I, too, had words stuck in my throat, unable to spit them out. I was afraid of saying them out loud.

Time passed meaninglessly.

But at this rate, Lili would never be able to live a proper life. That couldn’t be allowed. That wouldn’t do.

So—

Again and again, I hesitated to speak. Not Lili—me.

I made up my mind.

"Hey, Li—Instructor Ituka."

"......"

No response.

"Are you just aimlessly chasing after Blythe's shadow? Without thinking, just following, living the same way, dying the same way—is that all you want?"

The fact that she still carried a sword even after Blythe's death, the way she took in Eremia, seeing her past self in him, the way she became not a disciple but an instructor—it all led back to that.

"......"

Still, no response.

"If I'm wrong about this, then that's fine."

Lili remained curled up, facing away from me, not moving a muscle. She wasn't asleep—at least, I didn't think so—but she wouldn’t turn to face me.

That hurt a little.

How was I supposed to say this? I wasn’t good at things like this.

"Ahh..."

I scratched my head.

Damn it. In the end, I wasn’t smart enough to dress up my words. I could never be as quick-witted as Void. I couldn’t gently guide someone the way Oujin could. I couldn’t even bring humor into the conversation like Riona.

So, I gave up. I gave up and spoke my feelings directly, in my own words.

"Look, I’m not trying to play spokesperson for him, but I think Blythe would want this—he’d want Lili Ituka to be happy. That’s what he’d wish for."

And then I added,

"...I think. Probably. Not that I know for sure."

A silence stretched between us.

Awkward. That last part was probably unnecessary. Of course it was. To Lili, I was just a student—someone completely unrelated to her or Blythe. Just a ten-year-old kid with no real life experience. She had no reason to listen to someone like that.

Just as I was about to apologize, Lili murmured softly from behind me.

"......Yeah."

She rolled over to face me.

Then, without warning, she reached out and pulled me into the blanket with her.

"Wha—hey!"

In the darkness, I was enveloped in her arms, her grip surprisingly strong. My head was resting against her chest, with her chin placed gently on top of my head.

Despite all her training, she was strangely soft—and warmer than me. She wrapped around me completely. My whole body.

And then, she whispered in my ear.

"But you know, Eremia... It might not seem like it, but I actually feel pretty happy right now. I am happy. I don’t know why, but I feel fulfilled. It’s strange."

"H-how the hell am I supposed to know?"

She smelled nice. Damn it.

"Since coming to Lehan Knight Academy and living with you… I don’t dwell as much at night on the things I used to. I think it’s because I’ve been filled up again. Like the hole Blythe left behind has been filled by you. Do you think this is some kind of maternal instinct?"

"...Wait. Hold on. Hold on, hold on, hold on."

I shook my head, breaking free from her hold, and kicked the blanket down to my feet. I grabbed her by the shoulders and forcibly pulled away.

"Hey. You’re my teacher, and I’m ten years old. Keep some boundaries, will you?"

"What are you talking about?"

She blinked at me, looking puzzled.

Was she messing with me? Or was she always like this? I used to be her guardian, and yet I still had no idea what went on in her head.

No, that wasn’t right.

Back then, I had just never tried to understand.

Blythe had been insensitive, indifferent, and an idiot.

As I frowned at her, Lili suddenly nodded and gave a small, awkward laugh.

"Ah, I see. Yeah, that was bad. Why did I do that? It’s not like I was trying to seduce you."

"Of course not."

She gave a wry smile.

And I understood before she did.

I had seen that expression before. Countless times. In my past life.

That exact same face.

Whenever I—Blythe—fell asleep first, sometimes Lili would cling to my arm with her whole body. She must have wanted to be comforted. But when I woke up and caught her, she always gave that same wry smile to cover it up. Just like now. Then she’d turn away and go to sleep.

I hadn’t minded back then, since all I did was sleep anyway.

But now that I was this small, if she clung to me, I’d completely disappear into her hold.

"Sorry. Forget that happened."

"Like hell I’d tell anyone. Just… do it when I’m asleep, okay?"

Ah. Come to think of it, the stuffed animals that used to pile up on the bed had all been moved to the top of the closet. At some point, I had taken over their role.

Blythe was replaced by stuffed animals, and now I had taken the place of the stuffed animals. What a ridiculous turn of events.

"Yeah. I’ll do that. Just kidding. ...Heh, hahaha. I’ll hold back next time."

"I said you can do it if I’m asleep. But if you’re just pretending I’ll know, so let go then."

Lili tilted her head, her long black hair flowing smoothly.

"...That’s complicated. If that’s the case, maybe I should just choke you out. That way, I’ll be sure."

"Don’t even joke about that!"

She might not be aware of it on the surface, but deep down, she must have had some inkling that I was Blythe.

Still, after all these years, she hadn’t gotten enough affection?

What a troublesome woman.

Well, she had lost her family twice—no, three times, counting her birth parents, her traveling troupe, and Blythe.

"Just kidding. Good night, Eremia."

"Y-yeah. Good night, Lili."

"Instructor Ituka."

That, at least, she kept clear.

"...Right."

"Not that it really matters. Ever since you told the furniture store we were family, it’s started to feel that way for real. So, when it’s just the two of us—"

"I see."

Lili turned her back to me.

I scratched my head roughly.

"...Good night, Lili."

"Yeah. Good night, Eremia."

But if she kept pulling stunts like that, my self-control was going to snap. In my past life, I had thought of her as nothing more than a stray puppy I picked up. But now, she was a fully grown—ugh, damn it.

Maybe I should go swing a wooden sword at the training grounds for a bit!