... live free!

"... it's my fault.... When I was little, I hid my arms all the time since my younger sister was taken to the treatment center... And then I saw the terrible burn on your sister's arm, and for a moment, I thought, it's disgusting. But then, you shouldn't. I thought it was because your sister Yua was working hard, but she was scared of her approaching Yua sister's arm and refused..."

I see. I was thinking about Yua in my head, but you were scared to see that awful burn... I do think Lumia can't help but be afraid of Yua's terrible burn marks sometimes because she's only seven years old.

Assuming, but I don't think I can do it when asked if it would be disgusting if I had been in the same situation (assuming I was in my previous life) when I was the same seven years old as Lumia...

"I don't think you have a choice, do you?

When I said that, Lumia looked up at me crying and looked at me strangely.

"Why not?

"Because I think it's normal for normal kids to think so when they see burns that bad... You wouldn't normally stand a chance of getting hurt like that if you lived normal, would you?

"Well, maybe... But your sister Youre working as an adventurer, so it shouldn't be weird to be in such danger."

"Sure, Lumia's right. Adventurers can be dangerous work, but they're not supposed to have that kind of burn, are they? 'Cause it feels like I said cuts or bite marks."

"Really?

"Yeah. So I don't even know how Lumia feels about Yua. But you don't have to do as much as Lumia thinks you do, do you?

With that said, Lumia had a bewildered look on her face. I think I can't help but be confused because I thought that if I didn't look at Yua's arm and not be scared, or make up for it properly. But I don't think Yua wants me to be scared or anything like that.

"Maybe, but I don't think Yua even wants it to be okay to look at burn marks or anything like that."

"Huh?"

"Probably, but I hope you treat Yua the way you've always been. Well, I want you to be as good as okay if you don't see the burn marks..."

"Oh, is that okay? I think you did something terrible to your sister."

"It's just my prediction, isn't it? But, well, I think that's okay. Because Youre cared so much about Lumia..."

"Oh, that, really?

Lumia nodded as she seemed a little happy to hear the story but worried to confirm it. Then I feel like I'm just a little relieved or I'm losing my shoulder strength.

"What did the other kids think?

"I was worried, wasn't I? But he said he might not be too well thought out because he doesn't really mind saying he's just a kid who's been here since he became an adventurer..."

"Oh, no..."

Lumia tried to deny what I said, but there seemed to be a verse on her mind that kept her mouth shut. Maybe you want to deny that you think about Lumia, but maybe you couldn't deny that Lumia knows the story about the boy who tried to kick you out.