『Lina: I was always locked in my room studying. My mother rarely let me go out to play with other children. She never intended to take me to school. 』
Neizan, who until that moment had kept a relaxed expression, furrowed his brow slightly, trying to understand.
『Neizan: There must have been a reason, I suppose... 』
Lina nodded, though her eyes showed hesitation.
『Lina: Yes, and the problem is, I was afraid that someone would see my back. 』
Neizan looked at her, visibly confused. His eyebrow raised in curiosity as he tilted his head slightly.
『Neizan: Afraid just of someone seeing your back? 』
Lina pressed her lips together, and her gaze dropped to the floor again, as if she regretted bringing up the topic.
『Lina: I'm sorry, I shouldn't be telling you that secret... 』
Neizan sat up a little more in bed and, after a few moments of reflection, spoke in a soft but firm tone.
『Neizan: Well, then don't say anything else. I know how hard it is to carry a past that you sometimes don't want to remember. 』
Neizan's words resonated with Lina, who looked up with some surprise.
She didn't expect him to understand so well what she was feeling. She then decided to ask him a question that had been on her mind.
『Lina: Did you lose your family too? 』
Neizan's demeanor changed instantly. His eyes, which had been full of curiosity moments ago, darkened, and his expression became more serious, almost distant.
『Neizan: I don't want to talk about that either. I'll just tell you that I know what it feels like to lose a loved one. 』
The atmosphere in the room changed drastically.
What had been a warm and light conversation had now turned into a moment of shared pain.
A brief silence settled between them, heavy but understanding.
In a lighter tone, driven by curiosity, she decided to change the subject.
『Lina: Can I ask where you met her? 』
Neizan smiled slightly, remembering with nostalgia.
『Neizan: That was over half a year ago... in a forest. 』
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Under the cold winter season, the first snowfalls began to fall over a vast forest. A young man was roaming the area, searching for animals to hunt.
He was setting simple traps for rabbits and even elaborate cage systems to catch birds. He walked through the thick snow and a light mist, wearing leather boots that crunched with every step. His sharp eyes searched for burrows to ambush or tracks of
Small snowflakes fell over the immense forest, covering everything around him. The tree branches, crystallized in some parts, displayed gleaming icicles that looked both beautiful and menacing at the same time.
The frozen landscape, in different shades of white, offered a serene and picturesque view.
After walking for hours, the boy reached his first successful trap. A hare had been caught in a net of ropes tied to a tree, unable to escape.
After killing the animal with a dagger, he tied it to his back with a rope slung over his shoulders and continued walking.
Further ahead, when the mist finally cleared, he spotted another trapped animal. However, it wasn't what he was looking for, nor had it fallen into one of his traps.
The animal was caught in a metal trap. As the boy approached, he noticed how it bristled its fur and pinned its ears back, showing fear and distrust.
『Neizan: Calm down, I'm just going to help you. 』
『???: …? 』
The animal that was growling was a puppy that closely resembled a German Shepherd: an elegant, strong, and intelligent dog.
However, in this case, it was a weak puppy of barely three months, who had been very unfortunate.
From that day on, the boy decided to take her in to care for her injured paw until she recovered.
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『Neizan: You're all better now, little one. Go ahead, you can leave. 』
『Little One: ... 』
『Neizan: Well, if you keep staring at me like that, we're not going to get anywhere. 』
『Little One: Woof. 』
『Neizan: Okay, let's try something. 』
The boy picked up a stick from the ground and showed it to the small puppy.
『Neizan: If you want to leave, take this with you when I throw it. But if you want to stay with me, then come back. 』
The little one was watching the boy attentively while sitting.
『Neizan: There it goes. Go fetch!』
As soon as the branch flew through the air, the little dog ran after it. When the branch hit the ground, she grabbed it firmly and lay down, enthusiastically biting it. Neizan watched her play for a few minutes before turning away.
『Neizan: Well, I guess I can leave now.』
He had barely taken a few steps when he heard a bark. Turning back, he saw her still close by, staring at him intently and wagging her tail.
The boy approached her, petting her, and smiled as he realized she wanted to stay with him.
『Neizan: Are you sure, little one? 』
The little dog began to lick his hand eagerly, and at that moment, the boy thought of a good name for her.
『Neizan: I still remember the lullaby my mother used to sing to me when I was little. It was a lullaby that always put me to sleep. From now on, I'll call you Nana. 』
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『Neizan: I couldn't help but take her with me. She was too small and cute to leave alone in the forest. 』
Neizan averted his gaze slightly, as if admitting it out loud made him uncomfortable. Lina watched him with a warm smile.
『Lina: I always knew you were a good person, but after hearing that, I have no doubt anymore.』
Lina crossed her arms, leaning slightly toward him, enjoying seeing him a little nervous.
『Neizan: Thanks, but don't think I'll soften just because of how you're looking at me. I'm a reserved and serious guy. 』
Lina laughed softly, stepping closer, her eyes shining mischievously.
『Lina: Oh? Are you hinting that you like me? 』
Neizan blinked in surprise, his face blushing slightly as he waved his hands in denial.
『Neizan: No, that's not what I meant... 』
Amused, Lina tilted her head with a playful smile, and without giving him time to react, she gently hugged him, resting her head on his chest.
『Lina: Then let me hug you for a bit. 』
Neizan stood still for a second, feeling the warmth of the embrace, while his confused expression slowly turned into a small smile.