Chapter 4

After a while, the boy moved his lips.

"...Why?"

His voice was filled with pure curiosity.

"Why, to me...?"

As if he couldn't understand the interest in himself.

"Because I want to."

I answered simply.

Literally, I really wanted to.

Even after my words, Demian still seemed hesitant.

In this situation, I had no choice but to play my trump card.

"And because of you, I got my bread taken by Carsen."

At this, Demian's body froze.

Oh. It seemed like something was going to happen.

I continued, gauging his reaction.

"So, I'm really hungry right now."

Demian's mouth opened slightly.

"Bread..." he muttered, his gaze dropping.

Hesitation.

This was the moment. I quickly continued.

"In short, we're in the same boat. But I saw you here with my own eyes, how can I go in alone?"

"..."

"So, get up."

Let's eat.

I extended my hand to Demian.

"..."

The lamp's light flickered on my face, and Demian, who had been looking into the darkness, finally extended his hand.

I couldn't help but shiver.

Demian's hand was colder than ice.

Was he frostbitten? It was entirely possible if he had been here since before mealtime.

First, I needed to warm him up.

I gripped his hand firmly and helped Demian to his feet. Fortunately, he didn't resist.

Before completely leaving the forest, I glanced at the clock tower.

By now, the principal and teachers would have all gone to the casino.

As for Carsen, I didn't care.

"Demian. From now on, you need to be quiet. Shh. Got it?"

I whispered, putting my index finger to my lips, and Demian silently watched my actions.

The forest was closer to the principal's office, so we could enter without encountering anyone.

I looked at the tightly closed door of the principal's office, then took out a thin pin from my shirt collar.

Anyone would think it was just a simple hairpin, but it was actually a wire.

After a few turns to fit the lock, it clicked open.

"Come here."

I led Demian into the principal's office.

The principal had a private bathroom in his room instead of using the orphanage's communal bathroom.

Unlike us, who had to wash quickly like cats due to limited water, the principal enjoyed long, hot baths.

So, whenever the principal was away, I used this bathroom.

I put the lamp on the floor and said,

"Now, let's take off your clothes."

"…What?"

"Let's take off your clothes. You can't bathe with your clothes on, right?"

Come on, hurry up. I wiggled my fingers, but Demian remained stiff, not moving an inch.

I put my hands on my hips and said sternly,

"Do you know your body is as cold as ice?"

"..."

"If you keep this up, you might lose a hand or a foot. Or both."

"…!"

Demian visibly shuddered and looked at his hands.

I had been holding his hand all along, but his fingertips were blue and unresponsive.

He repeatedly clenched and unclenched his hands, but to no avail.

Demian tightly closed his mouth. My exaggeration seemed to have worked.

For the first time, he looked like a boy his age.

I suppressed a smile and said,

"Do you not want me to be here? Should I go out?"

"But... "

"Hmm? What is it?"

Demian's voice was too soft. I leaned my head towards him.

"My body... it's disgusting..."

"Disgusting?"

Demian bowed his head deeply, hesitating to answer.

I realized belatedly.

Before coming to the orphanage, Demian had been a slave.

I understood why he didn't want to show his body.

'I was too casual.'

I stepped back, reflecting.

"…Sorry."

But Demian suddenly apologized.

My retreat seemed to have caused him to misunderstand.

"So you don't want to show me—"

"It's not disgusting."

"..."

"Just, I..."

I couldn't continue and closed my mouth.

No matter what I said, it would only be a shallow consolation.

If the protagonist were here instead of me, she might have said something more comforting.

For the first time, I felt a bit resentful about being an extra.

But even that thought was a luxury.

I took a step back from Demian.

"…Can you wash yourself?"

Demian nodded in response to my question.

It was fortunate that he didn't refuse to wash.

"Then I'll wait outside. Call me when you're done. Use the towel to dry yourself."

"..."

"Got it?"

Demian, who had been hesitating, finally nodded.

I closed the bathroom door. Demian's dejected expression lingered in my mind.

'...Annoying.'

I shook my head, pushing the image of the injured child from my mind.

* * *

"Are you done?"

I poked my head into the bathroom.

Demian nodded awkwardly.

His wet, drooping hair made his expression hard to see, but the blush on his cheeks was clear.

"How was it? Was it good to take a bath?"

"…Yeah."

Demian answered slowly.

He seemed a bit awkward in his original clothes.

His bashful appearance made me smile.

"Here, this."

I smiled satisfactorily and handed Demian something I had brought.

While Demian was bathing, I had secretly stolen ham and cheese from the food storage that only the caretakers could access.

Since the caretakers, who had refined tastes like the principal, didn't eat such bread, it was fine to steal it.

Thanks to this, I could make a simple but filling sandwich.

"Why are you giving this to me...?"

Demian asked, looking puzzled.

"Well, you didn't eat dinner earlier."

"..."

"If you don't take care of yourself, you'll have a hard time tomorrow. If you have a hard time tomorrow, you'll have a hard time in the future."

"..."

"Eat quickly. Then I can eat too."

I waved my hand to encourage him, and Demian hesitated.

Surely not.

"Have you never eaten it before?"

Demian nodded, his ears turning red with embarrassment.

There was nothing I could do. I showed him my portion.

"Look. This is a sandwich, and it's really delicious. You eat it like this."

I demonstratively put the sandwich in my mouth.

As I bit into it, the salty and savory flavors of the ham and cheese spread in my mouth.

"Like this."

I gestured for him to try it. Hesitating, Demian took a bite.

After a few more bites, he paused. Then, he started to eat the sandwich quickly.

Seeing him eat so well after his usual stoic demeanor made me feel pleased.

Now that his stomach was full, it was time to dry his hair.

Water was dripping from his short hair, which reached his shoulders.

If he didn't dry it properly in this cold weather, he would surely catch a cold.

"Excuse me for a moment."

I showed him the towel I was holding.

Demian, who seemed to not understand, slowly bowed his head with a "Ah."

He seemed to have a quick wit despite his unfamiliarity.

I gently dried Demian's hair. Although it was stiff from lack of care, the texture itself was good.

At that moment, I noticed a bite mark on the back of Demian's neck.

'A bite mark, like from an animal...'

As I stood there, Demian slowly lifted his head.

"…Why?"

"This..."

I closed my mouth, not wanting to pry further into Demian's wounds.

But Demian seemed to have already noticed and mumbled.

"It's a wound I had since I was picked up."

"..."

"That's why the owner..."

Demian trailed off, and I was left speechless.

'So that's why you grew your hair long.'

In the story, it was mentioned that he had short hair as a child...

Demian, who was a bit shorter than me despite my delayed growth, looked very small.

Even the smallest shirt I could find for his age was too big, with the sleeves hanging down.

I gently stroked Demian's hair, which was mostly dry, and asked carefully.

"Can I... excuse me for a moment?"

"..."

"I need to dry your hair. Otherwise, you'll catch a cold."

Demian nodded silently.

As I gently dried his hair, I lifted his bangs slightly, wondering if he was sweating.

His face, which had been hidden, was fully revealed.

His long eyelashes and fair, clean skin were doll-like in beauty.

Moreover, his cheeks were slightly flushed from the recent bath.

I couldn't help but open my mouth.

'Even more... beautiful than I thought.'

I stared at Demian, forgetting the situation.

At that moment, our eyes met.

His transparent blue eyes shimmered like fragile glass.

"Ah..."

Demian's face started to turn red.

Coming to my senses, I placed my hand on his forehead, and he shivered.

"You seem to have a fever."

If he caught a cold, it would be a big problem. I wondered if I should give him medicine, but Demian quickly bowed his head.

"I'm fine."

"But you're still hot. Look."

"It's just... because I'm... warm..."

Demian mumbled in a low voice, bowing his head deeply.

His cheeks, which had been flushed, were now red all the way to his ears.

'Did I make him too uncomfortable?'

"Alright. But if you feel sick, you need to tell me immediately."

Demian nodded silently.

"Let's go now."

"…Where?"

"Where? It's late. We need to go to bed."

I picked up the lamp from the floor and replied casually.

"Do you have a separate place to sleep?"

"What...?"

I paused and looked at Demian, then smiled.

"There is a separate place to sleep. You'll be staying there from now on."

Demian looked confused.

Instead of explaining, I took his hand and led him, and he followed obediently.

* * *

After finishing brushing our teeth and washing our faces, we entered the bedroom.

The children were already sound asleep.

"Umm... Ellie? Who's behind you?"

"Shh."

Tommy seemed to have woken up from the lamp's light and mumbled.

I put my finger to my lips, and Tommy closed his eyes again.

I turned off the lamp and entered.

Carsen and his gang were nowhere to be seen, but I didn't care.

"Come here."

I whispered and led Demian.

Demian's bed was at the far end, but if Carsen returned and found him, things would get complicated.

I climbed onto the bed and patted the space next to me.

"Let's sleep here together tonight."

"…Here?"

"Yep."

Demian nodded and hesitated.