked the old man, looking Benji in the eyes. "Yes, I know a few things and I am sure that with your tutelage, I will learn much more. Besides, for the time being, I can be your assistant, since as far as I can see you are alone here" replied Benji with the assurance and conviction of a mature man. Maybe it was the prison or just Benji's natural character, but one thing was for sure, Benji Shoyo's demeanor, discipline, and strength both mentally and physically was not that of an 18-year-old boy, but that of an experienced man with a hunger to keep learning.
"Let me have a number where I can call you, boy." Asked the old man without further comment and turned his back to Benji. "My name is Inoku, what is yours?" asked the old man as he received the number from the boy. "My name is Benji Shoyo, Mr. Inoku. It is a pleasure to meet you. I won't take up any more of your time and look forward to returning here as one of your employees." Benji replied just before he made a pronounced bow and left the workshop.
It was already midday and Benji was helping Mikasa with the chores at the Tigerlilly. There were a few customers in the store and Mikasa was very happy and motivated by the presence and collaboration of her son. At a certain point in the afternoon, the store's phone starts ringing and Mikasa is the one who answers it, as she was closer. She begins to talk to the caller and an expression of great happiness begins to appear on her face. "Benji! It's for you..." exclaims Mikasa enthusiastically. Benji, with an expression of uncertainty, picks up the phone. "Hello? Yes, it's me, Benji... Thank you very much, Mr. Inoku. I'll be there tomorrow." Denjiro replied, with an inevitable smile on his face. Mikasa waited expectantly in front of her son, waiting for him to give her the good news. "I got the job, mom... I start tomorrow at 8 am." Benji said as he was widening the smile on his face. Mikasa pounced on him not knowing which reason she was happier, whether it was the fact that Benji had gotten a job fast or the fact that he had openly called her mom.
"Here, my son... This is for you to buy what you need for your new job. Don't forget the uniform!" Mikasa immediately after releasing Benji, ran to fetch an amount of money she had earmarked for that moment. Benji didn't want to take it at first, but seeing his mother's face, he knew there was no way he wouldn't accept that money, so he took it. At that very moment, Mikasa asked Benji to go and buy what he needed and that it didn't matter if he left her alone with the work. Full of enthusiasm and spurred on by his mother's happy face, Benji left the Tigerlilly and headed for a clothing store where he planned to buy an outfit suitable for a mechanic's assistant. While browsing the stores during his walk, Benji noticed a suspicious fellow watching him from afar. *No doubt he's a member of the Kantou gang... What the hell would Kitawari want with me? Knowing him, he's not going to leave me alone* thought Benji, completely ignoring the guy spying on him, which this time was not Izaki. Although Benji's reasons to be happy were many more and
stronger, the boy couldn't help but be certainly worried about Kantou's disciples following him.
Benji enters a store that seemed to have what he was looking for. "Boss... I've been following Benji as you had instructed. Right now he is in a clothing store quite a few meters away from the Tigerlilly but on the same street. He just walked in" the disciple of the Kantou gang reports to his leader, Kitawari Saitama. "Excellent work, Tokito. Keep me informed of..." - "Kitawari, KITAWARI!" exclaimed a familiar voice outside the gangster office of leader Saitama. "...I'll call you back. Something's unsettling Izaki." Kitawari added, hanging up on Tokito and watching as a very upset Izaki flung open both doors of his office. "First of all, calm down, or I'll have to calm you down." - "Don't give me that, Kitawari... Did you know, did you know that Benji was living at the Tigerlilly? Somehow he managed to get in there to live. If I'd known Benji was living there, I never would have gone. I wouldn't have, Kitawari." Izaki said, repeating the last sentence with emphasis. "What did you say?" asked Kitawari, somewhat surprised. "What you heard." Izaki replied, finally calming down.
"I didn't know, Izaki, but now I know, thanks to you, and that's a good job. Now, the next step is for you to go back in there, Izaki..." when the boss uttered these words, Izaki made gesture to respond arbitrarily, but the intense threat that Saitama imprinted in his gaze as he uttered those words made him back down. "You are going there again, Izaki, only this time you will give a message with more weight, do you understand me?" asked Kitawari, looking sarcastically at Izaki and making a hand gesture that made it clear to Izaki that he should disappear from the boss's sight.
That day concluded and the night embraced Benji's family at the Tigerlilly. Hinata talked about her experience at school while Benji showed them what he had bought to start his new job the next morning. Mikasa was amply happy just to hear what her children were talking about at dinner. That night, after washing the dishes with Hinata and after reading a couple of chapters of a new book, Benji wrapped himself in his sheets, as well as in his thoughts. He could not forget the Kantou disciple who had been following him that day, however, sleep finally defeated the young Shoyo.
The next morning, Benji left the Tigerlilly after breakfast, it was inevitable for him not to look around for a Kantou disciple lurking around. To his heart's relief, this time he saw no one. Now calm and collected, enthusiasm for his first day on the job once again seized his body. "Good morning, Mr. Inoku. I'm ready to start work." Standing under the threshold of the workshop, Benji exuded encouragement and eagerness to work. "Welcome, my boy," replied the elder Inoku after walking over to Benji to shake his hand. With a calm demeanor and demonstrating his years of experience as he spoke, Inoku began to explain to Benji what his tasks would be while working with him in the workshop. Benji paid particular attention and in no time he knew what he had to do, getting his attire greasy in short order. "Now you do look like a good mechanic's assistant, Benji. And remember, you must keep everything tidy, that way we get no part, no matter how small, lost and all our work goes down the toilet." Expressed Inoku, somewhat proud and also worried, halfway through the day.
While Benji is satisfactorily taking care of his work, Tigerlilly Mikasa is not having as good a time as his son. "Stop bothering me, please..." after serving a couple of customers, the store phone rings and Mikasa runs to answer it, not knowing that it was Kitawari Saitama, leader of the Kantou gangster gang. "Mrs. Mikasa, you'd better not resist. The document has already been given to you, you just need to sign it. Of course, you should, if you don't want something terrible to happen to young Hinata or the orphan. You don't want that, do you? Then sign it, as soon as possible..." that was the answer Mikasa got, who made a great effort not to cry and, after hanging up the phone suddenly, threw a dodging glance at the document lying near the cash register. The Tigerlilly's owner had received, that morning before the boys had gotten up, a document sent and left outside the store by Kitawari Saitama's bandit. The document made the Tigerlilly a for-sale establishment, available to the Kantou gang. *I would never sell my store... and if I ever decided to do so, I would never leave it in the hands of those crooks," thought Mikasa, a little anxious, but with conviction.
"This woman sure has guts..." said to himself Kitawari, who immediately made another call, this time directed to Izaki. "Proceed..." just that one word was enough for Izaki to know what he should do.
On the other hand, hunger was draining Benji's energy, and old Inoku could tell. "Hey, kid, from here I hear your guts calling out to you... Go eat something, I'll take care of it." Said the old man, considerately. Benji, who was hungry, stood up, said thank you, and headed for the food store closest to the workshop. Upon entering, he took a seat without looking around and a person accosted him. "Tell me, what would you like to order?" - "A sandwich and an orange juice, please." Benji ordered and immediately occupied his mind on what he had learned with Inoku, unable to help but think that maybe someone from Kantou was spying on him, but he couldn't be looking sideways at all times as it was overly suspicious.
Before he could notice his order had arrived at the table. After saying thank you, Benji began to eat quietly. Suddenly, his gaze begins to wander around the establishment until it stops on a familiar face. *It can't be... it's... Kyoto?* thought Benji as his heart seemed to freeze momentarily. The girl's name tag at chest level confirmed it. *I never tried anything with Kyoto for fear that she would reject me for being a member of a criminal gang, but now...* Benji's thoughts are interrupted by Kyoto walking towards him. "Benji...I can't believe it. It's been a long time. Looks like you've been doing well, doesn't it?" asked Kyoto, matter-of-factly and showing a wide smile. Benji, for his part, his heart almost paralyzed, manages to smile back at the girl.
Benji, looking to make up for lost time with this girl, asks her to sit and talk for a while. Shoyo orders another sandwich and Kyoto asks a co-worker to relieve her at the cash register. Both boys sit outside the establishment and begin to catch up. Benji is glad that Kyoto is still the same old girl and starts to loosen up. Into the boy's head immediately comes the urge to tell her where he had been for the past 3 years, as Benji aspires to eliminate the lies from his new life. "Kyoto, the truth is that I have been in prison for 3 years. I paid my sentence, and now I am living a new life. Today I started working as a mechanic's assistant." Benji quickly explains, holding nothing back. Kyoto is puzzled but appreciates the sincerity and this is something Benji noticed and appreciated immediately. Kyoto had no intention of asking Benji why he had been condemned, she thought to respect that silence since Benji did not comment anything about the reason that led him to prison.
When the girl seeks to answer those words, a kick from nowhere falls on Benji's neck, throwing him irreparably to the ground, somewhat dazed and blurring his vision. Kyoto exclaims a scream that Benji can barely hear. "Get away from the love of my life, you fucking asshole, what's wrong with you?" the guy was beside himself, overcome with rage, and had begun to beat Benji body on the ground. "Leave him alone, Shinishiro!" Kyoto was trying to stop that guy but in vain. "She's mine, not yours, you dirty rat bastard." The guy seemed to have recognized Benji as one of Kyoto's former suitors, which ended up infuriating him more and causing him to start kicking Benji furiously. A group of policemen standing in front of the establishment ignored the altercation, perhaps assuming it was an infidelity issue. "Get up or die!" exclaimed Shinishiro, enraged.
Benji had sat down again and stood there, silent. Shinishiro seemed to receive an injection of great frustration and began tearing off Benji's clothes as a consequence and seeking to humiliate him, revealing the tattoo-covered body of the former Kantou gangster gang member. Shinishiro is stunned and shocked. However, unlike the guy in the public bath, Shinishiro kept a little more of his honor and simply... "Why don't I get the hell out of this place?" he asked himself, observing Benji's blood stains on his feet.
After Shinishiro had moved far enough away, Kyoto starts to help Benji up, looking at the boy's tattooed and defined body without being able to avoid blushing a little. "I'm sorry, Benji... Shinishiro is obsessed with me and is very violent. I didn't mean to..." - "It wasn't your fault, Kyoto. I could have cut that guy down, but I decided to stay away from violence altogether. I must go to continue my work. I hope to see you tomorrow when I come here for lunch." Benji took his leave with that promise, while Kyoto watched him walk away with a gaze full of a feeling that, although she could not explain, one thing was certain, she did not want to stop feeling this way.
Benji stops under the threshold of the workshop door. Inoku turns to look at him and, without becoming elated, sighs deeply. "These kids now... I hope the other guy looks worse. Go take a bath and change your clothes. Take the rest of the day off. Looks like you could use the rest, see you tomorrow" Benji nodded and after obeying, left the workshop.
Despite what had happened, Benji was feeling pretty good... He had a new job, his boss was cool and understanding, he had seen Kyoto again and she seemed pretty happy to have seen him too. With all this swirling around in his head, a call from Hinata as Benji walked on his way to the Tigerlilly ended up brightening his day, despite the pain Shinishiro's blows had left him in. "Hinata, how are you, are you still at school? I had to leave work early, I'm heading home." - "Hi, Benji... That's great, well I was going to tell you I'm getting out of school, and I'd like to see you." - "Okay. Tell me where exactly you are and I'll come over there so we can walk home together." Benji replies, stopping his walk to wait for his sister's directions.
"Well, I'm across the street right now..." Hinata's voice starts to be interrupted by the loud sound of a motorcycle approaching. "Hello, are you still there, Hinata?" asks Benji, covering his other ear to try to hear better.
"Come a little closer, we can't miss..." on the back seat of the motorcycle approaching Hinata was Izaki, who carried in his right hand a big brick, which he smashed with all his strength and that of the motorcycle's momentum on the left side of the beautiful face of young Hinata, who could do absolutely nothing to defend herself or even alert her brother through the phone. The girl fell sprawled on the ground, spurting blood from her face and being surrounded by a crowd of people. Benji, on the other end of the call, could only hear the loud impact of the cell phone hitting the ground, adding to the screams of shock and horror from bystanders.
"Hinata, Hinata!" Benji screamed, frustrated and mightily terrified, but it was no use... there was no answer.