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The truck carrying Rogi and her father finally arrived at its destination.
It was a shabby village located in an abandoned city.
At the entrance, a large wooden board hung between two tall stone pillars, with the words “Acorn Village” written boldly across it.
Rogi’s heart was pounding… she was afraid.

“Acorn…? Is this the place where I’m going to live…?”
An unknown fear filled her. She was terribly worried. She wanted to cry but held it back. Thinking of Mom, she could not cry.
The truck slowly entered the village, and at the destination many people were waiting to welcome them.
It seemed as if the entire village had come out.

Rogi: “Eh? Dad, look over there…”
Surprised Rogi asked, and her father explained.

Father: Rogi, isn’t it amazing?
Rogi: Uh… why are all the people out here?
Father: Well, when I was a child, this was the normal way of life.
Father: Back then, neighbors lived helping each other like this.
Father: Almost like one big family.
Rogi: Wow… that’s strange…
Father: Right? Very strange, isn’t it?
Rogi: Yeah… but I still don’t understand.
Father: It’s something we never saw in the place we lived before, right?
Rogi: Yes.
Father: Hahaha, this is what a true world of people living together looks like.
Rogi: Hmm… I see…

Rogi’s mind grew even more complicated. The villagers’ excessive kindness felt unfamiliar and frightening.
The little Rogi did not know how to react.
When the truck finally stopped and the engine was turned off, her father quickly got out.
He greeted the villagers warmly and began chatting with them.
Rogi felt paralyzed.
“Should I get out… or not…?”
With a deep sigh, Rogi decided to step out slowly. But then something even more surprising unfolded.

The villagers voluntarily gathered around the truck, unloading the luggage in an orderly way, carrying it carefully into the house where Rogi would live.
Rogi thought, “What is happening here?”
Some adults met Rogi’s eyes but did not give her much attention.
[They knew a child might be startled, so they were being considerate.]
Confused, Rogi kept glancing at her father, but he was too busy to notice.
Feeling lost in endless thoughts and even a sense of isolation, Rogi decided to give up and leaned against a nearby wall, thinking:

“Ugh… Mom… will I be able to do well…?”

Thinking of Mom made her want to cry. She tried hard to suppress the sadness… and then it happened.
A girl about Rogi’s age came walking confidently toward her, with a younger sibling beside her.
The girl approached without hesitation, grabbed Rogi’s arm, and greeted her cheerfully.

Pai: Hi, you’re Rogi, right? Nice to meet you. I’m Pai. And this is Eti.
Eti: Hi, Rogi! I’m Eti.
Rogi: Eh? How do you know my name…? Hehe.
[She gave an awkward smile.]

Still holding Rogi’s hand, Pai walked up to Rogi’s father and greeted him loudly.
[The village was noisy and bustling at that moment.]

Pai: Hello, sir!
Father: Oh! Hello? Yes, I’m Rogi’s dad.
Father: Today Rogi and I moved here. Nice to meet you. Who are you two?

Rogi’s father and the village children exchanged their first greetings. Rogi still had many thoughts swirling in her mind.

Father: Nice to meet you~ Please be good friends with Rogi.
Pai: Yes, sir!

After a short conversation with Rogi’s father, Pai said she would take Rogi to the study room.
Her father lifted another box and replied:

Father: Then I’ll leave it to you.

Pai took Rogi’s hand and started walking toward the study room. Rogi followed, almost being pulled along, and called out to her father:

Rogi: Dad, I’ll be back~
But her father was already too busy.

Rogi, Pai, and Eti walked toward the study room, chatting and asking each other questions.
Then, from a small alley, a big boy about their age appeared. His name was Leo, a friend of Pai.

Leo: Hi, Rogi~ I’m Leo.
Rogi: Huh? You know my name too… this place is weird~
Leo: Haha… but where’s Davi?
Rogi: Huh? Davi? Who’s that?

When Leo asked about Davi’s whereabouts, Pai’s face darkened.

Pai: That fool… probably stuck watching cartoons, so we came instead. As expected, he didn’t show up. Figures.
Eti: Haha, she called him a fool!
Leo: I see. But ah… I’m so hungry. Did you guys eat?
Pai: No, we’re going to eat at the study room.
Eti: Yeah!
Rogi: Eh? Eat at the study room?
Pai: Yes! The teacher cooks delicious food there~
Leo: It’s the best food in the world~
Pai: Haha, right.
Eti: I always want to eat at the study room.
Leo: Me too!

Rogi was bewildered.

“What is this place…?”