Rock bottom wasn't what Urime expected.
It wasn't fire. It wasn't sirens. It wasn't some dramatic collapse.
It was silence.
Cold nights. Empty apartments. Headlines that wouldn't go away.
For weeks, Urime drifted.
From broken job interviews to cheap motels.
No money. No friends. No plan.
Until one rainy afternoon… everything changed.
---
The community center was old, cracked at the edges, barely standing.
But it offered free meals. A roof. And for some, a little hope.
Urime wasn't looking for hope.
Just somewhere to sit. Somewhere to breathe.
That's when she walked in.
Hinata.
Messy hair pulled into a bun. A clipboard in one hand. A soft smile like she owned the whole room — even though the room was falling apart.
She wasn't flashy.
She wasn't loud.
But somehow… she stood out.
She walked over to Urime like they'd known each other for years.
> "Hey. I'm Hinata. You look like you've seen better days."
Urime blinked.
He didn't know what to say.
For once… the smooth-talking, silver-tongued businessman was speechless.
Hinata tilted her head, amused.
> "It's okay. You don't have to tell me your life story. Just… stay. Help out. Eat something."
She handed him a volunteer sign-up sheet… and a bowl of steaming noodles.
It was the first warm meal he'd had in days.
And without realizing it…
Urime took his first step toward rebuilding.
---
To Be Continued…