After exiting the school gate, Rin bent down with a bright smile to greet the two children.
"School's out! How were Takumi and Mizuki today? Did you have fun?"
Mizuki glanced around and, seeing that her mother wasn't there, her smile faded for a moment. Still, she nodded politely. "Fun," she said softly, then added in a worried voice, "Auntie, where's my mommy…?"
Rin gently patted Mizuki's head, speaking in that soft, coaxing tone adults used with children. "Your mommy's working overtime again tonight, sweetheart. She couldn't come today. But Auntie will take you home, and you can eat dinner at our place, okay?"
She held up a finger with a teasing twinkle in her eye.
"Auntie bought big shrimp! Super tasty! Your mom already said it's fine!"
The disappointment of being left alone again was quickly overwhelmed by the promise of food. Mizuki, ever a little glutton, bit her lip and cast a hesitant glance at Takumi, clearly worried he might object.
From the driver's side, Aizen opened the car door. "Takumi, Mizuki—hop in the back. Come on, the roads will get busy soon."
Rin waved the two toward the car, and Takumi climbed into the back seat first. When he noticed Mizuki still frozen in place, he frowned. "What are you waiting for? Get in."
Mizuki's eyes brightened slightly at his words, and she quickly clambered into the car, sitting neatly beside him.
On the way home,Rin opened a bag of chocolates from the front seat and handed it back. "Here, you two! A treat."
Takumi took the bag without much thought. But oddly, the system didn't react.
Huh. No system message? I thought this was at least worth a "+1 Favor from Fairy."
Not particularly fond of sweets anyway, he passed the bag to Mizuki. "You eat it."
Mizuki blinked, caught off guard. Rin, watching through the rearview mirror, raised an eyebrow and chuckled.
"Well, well! Takumi actually gave his snack to Mizuki? You two are getting along now, huh?"
Takumi looked out the window, deadpan. "I just don't like chocolate."
Rin stifled a laugh. "Sure, sure. As if any kid doesn't like chocolate."
Mizuki, meanwhile, fidgeted with the packet, eyes uncertain. "You… really don't want it?"
"No. Go ahead."
Still unsure, Mizuki held the bag but didn't open it. Her cheeks puffed slightly as she tried not to drool.
Rin turned around with a warm smile. "If you're saving it for later, just tuck it away, sweetie. If Takumi says he won't eat it, he really won't."
"Okay," Mizuki whispered, then looked at Takumi and added shyly, "Takumi… I'll show you the stuff when we get home."
He gave a nonchalant hum in reply. Since he didn't look annoyed, Mizuki finally dared to slip the chocolates into her pocket.
When they reached their apartment building, Mizuki sprinted to her own front door with her little backpack bouncing behind her. She tapped in the password, opened the door, and disappeared inside.
Mizuki lived with her mom, a single mother who often had to work late. So Mizuki usually went home alone.
From behind, Rin called out, "I'll call you when dinner's ready!"
"Okay! I'm just grabbing something!"
Inside, Mizuki dropped her bag, headed straight to her bedroom, and crouched down by the wardrobe. She reached beneath it with both arms, stretching until her fingers brushed a small plastic box.
She tugged it out, wiped the dust off the lid, and stared at it for a few seconds.
It was full of the candies she'd been saving. A year's worth of restraint and birthday hoarding. And the chocolate—that chocolate—was the big one her dad had given her before he left.
Her lip quivered, but she pressed them together tightly and carried the two boxes next door.
At Takumi's house, the kitchen was already alive with the sounds of cooking. Rin and Aizen were chatting over sizzling pans.
Mizuki quietly crept down the hallway. She stood at the doorway to Takumi's room, clutching the boxes tightly. The door was open. He was inside, adjusting his pillow or something. She didn't dare step in.
She just stood there, like a tiny statue, and said in a small voice, "Takumi… I brought the stuff."
Takumi hummed in acknowledgment, not turning around.
A moment passed.
Still, she didn't move.
He glanced over his shoulder—and found her standing frozen at the threshold, eyes wide and expectant.
"…Why are you just standing there?"
Mizuki lowered her head, hesitating. She didn't want to walk into his room without permission. She didn't want to get yelled at.
Takumi sighed and patted the edge of the bed. "Come sit. Give it here. Close the door too."
"Okay."
She followed his instructions exactly—walked in, sat down, handed him the boxes, stood up again, tiptoed back to the door, and gently closed it.
Then she just stood there by the door again, uncertain of what came next.
Takumi blinked.
She's really... obedient. Like a little sidekick afraid to breathe wrong.
"…You can sit, you know."
Only then did Mizuki shuffle back toward the bed, shoulders still tense, like she was afraid even her breath might be too loud.
Takumi rarely lost his temper, but right now, a small vein on his temple was visibly twitching.
He strode over and gave Mizuki's cheek a gentle tug—just enough to startle her.
"Ow—!" she whimpered, rubbing her face with a wronged expression.
"What are you doing standing there again? Go sit on the bed!"
"S-sorry, sorry!" Mizuki scrambled onto the edge of the bed like a startled kitten.
Takumi narrowed his eyes. "You always act like I'm bullying you, but it's you who's always making me lose my mind."
"I didn't!" Mizuki pouted, her voice barely audible.
Shaking his head, Takumi sat down and opened the first box of candy she had brought.
[Jackpot! A full box of nourishing elixirs! Though the quality is average, the quantity is significant. For a beginner cultivator, this is a solid windfall. With proper absorption, achieving several advancement levels within half a year is highly probable!]
Takumi blinked at the system message, then thought back to the store-bought chocolates his mom gave him earlier.
So... only things from Mizuki are considered "treasures" by the system?
He glanced at her. "Where'd you get all these candies?"
Mizuki perked up a little. "Mommy gave them to me over time. Whenever I couldn't finish some, I saved a few... just in case we didn't have anything to eat one day."
Takumi opened the second, flatter box. It matched Mizuki's afternoon description—the "big chocolate." Inside was a bar of dark chocolate, studded with what looked like dried fruits. But it was faded, dusty, and a little discolored with age.
[Black Blood Paste. Excellent quality—formerly. Due to environmental exposure and corruption, its properties have degraded. Current value: none.]
Takumi was about to tell her it had expired when he noticed the look on her face.
Mizuki was clutching her hands together, her body tense. Her eyes were fixed on him, full of nervous anticipation.
"You don't want to give this one away?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Mizuki's eyes widened at his question, and she quickly shook her head. "No, no—it's not that I don't want to! Just..." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "It's the only thing Daddy ever gave me. If you really want it, can I keep just a little piece? Just a tiny bit…"
Takumi tilted his head, curious. "And what if I say no? What if I don't give you any of it? Say I don't even finish it and just throw it away—won't share even a crumb."
Mizuki's eyes filled with tears almost instantly. She bit her lip, but they spilled over before she could blink them back.
"T-then... if you throw it away, c-can you tell me where? I'll go pick it up, okay?"
Takumi stared at her, momentarily stunned by the sheer earnestness.
"…You really are a little idiot," he muttered, and handed the chocolate back to her. "Don't cry. I don't even like sweets. You can keep it."
Her eyes lit up as she carefully cradled the chocolate, clutching it to her chest like a sacred treasure.
"But—" Takumi added, shaking the box of candy in his hand, "—this box isn't enough to pay me back for saving you."
Mizuki froze.
"From now on, every time your mom gives you candy, I get a share. And you have to listen to what I say. Got it?"
Mizuki nodded rapidly, her joy bubbling over now that he didn't want the chocolate after all. "Okay! I'll share half with you! I'll listen to everything you say!"
Takumi gave a satisfied nod. "Good. We have a deal."
[You have chosen to temporarily stay beside the young fairy. The inexperienced fairy has willingly agreed to follow your lead. Perhaps it's true what they say: he who eats your food, obeys your word.
While your time here may be brief, you've resolved to guide her with the wisdom of someone who knows this world's dangers. After all, even the most naïve fairy deserves a solid foundation for future cultivation.]
Patreon Seasay