"...So, that's how it is."

"Hmm."

After a full hour of Journey’s detailed explanation, she had finally managed to convince Aeron. She’d recounted her poverty-stricken childhood, how her family could barely afford to go out for a meal—though not quite to that extreme. The story had been long-winded and full of emotion, but it seemed to work.

“So, you’re saying you acted like that because you see her as a little sister?”

“Yes, yes! Kana’s just so adorable that I couldn’t help it. I swear on my life, I had no impure intentions. If I’m lying, you can take my life right now—”

“…Don’t you just come back to life even if you die?”

“Uh.”

Journey’s eyes darted around at Aeron’s blunt remark. Well, he wasn’t wrong, but did he really have to point it out like that…?

“…Even if I do, my life is still precious.”

It was a feeble excuse after all that effort, but it was all she could come up with.

“Alright, I understand. Kana can be a bit oblivious, but if you had any ulterior motives, she would’ve noticed. She must think quite a lot of you.”

“Ha, haha… ha…”

‘…I don’t think so?’

Who in their right mind tries to assassinate someone they like? Unless… is she one of those yandere types?

Trying to understand the workings of a young heart is a mystery. If only I could just ask Kana directly. But, of course, she had dozed off somewhere mid-conversation, bored from listening to all of this.

Journey looked over at Kana, who was sleeping soundly with her head resting on Aeron’s shoulder.

‘...Well, she’s cute, so I’ll let it slide.’

Not that she had been particularly angry to begin with, but seeing Kana’s angelic sleeping face melted away the last traces of her frustration. It made her understand why so many parents, despite the day’s chaos, find peace in their child’s sleeping face. Watching Kana sleep so peacefully, with her guard down, brought a soft smile to Journey’s face.

‘She’s adorable when awake, too, though.’

It’s just a different kind of charm.

"...Kana."

"…Hm?"

Journey had been so absorbed in watching Kana’s sleeping face that she’d almost forgotten Aeron was there until his voice pulled her back to reality. Perhaps aware of Kana sleeping on his shoulder, his voice was softer than before.

"Has Kana been doing well?"

“Well…”

Journey hesitated. If “doing well” meant living comfortably, then yes, she was. The house she lived in deep in the mountains had everything she needed.

“She didn’t seem very happy.”

Journey’s answer was different.

“She looked lonely a lot of the time.”

Kana had built walls around herself, driving away anyone who tried to get close. In retrospect, it was understandable given what Journey had learned about Kana’s past. When people weren’t just content to steal her father’s keepsakes but even took up arms to threaten her, how could anyone expect a warm response?

She’d started things on the wrong foot with people, and from there, everything had gone sideways. That’s probably why players who approached her mountain met untimely ends, regardless of their intentions.

Journey wasn’t sure if she’d ever crossed paths with Sicilians either, but Kana had accepted her, a fellow player.

“Kana allowed me to stay by her side just because I knew a bit of Granik.”

At that time, Journey’s knowledge of Granik was pitiful—she barely knew a few words. Yet, Kana had accepted her anyway.

“If she truly despised people, she would’ve ignored me no matter how often I visited.”

Or she would’ve dealt with me the same way she dealt with the others. The fact that she hadn’t done so probably meant that despite living in seclusion, she still wanted some connection to people, whether consciously or unconsciously.

Journey figured as much.

Aeron, who had been listening quietly, made a small sound of agreement.

“So, that’s how it was.”

The Kana Aeron knew was never one to enjoy physical affection. She tolerated it when Garid would pat her head, but she never seemed to like it. For her to allow physical contact so easily now…

At first, Aeron had wondered if it was just because Journey was also a woman, but now he thought he understood Kana a bit better.

As Kana shifted in her sleep, Aeron adjusted slightly so she could rest more comfortably.

“Do you know about Garid?”

“Yes, he’s Kana’s father…”

“Strictly speaking, her adoptive father.”

Garid had saved Kana, who had been on the brink of death, losing both family and home. He’d taken her in as his daughter.

‘Parents? They died ages ago.’

Aeron had been present when Garid asked Kana about her parents. As he later found out, her so-called parents were less than human. She hadn’t received the love every child deserves, and as a result, she was always so cold and distant.

“Garid was the one who tried to fill that gap for her.”

Having been born to unfit parents and raised among vagabonds, the idea of being loved was likely foreign to Kana. Garid became her world, but due to injuries he sustained in the war, he eventually passed away. Kana filled the void left by his death with her resolve to uphold his ideals and her desire for revenge against the Empire. But with the fall of Grasis, even that motivation vanished, and Kana disappeared.

“What a foolish girl.”

If she was that lonely, she could’ve reached out to me.

Aeron smiled bitterly. He’d known her since she was young, but he hadn’t been enough to fill that void.

Yet…

‘She has someone to fill that void now.’

She might not be fully aware of it yet, but she’d allowed Journey’s affection, which clearly left an impression. Aeron, while feeling some regret over his inability to be that support, took comfort in knowing that Kana had finally found a new sanctuary.

“So, she wasn’t her biological father…”

Journey murmured quietly, absorbing this new piece of Kana’s past. In other words, despite not being her real father, Garid had been so important to her. As she processed Aeron’s words, she suddenly realized the atmosphere had grown too heavy and decided to change the topic.

“You know, Kana really loves sweets and flowers. Has she always been like that?”

“…She’s always liked sweets, but flowers? Do you mean the kind that grows on the side of the road?”

“…? Yes, those flowers.”

Are there other kinds of flowers?

Aeron looked puzzled, as though this were news to him. Journey’s casual question had intended to lighten the mood, but his reaction made her swallow nervously.

“I don’t think she’d dislike them, but she doesn’t particularly love them either.”

“What? She has a whole flower garden in front of her house. She tends to it so carefully that anyone who steps on her flowers is as good as dead…”

Journey stopped short of mentioning the fate of various players who had dared to tread on Kana’s beloved garden.

“Anyway, that’s what she’s like.”

“Could it be…”

Aeron fell silent for a moment, deep in thought, before he finally spoke again.

“Do you think Kana is… feminine?”

“Gasp…!”

Was he about to assassinate me?

Journey’s heart skipped a beat. For the second time today, she felt the cold breath of death on her neck. Sure enough, her chat window was filling up like a hellish nightmare.

“Well… I’m not sure what you mean by ‘feminine’…”

Trying to dodge the question, Journey glanced at her chat. Aeron, noticing her discomfort, clarified his question.

“No need to overthink it. I’m just asking if you’ve ever seen her take an interest in her appearance or clothes.”

“…Now that you mention it.”

Journey thought back, narrowing her eyes.

…Not really?

“Maybe it’s because she’s been in the knight order for so long?”

“She was like that even before, but I suppose it could have intensified. Anyway, it seems you get the point.”

Aeron’s gaze grew distant as if reminiscing about something from long ago.

“Once, Garid asked me something.”

‘Aeron, what do girls like?’

‘Is this about Kana?’

‘Yeah. I wish she’d act more like the other kids—laugh, talk, and be lively. She’s just so stiff, like a little boy. Got any ideas?’

‘Hmm… How about planting flowers?’

‘Flowers? Why flowers?’

‘Little kids and girls like flowers. Maybe she’ll show interest if you plant and take care of them. Then she might want to plant some herself, and that boyishness you worry about might fade.’

‘That makes sense. Alright, I’ll give it a try!’

Garid had taken Aeron’s advice seriously. Each time Aeron visited, Garid’s house had more flowers, proof of his efforts to reach Kana. In the end, though, Kana never seemed interested.

“She doesn’t love flowers themselves. She loves Garid, who loved flowers.”

That’s probably why she’d taken the time to plant flowers at his grave, so Garid could see the flowers he loved so much.

“In a way, I suppose half of our intention was fulfilled.”

Some things never change—children rarely understand their parents’ hearts until they’ve grown up and it’s too late.

“Ah…”

Journey’s quiet sigh echoed in the parlor.

 
   *  *  *
   

"Mmm..."

...I must’ve dozed off.

Maybe I ate too many snacks, or maybe it was Aeron and Journey’s conversation, which I could barely understand, acting as a lullaby. I remember feeling drowsy, but when did I actually fall asleep? I blinked slowly, trying to shake off the sleepiness.

"...?"

And then I noticed Journey staring at me, her eyes looking suspiciously watery, as if she was about to burst into tears.

"...Aeron."

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah… actually, no."

"...? Was that a yes or a no?"

I gave a casual response to Aeron, who must have sensed I’d woken up. But that wasn’t the most important thing right now.

"Did you hit her?"

"...What?"

"Did you hit Journey?"

There weren’t any obvious signs of her being hurt, but it was the only explanation I could think of for why she looked so close to crying. I asked Aeron, and he looked down at me in disbelief.

"Do you think I’m you?"

"...If not, just say no."

He could’ve just denied it instead of making a remark like that. Someone might think I go around hitting people I don’t like.

As I pouted, something suddenly lunged at me.

“Waaah! Kanaaa!”

"...?!"

Who else could it be?

Of course, it was Journey, sniffling and bawling as she barreled into me. I had no time to react, and before I knew it, I was wrapped up in her embrace.

“I-I didn’t even know… and now I… I-I…”

“Urgh…”

Between her sobs, her words were garbled beyond recognition. With her crushing me and her words muffled, I had no idea what she was trying to say. When I tried to push her off, she just tightened her grip.

Not that she could overpower me, of course. I could easily push her away if I wanted to, but...

Sigh.

Instead of forcing her off, I just let her hold me and relaxed my arms. Whatever Aeron had put her through while I was asleep must have been rough. Considering that I was partly to blame for her dealing with him, it seemed only fair to let her have this moment.

I glanced over at Aeron through the small gap left in Journey’s embrace, shooting him a look that clearly conveyed, Didn’t I tell you to go easy on her?

“Hey, it’s not because of me.”

As if.

There were only two people here—Aeron and me—so if it wasn’t him, was he saying I made her cry? I’d been fast asleep, so that made no sense at all. I looked at Aeron, unimpressed by his excuse, as he beat his chest in frustration.

“Kanaaa…”

“Yeah, yeah.”

I let myself be rocked back and forth as Journey hugged me tightly, giving in to her emotional sway.

Alright, I’ll let it go this time. She’s been through a lot.