The Stone Reading Technique spoke of "friction between fellow travelers," and that’s exactly what it was.
The second day’s journey was shorter than the first. The group took a different route, looping back to Osborne.
Along the way, Jenkins walked right beside Richard.
He kept asking him, "You doing okay?" "Need to take a break?" "Want some more water?"
’Richard figured the man’s guilt was probably causing him more discomfort than his own stomach.’
"Mr. Jenkins, I’m really fine now."
"You still look a bit pale."
"That’s just from the walking, not my stomach."
"Really?"
"Really."
Only then did Jenkins relax a little.
At two in the afternoon, the group returned to Osborne.
The panel showed that the advancement condition for [Walking] had also been met.
When they disbanded at the entrance of the club, Jenkins grabbed Richard’s hand and shook it vigorously.
"Young man, next time you’re in Osborne, look me up. I’ll take you on another hike, free of charge."
"Alright."
"And I definitely won’t be roasting any rabbit next time."
"...Alright."
The middle school teacher also came over to shake Richard’s hand.
"Young man, you’re very interesting."
He pulled a business card from his pocket. "My name is Joseph. I teach history at St. John’s Middle School in Manchester City. If you’re ever in Manchester City with time to spare, look me up for some tea."
"Thank you, Mr. Joseph."
The three retired railway workers came over together, each patting Richard on the shoulder.
"Lad, get your strength back, then come out for more walks."
"Jenkins is actually a good guy, he just can’t barbecue."
"I’m great at barbecuing! You all ate it!" Jenkins yelled from behind them.
"It was just that one last night that was an accident!"
Richard waved and said his goodbyes to the group.
Back at the inn, while packing his things, he opened his panel for a look.
[Walking]—Completed.
[Sleep]—Completed.
[Eating]—Completed.
He had met the advancement conditions for the three [Body] Skills all within two days.
「On the afternoon of January 5th, Richard returned to Brighton.」
He walked down the familiar streets, carrying his backpack, flanked by red-brick row houses and small gardens enclosed by iron railings.
In winter, the gardens were bare of flowers, with nothing left but some stark rose branches and a few clumps of Holly.
Nearing Waste Rock Lane, the air smelled of coal smoke, mixed with the scent of yeast wafting from the bakery next door.
He was standing at his front door, not yet having had the chance to take out his key, when the door opened from the inside.
Evelyn peeked out from behind the door.
She was wearing a plaid apron dusted with flour, and her hands were white with it, too.
His sister’s gaze started at the top of Richard’s head and scanned all the way down... hair, face, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, legs, shoes—a complete head-to-toe inspection.
"You’ve gotten thinner."
"No, I haven’t."
"You have," she said with certainty. "Your cheeks are sunken in right here."
"That’s just the lighting."
His Mother’s voice also called out from the kitchen.
"Is that you, Richard? Are you home?"
"He’s back!" Evelyn shouted into the house, stepping aside to clear the doorway.
She deftly took his suitcase and set it by the stairs.
Richard stepped into the house.
It was toasty warm inside; the fireplace was burning brightly.
The air was filled with the aroma of stew: onion, carrot, and a hint of thyme.
His Mother came out of the kitchen holding a steaming earthenware bowl.
"Have some soup first." She pressed the bowl into Richard’s hands. "It must have been cold on the road, wasn’t it?"
"It was alright."
"What do you mean, ’alright’? Your lips are pale." His Mother looked him up and down. "You really have gotten thinner."
Richard decided not to argue the point.
He sat down at the dining table with the soup bowl and took a sip.
It was a thick mushroom stew with small chunks of potato and carrot, along with a few slices of tender lamb.
It was hot, savory, and fragrant. He drank half the bowl in one go.
His father came out of the study.
Rogers was wearing his old wool vest and holding a newspaper.
He glanced at Richard and nodded.
"You’re back."
"I’m back."
His father didn’t say anything more and turned back into the study.
Evelyn had already sidled up to the dining table, her two flour-covered hands resting on the edge.
"Bro, what gift did you bring me?"
"What’s the rush?" Richard put down his soup bowl and leisurely wiped his mouth. "Let me put my bag down first."
"Hurry, hurry, hurry!"
Richard lifted his backpack onto a chair but didn’t rush to unbuckle it.
First, he unwrapped his scarf, folded it twice, and draped it over the back of the chair.
Then he took off his coat, shaking off the melted snow from the shoulders, and hung it on the coat rack.
As he hung it, he made a point of smoothing out the collar.
"Bro..." Evelyn’s voice was drawn out.
"Why are you being so slow!"
"I’ve been gone for over a week. Can’t you let me catch my breath first?"
"...Fine." The young girl bit her lip, turned to the kitchen to grab a rag, and wiped the two white handprints she had just left on the edge of the table.
After wiping, she meekly sidled back to the table’s edge to wait.
Richard glanced at her, the corner of his mouth twitching upwards, but he didn’t let his sister see.
He finally unfastened the backpack’s buckles.
He reached inside and rummaged around for a moment, his brow slowly furrowing.
Evelyn’s eyes were instantly glued to his hand.
Richard switched to another compartment and felt around again, his expression growing more and more serious.
Finally, he just turned the entire backpack upside down and emptied it onto the chair.
Out tumbled a few changes of clothes, that frayed notebook of his, a tin lunchbox, and half a chewed-up pencil.
That was it.
The eager anticipation on Evelyn’s face completely collapsed.
"Bro!"
"Where’s my present?"
Richard slowly raised his head, a troubled look on his face.
"...Oh no."
"What ’oh no’?"
"I think... I left it at the inn."

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