Machi's residence is actually made up of three small independent houses, built on a clearing they personally swept clean, and no one else lives anywhere near this place.
In Meteor City, most of the land is buried under junk shipped in from all over the world. Broken electronics, discarded machinery, rusted containers, and rotting waste are piled endlessly. If someone wants a place to live here, they must first clear the land themselves.
Or, if they are strong enough, simply seize someone else's residence.
From the very beginning, Meteor City existed as a dumping ground for things the outside world did not want. Garbage that could not be disposed of properly was all sent here.
And that included people.
The residents of Meteor City are either those who were rejected by the outside world, people who committed crimes and could never return, or children who were abandoned here with no names and no records.
This place does not exist on official maps. There are no birth registrations, no identities, no laws recognized by the outside world.
The only area that could truly be called a residential district is the territory controlled by the Elders. That is only possible because the Elders formed a massive organization over countless generations, maintaining order through tradition, strength, and fear.
Their influence has been passed down for thousands of years.
When they eat, they usually light a small fire in the open space in front of their houses. After finishing, the leftovers are casually thrown back into the garbage piles nearby. Nothing is wasted here.
Since absorbing Mo's memories, Rimo realized that the unbearable stench of Meteor City no longer bothered him.
At some point, his senses had adapted completely.
In fact, the residents of Meteor City rarely survive alone.
Teams naturally form over time.
Here, strength does not only refer to brute force. It also includes survival knowledge, scavenging skills, resistance to toxins, understanding radiation, and medical experience.
No one can master everything alone.
You might be powerful, but if you unknowingly touch radioactive waste or inhale toxic fumes, death comes quickly.
Injuries are also common. Combined with the severe pollution in Meteor City, even small wounds can easily become fatal infections.
Without basic medical skills, no one survives long.
Because of this, people began forming small groups long ago.
Each group builds its own territory and living space. No one sleeps peacefully if another group is too close.
Competition is the eternal theme of Meteor City.
The strong eat the weak. Survival of the fittest. The rules are brutally simple.
This also meant there were no extra houses for Rimo to stay in.
Rimo glanced at Uvogin and Nobunaga, two rough and careless men, then looked at the petite girl standing beside him.
The choice was obvious.
Still, Rimo knew he could not be too blatant. After organizing his words, he calmly said,
"Well… Machi is smaller in build, so it makes more sense for me to squeeze in with her."
His reasoning, surprisingly, was accepted without much objection.
Uvogin looked down at his own massive frame, nodded seriously, and said,
"Yeah. There's probably no space for you on my bed."
Machi frowned slightly. She thought about Rimo's ability to produce food out of thin air, hesitated briefly, then finally agreed.
"If you dare touch anything, I'll kick you out."
Growing up in Meteor City, Machi was well aware of how twisted people here could be.
She knew her own appearance would draw attention. Before meeting Uvogin and Nobunaga, she had escaped danger countless times by relying on her sixth sense.
If not for that instinct, she would have died long ago.
She had seen too much ugliness.
Although she had noticed Rimo looking at her strangely earlier, it was not the same disgusting feeling she had felt before.
It was… warmer.
Of course, Rimo's handsome face also helped. No matter where you are, that is always a bonus.
"I know, I know." Rimo raised both hands slightly to show he meant no harm.
Machi stared at him for a moment. Her sixth sense still did not detect any malice.
Then she turned and walked toward her house.
"Come on."
"See you tomorrow," Rimo said to Uvogin and Nobunaga before following Machi.
Naturally, washing the dishes was left to Nobunaga. Before Rimo arrived, this had always been Nobunaga's job.
Machi cooked.
Uvogin breaking bowls was already considered helpful.
"Yeah, see you tomorrow," Nobunaga replied while holding the utensils. He then kicked Uvogin lightly.
"Come help carry these."
…
Inside Machi's house, Rimo finally saw the interior clearly.
A simple cabinet.
A mattress.
A small table and a chair.
Nothing else.
Machi ignored him after entering and sat down immediately. She pulled out the thin steel wire hidden in her clothes and began carefully checking it.
Even if she did not fight today, she maintained her weapons daily out of habit.
To Machi, the wire was the only thing she could rely on to protect herself.
Even without visible damage, she inspected it thoroughly every night.
Seeing she had no intention of talking, Rimo did not disturb her.
From his perspective as a psychiatrist, Machi's psychological defenses were extremely high.
This kind of vigilance could not form overnight.
She must have been guarding herself against the world since childhood.
Breaking that wall with a few words would only backfire.
Patience was the only way.
As Rimo watched Machi carefully work with the wire, a faint trace of affection appeared in his eyes.
The cold glint of steel under candlelight.
The tiny scars on her young hands.
She had clearly suffered a lot.
Children in Meteor City, especially girls, rarely survive without scars.
Rimo was not a good person. He followed his own preferences.
And Machi happened to fit those preferences perfectly.
Here it comes again…
Machi felt that strange gaze once more.
Her sixth sense detected no hostility. Only goodwill.
She paused, raised her head slightly, and glanced at Rimo.
Rimo smiled back, gentle and restrained.
Machi said nothing and returned to her work.
She didn't know what Rimo was thinking.
But she didn't hate that feeling.