A Restless First Night
We finished our shopping bit by bit and had a light dinner on the way back. Considering Eve still had a slight fever, I figured something easy to digest would be best. Luckily, I knew a place famous for its chicken soup, so we went there.
"Even if you're not that hungry, let's eat slowly. You need to take your medicine anyway."
"Y-yes..."
I'd said that, but she didn't seem to lack an appetite at all. Eve nodded eagerly, her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel's until she couldn't fit another bite. I'd noticed it back when I was caring for her in the hotel room—Eve never left food uneaten. It wasn't quite gluttony. If anything, it felt like something closer to fear. A fear of hunger. I'd only known it intellectually myself. It was hard to imagine the depths of the starvation this tiny girl had endured.
All I could do now was wait patiently until she could finish her meal without worry.
After dinner, we headed home, and I gave her the fever reducer and other meds. Once she was bathed, Eve looked much fresher in her new pajamas. The ones the clerk picked out had a cute bear printed on them.
"Like the clothes?"
"...Y-yes!"
"Good."
I let out a genuine sigh of relief. If we're being picky, Eve came from a villainess background. I'd been genuinely worried she'd say something like, "I won't wear anything but the finest fabrics, hee hee!"
As I dried her hair, her eyelids started drooping—drowsiness finally settling in.
"Sleepy?"
"...!"
She shook her head no, snapping to attention a bit late, but it didn't last. Nod... nod... It was only a matter of time before sleep claimed her again.
"Better get you to bed."
The tiny one-room had just the one bed. I laid Eve down gently; she was out cold in my arms, so deep no one would notice if I carried her. A quick temperature check showed the fever reducer starting to work. Only then could I finally relax.
With the lights off, the room fell into heavy silence. Naturally, my sleeping spot got demoted to the sofa. I sat there staring at the ceiling for a while. This quiet one-room had always been my familiar silence, but tonight it felt strangely exhausting.
...Maybe it was just my imagination, but the day felt endlessly long. Anyway, looks like I'll be sofa-surfing for a bit. I had one spare blanket. I'd need a pillow too. A few daily necessities for Eve crossed my mind. Food was important. I wasn't big on cooking myself. But I wasn't about to force my habits on her. Serving chicken or salad every day would bore her silly in no time.
More than that, raising a kid in this barren room was nonsense from the start. The place was filled with bare minimums. Not a single toy a child might like.
One by one... we'll fill it up, bit by bit. I'm not alone anymore. I'd do my best.
Mulling over the needed items one or two at a time, I finally drifted off.
*
I woke around dawn. The clock hands hadn't even made two full circles yet. A whimpering sound. Not a dream. It was Eve's voice. I couldn't make out the words—just raw emotion. Like a nightmare, or desperately calling out to someone. Pain? Sadness? Fear? A tangled little cry jolted me upright.
As I hurried to the bed, Eve thrashed under the covers, flailing in her sleep. Her small hand reached into the void, grasping for a name, a face—chasing something elusive in her dreams. Beads of cold sweat dotted her furrowed brow.
"...Uh... uh... uwaa..."
A nightmare, of course. No surprise there.
I took her tiny hand, which had been clawing at empty air. Touching a deep wound might scar, but that was a problem for after it healed. For now, holding her hand was something I could do.
Maybe the unfamiliar warmth helped. Her convulsions slowed, then stopped. Her eyes fluttered open slowly, her exhausted face staring blankly up at me.
"Awake?"
"...Y-yes."
"I came back to check since your fever seemed to be acting up. No need to worry."
I quietly placed a hand on her forehead. The fever was rising again. Unavoidable, maybe—the outing had been a strain on her body, no denying it. Her breaths came hot against my skin, making my hand feel cool by contrast.
Eve's lips parted a few times. Something to say? I waited patiently.
"...S-scary..."
Finally, she whispered it, tiny and hesitant. The first real words from a girl who'd only ever watched and held back.
If she hadn't been half-asleep, she probably wouldn't have said it even now. Instead, I tensed up, my mouth dry as I asked carefully,
"Bad dream?"
"C-can't... remember..."
"I see."
No rush. That was enough.
"Your body's just tired. You've eaten well, drunk water, taken medicine—you'll be fine soon."
"..."
Comfort wasn't my strong suit. Especially not with kids. I wiped the sweat from her brow with a cool, damp cloth, soothing her. The chill seemed to help; her expression eased a bit.
"I'll stay right here."
"...Y-yes."
"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere. Tell me if you need anything, anytime."
Eve hesitated, then murmured,
"...A little... a little hot..."
"Let me see... Want to try something?"
"...?"
"Got just the thing."
"...? Ah... aaa..."
Eve awkwardly opened her mouth. I dropped a small, candy-like lozenge onto her tongue. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Cool, right?"
...Nod.
"Medicine I made. Roll it around slowly—it keeps you hydrated and cools you from the inside."
"...Y-yes..."
"Safe even if you swallow it in your sleep. So rest easy."
"........."
No reply. Just the faint clack-clack of it rolling in her mouth, gradually fading. Her face relaxed. Eyelids drooping again. It also relaxed muscles and eased bodily tension, though I didn't mention that.
"........."
One last shy twitch. From under the covers, her hand peeked out, timidly clutching my clothes. Even in sleep, her grip was firm. She couldn't ask me to hold her hand or stay by her side... A strange city, strange house, strange man—tensing up all day made sense. For her to cling to a near-stranger like me as her last bastion wasn't ideal.
The girl I'd swept up like driftwood in a wave. With no parenting experience whatsoever, my biggest worry was whether I could properly care for her.
I watched over Eve for a while. Once her fever started dropping, I finally caught some sleep myself.
*
Riiing!
"Uh... ngh..."
The alarm blared, snapping me awake. Winter morning air never gets easier, no matter the years. My whole body ached. The difference from usual? I'd fallen asleep in a hard chair—not the bed or sofa. And Eve, whom I'd tucked into bed, was now staring at me blankly from the corner of the living room.
"Up already...?"
Nod nod.
"You could've woken me."
As I stood from the chair, Eve backed up a few steps, peeking out from behind the wall like a shy kitten. I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Fever's down a bit—good."
"Y-yes..."
"Yesterday's sore spots okay?"
Nod nod.
Kids bounce back fast, huh—sick one minute, running around the next after sleep.
"Still, take your medicine properly. Can't tell when it'll flare up again."
Nod nod.
"Breakfast first."
After eating, as I went to help with brushing teeth and washing up, I paused.
"You already washed?"
Her fluffy hair and face gave it away. She stared up blankly, maybe thinking I was scolding her.
"Just asking 'cause you did it so well alone. Figured out the hot water too? This old place doesn't give it easily."
"...?"
"...You used cold water?"
......Nod.
Judging she'd catch a cold within days, I grabbed her and headed to the bathroom to teach her hot water.
"See, turn this, and the heater kicks in for hot water."
"...!"
Eve's eyes sparkled like she'd discovered fire, touching the warm stream. A duke's daughter bathing in winter cold without complaint—plenty baffling, but I decided not to dwell.
This morning strayed from routine. Tasks piled up, time flew by. Already this late. Better hurry and head to work.
I handed Eve a warm cup of cocoa while buttoning my shirt with the other hand. Then a sudden thought stopped me cold. Never crossed my mind living alone.
...What do I do with Eve while I'm at work?
Noticing my gaze, Eve tilted her head.