Chapter 124 - #123 Nanny (2/2)

”...We can't take care of each other alone without anyone's support. All of our savings burned inside that fire.” Tetsu muttered with a hard expression.

”...Kana? Do you trust him?” Tetsu glanced at his sister and after staring for a few seconds, he asked her. He knew that he was hot-headed and Kana was much better for deciding about these things.

”...I think that he doesn't mean anything bad. What is stopping him from taking us with him by force? Yet he even allowed us to leave.” Kana looked towards the location where Akashi disappeared before she replied while holding her chin and looking at the ground.

Kana was an extremely intelligent child for her own age but she was still inexperienced because out there exist also nobles who like to make kids feel secure, happy just to see their expression of despair once they start to abuse them. There are many sick people high in power. Fortunately for them, Akashi wasn't one of them.

”I guess you are right...” Tetsu said with absent-minded expression.

'If we will go with him, I will be able to avenge my father, and Kana will be able to work in business management which has been her- I mean our dream. To take care of a big shop with many different types of merchandise. However, I can't expect that man to protect us for the rest of our lives, I need to get stronger for Kana's sake!' Tetsu thought and clenched his fist with all his strength.

”Tetsu, is your name, right?” One of a few kids approached the siblings and asked them with a nervous expression.

”Yeah” Tetsu turned his attention to a newcomer and nodded his head.

”It looks like you know that person more than the rest of us. None of us have any other relatives so we have no idea what to do...Can he be trusted? What will you do?” The kid asked with a hesitant expression since he already heard out everyone's opinion and nobody has any idea what to do.

Tetsu was caught off guard with such a question since if he is going to tell them that they can trust him and then it turns out bad, he will be blamed for all of their misfortune.

”I...I believe that he won't do anything bad to us, so I am going with him to get stronger so I can finally protect Kana! However, please don't take my word for it, this is our decision and everyone should make their own too.” Tetsu started fidgeting but then he remembered his little ”fight” with Akashi and his words thus he calmed down and answered with a calm tone.

”Brother...” Kana on the other hand got embarrassed by Tetsu's words and tried to hide her face behind her hands.

After 30 minutes passed by...

Akashi returned and saw that none of the kids were missing which slightly surprised him since he expected a few of them to run away from an unknown man.

”I don't know if I should praise all of you for your courage or reprimand you for your naivety. Form one row and each of you will tell me what they want to do.” Akashi said with a stoic expression before he sat down on his original position while waiting for the kids to do as he said.

.

.

After everything was done...

'Who would have thought that everyone would choose to come with me...Something must have happened when I was away, quite a big change in 30 minutes if you ask me.' Akashi thought while glancing at Kana and Tetsu, gesturing for them to come to him.

”What is it, sir.” Tetsu asked while standing at attention like a soldier.

”...It's Akashi, what did you two do? You are the only one I can think of who would be able to influence everyone.” Akashi said after a few seconds of staring at Tetsu who tensed up a bit under his stare despite not being able to see his eyes.

”Alright, mister Akashi. That's...we simply told them that we are going because we trust you and that they should decide themselves too...” Tetsu replied, trying to sound as much formal as he could but it was evident that he never did something like that except for politeness to his customers.

”Is that all?” Akashi asked since he was sure that it wouldn't be enough to influence them.

”What else could it be?” Tetsu asked with a beaming smile and closed eyes.

”I don't...maybe boys decided to show their strong side in front of your cute sister. As for girls...” Akashi said with a small smile, making Kana blush in embarrassment, then he continued but he stopped and looked towards Tetsu once again, puzzling him.

”Forget it, not possible...” Akashi finished and turned around to finish preparations for the journey.

”W-WHAT?!! What was that supposed to mean?!!” Tetsu shouted at Akashi's back but he didn't even stop walking not to mention turning around to pay him attention.

Everyone naturally heard their conversation so boys started to laugh and girls started to giggle while looking curiously at Akashi.

”He-he”

”Kana! Not you too! Aghh!!!” Tetsu started pulling his hair out of his head due to being the center of attention.

During this small moment, kids completely forgot about the horrifying things they have seen and had their good amount of laugh. They even started thinking that going with this unknown man might not be so bad.