After Eriri had shown Shirogami every corner of his new home, it was time for dinner. The Sawamura family gathered in the elegant dining room, where a special meal had been prepared to welcome Shirogami.
"Have you seen your new room? Do you like it, Shirogami?" Sayuri asked softly, a warm smile on her face.
Shirogami nodded with a slight tilt of his head, his gaze reserved.
"I'm so glad to hear that," Sayuri smiled warmly.
"I am as well," Mr. Spencer added with a slight nod, as if offering a formal welcome.
"Well, with this dinner, we want to officially welcome you to our family. I hope you soon feel at home and that you can trust us as your own family," Mr. Spencer continued sincerely.
"Thank you," Shirogami replied, almost in a whisper, his voice monotone. His words surprised everyone, as it was the first time they heard him speak.
Sayuri and Mr. Spencer exchanged a tender look, while Eriri, thrilled, tried to hide a smile.
"Then, with nothing more to say... let's eat!" announced Mr. Spencer, still with surprise on his face.
"Itadakimasu!" they all said in unison as they began to eat.
Shirogami observed how his new family used chopsticks with skill, and he, clumsily, tried to imitate them, bringing food to his mouth slowly. Sayuri, noticing his struggle, moved closer and gently helped him by offering him a bite.
"Is it delicious?" Sayuri asked tenderly.
"Yes…" Shirogami murmured softly.
"I want to feed him too!" Eriri said enthusiastically, offering him a piece of sushi. Shirogami accepted the gesture, still a bit confused by his new "sister's" energy.
After dinner, they spent some quiet time together in the living room before retiring to rest. Once they were alone in their room, Sayuri turned to her husband with a pensive expression.
"So, there's nothing on record about him?" she asked quietly.
"Nothing. There's no information about him anywhere... I'm afraid he belongs to another... world," Mr. Spencer replied cryptically, his gaze distant.
Sayuri looked at him with concern.
"There won't be any consequences for adopting him, right?" she asked, her tone filled with worry.
"Don't worry. There's an agreement. Nothing should happen," he replied, trying to reassure her.
"It's just… even though we've only just met him, I feel something special for him. Do you feel that connection too?" she asked, seeking understanding in her husband's gaze.
"Yes, it's a strange feeling," admitted Mr. Spencer, taking her hand. "But don't worry. Everything will be fine. Besides, I think we've fulfilled Eriri's wish for a brother."
"Oh, you and your ideas!" Sayuri exclaimed, blushing, though a gentle smile softened her expression.
As the parents set aside their worries, in his room Shirogami settled into his bed, dressed in dark pajamas. He closed his eyes, and within minutes, he fell into a deep sleep… only to find himself in an unknown place.
He floated in a vast space, with neither ground beneath his feet nor sky above him. He tried to move, but it was impossible, as if he were trapped. Then, a blurry figure appeared in the distance—a silhouette strangely familiar to him. The figure held a peculiar sword with a red and white sheath, resembling two blades joined together: one short and one long. The figure seemed to be murmuring something.
"S…h…i…r…o…"
The words faded into echoes, but Shirogami tried to grasp them, unable to understand their meaning. The silhouette began to fade, and he felt his surroundings darkening even further.
"a…w…k…"
He wanted to remember this scene, that sword… but a void was consuming him, making it impossible to retain the image.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes to find Eriri's worried face close to his.
"Are you okay? You weren't waking up…" she asked in a gentle tone.
"Yes… I was just dreaming," Shirogami responded, slightly disoriented.
"Do you remember anything?" Eriri asked, her face filled with hope.
"No… I'm not sure…" he answered, uncertain.
"I see…" Eriri sighed, a mixture of disappointment and affection in her expression. "Well, then, you should get ready! It's time for breakfast!" she added, regaining her cheerful tone as she took his hand and guided him to the bathroom.
After washing up and dressing, they went down to the dining room, where Mr. Spencer was reading the newspaper and Sayuri was enjoying a cup of tea.
"Good morning, children. Did you sleep well?" Sayuri asked with a warm smile.
"Yes! I slept great," Eriri responded happily.
"Good morning," Shirogami murmured.
The maids served breakfast, and the family began eating in a peaceful atmosphere. After breakfast, Eriri eagerly led Shirogami to her room, decorated with shelves full of manga, novels, games, and drawings. There was a small stack of drawing tools on her desk, showcasing Eriri's dedication to her art.
"Look, Shirogami! These are some of my favorite manga and games," Eriri said, showing each one to him with enthusiasm.
Although Shirogami didn't fully understand what she was talking about, he watched her attentively. Something in those figures, especially the ones wielding swords, sparked a feeling within him… a connection to something long forgotten.
"Would you like to try drawing something?" Eriri offered, showing him her sketches.
"I… don't know how to draw," he admitted, emotionless.
"Don't worry, I'll teach you!" she replied, determined to help him.
They spent hours together, sharing laughter and sketches. By the end of the day, Shirogami had managed to draw something: a sword. Its design resembled the one he had seen in his dream, with a red and white sheath.
"Wait…" Eriri murmured, surprised by the drawing. Something about that image resonated deeply within her, as if it awakened a forgotten memory.
They both looked at the drawing in silence, while an unfamiliar feeling grew within their hearts.