The next morning—
The girl slowly opened her eyes. Still half-asleep, she turned to the side—following a habit that had begun to form over the past few days.
Empty.
There was no one there.
…The silence felt a little different from usual.
In an instant, her drowsiness vanished. She sat up too quickly, the blanket slipping off and falling to the floor as she climbed out of bed without thinking.
The bedroom door swung open. She ran.
"Good morning, Ruri." The voice stopped her in the hallway.
"Auntie…" Rurika slowed down. Her voice was small, almost lost in the morning air.
Sarona immediately noticed the change. She didn't ask right away. She simply stepped closer, then pulled the girl into an embrace.
"What's wrong, sweetly?" Her voice was warm… but a little softer than usual. Like someone who had woken up earlier than she wanted to.
Rurika clutched Sarona's clothes tightly. "…Did Shoka leave us?"
Sarona let out a small sigh.
"Shouka?" She frowned slightly, then corrected herself, "Shoka?"
"Not Shouka…" Rurika shook her head quickly. "Shoka. He said he didn't have a name… so I gave him one."
"Ah…" Sarona nodded faintly, as if recalling something.
"That one." Her tone lowered slightly.
"He hasn't left." She glanced toward the yard. "He still has to fix what he broke. And since he can't use magic, he's doing everything manually."
She paused for a moment, then added more flatly, "So he'll be staying here for a while."
The tension in Rurika's body immediately eased.
"…That's good." Her voice was completely sincere.
But in the next second, her expression changed.
"Ah! Auntie…" She quickly lowered her head. "I'm sorry. I fell asleep… I haven't finished my task. I'm being irresponsible…"
Sarona didn't answer right away. She simply stroked Rurika's head gently—like she was calming something deeper than words.
"It's alright, Rurika." Her voice was gentle, but there was a steady warmth within it.
"I'd actually prefer you rest a little longer." Her hand remained there, unhurried to let go. "These past few weeks… you've been pushing yourself too much."
Rurika lowered her gaze slightly.
"…But the books say we have to be responsible." She lifted her face a little, as if searching for reassurance. "I'm already fifteen… in two years, I'll be an adult. I have to learn to be independent. To become a proper adult…"
Sarona fell silent. Not because she disagreed. But because the way the girl said it… was far too serious for her age.
Then Sarona gave a small smile. Not a wide one—more like weariness that had made peace with itself.
"Rurika…" She gently stroked the girl's head once more.
"Even adults need rest." Her voice softened further. "Especially you."
Rurika didn't answer right away.
The morning breeze passed quietly between them.
"There are still two years left," Sarona continued.
"That's not a short time. You don't need to rush into becoming an adult just because of a number." Her hand paused lightly on Rurika's head.
"Adults make mistakes too." Her gaze was gentle. "What matters isn't avoiding them… but acknowledging them and making them right."
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then Sarona added, more softly:
"I just hope… no matter what age you become—child, adult, or old—you stay as you are now."
She looked at her directly. "Don't become someone who thinks they stand above others."
"…Can Ruri try to do that?" she added.
Rurika nodded slightly. "Okay…"
"Now then," Sarona slowly released her embrace, "brush your teeth, take a bath, and get dressed. We'll have breakfast."
"Okay, Auntie." Rurika immediately turned and hurried off. Like a child who had just been given an important task.
Sarona watched her retreating back.
Then let out a long breath.
"…It would be better if you called me big sister," Sarona muttered softly.
"Even if I'm your father's friend… it makes me sound old.
This time, her tone wasn't sad—just quietly tired, as if she had already accepted things as they were.
After bathing and changing her clothes, Rurika walked toward the dining table.
Sarona was already seated there. Meanwhile—the young man now called Shoka—had arrived earlier and was already in his place.
The three of them began eating.
At first, the atmosphere was calm. Only the sound of utensils and light conversation between Sarona and Rurika could be heard.
Shoka, on the other hand, chose to remain silent. He lowered his gaze slightly, eating just enough—or at least pretending to—as if trying to let his presence fade from the room.
Until—
"Auntie, can Shoka sleep with me tonight?"
Silence.
Everything stopped.
Sarona froze in place.
—
[When I read books. the main character has friends.They joke together, eat snacks together, play cards, talk at night… and then sleep together. It looks very fun. I want to do that too…But I have to ask Auntie first.] Rurika cheered herself on internally.
[Go for it!]
—
"Wait, Rurika…" Sarona's voice came out stiff. "You do understand that you're different, right? Shoka is a boy. And you're a girl. At your age… you need to keep your distance from the opposite sex."
Rurika blinked slowly. "Ah… I've heard that before. From Etral."
She hesitated for a moment. "But… wouldn't that be like discriminating against someone, Auntie?"
Sarona fell silent for a second.
"Ruri… sweetly, that's not what I mean…" She took a breath, trying to stay calm. "Haven't you already had your first menstruation? That means… your body can have a baby now. So you need to be careful. Keep your distance… so a baby won't be conceived."
Rurika went quiet, as if seriously thinking about it.
Then—
"In that case… wouldn't it be better if Shoka and I just make a baby?" The statement slipped out of Rurika's small mouth.
—
"—What?!" For a moment, Sarona truly lost her words.
Meanwhile, Rurika looked at her with sparkling eyes.
"I heard babies are very cute. Small… and adorable." She smiled innocently. "Besides, wouldn't it be better if we had a new family member? It would feel livelier…"
Silence.
The two people in front of her… had absolutely no idea how to respond.
"Rurika…" Sarona's voice began to falter.
"Only adults can have babies. Wait until you're older. And more responsible."
A familiar line. One that had always worked before.
But—
"Why?" Rurika asked, tilting her head.
Sarona froze.
"In two years, I'll be an adult." Rurika looked straight ahead, without hesitation. "And wasn't it Auntie who said… we learn to be responsible little by little? If we make mistakes, we should fix them."
Sarona shuddered.
Beside her—
Shoka quietly lifted his head slightly. Then slowly stood up. He didn't want to be here. Didn't want to be involved. He began to step away from the table, quietly.
—
[Is this what they call… 'you reap what you sow'? I shouldn't have kept saying "wait until you're an adult" over and over…] Sarona thought to herself. [Now… I have to stop her.]
—
Sarona took a deep breath. Her eyes returned to Rurika.And for the first time—She was truly out of options. But she didn't give up.
"Ruri…" Her voice softened, trying a different approach. "Giving birth… is very painful. You could get hurt. Even be in danger."
Rurika fell silent for a moment. Then answered, in the same innocent tone—
"But Auntie… I'm blessed." She lifted her face slightly. "My wounds heal quickly. The pain would disappear soon too."
—
"…Ugh." Sarona took her first blow.
—
Sarona fell silent.
For a moment, she didn't know what she was supposed to feel. Guilty… for raising this girl to be too pure? Or was it… that she herself was too tainted to understand that innocence?
She clenched her teeth softly. [Not done yet.]
"Taking care of a baby isn't easy," she continued, trying to hold her ground.
"It's exhausting. Raising a child is not something simple."
Rurika gave a small nod. But her smile didn't fade.
"Don't need to worry, Auntie." Her voice was light, as if it were nothing unusual. "The forest fairies said… if I have a baby one day, they'll help."
Sarona froze.
"They'll take care of it. Raise it together."
Rurika looked straight at her. "They're even really looking forward to my baby being born."
—
"Ughh…" She let out a strained breath.
Another hit.
The second was direct—no room to dodge. Sarona nearly lost her emotional balance—but she still forced herself to hold on.
"B–but…" her voice began to waver. "Making a baby… has to be with someone you like."
She placed her last hope there.
And—
"I like Shoka." The answer came instantly. Without hesitation. To Rurika, it was only natural.
"I think… it wouldn't be bad to have a baby that looks like me and Shoka." A faint blush spread across her cheeks. "Besides… Shoka is very handsome."
The third blow landed.
—
[Is this… the end?] Sarona froze. The color slowly drained from her face.
[No… don't give up. There's still one way.] Even so, Sarona refused to give up.
[Ruri doesn't understand… but that young man definitely does.]
—
Sarona took a deep breath, then looked at Rurika seriously.
"Ruri… even if you like Shoka…" Her voice lowered, more focused now. "Does Shoka feel the same about you?"
Rurika fell silent.
"A baby… can only be born if two people love each other," Sarona continued, pressing each word carefully.
"And before that… there must be agreement from both sides." She stared deeply into Rurika's eyes. "An agreement… between two people to have a child."
Silence.
"Do you understand?" Behind her gaze—[No matter what… as long as that young man refuses, this will all be over.]
—
Rurika nodded slowly.
"I understand, Auntie." The answer was simple. But it was enough.
For the first time since the conversation began—Sarona let out a breath of relief.
She had made it through the crisis.
At least… for now.