The Hunter Amongst Villains

Chapter 5: The Calm

"U-Um, Aunty is away, G-Garou-san. S-She won't b-be home for a month or t-two."

The nervous, shy boy said as he leads Garou into his home once again. His room was less blemishing compared to before: Wallpapers unpeeled and intact, furniture upright and proper, the broken microwave replaced, a working fridge, and more.

"Huh." All in all, Garou absorbed the true glory of the boy's home, unsullied by the dirt and touch of raiders. He nodded in approval to the large, simple room.

"Got a room for me?" All he needed was a bed and some space, along with a wardrobe for a potential change of clothes as well.

"W-Well, no. I-I mean, I cannot clear a room for you or Aunty will find out." Ghin shook his head. The boy did not want to risk his exposure to the higher authorities, especially his aunt.

"Good point," Garou noted the boy's loyalty.

Looking around, Garou noticed a room, a door with the poster of All Might pinned onto the mahogany door. The door was open, the interior revealed, a sanctuary full of hero action figures atop a desk near a white, unruffled bed. However, every one of them collected dust, a sign of long disuse.

"You a hero fan?" Garou did not mind. He could put his knowledge on heroes to good use in the end.

The boy blushed in response, shyly looking away. "Well... kind of." Garou did not press further on his preferences.

He looked at the other rooms, leaning his head forward for a better view, either seeing them empty or filled to the brim - one of which he assumed belonged to the boy's supposed 'Aunty.'

"Where do you sleep if not your room?"

"E-Eh? How'd you know?!" Ghin asked, confused and surprised to hear Garou's question.

"Your bed's too neat. Perfect even." His bed was nearly untouched, too immaculate, like a bed from a hotel room waiting to receive arriving guests.

Turning away from his new 'bodyguard,' Ghin shuffled his feet with some shame, "U-Um, I usually s-sleep on the roof."

His unexpected answer threw Garou off slightly. "The roof?" Of all the answers, that wasn't one of Garou's predictions.

"M-Mhm. I like to sleep under the starry skies," Ghin nodded timidly.

Now that caught Garou's attention.

"Really? Why sleep out in the unprotected air?" Garou could understand the appeal of sleeping outside of nature sometimes, but this seemed more than just mere adoration for the natural world.

"M-My papa was an Astrologist. H-He usually took mama and me out for camping once every month to stargaze out in the national park..." His voice started to break for a second before recapturing its composure, but Garou did not miss the disruption of tone.

"What happened to them?" Garou asked as the word 'was' did not correspond to his liking.

"..." The boy looked down; his eyes started to tremble.

The hunter did not need a concise answer. Now he understood why he lived with his Aunt and not his parents. "You don't have to say it."

Another silent pause, the boy nodded in understanding.

"...do you want takeout for dinner?" Ghin asked, wiping the tears from his eyes before forcing a cheery smile past his cheeks.

"How much can you afford?"

Ghin blinked upon hearing his odd question, "U-Um, Aunty left me a hefty allowance so-"

"As much as you can. For three people at least."