The two spent the rest of the day talking about lots of things, such as how the world outside the orphanage was and how it's like going to work every day. Things like girls and love were also a repeating subject as it seemed the two shared that in common.
They spend hours underneath the peach tree just chatting and laughing together. It made the boy really happy since this was the first time he could laugh like that, but just like everything, even the good times have to come to an end.
It was already evening and time for Elias and Mai to return to their house, which meant leaving him all alone once again. Once Elias saw that expression on his face, it almost looked unnatural since he could no longer imagine him not laughing.
"Master, we should return now. If we stay any longer, I fear the worst may happen!"
"I guess you're right…"
As Elias gave his regards and turned around, walking towards Mai and Clara, who were standing next to the door of the back of the house, he couldn't help but get remembered about his own past and how the two were pretty similar to each other.
They said their goodbyes to the rest of the children and went on their way, It was no longer safe for them due to the amount of time they spent there, and neither of them wanted to put Clara or the children of the house in any danger, especially the kind he was in.
But even so…
"What is the matter, Master? You seem out of it!"
"Nothing, don't worry your pretty little head, just the demons of the past doing their job!"
Elias couldn't help himself but be reminded of the old days, those times when he was alone, and wanted someone to be there for him, someone with whom he could smile and laugh, have a good time, and just be himself.
"Master?"
"Uhh, damn it! Turn around, Mai! We're going back!"
"Uh, umm, are you sure about that? What if..."
"I'm sure, and even if the worst comes to shove, they aren't so heartless to harm innocent children."
"...If you say so."
Meanwhile, at the orphanage, the children helped Clara set the table for dinner. They were very excited about it because it was something that both the little girls and Mai cooked together.
While the children ran all over the living room, Clara got an unexpected visitor, someone who, for the first time in a while, approached her while the other kids were near her. It was the little boy, and he looked like he had a question to ask her.
"Om my, will you perhaps be joining us for dinner this evening?"
Surprised by his sudden appearance, Clara was happy, and her thoughts immediately went towards thinking that maybe he was interested in eating with them and possibly even interacting with others. Still, unfortunately, that wasn't the case.
"No… I just wanted to ask… the man that was here today?"
"Ah, you mean, Sir Elias?"
"...So, his name was Elias."
Seeing his face turning happier after learning his name made Clara chuckle with happiness. This was the first time in a while the boy had any interest in other people. She thought maybe now he'll start opening up to her a little, just like he did to him.
"When will he be coming back?"
That question took the smile she had on her face right off of it, and that was because she had no idea. Neither Elias nor Mai said anything about when they will be coming back, and from her experience, throughout many years of working here, that means that they most likely won't be coming anymore. Now, she couldn't just tell him that, especially since he got so close to him.
"...Look, why don't you join us for dinner, and we can discuss that later. A lot of the girls help prepare it, and it would mean a lot to them if everyone ate together."
Hearing those words coming out of her mouth made the boy worry. That happy expression he had on his face slowly went away as he kept thinking about the meaning behind those words, and the longer he thought, the worse it got, so before it could get any worse, he decided to ask her directly.
"Does that mean he won't be coming again?"
Seeing his sad expression made Clara even sadder. Today was the first time in years she saw him genuinely smile and laugh. If possible, she wished he could continue to do so, but now if she were to say the wrong words, he would go back to the state in which he was before, and she didn't want that. She also couldn't just lie to him, so she did what she thought was the best option in this situation.
"No, that doesn't mean he won't be coming anymore. They didn't mention when exactly their next visit will be, but I'm sure that was just because they forgot."
Hearing that made the boy relieved and happy. He thought that because they stayed longer than they originally intended, they had to hurry up home and just forgot to say when their next visit will be.
"Is that so? I'm glad!"
He genuinely smiled as he said those words, which made Clara relived and thought she did a good job even if she did do a bad thing.
"I'll be going to my room now, thank you for inviting me, but I don't want to be a burden to others, so I'll eat later by myself."
Hearing that, she couldn't go against him and responded by noting her head in agreement.
As soon as they left the living room and headed towards the staircase leading towards the second floor where his room was located, a knocking could be heard coming from the door."
Due to all the yelling, screaming and running coming from the children he couldn't tell that another person was approaching the house, the man opened the door like it was nothing and entered like it was his house while saying only a few simple words.
"Ah, my apology for the interruption. It seems I forgot something and came to pick it up!"
The person in question was indeed Elias, and upon seeing him, the boy's eyes shined full of happiness.
"Oh, Sir Elias?"
Like the boy, Clara herself was surprised to see him. She thought that today would be their last meeting and didn't expect to see him, at least not for a while.
Seeing the happy expression on the boy's face, Elias grinned as he saw an opportunity to tease him.
"Oho, I see someone's happy to see me, aren't they?"
The boy in question blushed when hearing the words that came from his mouth and the face he was making. Obviously, Elias was making fun of him, and he didn't have any of it.
"N-no! Who would be happy seeing you!"
Fully embarrassed, the boy yelled out in response.
"Oh, come on now, just admit that you're happy to see me!"
"A-Am not…"
Before he could finish his sentence, his mouth shut tight, and his face turned all red as he went to hide behind Clara's round shirt. He got embarrassed because of the person who just now entered the house.
Her beautiful dark and short hair, thin eyelashes, and soft pink lips made the boy more embarrassed than he ever was before. Although he heard her voice multiple times, this was actually the first time he got to see her, and it was the first time in his life he saw a beauty like her.
"Huh, what's wrong?"
He tried hiding his face behind her skirt but couldn't help peeking at the Maid standing behind Elias.
"P-pretty girl…"
Hearing those words coming from his mouth gave the three of them different reactions. Mai, the person to whom the compliment was meant for, was blushed and happy to hear it. Clara was shocked that he showed any interest in girls, and Elias busted out in laughter.
"P-Pfff, hahahahah!"
"Owo, don't tell me, are you embarrassed because of Mai?"
"Hahahaha, how cute, you're in love!"
"S-shut up! I'm not in love. I-I just think she is pretty..."
His embarrassed face made the girls who looked at him even more embarrassed as they thought to themselves just how cute this little boy was, but on the other hand, Elias just couldn't stop laughing. It got to the point where he was struggling to breathe and almost died.
"Too bad, kid, but this one here is a total Ice queen and lunatic, but if you behave nicely, I could give her to you…"
Before Elias could finish up his sentence, he got hit from behind and sent flying into the ground by the mighty briefcase, and the women holding it, the so-called Ice queen, had a chilling aura to her.
"Don't treat people like objects, and don't give the boy any wrong ideas."
"Owie, that hurt Mai, and just when I was so close to finding you a suitable husband!"
Elias got up from that fearsome hit with nothing but a few bumps on his head.
"What did I tell you about meddling in my love life?"
Her aura became ever so colder and fiercer as time passed, and Elias seemed as if he was shrinking while talking to her. One could hear the lower tone in his voice as he answered her questions with honesty.
"That I should stop because it's none of my business."
"And what were you doing?"
"Ignoring you and doing what I wanted, which was wrong because I should respect the wishes of my employees, especially someone who is such a big help as you."
"So what should you do now?"
"Apologise and say I will never do it again?"
"So?"
"I'm sorry, I will never do it again!"
"Good, and finish the business you have here so we can go home finally."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Seeing their conversation made both Clara and the boy feel somewhat sorry for Elias.
"Well now, better get down to business."
Clara was somewhat confused due to the wording Elias had used and couldn't tell what he meant. She remembers his saying he had forgotten something, a thought he had left something behind and returned to retrieve it, but the way he is phrasing it now, that doesn't seem to be the case.
"Excuse my rudeness, Sir Elias, but you mentioned earlier you forgot something, so if possible, I can help you find it."
Elias was relieved seeing Clara's confused face.
"There won't be any need for that as the thing I forgot was to ask if this little fella would like to go home with me."
Crouching down and smiling truthfully, Elias asked him a simple but still very hard-to-answer question. He was without a doubt happy to hear those words coming from the mouth of a man he had developed some feelings of love towards, but despite that, he wondered if he was the right choice.
There are many good kids here in the orphanage who would like a father like Elias more than him, and more than anything else, a loving family. He thought that maybe Eliese's decision was made a little to fast and that taking someone else might be a way better option.
"...Are you sure? There are a lot of kids here who would be a much better choice than me."
"Plus, you don't know me all that well, and..."
"I'm not good around many people, and…"
As the boy talked about himself, a gentle pat on the head stopped him from continuing any further, and the words that came out from his mouth made his decision an easy one.
"Look, all that might be true, but right now, I came back because I think I would love to have you as a part of my family."
"Of course, there will always be outbreaks and fights in which you might be right, or you might be in the wrong. To hell, you might even grow to hate me, but that's alright."
"It's not what might be best but what I feel is the best, and what I think is that I want you and no one else."
"So I ask again, do you want to go home with me?"
The boy was over flowed with happiness, knowing that Elias chose him as the one he wishes to take home from all of the children here. He felt as he was way too selfish towards the others, and he didn't deserve this kind of happiness, but remembering everything he went through in the past few months, all of his worries went away, and the only thing left was a bright hope for a future in which he didn't have to be alone.
"...Yes."