After that, I exchanged a couple of words with Janet, and went back to bed before my body got cold.

A little, in the midst of the dullness of my eyes, I looked up at the ceiling in the simple bed.

A dim moonlight in the darkened room.

As I stared blankly at the dirt on the ceiling, I remembered how Janet had been earlier.

Janet had been thinking about everyone more than anyone else.

There was only one person that Janet hadn't been able to think about properly.

Needless to say, it was Janet herself.

He's kind of an overachiever, isn't he?

Party planning and contingencies.

...... I know, I know. I'm the one responsible for Janet's hassle.

Janet called me by the name of 'The All-Purpose Lacelle'. And that I, myself, am the second fastest absorber of knowledge after Janet.

Then ...... I should have been the one to help. I should have held on to it, and I should have held on to half of it.

Now I realize that Janet was actively using her recovery magic because she wanted to be a saint. To get as close to that way of being as possible.

As a result, I in the party would have had Janet do both the attacking and recovery for me.

Now that I was relying on Janet in terms of knowledge as well, it's really not funny: .......

Just because I got a little bit greedy doesn't mean I'm not going to get a little bit greedy.

I've had a lot of luck and this is how I became more than a recovering person.

I just hope that Janet doesn't feel like she owes me any more than she already does.

That's the best thing for me after all the years of help I've had.

...... Speaking of which, I couldn't resist and spoke about dark magic.

But you didn't tell me Sybilla's secret in the first place.

Well, I think Janet would be fine with it, and that guy wouldn't refuse.

There's still a lot more I want to ask, of course, but there's also a lot more I want to talk about.

-- oh, hopefully.

May Janet have the peace that she deserves for continuing to work hard.

- - - - - - - -.

In my dream, I'm looking at the sky.

A small child hits me in the head with a tree branch from behind.

I fight back at him with the branch I was holding.

At first I'm burned out, but then it starts to get fun.

It rains.

The call of my favorite sister replacement.

My skin begins to cool and the smell of something.

I run as I follow the fire in the gray landscape - - - - - -.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -.

I feel like I've been dreaming about ...... but I've always been quick to forget.

It wouldn't be much of a concern.

As I walked out into the hallway, I ...... bumped into Janet.

It was yesterday, and I was wondering what her reaction would be to .......

Good morning .......

Yeah, good morning.

Janet was recovering somewhat, not quite as exhausted as she was when she just got back.

I greeted her as usual and went to the room where everyone always gathers ...... and then Janet came straight to my side.

"What's up?

"Hm.

Janet took my hand.

I could feel the warmth of her hand, still vaguely drowsy from sleep, probably from sleep.

'It's been a long time since we've held hands,'

'Yes. Has it been since you got lost?

You remember it well.

That's about the only time Janet and I ever held hands.

...... Only today I finally realized how strange it was.

"How is it possible for Janet to get lost?

What does Lacelle think of me?

'The guy who never doesn't understand. At least, there's no way he couldn't understand the surroundings of the village.

After muttering, "You don't feel bad about that," my answer, my fingers are squeezed tightly.

And I'm about to learn an answer I didn't know all along.

'I've always wanted to hold Lacelle's hand.'

What about ......?

I felt jealous of Emmy for holding my hand so much. But it felt weird for me to ask for help, so it was natural for them to hold my hand. I figured if anyone was going to find me, it would be Lacelle.

It was surprising.

Janet didn't get lost, she hid herself.

'It's not that I'm noisy, but I used to do whatever I wanted to do, too. Well, that's about it.

That's the part about not being able to say it outright, isn't it?

I see. So long.

I lightly poke Janet's forehead with my fingertips.

Come to think of it, we haven't had much skin-to-skin contact like this.

'You can do whatever you want from now on. You're going to have to be a little more selfish, okay?

You said it.

With that, Janet laughed firmly, though sleepily.

...... I guess I'm already somewhat okay with that.

By the way, it is only ten seconds until Emmy sees her holding hands and pecking at him, and Janet is unusually upset.

The morning sun shines on the orphanage, which is brighter than yesterday.

The birds sing in opposition and a new day begins.

Janet deflects the brunt of it to me. How about it, calm down, Emmy. Also, I'll slap Sybilla, who's grinning behind me, later.

Good grief, it's a busy morning.

But I'm not in a bad mood.