Life After Death: The Strength Of Suffering

'I've gotten old.' It had taken me a year to accept that fact, and a year to accept that I could no longer fight the way I used to.

'Damn Curses.' A frown marred my face as I scratched my beard, recalling the Curses I had fought a few months ago. 'I can barely even use the first step.' Sighing, I picked up some coffee jelly and placed it in my cart before checking my grocery list. I then walked down the aisle in search of milk.

As I moved toward my destination, I thought about the information I had managed to glean from both sides of the world. 'Sort of like my old world.' The Sorcerer side was now hidden leaving the mundane world completely unaware of what lurks beneath. 'I wonder who the fools were that decided on that.' Yawning, I recalled my first encounter with a "Modern Curse" how weak I had thought it was until I realized how old I had become. While I had won the fight, it completely wore me out. At first, I thought it was simply due to not fighting for so long but that unfortunately wasn't the case.

'My body can't keep up with my Cursed Energy anymore.' Again, it was a humbling thought. I had become old, no longer someone who could fight against the top tier fighters. But the knowledge of my age and time spent sealed away had granted me a perspective and calmness that led to a realisation.

'I don't want to fight anymore.'

Though I hadn't met any Sorcerers to see if I was still remembered, I was now considering retirement. With no one left in my life, I could simply wait to die of old age. 'What a depressing thought.'

Sighing, I reached for one of the last cartons of milk when I felt my back give out. I managed a weary smile. "One thing I don't like about being old is—" I was cut off by a hand shooting out in front of me, grabbing the milk.

"Here, Ojii-san!"

I felt my eye twitch at yet another downside to being old. I looked down to see a young girl with long black hair and blue eyes holding the milk up to me. Withholding a sigh, I smiled and took the milk, placing it in my cart.

"Thank you, young lady." She smiled wider before turning to the milk again while speaking.

"Do you need any more, Ojii-san?"

I blinked for a moment before checking my list of groceries. It was then snatched away from me as the young girl looked it over.

"All right, I can help you with the rest!" Before I could respond, she grabbed my cart and started picking out more milk, walking ahead. She turned to me with a smile as I blinked at her confused.

"Come on, Ojii-san!"

Sighing, I nodded and walked alongside her in silence for a moment, before realizing this probably looked odd. 'Then again, they all probably just see an old man with his granddaughter.' My mood sobered at the thought of grandchildren, but I quickly shook it off when I felt the young girl tug at my purple kimono, which I had bought with money after I had politely gained a pension.

"Smoking is bad for you, Ojii-san!" she exclaimed, pointing at a section of my grocery list, where tobacco was listed.

I raised an eyebrow. "Young lady, I assure—"

She puffed out her cheeks and gave me a glare. 'What is happening?'

"Smoking is bad, Ojii-san!"

I stared at her for a moment before sighing and nodding. "Then I will not go out and get some." 'At least, not until you leave.'

Seemingly satisfied with my response, she smiled and turned back to the list and the cart.

"Ojii-san, there isn't much in your cart nor on the list. Will there be enough for Oba-san?"

I stilled for a moment before shaking my head. "I live alone, young lady."

She looked at me for a moment, before mumbling an apology. I let out a small laugh. "It's quite all right, young lady. The world is ever moving and ever changing. It won't settle for an old man like me."

She hummed softly before pushing the cart ahead to grab the next item, not seeing me raise my hand. 'Was I about to—'

"Ojii-san, come on!" she called, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I ran a hand through my beard and gave her a smile as I walked alongside her once more.

~Scene Change~

"Do you need me to walk you home, Amanai-san?"

She shook her head as we walked out of the grocery store, then twirled around.

"I'll see you later, Ojii-san!"

I watched her run off before tilting my head to the darkening sky.

'That was exhausting. I didn't expect her to check my cart and replace my foods with healthier options.' Shrugging, I walked with bags in hand back to my home while thinking of the past year.

'I must be getting far more rusty if I'm affected after threatening a few people for an ID and a pension.' A year ago, when I had woken up and figured out what I wanted to do, I had followed rumours about people who could create fake IDs. After I got one I went to a small loan shark and took out a loan before visiting a small government department to get an actual ID, and after a few days of sore bones followed after I threatened a few people, but it was all worth it in the end. Now I had a small steady income, paying for a home I had bought with the loan shark's money.

'Not like they'll be missing the money.'

Snorting, I arrived at my small estate and took my shoes off before entering the main home.

"I'm home!"

I called out but received no answer. Sighing, I shook my head and walked further in, passing by a shrine I had made for Kaede and the children.

'Wait for me, Kaede.'

I thought as I walked into the kitchen and began packing my food away.

~Scene Change~

"On tonight's news! A man who believed he could stic-"

Ring

Turning my head as I laid back on the couch, I looked over to where the front door would be through the walls.

'Who the hell is bothering me?'

Sighing as I heard the doorbell ring a few times in quick succession, I got up and walked through the halls before arriving at the front door. When I opened it and saw who it was, my eye twitched.

"Evening, Ojii-san!"

I looked at the older woman behind Amanai, who had long black hair in a bun and was dressed in something similar to a maid's outfit.

'She's a Sorcerer... A weak one at that.'

Sighing, I looked down at Amanai before speaking.

"Amanai-san, what are you doing here?"

She smiled, raising her arms which held a bag of something, before responding with a grin.

"I didn't want you to eat by yourself, so we came over to eat with you! I hope you don't mind?"

I stared at her for a moment before shrugging lightly, turning to the maid woman, who bowed before introducing herself.

"Evening, I am Misato Kuroi. I look after Amanai Riko. Thank you for accepting the offer."

I waved it off before moving to the side, allowing them to enter once they had taken off their shoes.

"It's quite alright. Amanai-san is quite thoughtful in thinking of my well being."

I heard a snort from Amanai and turned to her as she gave me a glare.

"Then you should take better care of yourself, Ojii-san!"

I ran my hand through my beard and gave a small nod.

"Good! Now, onwards!"

I let out a small laugh as Misato sighed before we all walked to the kitchen, passing by the shrine. Amanai paused for a moment to look at it before following after us.

"Now, Ojii-san, sit back and let us do the work!"

Misato sighed silently, mumbling something about her doing the work, before I was softly pushed into a chair. I watched as the two young women began to cook something up.

~Scene Change~

Two weeks had passed, and every day Amanai would show up at my home in the mornings to join me for breakfast before leaving for school. Then, she would return at six in the evening with Misato to eat dinner. During this time, I had realized that I enjoyed their company a great deal.

'I really have gotten soft.' I thought as I sat with a cup of tea, watching the plants Amanai and I had planted a few days ago.

"Umemura-san."

I turned to see Misato sliding open the door behind me and sitting down next to me.

"Is everything alright, Misato-san?"

I turned my head to her, noticing a small frown that seemed different from the one she usually wore.

"I had a question for you, Umemura-san. Please don't take it the wrong way." she said.

I raised an eyebrow, pouring her a cup of tea and handing it to her with a smile.

"Ask away, Misato-san."

She looked down at the cup in her hands before sighing softly.

"Why did you let Riko-san and myself enter your home so easily? Shouldn't you be wary of this kind of thing? What if we were bad people?"

I blinked before turning away and answering her.

"Amanai-san reminds me of my late wife."

As I said that, I felt my shoulders slump and a mountain of weariness caught up with me. I continued, my voice softer.

"Headstrong, smart and kind. The list goes on."

I let out a small sigh as I finished my tea before pouring another cup.

"However, one of the biggest reasons I didn't call the cops when a young girl and her caretaker showed up is the hidden stubbornness I see in her eyes."

I noticed Misato's eyes narrow for a moment, but she kept listening.

"Kaede, my late wife. She was one of the most stubborn women I've ever met. She wouldn't rest until she got what she wanted."

'Even if it meant her own death...'

I let out a breath as I took another sip of tea.

"You've both brought joy into my life."

Misato hummed for a moment before drinking her tea and then speaking.

"In six months, we'll be moving away from here."

I raised an eyebrow, both at her words and the shift in my gut.

'Something's going on.'

I gave a small nod.

"I see. I take it Amanai-san is aware?"

She nodded and spoke as she stood up.

"She is. It's part of why I came around this time."

She bowed to me before standing up straight again.

"Would you let her stay here during that time?"

I ran my hand through my beard and nodded.

"You are both always welcome in my home."

She gave me a brief smile before walking away.

"Goodbye, Umemura-san."

I responded with a farewell as I turned back to the plants.

'What to do?'