The child found the harness strap before Hajin finished fastening it beneath his coat.
They stopped below the steepest stairs, where the trail widened enough to adjust the carrying loop on solid level ground. While he tested the knots, the child happily gnawed his first attempt at keeping one hand free for the descent.
Hajin pried the strap away from the little mouth and squinted at the soggy edge, "That strap keeps you alive, quit eating it!"
"Chew," the child squeaked, yanking the strap back toward his face with both fists.
"No, not chew, who even taught you that word?"
The loose end stayed clear of those teeth while Hajin weighed the claim with grudging respect.
"Aria, put the harness on the list," he said, glancing at the interface beside his occupied shoulder.
"The cores, the replacement shirts, all of it, separate, my household pays for its own damn needs."
'I can survive losing another shirt, but I need to count his meals before promising anyone else theirs.'
