『Lina: So, I guess you're something like his hero, right? Just like today, you've helped me. 』
『Neizan: I remind you that I'm still a lowly thief, so I'm no hero. 』
『Lina: I don't think you always do it just so others owe you something. You do it because you want to help. I believe that, deep down, you're a good person. 』
『Neizan: «...I'm not.» 』
The guy fell silent as he watched Lina smile after saying those words.
『Lina: Do you have a problem with your name? 』
『Neizan: Yes, I just don't want anyone to know my true identity. I've lived as a criminal, and if everyone knew my name, it would be a big problem for me. 』
『Lina: So why not use a fake one? 』
『Neizan: I don't see the need. Lies, when they accumulate, end up becoming the truth. I'd rather remain a fugitive no one knows anything about. 』
『Lina: This is the first time I've seen a watch like that and your clothes. Where are you from? 』
『Neizan: Sorry, this is where our conversation ends. It's late, go to sleep in the other room. 』
The guy didn't want to answer any more questions, so he turned his gaze away from Lina and started clearing the table.
When Lina stood up, he walked her to her room and wished her goodnight.
In her thoughts, Lina wanted to know more about him.
She had so many questions that, for a moment, she forgot everything that had happened that day and her troubles.
She simply smiled as she hugged her pillow. This would be the first night she would spend away from her home.
It would also be the first day she wouldn't see her father again.
When one door in life closes, others open, offering new paths to choose.
Meanwhile, the guy entered the other room, where Arthur was already asleep.
He lay on the floor, on the right side of the room, next to the bed. He closed his eyes and thought.
This was how they spent their first night together.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Slowly opening her eyelids, the girl's pupils dilated with the morning light.
Inside the old house, dust floated in the air, reflected by the sun's rays.
She rubbed her eyes with her hand, let out a small yawn, uncovered her blanket, and got out of bed.
Carefully avoiding any noise, she opened her bedroom door and headed to the next room.
The door was only slightly ajar, so she pushed it open slowly.
She peeked inside cautiously and saw the two boys lying on the same mattress, still deeply asleep.
They weren't covered by any blankets, which made her remember the previous night when one of them had gone to her room and handed her the only blanket she had slept with.
It was the boy who had been helping her all this time.
Lina looked at him tenderly, especially at the boy whose name she still didn't know.
He looked so calm, with a gentle and harmless expression, which contrasted greatly with the cold and serious look he usually had.
Later, after preparing breakfast in the kitchen...
『???: Good morning! 』
The young girl exclaimed, standing in the living room, smiling at the boy.
『Neizan: Good morning. I didn't expect you to be awake so early, making breakfast. 』
He rubbed his eyes with one hand, still drowsy.
『Lina: Well, it's the least I could do to thank you. Did you sleep well? 』
『Neizan: To be honest, no. But I appreciate that you saved me the trouble of making breakfast. After we eat, we need to talk about something with Arthur. 』
『Lina: Okay, I'll wait here to eat together. 』
『Neizan: Then I'll go wake him up. 』
The boy returned to the room. When he opened the door, he found Arthur sleeping and drooling on the bed, with a completely happy expression.
Without thinking, the boy grabbed a bucket of water and threw it in his face.
『Neizan: Wake up, Sleeping Beauty. 』
『Arthur: What are you doing?! 』
『Neizan: That's for yesterday, so wake up and get moving. 』
『Arthur: You're an asshole. 』
Once both boys entered the living room, they saw Lina again, sitting with breakfast already prepared for the three of them.
The plates included bread, vegetables, and fruits.
『Lina: Good morning, Arthur. What happened to you? 』
Arthur entered first, his hair still wet, along with part of his clothes.
『Arthur: That idiot threw a bucket of cold water on me. 』
『Lina: Really? 』
Lina closed her eyes and covered her mouth, trying to hold back a laugh, but a small chuckle slipped out.
『Arthur: Hey, it's not funny. 』
『Neizan: Stop complaining and sit down to eat the breakfast Lina made. 』
『Arthur: Fine... Thanks for the breakfast, Lina. 』
『Lina: No problem. 』
The two boys sat down at the table, eating breakfast and talking.
『Arthur: So, what did you want to talk about now? 』
『Neizan: To save time today, we have just this day to head to the stable where our horses are kept and then return home. 』
『Lina: Wasn't this your home? 』
『Arthur: This smelly dump full of old stuff? Not at all. 』
『Neizan: This place is just a small abandoned cabin I used as a shelter for a few months some time ago. 』
『Lina: I see... So, where are we supposed to go now? 』
『Arthur: Our home is near the southern mountains, but the journey is longer. First, we need to get our horses from the nearby stable in your village, Gastor. 』
『Neizan: It takes two days on foot to reach the mountains, but with the horse-drawn carriage, we'll make it in just one. 』
『Lina: So, we're leaving now, right? 』
『Neizan: Yes. Once we gather our things, we'll head to the stable and set off for the southern mountains. 』
『Arthur: Wasn't that supposed to be our secret hideout? 』
『Neizan: Now you're worried about her knowing? She's already our responsibility. 』
『Arthur: It's strange you say that when you probably haven't even told her your name yet. 』
『Neizan: ... 』
『Arthur: So, Lina, how old are you? 』
『Lina: I turned 16 this year. 』
『Arthur: What?! So young?! 』
『Lina: Is there something wrong? 』
『Arthur: No, no... It's just that your maturity doesn't quite match your age, I think. 』
『Neizan: Pathetic. 』
『Arthur: Don't look at me like that. You're the one who kidnapped her, not me. 』