CHAPTER 25: DEALING WITH OBSTRUCTIONS (1)

What could he do about her?

Numerous ideas came to his head, most of which weren’t legal, and the others he couldn’t get away with.

"Miyu, you’re a walking comedy show. Can you get those cans of beans so we can move on? There are other places we must go, you know," a volunteer said.

Miyu finally caught the cans of beans, Hana helped her, dropping low to pick them off the ground, her ass stretching hypnotically as she got up.

Renji clenched his fists. He’d never felt angrier for a woman in his life. ’This meddling stick-figure again. It’s like she has a sixth sense for my moves,’ he thought, his frustration mounting. ’Is she just watching me throughout all of this?’

Miyu turned to him, a victorious smirk on her face. She pointed to her eyes with two fingers, and pointed back at him with the same fingers.

Renji scoffed, feeling his temper rising. Was she trying to make this a competition?

Fine then. Bring it on.

She had no idea what he was capable of.

An organizer announced that they were done with that location and it was time to move to the next.

Everyone returned to the bus and drove on.

Renji wondered if he’d ever see his basketball again. It was a sacrifice that hadn’t even been worth it in the end.

Some minutes later, the bus rolled on to a homeless encampment under a graffiti-streaked bridge.

Renji was very fond of this place. Not like he had anything against homeless people, he just didn’t like the damp air or the putrid smell of wet cardboard and unwashed clothes.

He wondered how Mrs. Hoshizawa could even be in a place like this. But then, a woman with a heart of gold would do anything to show kindness.

Volunteers unloaded crates of protein bars, their foil wrappers crinkling as they handed them out to weary faces huddled around makeshift fires.

A man in a tattered coat accepted one from Renji with a toothless grin. "Better than my last meal. It was dog food!" he quipped.

Whilst the volunteer beside him chuckled, Renji wished the man hadn’t shared that information with him.

Other items like toilet paper, soap and so on were shared as well.

Renji looked around, and when he saw that Miyu was distracted handing some rolls of toilet paper, he grabbed a soggy cardboard box, the edges damp from the humid air, and edged toward Mrs. Hoshizawa.

Hana was kneeling to tie a toddler’s shoe from a nearby homeless family. The mother smiled with emotions as she accepted the gifts.

Hana’s thighs flexed under her skirt, a teasing glimpse of toned calf peeking out, and Renji’s breath hitched as he approached, setting the box down with a squelch.

Hana turned. "Oh," she noticed him. "Hey, Renji."

"It’s kinda sad, isn’t it?" he said, his voice smooth despite his racing pulse, as he looked at the family walking quietly back to their tent.

Hana followed his gaze to them. "Yes," she said, her voice softer, her expression sympathetic. "It’s why we do our best to help. The less fortunate are still humans like you and I."

Renji narrowed his eyes. "Yes, that’s true. Shelter is hard to come by these days as well. I for one know because my landlady is always pounding me about rent. Sometimes I wished I lived in a big mansion that belonged just to me."

Hana looked at him and giggled mildly. "Is that so? Well, take my expert opinion. It gets very boring, very fast."

"Hmm... Does it?"

"Yes. Nothing but you and the furniture all day, all week. Being around people is way more gratifying."

Renji placed his hands on his waist, as if to suggest an idea. "Well then, if that’s the case, wouldn’t it just be easier to bring the people to your house? That way you could be around them and still enjoy the comfort of your home."

Hana thought of it for a moment. "That’s not a bad idea, Renji. Though I do not have that many friends to invite. And my house feels more like a formal place, less of a place to invite friends to."

Renji smiled. "Maybe it’s because you haven’t invited the right friend yet," his eyes gleamed as he prepared to make a wild suggestion. "Maybe I can come visit you. Where do you live?"

"Ohh," Hana looked at him and used her hand to cover her shy laugh. "Are you really asking about my residence, Renji?"

He raised his brows meekly, like the most oblivious, innocent boy ever. "Is... there a problem?"

"No no. Aww, it’s so cute how innocent you are." Her face softened with a mother’s warmth.

Renji blinked. "So... are you going to tell me?"

Hana thought of it for just a moment, then her lips moved to speak. "Well..."

Suddenly, a shadow loomed. It was Hana’s security guard, a towering figure in a black suit, stepped in, his sunglasses flashing a sun-glasses glare that reflected Renji’s hopeful face.

"Kid," he rumbled, his hand resting on Renji’s shoulder. "Aren’t you supposed to be sharing the items?"