Author - Grifuja

I’d gotten home earlier to find him curled up in the corner of the room, hugging that old book, while looking quite moody. Figured he’d must miss his family and his old master.

I feel powerless against that, and it pains me to see him like that. Wish he’d just move on but… easier said than done.

But maybe… just maybe I can ease his loneliness even if just a little bit.

I silently walked up to him, not saying a word, sitting right next to him, our shoulders touching. Lightly caressing his hair, I took a glance at him. He kept still for an uncomfortable amount of time, and I couldn’t dare to say a word.

Suddenly, he buried his face onto my chest while grasping desperately at the fabric, not meeting my eyes for even a second, then I felt the warmth of his tears dampen my clothes.

“Koban…?”, panicking a little, I uttered his name.

“Please don’t leave me… I can’t bear to be all alone again…”, he sobbed.

I’ve seen him cry in silence before, but this is actually the first time he lets out his feelings. Would it be selfish of me to feel happy about that?

“Everyone that I loved… I have watch them die or leave me… Danna-sama, Kaede-san, the children… all of them… I fear that you will leave me too someday…”

I couldn’t begin to understand the loneliness in his timeless self, I knew that all too well, and probably no words I said could comfort him. Instead, I prayed he’d at least take some solace in my embrace, as all I could do was hug his frail, shivering body as he sobbed and cried himself to sleep.