Remnant's hunter

Chapter 15

"Where's your people, kid?" Toji's voice was gruff, his tone tinged with a hint of suspicion. He had dealt with enough troublemakers in his line of work to know when something wasn't quite right. And this child, with her furtive glances and evasive demeanor, set off alarm bells in his mind.

But Neo remained silent, her eyes fixed on Toji's face with a mixture of defiance and apprehension. She knew she had been caught red-handed, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her squirm. Instead, she held her tongue, her jaw set in a stubborn line as she braced herself for whatever punishment he had in store.

"What? Cat got your tongue, because you got caught?" Toji's words were laced with sarcasm, but Neo remained unmoved. She had faced worse than a scolding from a stranger, and she wasn't about to let this man intimidate her into submission.

As the tension between them stretched taut, Toji's grip on her arm loosened slightly, his expression softening as he regarded her with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. Despite himself, he couldn't help but admire her tenacity. Here was a child who had the audacity to attempt to pick his pocket, even in the face of near-certain failure. There was something admirable about her spirit, something that resonated with his own stubborn resolve.

But even as he found himself begrudgingly impressed by her bravery, Toji knew he couldn't let her off the hook so easily. After all, he had a reputation to uphold, and allowing a would-be thief to walk away unscathed would only encourage others to follow in her footsteps.

With a sigh, Toji released her arm and took a step back, his gaze never leaving hers. "Listen, kid," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "I don't know what your story is, but trying to steal from me isn't going to solve your problems. You're better than that."

Neo bristled at his words, her pride stinging at the implication that she was somehow beneath him. But deep down, she knew he was right. She had let her desperation cloud her judgment, and now she was paying the price for her foolishness.

As Toji strode down the bustling streets of Mantle, the clatter of his boots against the pavement reverberating in the air, he couldn't shake the feeling of being followed. It was a nagging sensation, like a whisper in the back of his mind, urging him to turn and confront whatever—or whoever—was trailing behind him.

With a slight furrow of his brow, Toji glanced over his shoulder, his sharp gaze scanning the crowded thoroughfare behind him. And there, amidst the throngs of bustling pedestrians, he caught sight of her once again—the young girl from before, her form barely visible amidst the sea of bodies.

For a moment, Toji considered simply ignoring her, continuing on his way as if she didn't exist. After all, he had little patience for distractions, especially from someone as insignificant as she appeared to be. But there was something about the intensity of her gaze, the unwavering determination in her eyes, that gave him pause.

With a resigned sigh, Toji came to a halt, turning to face the girl with a mixture of annoyance and curiosity. "What do you want?" he grumbled, his voice tinged with irritation. He had no time for games or idle chitchat, especially from a mere child.

Neo was simply staring at Toji before having her stomach growling in hunger. She rubbed her stomach in must to indicate that she want the man to buy her something.

As Toji stared down at the small girl before him, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance at her audacity. After all, she had just attempted to pickpocket him moments ago, and now she had the nerve to ask him for food? It was almost laughable.

But as he looked into her wide, pleading eyes and heard the rumble of her stomach, Toji couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.

With a resigned sigh, Toji begrudgingly relented, his stern expression softening slightly. "Fine," he grumbled, his voice laced with irritation. "But don't think this makes us even."