Your Sleeping Face (Krish’s POV)

The small sounds shaking the window must have resurrected Shinobu’s memories of fear. Since that night, Shinobu has been waking up at the same time every day. It seems this was when he first noticed something was wrong on the night of the attack.

Every time he wakes up crying, I hold him close and stroke his back to help him sleep, but afterward, his sleep is shallow. As soon as I distance myself, he opens his eyes right away. Perhaps due to waking up multiple times during the night, he appears extremely drowsy in the morning and often dozes off during the day, yawning widely.

Shinobu himself seems unaware of his nighttime behavior and frequently wonders, “Why am I so sleepy?”

I hesitated to tell him about his symptoms, which resemble sleepwalking, and consulted the doctor instead. The elderly physician, stroking his white beard, shook his head.

According to him, the fear of nearly losing his family in his subconscious is likely leading to his nighttime actions. The fact that Shinobu doesn’t remember is because he’s suppressing those memories to protect his heart. He advised against forcing him to remember, stating that the best course is to wait for his emotional wounds to heal over time.

“Calming herbal teas are merely a placebo. There’s no medicine in this world for wounds of the heart. 

Unfortunately, Shinobu does not have any family here, but it seems he has opened his heart quite a bit to you, Krish. It would be best for you to support him closely.”

“Can I really be of help to Shinobu?” 

I murmured to myself, and the doctor widened his eyes and chuckled softly.

“Did you not notice? During the examination, Shinobu’s gaze was constantly following you. Whenever he saw you, he smiled adorably. That is a clear sign he relies on you.

By the way, it’s wonderful that the little wildcat Krish has found someone important. It makes me feel the passage of time. No wonder my beard has grown white.

It’s a very good thing. You’ve matured and become a composed adult.”

“………”

“Oh dear, have I said too much? Rest assured, I am aware of your relationship with Annette-sama. Although I haven’t heard it from anyone, I have simply judged based on how you both behave.

That princess is quite troublesome, though. I hope there won’t be any complications from your arrangement later on.”

It seems the doctor, who has taken care of me since childhood, is aware of the situation with Annette-sama and my feelings for Shinobu. He smiled knowingly at my silence and left, telling me to call him immediately if anything happened.

The herbal tea he gave me, which is said to have calming effects, seems to work to some extent. As days pass, Shinobu’s sleepwalking-like symptoms have begun to calm down.

He used to spring up like a doll but now just sits up gradually, and soon, even if he wakes up, he stays lying down and goes back to sleep right away.

Preparing a sofa on the first floor for Shinobu, who gets bored during the day, might have been a good idea. I thought having family visible nearby would be comforting, and it seems to have had a greater effect than expected.

However, this is contingent upon my presence. There were times when I lost track of time tidying up documents I had brought in after Shinobu fell asleep, only to rush back to the bedroom upon hearing his cries.

When I held him in my arms as he reached out to me crying, he buried his face against my neck and sniffled softly.

“It smells like Krish-san…”

As Shinobu murmured that, the tension in his body melted away, and his small hands lightly grasped the fabric near my chest. Looking closely at his face, which had begun to breathe steadily, I noticed the corners of his mouth lift slightly, as if he were smiling.

Who could possibly resist feeling love for Shinobu, who appeared so peaceful in my arms, as if this were his only safe haven?

Whether I ignored it or pretended not to notice, controlling the feelings of affection that suddenly welled up within me was not easy, even for someone like me, accustomed to suppressing emotions due to my profession.

Occasionally, his soft lips brushed against my collarbone, and each breath that grazed my neck made me want to hold him tighter. But I knew that would only trouble Shinobu.

The nights spent holding him close, feeling his warmth, were both painful and blissful.

The painful scars on my body also began to regain their original, strange skin color as I diligently applied medicine daily. 

Encouraging Shinobu, who felt shy about it, that it was for his recovery paid off, as the bruises faded without leaving marks. The pain diminished, and he could walk unaided for longer periods.

Despite his youthful appearance, he has a strong sense of independence and does not like relying on others. Now that he can walk freely, he must be eager to resume his work in the fields and deliver vegetables to his friends.

Shinobu is likely assessing the timing to return to his previous life by comparing the doctor’s findings with his own recovery.

Once Shinobu utters the words, “I’m fine now,” our temporary cohabitation will come to an end. After all, it was initially a stay limited to the duration of his healing.

While I feel joy at seeing him grow stronger day by day, I also feel a tinge of sadness at the approaching farewell, which has become a daily routine of self-mockery.

That day, Shinobu did not wake up until morning. When I tried to distance myself, he stirred slightly but continued to breathe peacefully.

While I felt a sense of loneliness at the arrival of this day, I felt even greater joy at seeing Shinobu’s heart steadily healing.

I found myself reluctant to sleep, wondering how many more days we would be able to spend together like this, and I spent the night watching Shinobu’s sleeping face.

An unexpected visitor arrived the next morning. Shinobu, who had not woken up in the night, looked refreshed and seemed to be in good spirits. It was only a matter of time before he wouldn’t need me anymore.

The search for the aloe plant that Shinobu mentioned had yielded no results, and I had been thinking it was time to discuss ending the search with Felix-sama. Just then, Felix-sama himself came to visit Shinobu’s home.

I thought I had become well-acquainted with Felix-sama’s extraordinary abilities during our travels, but to be able to foresee when giant plants would wither was truly remarkable. His powers are indeed real.

“From the circumstances, it seems that Shinobu’s ‘plant-based cheat ability’ is influenced by the intensity of his emotions. 

If that’s the case, then the new herb-like plants are likely creations of that ‘cheat ability.’

Now that the plants are starting to wither, continuing the search will probably yield little success.

We will cease the search effective today. Well done, everyone.”

“Yes, sir!!”

“Krish, you’ve done well too. Please return to your regular duties starting tomorrow.”

From the moment I laid eyes on Felix-sama, I had anticipated his words. My original job is to protect Felix-sama and oversee the town’s security. It’s only natural that I can’t spend all my time with Shinobu, and I should comply immediately.

However, Shinobu has just begun to sleep through the night. Last night’s events might have been a coincidence, and he could wake up today. With that thought, I found it hard to agree.

My gaze was unconsciously drawn to Shinobu. Even if he were to smile and nod, I intended to find an excuse to observe him for a few days.

But Shinobu was looking at me with a worried expression, as if he might burst into tears. His grip on his pants was so tight it was wrinkling, and he pursed his lips as if to say, “I need you.” I couldn’t help but entertain the thought that he might feel just as reluctant to part as I did, and before I knew it, the words slipped from my mouth.

“About that, Felix-sama. Shinobu is still recovering, so I think I’ll continue coming here for work for a while.”

“Is that so?”

In response to my uncharacteristic objection, Felix-sama raised an eyebrow, seemingly amused.

“Given that he is still weak, it would be quite a task for him to restore the fields alone. He also has livestock to care for.”

As I continued my explanation, even though it wasn’t requested, Felix-sama’s smile grew wider with interest. Surely, he could see through my words—understanding that my insistence was not only for Shinobu’s sake but also because I found it hard to part from him.

That’s why Felix-sama made sure to give me a final warning.

“By the way, Annette was angry that she couldn’t reach you. You ignored her summons when you came to report last time, didn’t you? Because of that, I had to deal with her complaints about whether you properly relayed her message. It’s quite bothersome, so make sure to visit her today.”

“Understood.”

This was a warning not to leave things unresolved and to wrap up the charade of a romance with Annette-sama, which had been lingering in uncertainty. I recalled that similar advice had been given before.

“If you ever get tired of indulging Annette’s whims, just let me know. I’ll talk to her myself.”

At that time, I had no idea I would come to love Shinobu. I think I responded rather nonchalantly.

Could it be that Felix-sama anticipated my feelings for Shinobu from that moment? If so, I couldn’t help but admire his abilities.

“Hey, Krish. I’ve caused you quite a bit of trouble regarding Annette.”

As we rode back to town to retrieve some luggage, Felix-sama spoke through a small window of the carriage, his gaze distant.

His subordinates were keeping a respectful distance as they guarded him, and only the devoted servant who had served him since childhood overheard our conversation.

“You once said you wouldn’t become a romantic interest for Shinobu, but if the person you care about is right in front of you and your words can reach them, why not make an effort to convey them?”

Though Felix-sama was nearing thirty, he remained single. With his good family background and looks, he was constantly pursued by noblewomen, yet he had never chosen anyone.

While I hadn’t asked him directly, I had a feeling I understood his circumstances, and I subtly turned my gaze away from his expression.

“This is advice from an elder. Was it unnecessary?”

“No. Thank you.”

Felix-sama changed his expression, winking playfully before closing the small window. Perhaps beyond that closed window, he was thinking about others.

When I considered that Felix-sama, despite being near me, couldn’t communicate his feelings, I realized how fortunate I was to have conversations and see his smiles.

After following Felix-sama’s advice to visit Annette-sama, I unfortunately found that she was out at a tea party with friends. I reasoned that since I would be commuting from Shinobu’s place from now on, I could afford to wait for another opportunity. I returned to Shinobu’s home with my immediate belongings, but later regretted not waiting to talk to Annette-sama upon her return.

When I got back, Shinobu was in the same position as when we last parted, with Ravi on his lap and Pochi snuggled close, as if guarding him, gazing at the dying giant plant.

“Have you been watching it the whole time?”

“Welcome back, Krish-san!”

The giant plant had lost all its leaves, and even its thick stem crumbled and shrank with each gust of wind. The fallen leaves crunched underfoot with every step.

The sight, unfamiliar to me, held a somber beauty.

“Let’s go inside. Can you stand?”

“Yes.”

I offered my hand to Shinobu, who was sitting amidst the dead leaves, and his small hand grasped mine. Pochi, understanding, nudged Ravi toward the animal shed.

Just before we entered the house, Shinobu glanced back at the field, narrowing his eyes as if lamenting the dying plants.

“You know, Krish-san, in the world I was born into, there are four seasons—spring with flowers, hot summers, autumn when the grass dies, and cold winters when white, icy particles fall from the sky.

The current scene in the field resembles autumn quite a bit. Since there are no seasons in this world, I thought I wouldn’t see it again, and it made me nostalgic and a bit sad.”

“I see, autumn is when the leaves wither. Your world sounds busy with such temperature changes.”

“Yeah. We change our clothes depending on the season. Since you have to prepare a lot of outfits, this world is more cost-effective, right? I used to dislike the cold, so when I learned the temperature here stays the same year-round, I thought, ‘Yay!’ But watching the giant plants wither today reminded me that I actually liked both autumn and winter.”

Shinobu’s world, which I would never see. Spring, summer, autumn, winter, cherry blossoms, fallen leaves, and white particles falling from the sky. I could only imagine, but it must have been a beautiful sight.

“Shinobu, tell me more. I want to know more about the world you were born into.”

I was able to learn another piece about Shinobu’s world. My desire to understand him grew even stronger than when I first heard about the cherry blossoms. As I tightened my grip carefully so as not to crush his hand, Shinobu smiled happily and began to swing our joined hands back and forth.