Chapter 23: Have You Been Waiting Long?
by fnovelpia
The sun had completely set.
Stars embroidered the sky,
And a deep blue darkness enveloped the entire world.
No people,
No lights on the streets.
The world seemed to have fallen asleep, utterly silent.
I looked down at my hands, full of bags.
“…I want to fly.”
But I can’t do that anymore.
I have to live here with the child,
And to do that, I must avoid unnecessary attention and suspicion.
“Pretending to be human is harder than I thought…”
A long sigh escaped me.
On the way back to the cabin,
The bags in my hands were far too many.
Food for the child,
Things the child needed,
And even the items Hubert had insisted I buy.
The weight wasn’t the issue,
But her bulkiness made them cumbersome and inconvenient.
Having both hands tied up was annoying enough, but the bags kept bumping against my body.
Trying to adjust by spreading my arms only made them catch on branches and bushes.
‘…What a hassle.’
The conversation I had with Hubert earlier came to mind.
When I returned to the bookstore,
The pile of goods was much larger than what I had bought earlier.
In addition to the things Hubert and I had picked out together,
there were groceries he had bought on my behalf,
and items he had quietly added, saying she might be useful.
“Why is there so much?”
“These are all necessities.”
“Ugh…”
Hubert shrugged leisurely,
A faint smile playing on his lips.
He then briefly explained what each item was for and how to use it.
Before I knew it, quite a bit of time had passed.
“Hmm, it’s gotten quite late.”
“…Yeah.”
“If you ever run into trouble using any of these, just let me know.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
I glanced outside.
Beyond the window, the crimson sunset had vanished.
The streets were empty, and sparse starlight dotted the sky.
‘…Oh, right.’
I needed to ask Hubert.
I had promised the child something delicious.
“Hey, do you know any good places to eat around here?”
“Hm? There are a few, but most are probably closed by now.”
“I see…”
A small sigh slipped out.
Breaking a promise to the child wasn’t a pleasant thought.
“Hmm…”
Hubert, watching me,
paused for a moment before snapping his fingers and speaking up.
“How about you make something yourself?”
“…Me?”
“Indeed. It’s too late today, so you can use the bread I bought as a substitute. But tomorrow morning, why not prepare something with your own hands?”
Me, cooking…
Since Hubert had organized everything, it seemed doable.
But—
“Will she… like it if I make it?”
“Heh, why wouldn’t she? The act of making something yourself holds its own meaning.”
Hubert gave a light laugh and patted me on the back.
Somehow, his words had a strangely persuasive ring to them.
‘Making it myself…’
It would be my first time cooking, but the idea didn’t seem so bad.
“Alright. I’ll try making breakfast tomorrow.”
“Hoho, that’s a good thought. If you follow the book, it shouldn’t be too difficult.”
“Yeah. I’ll head back for today. Wait for me.”
“Very well.”
I gathered all the packed items neatly arranged by the counter.
Hubert, who had been silently watching me, glanced at the bundles in my hands.
“Planning to carry all that?”
“Yeah.”
“Seems like too much… Why not take only what’s urgent and come back tomorrow?”
“Coming all the way back here is more annoying.”
“Hoho, you really are something.”
And so, I carried everything back without leaving a single item behind.
Once again, the baggage got caught in the bushes.
I tilted my head back slightly and let out a long sigh.
‘Maybe I should’ve listened to Hubert.’
Which was more tedious and bothersome— making the trip to and from the village, or walking with both hands full of luggage?
As I pondered this pointless question, the cabin came into view.
“Huh…”
It felt more like the break of dawn than the dead of night.
And yet, the cabin’s lights were brightly lit.
Had she fallen asleep with the lights on?
Or was she still awake, waiting for me?
I quickened my pace a little.
“……!” “Hm?”
A thumping sound came from the door before I could even set the bags down. The door swung open with a creak.
The quiet forest path suddenly came alive with light the moment the door opened.
The one who opened the door was a child, practically clinging to it.
Holding onto the doorknob with barely any strength left, the child had leaned her whole body just to push it open.
“…Oh.”
“!”
Traces of crawling were left plainly on the floor.
Small bloodstains marked the path, and the child’s knees were scraped raw again.
And yet, when she saw me—
her face lit up with a smile, as if relieved.
The child reached out toward me, then instantly lost balance and slipped.
Her small body tumbled to the floor, but even then, she managed to smile again.
I hastily dropped the bags and scooped the fallen child into my arms.
“Sorry. You waited a long time, didn’t you?”
“…….”
The child’s hands clutched tightly at my robe.
Gently, I wiped the tears welling in her eyes.
“…Did you cry a lot?”
“…….”
“You waited so hard, and I didn’t even bring back anything tasty.”
“…….”
The child looked up at me.
Then, as if to say it was okay, the child slowly shook her head.
The child just seemed happy that I had returned, leaning her face against me again and letting out a high-pitched laugh.
I lowered my gaze and examined the child’s knees.
“Hmm, I should reapply the ointment.”
“…….”
“You don’t have to rush to open the door next time. You might get hurt.”
“…….”
“But still, thank you for today.”
The child nodded with a smile.
Even without words, her feelings came through— that she had been waiting.
Her expression, Her gestures, Her eyes told me everything.
‘I was waiting for you to come back.’
That feeling, as vivid as if I had heard it in her voice.
I stepped inside the cabin. The fireplace still held a small flickering flame.
Slowly, I set the child down in front of the fireplace and stood up.
“It’s cold. Stay here.”
“…….”
A small hand tightly gripped my robe.
As if reluctant to let go.
“It’s okay. I won’t disappear for a while.”
“…….”
“I brought all my luggage here because I didn’t want to go back to the village again.”
The child gave a small smile.
This time, it was just the corners of her lips lifting slightly— a quiet, yet somehow joyful expression.
“Wait just a little. Let me move the luggage inside first.”
“…….”
The small hand reluctantly, very slowly, released my robe.
Eventually, the child gave a slow nod.
I carried the luggage inside.
Starting with the groceries, then the child’s clothes, dishes, daily necessities, blankets, and so on…
The small cabin was soon filled with bags of all sizes.
I quickly took out just the blanket.
Spreading it near the fireplace to keep warm, I glanced at the remaining luggage.
The bags that had annoyed me the whole way here.
Now that the child was unpacked, I felt even more lost about where to start.
“Organizing all this is going to be a chore…”
“…….”
The child, who had been staring at me intently, pouted.
Her expression looked slightly sulky.
Her cheeks puffed up, and her eyebrows raised just a little.
“Hm?”
“……!”
When I tilted my head in confusion, the child tapped the floor, signaling me to come over.
As if to say, “I’ve waited long enough.”
The gesture was so bold that I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Alright. I’m coming now.”
“!”
I grabbed the bread Hubert had bought and headed toward the child.
I decided to forget about the remaining luggage for now.
If needed, I could always organize it tomorrow.
As I approached the fireplace,
The child’s arms spread wide, as if she had been waiting.
Small,
But unmistakably a welcoming gesture.
Carefully, I lowered myself beside them.
Then, without hesitation, the child leaned against me.
Hug—.
A small head touched my chest.
As if her tension had melted away, the child’s breathing slowly grew steady.
I held the child in my arms.
Her eyes were gently closing, as if she had been fighting off sleep until now.
“…Mmm, can’t eat bread…”
“……”
“No. It’s fine, we can have it tomorrow. Sleep. I’ll put some medicine on you.”
When I tried to lay them down on the blanket,
The child clung even tighter to my robe.
Seems like today, she had waited long enough.
Half-lidded eyes still open,
The child puffed up her cheeks again.
“Alright. I’ll carry you.”
“!”
The child’s expression brightened instantly.
As if her drowsiness from moments ago had never existed.
Her eyelids were heavy,
But the corners of her mouth were curled up clearly.
A smile that seemed to say her patience had been rewarded.
“Mmm…”
“……?”
For some reason,
I had a feeling.
That tonight, I’d have to lie beside the child again.
To be precise,
Just like yesterday,
The child would cling to me all night, asking to be held.
I shrugged my shoulders lightly.
“I was planning to read a cookbook all night.”
“……”
“Fine. Tonight, I’ll just lie here with you.”
“!”
Hearing that, the child beamed.
Did it make them that happy?
Even though the antiseptic must have stung,
The child clenched her teeth and endured it without a sound.
“……”
“You’re doing great. You’ve been through a lot.”
I stroked the head of the child, who had bravely endured the treatment.
The child gripped my clothes tightly.
As if pleading,
Stay with me.
Let me rest beside you.
Looking at them, I let out a small laugh.
“Alright. Let’s sleep together.”
“!”
Holding the child,
I moved to the blanket spread out beside the fireplace.
Then, still holding them, I lay down.
“……”
“…Sleep?”
The child’s eyes closed.
Her breathing was even and peaceful.
With one hand, I brushed her bangs aside and whispered softly.
“Tomorrow, I’ll definitely make you something delicious.”
“……”
The corners of the child’s lips curled up ever so slightly.
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