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Chapter 5
In the morning, as I had asked, Pinocchio carried Rus out and plopped him down at the dining table. Rus grimaced for a moment, probably from his tailbone hurting.
“Thank you for the meal.”
He calmly greeted Lily. Lily gave a small nod in response. I, who had been absentmindedly stirring my soup, glanced sideways at Rus as he neatly finished his soup. It felt strange. Maybe because it was the first time I had heard human voices in the house for days.
“Is it not to your taste?”
Rus asked as he tore a piece of bread. I blinked and met his dark navy eyes for a few seconds before fumbling for an excuse. My hand flipping through the notebook was slower than usual.
[Your clothes… aren’t they too short?]
Rus looked down at himself. The clothes were hand-me-downs from Grandpa Ezra. He had picked out the largest sizes he could, but they still didn’t fit perfectly. His ankles and wrists were slightly exposed, and the chest area looked tight.
“It’s manageable.”
A patient should be comfortable. I ate my soup and thought about what I needed to do today. I should go buy him some clothes. While he’s staying here, I should do my best. And I must not forget—Rus lost his memory because of our child.
“…Are you asking me to go with you?”
Rus asked hesitantly. I shook my head.
[You can barely move properly right now. I’ll just take your measurements.]
After a quiet meal, I brought out the measuring tape I usually used when sewing Pinocchio’s clothes.
〈That’s mine.〉
Pinocchio, supporting Rus, complained softly. I replied while wrapping the tape around Rus’s waist.
‘No, Pinocchio. Everything in this house is mine.’
Pinocchio grumbled with a blank expression.
“Ugh…”
[I’ll be gentler.]
I loosened my grip slightly when I realized I had touched a wound.
[I’ll go buy you new clothes. Let’s change your bandages again when I get back.]
“I’ll do it myself. I saw you do it yesterday.”
Maybe he was embarrassed about being half-dressed yesterday. I nodded faintly and measured his arms and legs. Rus flinched but soon settled down.
[I’ll be back.]
“…Be careful.”
After closing the front door, I let out a small laugh at the faint sound escaping from inside.
***
My goal today was simple: strong, clean clothes. Judging by how stubborn he was yesterday about walking around, he probably likes moving around, so comfort matters too.
I went to the usual shop—Madam Sunflower’s—and rang the bell. Her clothes are high quality and durable, so it’s one of the most popular shops among people in Flora and Viola.
Before the bell even rang twice, the madam came out.
“Oh my, Lunar. Didn’t you just get a new spring dress last time? Did your apron tear?”
[No.]
I smiled lightly and tapped my dress. A light blue dress with a beige apron. I wear it comfortably.
[A new person came to the village. I’d like to look at men’s clothing.]
“Men’s clothes? People usually look for something sturdy. Want to take a look first?”
I followed the madam into the shop. Strong, comfortable clothes. She selected three or four outfits according to my request, and I paid for all of them.
The madam smiled and handed me a straw hat.
“A gift. Take it.”
I smiled and thanked her before leaving the shop. As I walked, I thought I should have brought Pinocchio with me. I had planned to stop by the doctor for more medicine, but my hands were full. Maybe I should send him on errands later.
Just then, Lulu’s voice suddenly echoed in my mind.
〈Aah! Lunar, something bad happened!〉
I was startled and immediately ran along the rustling forest path.
〈Idiot, why would you call Luna?!〉
〈Then what are we supposed to do with this mess?! We can’t handle this alone!〉
As I got closer to the house, Lily and Lulu’s arguing voices became louder. I passed a few villagers I had greeted earlier and then slammed the front door open.
My bags and slightly crumpled straw hat fell from my hands.
I caught my breath.
“…Someone, please help.”
Rus, held tightly in Pinocchio’s grip, spoke with a pale face. Blood had spread across his clothes. Bandages and medicine were scattered on the floor. The dolls all fell silent.
〈It’s a misunderstanding! We didn’t hit him!〉
I calmly raised my hand and signaled Pinocchio.
‘Put Rus down, Pinocchio.’
〈It’s a misunderstanding. I didn’t hit him either.〉
‘Yes, I understand. Just put him down slowly.’
Pinocchio dropped Rus like luggage. I seated him on a chair and lifted his shirt.
Rus weakly resisted my touch, but the pain was too strong for him to stop me.
When I removed all the bandages, pooled blood flowed out. I gestured to Pinocchio.
‘Go to Viola and bring the doctor.’
The towel I used to clean Rus’s upper body quickly turned red.
Rus only flinched occasionally and said nothing. Lily and Lulu kept chattering beside me.
〈He said he wanted to go out with that body, and this happened while we were stopping him!〉
〈Right! He tried to move and reopened the wound!〉
“Ugh… ahhh!”
Just then, the front door burst open and Pinocchio appeared. A doctor was slung over his shoulder like luggage.
The doctor let out a scream and immediately asked where the bathroom was. After I pointed, he ran off and started vomiting.
He must have been dragged here at full speed.
After recovering, the doctor examined Rus’s wound and spoke with a pale face.
“He seems to have overexerted himself. I didn’t bring any medicine with me…”
He glanced at Pinocchio.
“I’ll send someone to fetch it.”
“Can it be stitched?”
Rus asked.
“I want it to heal quickly.”
“If you treat wounds like this and expect quick healing, that’s just foolish.”
“….”
Rus shut his mouth after being hit with the truth.
I paid the doctor and handed him a drink as an apology for Pinocchio’s rough ride. The doctor finished it quickly and refused Pinocchio’s escort, leaving unsteadily.
[Did the children hurt you?]
Ignoring the dolls’ protests, I wrote. Rus fidgeted with the notebook before replying.
“No.”
“….”
“I wanted to get some fresh air, but they stopped me. We struggled a bit, and the wound reopened.”
[I’ll open the window.]
I stood up and opened it. Rus looked at his cleaned wound and murmured awkwardly.
“I’m sorry.”
[Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to your body.]
I rolled the pen in my hand and thought of something from Flora that might cheer him up.
[When your wound heals, want to go fishing?]
Rus stared blankly at the notebook.
[I know you’re restless, but please endure it. Once you heal, you can go wherever you want. I’ll explain everything around here.]
“…Honestly, I don’t think I should be asking this in my position. But I still want to ask.”
After a long pause, Rus spoke in a cracked voice.
“Why are you treating me like this? I don’t even have my memories. If I were you… I wouldn’t take in someone like me.”
He seemed surprised even by his own words.
He looked confused, pressing his temple, rubbing his mouth repeatedly.
“This village is strange. Too kind…”
His navy eyes drifted outside the window.
Children laughed and rolled on the grass. Couples placed flowers near each other’s ears.
“…It’s strange.”
I thought his eyes looked like they were about to cry.
The dolls had already fled to different rooms, unable to handle the atmosphere.
Rus looked deeply shaken and covered his mouth, almost gagging.
I silently handed him the new clothes.
I placed the crumpled straw hat on his head.
[When you recover, let’s go fishing while wearing this hat.]
“…You didn’t answer my question.”
“Why you’re being so kind.”
“…Did I borrow money from you or something?”
I suddenly burst out laughing. Even I could tell it looked strange.
Rus frowned slightly, thinking I was mocking him.
I forced myself to calm down and wrote.
[Yes. This village is strange.]
[Even when I was young, I thought so.]
[But I can promise you—if you had been found in another house, they would have treated you no differently. Maybe even more so.]
“So, why?”
[Because that’s just the kind of people they are.]
I thought about the nobles who once whispered about Cheyenne, about my mother struggling while they watched with curiosity, about girls who asked if the curse made me unable to speak.
And then I thought about this village—people who patiently read my notes, Grandpa Ezra who understood my signs, Mr. Albert and Mrs. Jenny, even my mother who happily burned mushrooms while laughing.
[So, promise me. Don’t reopen your wound.]
“…That’s not something I can fully control.”
Rus gave a faint smile. I held out my pinky.
[It’s your body.]
“First tell your dolls to behave. Pinocchio keeps poking me.”
[He poked you again?]
“No, not really.”
[Accusing my dolls is a very wicked thing.]
Rus slowly wrapped his cold finger around my pinky. It was cold.
His navy eyes looked at our linked fingers.
I squeezed his hand tighter and shook it once or twice.
“…I’m not accusing them.”
Rus muttered quietly and started putting on the new clothes. They were much looser than the old ones, and his expression softened.
I checked his shoulders and elbows for fit.
[Does your head still hurt?]
“…Just a headache.”
[And your memories?]
“Nothing.”
He fiddled with the hat.
“…Fishing sounds nice.”
A faint smile appeared on Rus’s lips.
A small, flickering smile—like a tiny bonfire.
