They realized it at the same time. That Justyn—his master—was now laying bare the deepest, most closely guarded parts of himself. The things anyone would want to hide. He was digging them out and exposing them completely.
Ries should’ve at least furrowed his brows in sympathy, felt hurt by the sincerity Justyn had just confessed, and hurried to reassure him that everything would be all right.
Ironically, though, Ries liked that he didn’t.
It was ridiculous, really. Wasn’t his situation basically the same as the one Justyn had just described?
“It might be… perfectly natural.”
“Perfectly…”
“Yeah. Me too. I should’ve worried about you first, asked if you were okay… But before any of that, I was just glad. That you were honest with me.”
He could feel Justyn’s gaze settle near his head. Eyes closed, Ries leaned against Justyn’s shoulder.
“Do you hate me for that?”
“No. Of course not.”
“Right? So we’re fine. You don’t have to beat yourself up.”
“……”
He didn’t answer. But from the way he gently swept back Ries’s hair, Ries could tell Justyn’s heart had eased a little.
For a few more minutes, neither of them spoke. Justyn seemed deep in thought, collecting himself. Finally, he opened his mouth.
“…It must have hurt. A lot.”
“I don’t know exactly… but yeah, probably.”
“Yeah… I’m sure she was in pain. But in front of me, she always pretended nothing was wrong. I just… I don’t understand why she went that far.”
“That’s because Hillein loved you that much, Justyn.”
Ries made a show of moving their joined hands. He gently stroked his thumb across Justyn’s palm, played with each joint of his long fingers, then laced their hands tightly together.
“She wanted to see you smile, hear your voice, be by your side—even if it meant tearing up from the pain.”
“…Is that so.”
The voice that returned wasn’t full of doubt, nor clouded by confusion. Justyn had finally come to understand why Hillein had acted that way.
Because even if it felt like your body was being torn apart, there were people you’d still want to stay beside.
He knew that now—because he had someone like that too.
The warmth in his palm felt like it was pointing him toward the path he needed to walk.
Ries comforted him.
“You get it now, right? None of this is your fault. I was surprised, sure—I had no idea what she’d been going through—but in the end, it was her choice. …Not that I’m blaming Hillein or anything! Ugh, what I’m trying to say is—”
“No.”
What started as reassurance turned into a clumsy ramble. As Ries stumbled over his words, Justyn gently cut him off.
“I understand what you’re trying to say. You don’t have to force it.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah. You’re right. This… it’s not anyone’s fault. She wouldn’t have wanted me blaming myself either.”
Even so, deep inside, that voice still whispered.
It’s because of your curse, isn’t it? So if you were gone, everything would be fine. You never should have been born.
Whenever he started to sink into that murky swamp of self-hatred, something would pull him back out.
Sometimes it was a fluffy, furry paw. Other times, a white, graceful human hand. Whatever the form, it was always warm, always gentle.
And today was no different. When guilt, fear, and loathing came crashing down, Ries willingly became the anchor that let him plant both feet on solid ground again.
How could he not believe in miracles after that?
“…If it were me, I’d have done the same.”
“Huh? What was that?”
“Nothing. Forget it.”
And so, he understood his mother. He didn’t resent her decision.
The pain she must have endured being near him for so long. The fear that she might vanish completely if things continued this way. Just thinking about it made his head throb, but Justyn knew—
Even if he hadn’t realized it before, the end of this meeting had already been decided.
And if he couldn’t change that ending…
Then let’s go back.
Let’s not waste this time that came to me like a miracle. Let’s not run away blindly and lose what little chance we have left.
Justyn wanted to talk.
Really talk—with his family, and with the mother who had shown through every fiber of her being just how much she loved him.
Meanwhile, Ries peeked sideways at Justyn. His gaze was much calmer than before, and even the curse—when Ries checked, just in case—wasn’t showing signs of flaring.
Surprisingly, Justyn really did seem okay. Ries had thought it’d take much longer for him to recover.
He looked down at their tightly joined hands. It hit him again—his master had changed so much since they first met.
And it was all for the better.
Justyn was the one to stand up first. He brushed the dirt off his trousers and looked down at Ries.
“Shall we head back?”
“…Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I ran off without telling anyone, so I’m sure they’re worried. And… I want to talk more with Mother.”
Ries’s eyes widened. Mother?
He knew exactly who Justyn meant, but he could say with confidence—Justyn had never once called Hillein “Mother” before, not during all their time together.
He could only guess that it had something to do with what he’d been feeling.
Ries looked at Justyn again, then quietly stood up to follow.
“Make sure you call her that when we get there. Hillein’s going to love it.”
“…Yeah. I’ll try.”
They walked back the way they came, following the garden path.
As they stepped out from under the shade of the trees, the bright sunlight warmed their heads.
The sky was clearer than before. He’d thought the weather had been improving lately, but now even the fickle changes were noticeably less frequent.
Ries spoke with a teasing tone.
“Remember when we first came here? You got soaked carrying me inside. The rain stopped not long after we went in.”
“Yeah. I remember.”
“Do you know how flustered I was? Who freaks out that much over one sneeze? Good thing you didn’t catch a cold.”
Justyn’s eyes curved faintly. He clearly remembered that day just as vividly. Ries imagined his lips twitching upward behind the mask.
“You were precious to me. Still are.”
“…Huh? Wait, that—”
“Thank you. Because of you, I could sort through everything I was feeling. You always help me, don’t you?”
“……”
…His uncanny ability to hit someone with raw sincerity out of nowhere hadn’t changed one bit.
Ries couldn’t respond in time and just fumbled with his lips. Justyn’s grip tightened around his hand.
When Ries looked up, Justyn was gazing right at him.
“…But you’ll still stay by my side, right?”
In his eyes was a flicker of uncertainty—but it rested on something firm: the belief that this person before him would never leave.
Ries turned his head away with mock indifference and hugged his arm to his chest.
“Why say something so obvious? I’m sticking around until you’re a hunched old grandpa. I promised to take responsibility for you.”
“…Yeah, you did.”
A light chuckle followed. It sounded just like Hillein’s bubbly laughter—the kind she used to share with them all the time.
They pretended not to, but the two of them were so alike. That’s why this time, things would work out.
And after that…
Ries scrunched his nose for no reason.
They would have to say goodbye, without regrets.
***
Back at the office.
Ries had been worried when Justyn’s face grew stiff the closer they got—but it looked like that worry could be set aside for now.
He glanced across the room. Hillein was there, looking just as stiff as Justyn. Sefiut didn’t bother hiding how tired he was.
Guess they managed to talk it out.
Ries gave a small, silent thanks for Sefiut’s hard work.
Then, ghost and human alike opened their mouths in perfect sync.
—I’m sorry.
“I apologize.”
Like mother, like son, Ries thought wryly. Both of them started by apologizing the second they locked eyes. He grimaced a little—then realized something.
“…Justyn. She’s not visible.”
“…From your reaction, I assume she’s still here. …Isn’t she?”
“No, she’s here. But…”
—Tch, what’s the point of apologizing to someone who can’t even hear you?
—I-I forgot…
Hillein’s situation was just as awkward. After a moment of hesitation, she stepped around to Justyn’s other side. Ries reached out and grabbed her sleeve.
From the point where their hands touched, her form began to solidify. Their eyes met, and an uncomfortable silence settled in.
The only one unbothered in the room was Sefiut.
—I’ll be off, then. Don’t talk in circles. Be clear, so there’s no room for misunderstandings. Well, I’m sure you’ll manage, kid.
“W-wait, you’re leaving? Just like that?”
—What would I even do if I stayed?
You’re leaving me alone with them?! The unspoken protest was obvious, but Sefiut turned his head with finality.
With a flutter of fins, the plush doll vanished in an instant. Ries could only gape after him.
There goes my emotional support…
And just like that, it was the three of them again.
He shut his eyes tightly, gray irises vanishing behind his lids.
No matter how he thought about it, inserting himself into a private conversation between a mother and her son felt way too intrusive.
But what choice did he have?
Without him, they wouldn’t even be able to talk.
So, with tearful determination, he stepped forward—to guide the two of them toward each other, despite their clumsy steps.
