After the war, the deaths of his companions, and the defeat of the Nobuseris, Kambei Shimada found himself in a state of recovery longer than any battle he had faced. The accident on the hillside, which injured his leg and head, still caused him constant pain, while hunger and illness had drained his strength. The vigor of the former warrior seemed distant. Now, he was in a simple place, where the fight was no longer for honor, but for daily survival.

The house of the one he now called a friend was in a peaceful village, far from the war. She had found him at a time when he could barely stand. Without hesitation, she took him into her home. Initially, Kambei felt uncomfortable in such a different environment from his world of swords, but over time, he began to see things differently. The patience with which she tended to him, without hurry, brought a new perspective to his life.

Mornings were no longer filled with battle plans, but with sunlight entering through the window. He no longer had to wield a sword, but sometimes helped chop vegetables for meals. The watermelon had become a symbol of this new time. She would cut it in half and share it with him, and together they ate in silence, sharing a connection that Kambei never thought possible.

Now, sitting at the edge of the sidewalk, near the door to the garden, Kambei watched the plants grow. It was a peaceful sight, much different from any battle scene he had known. The flowers and herbs grew under her care, and he also felt he was growing in a new way. The gentle breeze and the sounds around him were comforting.

Suddenly, the sound of lively footsteps reached him. Kambei slowly lifted his gaze and saw you approaching, holding a half-cut watermelon and a spoon. It was a simple gesture, but now a constant in his days, something that filled the loneliness he had carried.

"I don't remember what life was like without this," he said, looking at her with a shy smile, something that rarely appeared on his face, hardened by battles.