A "Father" in an Unclean World

Chapter 1 - Chazuke

A nice warm bowl of chazuke with pickled plums, silvered nori, then doused with piping hot water and shoveled in with sea kelp. That was what Atsushi craved right now as his stomach growled out of frustration.

From the sheer hunger Atsushi collapsed on the hard ground, face planting on stone. It hurt. But it did not matter, because he had felt worse. He began remising of the past events that had just previously occurred a couple of hours ago.

The orphanage he had been living at had kicked him out. Spitting names. Calling him useless. But what had he done wrong exactly..? He was just living his simple life. He found this extremely unfair...

Atsushi shakily stood up on his legs, forcing himself to move forward, despite his hunger, his pain and sleepiness.

Atsushi soon found himself walking in the streets of Yokohama city. His legs carrying him to a small restaurant that Atsushi wanted to enter, to sit down and eat at. He checked his pockets, and would you know, nothing. If it were possible little gnats would fly out of his pockets, like in animated cartoons. He really was a pitiful person. No money. No food.

Out of pure annoyance with his current state, Atsushi shook his head violently. If he wanted to live, to eat that Chazuke once again, he would need to make a bold move. He walked through the streets of Yokohama, watching passer-by's walk past him. He would need to steal from someone. Anyone!

A man passed by Atsushi, his muscular shape shadowing Atsushi's small, puny form. 'Okay, maybe not him...' Atsushi watched the man walk away, feeling silly that he would even consider jumping and stealing from him.

'Then someone else!' Atsushi thought, violently turning his head to look behind him. A group of police officers held onto their weapons, carrying them as the dangerous objects they were. Guns that anyone would fear, that threatened to act if needed. 'Well clearly not them either...' Atsushi sulked, his hunger only growing stronger.

If he couldn't find someone, anyone weaker than him, he might just die from starvation.

Atsushi trudged around the city, watching the people pass him by. Each time someone would be in range for Atsushi to steal from, his feet would grow cold. He didn't have the guts to do such a thing, but he would die if he did not act.

As Atsushi looked about him, his eyes slightly widen. A young girl with golden locks walks past him, munching on a pastry she held in between her hands. She was well dressed, wearing a bright red dress, and her hair looked neat and well made.

The pastry she ate was golden brown. It looked soft as the girl clutched to it with her tiny hands. 'That looks delicious...' Atsushi stared at it, his mouth watering.

If she didn't carry much money on her like Atsushi speculated, based on her outfit, then she might just be a spoiled little brat. Nevertheless, Atsushi focused, getting in a position to jump her. To snatch anything from her, even that delicious pastry she ate, just to have something to devour.

Upon making up his mind, Atsushi rushed forward, sprinting towards her. He ran like a tiger chasing after its prey, ready to pounce at any given moment. From the sheer hunger he was experiencing, his body automatically reached for the pastry, arms extended wide to grab and steal it. He snagged it from the girl successfully, as she shouted at him. 

"Hey! Give that back!" She screamed, her voice high and piercing. 

Atsushi paid her no mind, still sprinting away, as to not get caught. He looked down and smiled at the pastry. He could finally eat something! His stomach would be satisfied with it for a while. That happiness did not last long though.

As soon as the girl shouted at him, loud footsteps pursued after Atsushi. He did not get very far when a hand reached and grabbed his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks.

"My, my, what do we have here?" A older man cooed, trapping Atsushi in his rough grasp, preventing him from moving another step. His face was plastered with one of utter curiosity. 

"Now why would you want to steal from my dear Elise-chan?" He tilted his head, finding the boy amusing to dare do such a thing.

"Rintaro, he stole from me! I want my pastry back!" The girl walked forward, presumably this Elise the man mentioned. She pouted and crossed her arms, a childish look of frustration written all over her face and posture.

"Now, now Elise... Of course, I'll get it back for you, just be patient." The man, "Rintaro," turned his focus solely on Elise now. His sleek black hair fell neatly as he crouched himself down a bit to match Elise's height. He had an odd face of adoration when he looked at Elise, which kind of freaked Atsushi out.

"Now, back to you young shōnen. Why did you steal from my Elise-chan?" Rintaro asked, turning to face Atsushi again. Atsushi flinched slightly, feeling intimidated by the man glaring at him. It was like he was staring deep into his soul.

"If you choose to not answer me, I guess I will have no other choice but to use force." The man suggested, a sharp, sinister grin appearing on his face. 

'This really must be the end for me...' Atsushi thought, his head sinking down.