Chapter 16 — My Room, and Then…

 

“Do I really have my own room?”

“Yes, it’s all prepared for you,” Mother assured me.

Father chuckled. “If you didn’t, where would you sleep?”

Oh… right. I’d been sleeping outside until now, so I’d forgotten. Mother carried me upstairs. My room was on the third floor, right by the staircase. As always, she opened the door with a loud bang!

“This is your room, Yuuki. Isn’t it grand? I chose a cool design since you’re a boy, though maybe something cute would have suited you better.”

“Waaah… this is my room? Amazing!”

The room was huge. A bed far too big for me stood at the back, with a decorated desk and chair opposite. A large window looked out over the world outside.

It was so impressive I almost forgot what my old mother used to say—that my “room” was only the bed itself. If I stepped off it, she’d scold me harshly.

“Toushan?”

“Yes, Yuuki?”

“Is this really my room? Before, my room was only the bed. Is that bed my room here too?”

Everyone fell silent, their faces suddenly sad. After a pause, Father patted my head, smiling again.

“Yuuki, this whole room is yours. Everything here belongs to you.”

“Really? No one will get angry?”

“Of course not. No one here will ever scold you for using your own room.”

Relief washed over me. “Thank you, Toushan! I’m so happy!”

Father ruffled my hair roughly. “Use it however you like!”

I grinned. With such a big room, I could play with Mashiro all I wanted.

Mother showed me the closet. “This is where your clothes go. Tonight, I’ll choose your sleepwear.” She dressed me in a soft white outfit, buttoning it snugly.

“You look adorable. Now, let’s brush your teeth.”

We went to the washroom. The toilet was different from my old world—you pressed a button to let water flow, kept it running while using it, then pressed again to stop. I thought it wasteful, but Father explained the water came from magic stones, endlessly replenished.

Afterward, I climbed into bed. Everyone wished me goodnight. Father dimmed the magic stone light, and soon only Mashiro and I remained. He lay on a cushion beside my bed.

I whispered, “Mashiro, are you awake?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Can I sleep with you, like always?”

“Of course.”

In the moonlight, Mashiro removed his collar and returned to his true form. He sat beside me, and I curled into his fluffy tail, drifting into dreams.

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Pain. My leg hurt.

I had climbed a tree, licking the wound on my injured foot. Below, human voices shouted:

“Catch it! If we get it, we’ll live in luxury forever!”

“Kill it if you must. Even the corpse will sell!”

“A legendary beast here of all places—don’t let it escape!”

They had hurt me. Why? I hadn’t done anything.

I looked toward the town. There, in the distance, a warm light glowed—like the sun, gentle and comforting.

I loved that light. I wanted to reach it.

Would humans chase me again? Would they hurt me more? I didn’t know. But something told me… if I reached that light, I wouldn’t have to run anymore.

Dragging my wounded leg, I stepped into the darkness, moving toward the glow.

Even if danger awaited—even if it meant death—I wanted to reach that light.