Three days ago, a boy named Yuuki had found her with that golden light.
And since then, every night, he'd come to talk with her. To Kirie, Yuuki was strange: he didn't seem malicious, but he also didn't fit anywhere she recognized.
And the reason Yuuki carried that pure-gold short sword wasn't to hurt Kirie—it was to guard against Araya Souren, who could arrive at any time to claim her.
Yuuki knew perfectly well the blade couldn't threaten that man. It was psychological comfort—yet unexpectedly, it became the bridge that introduced him to Kirie.
Still, the sense of danger was real. So today—on the third day after locating Kirie, after establishing the first fragile thread of rapport—Yuuki decided to act early.
Specifically: to take Kirie away from here.
Behind Yuuki, Tama cautiously peeked into the room and "met" Kirie's eyes.
Of course, Kirie didn't actually see her—so it was only Tama observing.
Kirie was only in her early twenties, close in age to Tama on paper, yet her aura was entirely different.
Her frail body lay in a wide bed like a forgotten, exquisite, breakable artifact. Skin made nearly translucent by years without sunlight—thin enough to reveal pale blue veins beneath.
Black hair spilled across the pillow like a waterfall, slightly messy from neglect; a few strands clung to her sweat-damp forehead and hollow cheeks. Against her colorless skin, it only emphasized her sickly fragility.
Tama patted Yuuki's shoulder, raised a thumbs-up, and whispered with delight:
"A gorgeous fragile older sister—at least a ninety-one… no, ninety-three out of a hundred."
Smack.
Yuuki immediately chopped her forehead. Not hard—just enough.
Tama exaggeratedly clutched her head. "Young master, what was that…?"
"Don't rate patients! That's cruel! And I'm not here for what you're thinking!"
"Huh?"
When Yuuki first arrived in this world, he had shown a strong interest in older women. That was normal—no matter how much his five-year-old body influenced him, his mind was that of an adult. Compared to five-year-old girls, of course he was drawn to beautiful women in their twenties.
Tama had noticed with frightening sensitivity back then. Even now—after years of separation—she still teased him about it.
He could already see himself being teased for life.
The presence of a stranger made Kirie tense the same way she had when she first met Yuuki three days ago.
"Um… who is that…?"
Yuuki took a breath and stated his purpose directly.
"I'm here to take you away, Miss Wajou Kirie."
"…?"
Tama's eyes widened. "Young master, isn't this moving a bit fast—wait… her name is Wajou Kirie?"
"Tama, be quiet for a moment."
Yuuki continued, facing Kirie.
"I can't explain my full purpose yet. But I can resolve your immediate situation. I can take you away from here, and I can cover your medical costs."
He paused, then added, measured:
"And I can help with your future predicament as well. Three years… no, probably two. I'll find a way to cure you."
If Yuuki remembered correctly, the Clock Tower's Grand-ranked magus, Aozaki Touko, could solve the illness that plagued Kirie. But she likely wouldn't move to Mifune City and establish Garan no Dou until later.
Yuuki hadn't collected them deliberately, but among his "leftover junk" were items valuable enough to appear at auction. Touko might take interest in some "valuable trash"… no—antiques. As bargaining chips, they should work, he reasoned.
"Young master?! When did you—no, more importantly, are you serious?"
Unlike Tama's agitation, Kirie's expression was only surprised—yet her chest rose and fell more sharply, and the monitor at her bedside began to fluctuate slightly. She was far less calm than she looked.
"Tama, be quiet. I'm waiting for her answer."
Yuuki's tone tightened.
"I know I'm telling you to relax, but honestly, I'm in a hurry. Miss Wajou—please answer quickly."
In total, Yuuki had only spoken with her three or four hours across three days. In that time he'd learned something important: although Kirie couldn't read facial expressions, she was strangely sharp—very good at sensing lies and concealment.
So if he wanted to move her before Araya arrived, he couldn't afford to lie.
A long silence followed. Each inhale Kirie took sounded more difficult, more drawn out—until, as if using the last of her strength, she spoke.
"It's such an unrealistic promise… and yet I don't know why. I feel like I can believe you."
It worked.
Those three days of conversation mattered. Because she had hardly spoken to anyone for so long, Kirie had said more than she realized—and Yuuki had understood her situation.
She was alone. Everything she had was taken during her years of hospitalization by people claiming to be "family friends," but who carried malice. The conservative "treatment" she still received existed only because those people needed legitimacy while they devoured her assets.
But half a year ago, everything under Kirie's name had already been divided until nothing remained.
Meaning: to them, Kirie was no longer useful.
And once she was useless, even medical expenses became an intolerable waste.
Araya Souren would appear around that time.
Yuuki had moved first, but he couldn't grant her "the freedom to float" immediately—he could only promise a future he couldn't yet guarantee.
And because he couldn't explain the real reason he needed her, he hadn't been sure he could persuade her. So when Kirie's answer leaned toward yes, Yuuki felt genuine relief.
"Then… what's the price?" Kirie asked softly.
Yuuki understood: for someone who had fallen from a high life straight into a cliff, and who had witnessed deception and betrayal, a gift without a price was more terrifying than comfort.
So he offered what he believed was a sufficiently harsh condition.
"When you recover… give the rest of your life to me."
Tama exploded again. "Young master?! Are you really serious?!"
"Tama. Be quiet."
Kirie… laughed.
"I never imagined someone would need me again one day…"
Even as she smiled, her eyes—seeing almost nothing—held a trace of sadness. And then she nodded gently.
With her consent secured, Yuuki finally turned to Tama.
"Then I'm counting on you. I called you because I think you're the only one I can ask for this. I'm sorry for the trouble…"
Yuuki's plan had been: once Kirie recovered, have Tama train her into an excellent maid, keep her close until the Araya crisis was resolved, and then return her freedom. It would also help Shiki.
And Yuuki felt guilty about piling even more work on Tama.
Unfortunately, Tama interpreted it… slightly differently.
She sighed, looking powerless.
"Are you asking me because she's a Wajou… or because you like her…? Whatever. But I think you're overestimating me."
She spoke gravely.
"Two years is impossible. Probably… at least five."
Then Tama walked to Kirie's bedside, took Kirie's hand, and drew her close.
"The first time might feel a bit strange. Miss Wajou… try to relax."
Before Kirie could respond, Tama leaned in and pressed her lips to Kirie's.
"…Huh?"
This time, Yuuki's mind went completely blank.
-------
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