Episode 17
His sudden question startled me so much I nearly dropped my glass. I quickly set it down on the table and blinked wide-eyed.
…What’s with him today?
First, he asked me to drink with him. Then he just sat there quietly while I dried his hair. And now, he’s asking since when I’ve liked him.
“Wait—am I drunk right now?”
“You’re just realizing that?”
Lian frowned, and that’s when I realized—for the first time in six years—that I was actually drunk.
“Right? I am drunk, aren’t I?”
Otherwise… this situation makes no sense. I nodded to myself, resting my chin on my hand as I met his gaze.
“Since a long time ago.”
When the game first came out and I was looking at the character illustrations—you immediately caught my eye.
“I’ve never liked anyone outside my family before.”
I’d always been told I was emotionally dry, maybe because I rarely cared about other people. So when I suddenly became obsessed with a game character, of course my friends were shocked.
“Why me?”
“…Good question. I’m not sure myself.”
He gave me a strange look, as if silently protesting my vague answer, but honestly, I had nothing more to say.
Why you? There are so many people in the world.
Why did my heart choose someone who doesn’t even exist in it?
“I really don’t know. I’ve fallen too deep to figure it out now.”
“With your personality, I thought you would’ve come to find me long ago.”
“…You’re starting to know me a little too well.”
I laughed softly and continued.
“I wanted to come find you, but there was a reason I couldn’t. All I could do was keep my distance and watch from afar.”
That was before I possessed Rahel’s body. If I had possessed her back then, I would’ve found you right away.
“So when you came to see me in person, I was… happy.”
Just thinking about that time still makes my chest tighten. It was the first time I’d seen my favorite character in real life—of course I was thrilled.
Before I knew it, I was resting both hands under my chin, gazing at Lian.
How can someone’s face alone make me this happy? The more I looked at him, the lighter I felt, and a silly smile crept across my lips. He exhaled softly.
“You should go to bed now.”
“…Can’t.”
He visibly flinched.
“Like you, I can’t sleep when it rains. No matter how much I drink or try every trick I know.”
“……”
“Aren’t you curious why? You’ve been asking me about everything else tonight.”
His red eyes trembled faintly. When I smiled at him, he closed his eyes for a long moment before opening them again, looking tired.
“I’m not tactless enough to pry into someone’s wounds.”
“……”
This time, I was the one left speechless.
The mood for drinking had vanished. I sank deeper into the sofa, bent my knees, and hugged my legs.
“My parents died on a rainy day. The night before, they’d been drinking as usual. The next morning, we said goodbye like any other day.”
It was the first time I’d ever said it aloud to anyone.
“It was raining that morning. I remember whining about not wanting to go out. It was such an ordinary day… I didn’t sense anything wrong.”
I thought it would be hard to talk about, but my voice came out strangely calm. I smiled bitterly and tightened my arms around my legs.
“After that, I couldn’t sleep whenever it rained. So I’d drink every time it did—hoping maybe I could sleep, just for one night.”
“……”
“But I never got better. It’s pathetic, isn’t it?”
Lian didn’t say anything. He just listened quietly, his crimson eyes unusually gentle tonight.
Was he comforting me?
The thought made me smile faintly. I leaned back against the sofa and closed my eyes. I was exhausted, yet sleep wouldn’t come.
The sound of rain still pattered beyond the window. I was just wishing it would finally stop when—
“……”
He moved closer, gently placing a hand on my head. His warmth spread softly, and I opened my eyes slowly.
“What does this mean?”
“You seemed to be in too much pain.”
“…Not really. Except for rainy days, I’m not usually this pathetic.”
“That’s exactly what being in pain means.”
Lian knelt in front of me, looking up.
Did he know what kind of expression he was making right now?
The man who usually looked so cold was now gazing at me with such warmth that it hurt.
“You’re so annoying.”
“Funny. The person who usually clings to me no matter what is now saying that.”
“You never cared what I said before. Why are you acting like this now?”
You’re making me want you—right now. Maybe it was the alcohol talking, but it was getting harder to control my emotions.
If he kept tempting me like that, I might actually lose it.
After a long pause, he finally answered.
“…I just felt like it.”
“You’re really annoying. But I like you.”
“……?”
He blinked, confused.
Everything about him—his unearned kindness, his comforting touch—even though he didn’t love me back…
I liked it all.
I gently took his hand from my head, holding it softly in mine, and guided him to sit beside me.
“I told you my story. Now tell me yours.”
“You already know everything about me.”
“Still, it’s different hearing it from you. And since the rain doesn’t look like it’ll stop anytime soon…”
If I couldn’t sleep, listening to him was the next best thing.
He seemed to accept that, leaning back against the sofa before slowly beginning to speak, as if recalling distant memories.
❖ ❖ ❖
Lian Serius had once been a mischievous boy in an ordinary countryside village. His family life was modest but warm, and he got along well with others.
Among his many friends, there was one he’d been closest to—though oddly enough, he could no longer remember that person’s face.
Only a faint voice remained in his memory.
“Lian! What do you want to be when you grow up?”
“My future dream?”
“Yeah! Don’t you have anything you want to do as an adult?”
At the innocent question, Lian thought for a moment, then shook his head.
Maybe because he was still at that age where playing was all that mattered. Or maybe he just hadn’t thought much about the future.
At the time, he didn’t have any particular ambitions—he was simply happy as things were.
“Not really. Nothing sounds fun.”
His indifferent answer made the other child puff out their cheeks.
“My parents said you should think about your future while you’re still young!”
“What about you, then?”
When Lian asked, the child’s face lit up instantly.
“I’m going to make bread!”
“…Bread? Isn’t that what your parents do?”
“I’ll have you know I’m not just copying them! I really love baking!”
“Ah, I see.”
Lian replied halfheartedly, nodding. The child looked almost offended by his lack of enthusiasm.
“Then I guess I’ll only eat bread you make from now on.”
“…Why?”
The child, who had been about to head home, froze and stared at him with wide eyes.
Lian shrugged.
“Your parents’ bread is delicious. You’ll learn from them, right? It’d be weird if yours didn’t taste good.”
“Hmm… that’s true.”
“So, are you going to start practicing soon?”
“Probably. My mom says it’s dangerous for now, but I begged her to teach me.”
The child smiled brightly, cheeks flushed with excitement.
“Then I’ll look forward to your bread.”
“Huh?”
“What’s that reaction? Don’t tell me you weren’t planning to share any with me?”
When Lian teased, the child shook their head frantically.
“O-of course I’ll share! But you can’t make fun of me if it tastes bad!”
“I won’t. I’ll tell you it’s amazing.”
“…Amazing?”
Lian grinned.
“Yeah. You’re amazing. So I’d better hurry and find my own dream too.”
“……”
“Don’t go too far ahead—wait for me. I’ll catch up soon.”
As the child stood frozen, he ruffled their hair playfully and walked ahead.
“If you stay there, I’ll leave you behind!”
“W-wait for me!”
The child quickly fixed their messy hair and ran after him.
It was a small but happy village—full of laughter, kindness, and shared burdens.
To some, it might’ve seemed ordinary, but to them, it was home, filled with memories and love.
To Lian and that child, it was everything—their world, their soul. Even if they left for a while, they always planned to return.
As they watched the river flow beneath the setting sun, the child stretched their arms and smiled.
“I really love this place!”
“Me too.”
They both loved the view at sunset.
Soon it would be time to go home for dinner, but the sky was too beautiful to leave just yet.
They truly believed their happiness would last forever.
But tragedy struck in an instant.
Lian’s memories ended abruptly—from scenes of laughter and joy to flames consuming the village.
The roars of monsters, the villagers’ screams, the pounding rain—and himself, running aimlessly forward in tears.
Even though his memory cut off there, Lian knew.
Everyone he loved… was gone.
