The morning bell echoed across Shinokuni-01.
Brook yawned as he climbed down the endless stone staircase from Watchtower Seven. Twelve hours of staring into the wilderness had left his legs aching, but he never complained. It was a feeling he had grown used to.
At the base of the Wall, Watchmen from the next shift greeted him as they headed up.
"Morning, Brook."
"Morning."
"Anything exciting?"
Brook shrugged.
"Just trees."
The younger Watchman laughed.
"I'll take boring over exciting."
Brook smiled faintly.
"So would I."
He adjusted the strap of his worn satchel and began the walk home.
Shinokuni-01 was fully awake now.
The streets were alive with people beginning another ordinary day.
Fresh bread filled the air from the corner bakery.
A fruit vendor shouted today's prices to anyone willing to listen.
Children in gray school uniforms hurried through the streets, laughing as they chased one another before class.
An elderly woman watered flowers outside her small house.
To Brook, this was his favorite part of the day.
Not because anything happened.
Because nothing happened.
For a little while, the city almost forgot there were monsters beyond its Walls.
"Brook!"
He turned around.
A little girl no older than seven came running toward him.
"Mila."
She stopped in front of him, slightly out of breath.
"Did you see any monsters?"
Brook pretended to think about it.
"Hmm..."
"I saw one."
Her eyes grew wide.
"You did?"
"Yeah."
"It was about this tall."
He held his hand just above the ground.
"It had four legs."
"It chased birds."
Mila gasped.
"What happened?"
Brook smiled.
"It turned out to be a dog."
She burst into laughter.
"That's not funny!"
"It is a little."
Her mother walked over, shaking her head.
"I'm sorry. She asks every Watchman the same question."
Brook knelt down.
"Keep asking questions."
Mila tilted her head.
"Why?"
"Because adults stop asking."
She smiled before running back to her mother.
Brook watched them disappear into the crowd.
The market district stretched across several blocks near the center of the city.
Merchants sold everything from vegetables to handmade knives.
Traveling musicians filled the streets with cheerful melodies.
Workers loaded supplies onto wagons headed for different districts.
Brook stopped at a familiar food stall.
"Morning, Mrs. Hana."
The elderly woman looked up from her stove.
"Brook!"
"You look exhausted."
"I worked the night shift."
"Again?"
He nodded.
She sighed.
"Sit."
Before Brook could protest, she placed a steaming bowl of soup in front of him.
"I didn't order—"
"And you won't."
She crossed her arms.
"You've lost weight."
Brook laughed.
"You sound like my mother."
Mrs. Hana's smile softened.
"I knew your mother."
Brook looked down at the bowl.
"She always made sure everyone else ate before she did."
He was quiet.
"I miss her."
Mrs. Hana placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"So do I."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The sounds of the market carried on around them.
Life never stopped moving.
"Well..."
A familiar voice called from behind him.
"If it isn't the city's worst customer."
Brook looked over his shoulder.
Crowley stood there carrying two paper bags filled with groceries.
"You owe Mrs. Hana money again?"
Mrs. Hana answered before Brook could.
"He doesn't."
Crowley grinned.
"So you're feeding him for free now?"
"Someone has to."
Crowley laughed.
"I can't argue with that."
Brook finished the last spoonful of soup.
"Thanks."
Mrs. Hana smiled warmly.
"Come back tonight."
"I'll try."
"No."
She pointed a wooden spoon at him.
"You'll come back."
Crowley whispered,
"She's scarier than the Abominations."
Brook nodded.
"Much scarier."
They left the market together.
"So..." Crowley said.
"What are your plans today?"
Brook shrugged.
"Sleep."
"After that?"
"Probably sleep some more."
Crowley sighed dramatically.
"You really know how to enjoy your days off."
Brook looked toward the Wall towering over the city.
"I'll probably head back there this evening."
Crowley wasn't surprised.
"You know..."
He hesitated.
"You spend more time looking outside than living inside."
Brook didn't answer immediately.
Finally he said,
"Sometimes I think the answers are waiting out there."
Crowley looked at him.
"And what if they aren't?"
Brook smiled sadly.
"Then I'll keep looking until I know."
As they reached the central square, a crowd had gathered around a storyteller.
An old man stood on a wooden crate with a worn history book in his hands.
"And so," he declared dramatically, "one hundred years ago, humanity survived because the Twelve Celestials built the great Walls and saved us from extinction!"
The children listened with amazement.
Brook kept walking.
Crowley noticed.
"You don't believe the story."
Brook shook his head.
"I believe parts of it."
"Which parts?"
"We survived."
"And the rest?"
Brook glanced back at the storyteller.
"I think someone decided history would be easier if it only had one version."
Crowley chuckled.
"One day those thoughts are going to get you arrested."
Brook smiled.
"Then I hope the prison has a library."
As they disappeared into the busy streets of Shinokuni-01, neither of them noticed a hooded figure watching from the rooftop above.
The stranger remained perfectly still until Brook was out of sight.
Then, quietly, they turned and vanished across the rooftops.
Someone had begun watching Brook.
And Brook had no idea.