Ajin ate on the move until he saw a circle of homes being built. The circle held five houses: one unfinished, two under construction, and two complete. “Hello?” Ajin asked, hoping someone would pop up. “Hellooo?” Ajin asked louder. “Hello? Is anyone here?”  He waited for an answer. “Hello! I came to purchase home!”

Ajin changed his direction and walked towards Miss Hano’s shop. Walking toward the houses, a man examined a very large scribe. “Sir, do you know when the sellers are expected to arrive for these homes?”

“Huh?” The man muttered, confused.

“Apologies, I was hoping to learn when sellers are arriving, I intend to buy one of those residences.” 

“Oh, I’m the seller, which home are you interested in?”

“Oh, I didn’t take a good look, can I check them out?” Ajin queried, “Sure, let’s go.” The seller agreed, walking ahead of Ajin, following him, they stopped in the center of the circle, Ajin surveyed the homes. “Well these two are done right?” Ajin asked, pointing at the two fully built structures. “Yes they are, just need to put in pipe for the water source and done.” The seller answered, “Alright, may I ask how many rooms do these two homes have?”

“The first has three, and the second has two.”

“Oh, could I see within the grey home?””

“Sure, come this way.”

Ajin followed the seller inside. “May I wonder?”

“Of course.”

The front door had white framing. In the halls, two bathrooms and two rooms the entrance was a small path forward, straight forward was a couple chairs gathered together, the living room and turning left was a hall, the two bathrooms and one room were there. And going back to the entrance, heading right, there was the other room. There was a door that led to a fenced back yard and a nice humble kitchen. “This home is perfect! How many coins for it?”

“Nine hundred and sixty coins.”

“Let me get them for you.”

“Hold on young man, I can’t sell it to you yet, you’ll have to come tomorrow.”

“Oh? Why?”

“The pipes need to be put in first.”

“Can you please reserve this home for me?”

“Of course, come back tomorrow around this time.”

“Ok thank you!”

Ajin woke up early to head into town. He greeted Teru on his way, eating a mango on the way. 

The man from the day before handed over the key to Ajin.

This is your new room Akimatsu. It’s the biggest room. Ajin smiled.

“Your old room was bigger huh?” Ajin laughed, as if Akimatsu could hear him, “But this will have to do, we are poor now.”

Is this how the unfortunate live? Working day and night and get happy for something as small as this? A small home? Such little amount of food, and the bare minimum? Ajin thought. “I’ll make sure we have a better life Akimatsu.” Ajin said to Akimatsu placing him down on the bed with the nice airy sheets on him, and his head on the pillow. “No more ground for us Akimatsu.”

Ajin worked his morning shirt smoothly, after heading home to check up on Akimatsu. 

“You doing ok Akimatsu?.... Good!” Ajin smiled, replying to himself, believing Akimatsu would say he’s doing ok. “I’ll bring you fruits home after I work in the paint shop. Don’t stay up waiting for meeee.” Tears dripping down his face. He walked out with a faint smile, heading over to Teru to purchase fruits, remembering Teru does not sell at night, since he didn’t see him once he got off his shift the night before. “Good afternoon Teru.”

“Ajin! How are you?”

“Good so far, and you?”

“I’m doing fine, what brings you to me again? You usually only buy from me in the mornings.” Teru wondered, “Oh, I just wanted to buy more fruits to take home.”

“Ooohhh, gotcha. Where’s your brother?”

“He’s at home, I bought a house here in the village, got the key today.”

“So fast, the gods have blessed you.” Teru awknowledged Ajin's blessing.

“Thank you, you have been blessed too I assume, you have a home too, may your blessings be tripled.”

"Bless you, thank you, I hope the gods hear your words, but I do not have a home, soon I just might.” Teru smiled, “What? If you do not have a home, where do you stay at night?”

“Usually I ask people if I can stay over a night, sometimes they say ok sometimes they say no- but the two Miss Aines are a blessing, they let me stay with them 2 nights ago, but I felt bad to ask yesterday so I slept outside.”

“I'm so sorry." Ajin's heart sank.

“Don't be.” Teru laughed. “Why don’t you stay with me? You can wait for me outside of my night job, I get out at 8:40, and we can walk to my home together.”

Teru's eyes widened. “Are you sure? I don’t want to be a bother.”

“Of course, you can live with me, just wait for me outside of my night job, it’s Yuri’s Paint Shop, do you know where it is?”

“Yes I do, thank you so much Ajin, may the gods bless you.”

“No worries.” Ajin smiled.

Talking about fun stuff to do as roomates, Ajin purchased three mangos and left for work. The same routine awaited him, get there, chop wood, take it outside of the shop on the back side, and then dust off, clean his paws and eat, this time Ajin ate at the table. Akiye Yuri let him know that the next day, there was no work, since it was a Sunday, but to come back Monday. Once his shift was over he headed outside and Teru was laying in the ground waiting for him.

“Teru, sorry for the long wait.”

Teru couldn't stop fussing about how nice and big the home was. Ajin had thought of the home as small. 

Teru's room became the room that was supposed to be Ajin's and Ajin became roomates with Akimatsu in the biggest bedroom. Ajin ate with the company of someone who made him feel less less alone, eating fruits for dinner together.

They discussed that shopping for furniture and for actual food tomorrow afternoon since Ajin didn’t have work. They wished each other good night and each went to their rooms.

Ajin could see Riki sleeping within his chest. He slowly walked to the bed. He took off his outer robe and placed it folded on the floor. He turned off the lights and lifted the airy sheets and laid next to Akimatsu. He lifted Akimatsu’s hand and held it in his own. “Good night Akimatsu. Know that I love you.” Ajin whispered, squeezing his hand once.