... live free!

The next morning, I was called out as I walked along the river on my way home from doing my usual routine.

"Lena?"

This voice... So I turned around and Louis stood a little far away.

"Morning, Louis."

"Oh, oh, good morning"

That's what I said. Louis looked something different from yesterday. Something more serious than yesterday, or lightness? I don't feel anything targeted. Maybe something happened to Burra and the others. That's what I thought, and I decided to ask what happened after I broke up with us.

"Speaking of which, what happened to you and Burra after you broke up with us?

"I've managed to do nothing wrong with that."

and had a bitter laugh. Was there really nothing to see Louis like that...... And I was a little worried. I thought you were lying because things weren't the same as yesterday. And because I thought so.

"Lena, what's going on? It looks like something's bothering you."

and Louis has been calling out concerned that I was doing what I thought. Well, what's bothering me is about Louis... With that in mind in the capital, I thought it was not something I could tell from thinking about and I thought I would ask Louis directly.

"I was just wondering if something had happened to Louis because he wasn't like yesterday."

"Huh? About me?

Louis was suprisingly pointing at himself with his fingers. I nodded.

"I don't know, today Louis seemed more serious than yesterday, so I thought you were worried about Barra and the others."

"There really wasn't anything about Barra and the others, was there? Besides, I'm always the same, right?

I was tilting my neck when I said.

... Could it be that you're not aware that things were different yesterday and today?

"But because yesterday we were talking in a lighter way"

"... oh, maybe it's because I was with childhood taming"

"? What do you mean?

"Well, briefly, I think it feels relaxed because people know each other very well. For once, even I'm the next village chief, so maybe I'm getting stiff because I care a lot about people."

I thought it would be enough to hear Louis talk like that for a little while. He's not an adult yet, but maybe there's a part of him he's feeling from the heavy pressure of becoming village chief. Maybe that's what I thought being with Serra and the others made it feel soothing and light.

"That could happen."

"That's what I mean. You said you wouldn't do anything about Barra and the others, so maybe you'll be okay. But you want me to be careful not to see you as much as possible because there are parts of you that I can't say there's absolutely nothing?

"Okay. I'll be as careful as I can."

"It would help if you could do that. For once, I'd be glad to have Serra tell me about it."

and Louis has looked at me as a flicker as he seemed a little sorry. Well, I think you might want me to go tell them that if Louis meets Serra, it could be a hassle for them. I accepted that. Then Louis thanked her happily and left apologizing for holding back.

I went back to my house thinking that I didn't have to bother to say that.