Chapter 6
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Child's Heart (3)
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When I opened my eyes again, it was Tuesday.
The match had been on Monday, so I'd been out cold for a full day.
"...Having fun?"
This was the orphanage's infirmary. I asked the kids on the bed across from me, who were going pop-pop-pop.
"Ung..."
"...Ugh!"
Berry and Bell. They sat with their heads together, playing a game on a smartphone.
They'd been like that ever since I woke up.
While their owner was away, they'd explored the phone on their own, progressing smoothly from YouTube to mobile games.
—Game over.
"Nooo!"
"Waaah."
"Berry died..."
I gave a wry smile. Berry and Bell turned to look at me. Their utterly pure eyes made me feel oddly embarrassed.
I scratched the back of my neck.
"Sorry about that."
I'd struck such a cool pose, only to lose.
Honestly, as an excuse, there was nothing I could do. Who could've known a monster like that would show up?
"But you know, promises are made to be broken. Lies are made to be told. That's the way of the world—"
"Sion was super cool!"
"Yeah!"
Berry and Bell bared their teeth in grins. There was no sadness or disappointment in the smiles they directed at me.
I froze for a moment.
"The bad guy just whooshed in, and boom! Pow!"
Berry waved her arms around with unnecessarily vivid expressions.
"Magic magic!"
Bell chimed in.
"...Hmm."
I felt awkwardly self-conscious for no reason. I shrugged and ran a hand through my hair.
"Still, I couldn't keep my promise."
I pointed at the smartphones resting in Bell and Berry's hands.
"Here, take those."
For an instant, the two girls' eyes went wide. Crackle-crackle—sparks seemed to fly. Their hair stood on end like they'd turned into little human static generators.
"W-Woah—"
"..."
Bell's cheeks puffed up with anticipation, but Berry bit her lip.
"No."
She shook her head with resolute dignity and held out the smartphone.
"It's okay."
"...Why?"
"We'll take it back. When we leave our home."
It was a brutally realistic reason. Far too much for a child's mind to hold.
At an age where they shouldn't even worry about things being taken away, where their heads should be filled to bursting with desires.
"..."
Seeing my expression, Berry flashed a broad smile.
"Berry's fine. It's not fun anymore anywa—"
"You're thinking wrong."
I flicked her forehead with my finger. I forced the smartphone into her palm.
"It's not about not taking it because you're scared it'll be snatched. It's about getting strong enough that it won't be. Why give up without even trying?"
"...Huh?"
Suddenly, Berry's eyes dimmed faintly. She looked up at me quietly. I met her gaze head-on and said,
"Grip it. Tight."
Strength entered Berry's tiny fingers.
The smartphone, too big for her to hold with both hands, was enveloped in her chubby grasp.
"Even if you're weak now, if you build up your strength, no one can take it away."
"..."
Berry bit her lip in silence. Her cheeks puffed out like manju buns, as if holding back tears. Her eyes welled up like droplets, and her face twisted.
She was on the verge of crying.
"Got it? Then take it and go. I've got stuff to do."
The moment Berry nodded, she bolted out. Bell followed her sister without knowing what was going on.
Watching them go, I let out a sigh.
"...Got attached for no reason."
Needlessly so.
Well, whatever. We'd be parting ways soon anyway.
I flopped back onto the bed.
"Ah... this fucking hurts."
My condition was worse than I'd thought. The side effects of Perion were as bad as expected—no, worse.
"Better not use this thing unless I have to."
It felt instinctive.
If I used it more than twice a week, I'd definitely die...
I fell asleep again in no time.
The next day.
By the time I woke up late and stepped into the hallway, the youth dorms had turned into some kind of party hall.
"...What the hell."
I stood there dazed, looking around.
A closing sale party or something? Like when a shop goes bust and dumps all its remaining stock.
But the dorm mother, Dent, and all the youth group kids were acting weird. Everyone had a smile playing on their lips.
"Hey, Sion!"
Tellun called out to me then. Everyone in the lobby turned my way.
I asked him,
"What's this party about?"
Tellun grinned.
"Celebrating the orphanage moving to the provinces."
"...Provinces?"
My eyes widened slightly.
"Yeah. It's not a full shutdown."
"..."
Moving to the provinces.
Nothing like that had happened in the future I knew.
It had been a total closure, with the orphans scattered to the winds across the continent.
"But the scale's gonna shrink a ton, they say. Probably only kids nine or ten and under... We'll just go independent as planned."
Tellun gave a small smile. A few nameless kids from the youth group approached me one by one.
They spoke hesitantly, exchanged awkward glances. There was gratitude in those pointless gestures. Goodwill. Even regret.
"It's thanks to you."
Tellun said that, paused as if reminiscing, then looked at me.
"You were badass. Crazy fast. Honestly, it's basically a win, right? Your opponent was just too—"
"When was it decided?"
I cut Tellun off. Dent, who had approached without me noticing, answered instead.
"Decided at dawn today by the main Libra house. We found out this morning. The kids take the bus at lunch, and we stick around until this place comes down."
"...But why's it thanks to me?"
I was baffled. Honestly, it was ridiculous.
Why was this sudden turn of events my doing?
"The youngest miss... Lady Zia herself mentioned you. Said she was impressed by your spirit."
Zia... mentioned me?
My mouth fell open dumbly. Dent laughed and clapped me on the shoulder.
"Touched? Well, I told you—put in the effort, and you'd get rewarded. Speaking of, where's your stuff? Time to head out."
"...Huh?"
"Your luggage. Luggage."
"Oh. Don't have any."
I shook my head.
Nothing I really needed to pack.
...No, wait.
There was one thing.
The Askal family sword, handed down from my grandfather's generation.
I could grab it from the dorm later.
Dent said,
"Alright. The bus to take the kids is coming soon. Let's head to the playground."
The orphanage playground.
Eldest son Jedric was as swift as ever. Architects and workmen had already swarmed in, discussing demolition methods.
Tellun and I sat on the bleachers, watching them.
"Kids are coming."
Toddlers started filing out of the infant dorms in a line.
Yellow hats on their heads, yellow bags on their backs, holding hands tight and waddling along, shaking the backs of their heads—like a bunch of little penguins.
The playground they marched into was now full of laughter. Their high-pitched, childish voices tickled the air. It felt like they were off on some trip.
—Ah!
Among those two hundred or so kids, two in particular were searching for me.
Bell and Berry.
They came running da-da-da.
"Sion~ We're not separating. Going to a different home!"
"Magic magic."
Berry and Bell, who'd reached me in a flash, grinned wide. I glanced at Berry's neck. A cute handkerchief necklace held her smartphone—loop they'd made looped through the phone, with the cloth threaded on.
"Yeah."
Berry beamed.
"What're you gonna do now, Sion?"
"Dunno. Something."
"Whoa... anything..."
"Waa..."
While Berry and Bell oohed in admiration, three large buses rolled in through the orphanage gates.
"Bus is here. Go on. No time."
"Yes sir!"
Who knew what cartoon they'd watched yesterday—they struck some weird salute. Then they tightened their handkerchief necklaces again.
"Call us!"
They tapped their now-official smartphones, grinning, then took one step—two steps—away in their tiny strides.
I watched them quietly.
"Guess they're off."
Tellun came over right on cue.
"Hey, Sion. This the right phone number?"
He showed me a scribbled number on a scrap of paper.
"Yeah."
"Good. We can keep in touch with them."
Of course. Tellun seemed intent on holding onto these connections.
"You too, right?"
"..."
I thought for a moment, then shook my head.
"Too busy. Gotta go to college and all. No time for chit-chat."
"...What? Wow~ Real heartless, huh."
Tellun pouted and turned away.
—Okay~ Everyone sit down~ Belts on as soon as you get in~
Berry and Bell plopped down in the very back seat. They turned around in their spots, waving at me through the window. They mouthed something, lips moving as big as they could.
"Go on."
I waved back. Berry and Bell burst into giggles.
Before long, the buses—with all the kids aboard—closed their doors.
The playground's clamor and laughter vanished.
In that hush, the engines revved.
Rumble—
At least the kids wouldn't see "our home" crumble.
They wouldn't have to part from each other.
That's why it might be okay to send them far away.
A child's young heart could always find hope to smile through, no matter the moment.
"...Weird."
A story way different from the past I knew.
Today, Libra had held onto a sliver of humanity.
Was that change brought about by me?
"Sion Askal."
As the buses began pulling away, Dent called to me. Tears were already streaming down his face as he watched them go.
"You... you can become a better man than your father."
Those words, delivered in a trembling voice, were a small relief.
Not "like" my father.