A "Father" in an Unclean World

Chapter 3 - Satisfied

Mori stared at Atsushi in astonishment. He clearly didn't think this through when he invited Atsushi out to eat. 

"Eat as much as you would like, I'll pay for it." Mori had suggested whole-heartedly. Atsushi resisted, until his hunger got the best of him. 

Initially Mori thought maybe 2 or 3 bowls would satisfy the young boy. However, multiple bowls lay stacked together, in front of Atsushi. And he was still chowing down. Without a care in the world! Mori forced a smile on his face, clasping his hands together lightly, as he watched the boy eat. 

Finally, the boy set the last bowl of Chazuke down and patted his stomach, letting out a sigh of relief. "Thanks so much Mori-san. You just saved my life, I could never hope to repay you!" Atsushi pleasantly said, the words coming out much more easier than when Atsushi had originally met Mori.

"The pleasure is mine..." Mori commented, his smile still slightly forced. He shakes his head then turns to tend to Elise for a moment. His cheeky, happy face, which was much more genuine than his previous expression, made an appearance. Atsushi learned that that face was exclusively for Elise to see.

"So, Mori-san, why did you decide to help me? You didn't need to..." Atsushi asks. He looks at Mori, awaiting an answer from the older man. 

"Hmm?" Mori places his hand on his chin, thinking about the question for a while before he answers, "I've taken an interest in you, young shōnen."

"It's not everyday you hear someone has been kicked out of an orphanage. The only place for orphans like you to live at, to grow up at. It's highly unlikely they would just kick you out, just one boy, for the sake of preserving food. If they were to preserve food, they would have kicked out more children rather than just you. So, it's curious to me why only you were kicked out."

Atsushi looked at Mori in disbelief. He had never considered the bigger picture. He had just accepted fate as it was, that he truly was useless. That this was how the orphanage had disposed of him, finally. 

He never once understood the reason why the headmaster segregated him from the others. He never understood why he was treated so differently, abused and neglected. These thoughts never crossed his mind until Mori, so obviously, pointed it out to him.

"Of course, I would not choose to help some poor, young orphan if I didn't think I could get something out of it." Mori added. Elise watched Atsushi, her hands holding her chin. She kicked her legs observing Atsushi's reaction.

"Get something out of helping me?" Atsushi questioned. "What does that mean?"

"Work for me young shōnen." Mori said, a small smirk on his face. He seemed much more serious than before. Definitely much more serious than when he spoke to Elise. 

"Work for you?" Atsushi repeated. He was flabbergasted. 'Did this man really just invite me to work for him? But where does he even work at?' 

Atsushi smiled nervously, "If you don't mind me asking then... Where do you work?"

Mori smiled, "That won't matter as much, as long as I show you the salary."

Atsushi tilted his head. 'Salary? Is it a really big company? Important job?' His thoughts felt a bit jumbled now.

Mori chuckled, finding Atsushi's reaction amusing. He then pulled out a small paper from his coat and unfolded it. Once the paper gained its original form, Mori shows it to Atsushi.

It takes him a moment to realise just how large the amount is. He lets out a large gasp, unable to envision ever having such a large amount. He may or may not have fainted for a while, before looking at the number again.

———

Atsushi found himself following both Mori and Elise. He could never reject such a huge amount of money. No matter what the job was!

Eventually Mori stopped at a huge building, which was built in the center of four other large neighbouring buildings. Elise turns around to face Atsushi, "This is where we work at Sushi-chan! This is our home." 

'Hold up Sushi-chan?' Atsushi felt surprised at such a nickname, but then again he was much more focused on the five massive buildings looming in front of him. 'This was where Mori-san worked...'

"Well Atsushi, what do you think of the Port Mafia?" Mori asked, waiting for Atsushi's reaction.

"Port Mafia..." He repeated. Then the bells in his head started to chime, and then ring loudly. "P-Port Mafia!?"