Hyakki watched with a mix of confusion and energy as “Dororo” so spiritedly gathered up the scattered items on the bed. Dazai had already climbed to the edge of the bed, preparing to head to the bathroom attached to the room for a shower.

【C-Clothes…】

Suddenly, Hyakki petrified upon realizing what was most likely clothing.

Dazai turned back momentarily, giving him a blinked.

The young man, his face now freed from bandages, wore a smile. His slightly chubby cheeks framed delicate features that seemed youthful and tender. His slender body was marked with faint scars, as if dispelling shadows and returning to the sunlight.

“You silly Hyakki.”

“I don’t need anyone to save me. I’m only continuing to live because I pity and want to help you.”

Dazai, who often spoke misleading words, had never abandoned Hyakki. Their meeting was an unexpected twist of fate, bringing together two incomplete halves.

“Ten years later…”

“Don’t ask about Dororo again. Wake up and look at me sooner.”

Dazai tilted his head, employing his cute but deadly ability to charm only for Hyakki’s eyes.

“I’m Dazai.”

Your ‘Dororo’ won’t make you cry anymore. Get well soon.

…

【Is Dororo speaking to me?】

Hyakki lying still on the bed seemed to understand his meaning, quietly responding in his heart.

【Whatever you say, I promise you, as long as you’re healthy and safe.】

In a world where reunions and farewells happen every moment, the proximity of life and death in turbulent times is much closer than imagined. Hyakki couldn’t promise to never lose his ‘Dororo’, but greedily wanted to be with them forever. He would hold onto them tightly, cherishing every moment together, walking towards the light with ‘her’.

The script of “Dororo” no longer mattered.

The person Hyakki recognized as Dororo would never be replaced by another.

Others from the original story wouldn’t do, and even paying to engage with a time-traveling heroine wouldn’t suffice.

【You are my…】

【Dororo.】

Future girlfriend, future wife, the one and only.

In the bathroom, after washing his hair, Dazai stepped into the bathtub filled with warm water, savoring the first relaxation of body and mind in many days. His hands folded behind his head, resisting the urge to scratch his prickly heat, thoughts of Hyakki continuously surfacing in his mind. Just thinking about him made Dazai want to finish his bath quickly, then drag Hyakki, the guy who prefers bathing in rivers, over to scrub him clean.

Such a mundane life was almost unbelievable, no longer hiding, he and Hyakki returned to how it all began.

After Dazai finished his bath and dressed, a strange thought crossed his mind.

“Hyakki, does he know I’m a boy?”

He lowered his head.

Hmm, he has all the organs he should have.

Drink a little more milk every day, get some sun, and aim to grow taller than Hyakki as soon as possible. No more nutrient-poor instant noodles.

“You must be mistaken.”

Dazai shook off his distractions and pushed Hyakki, who had reverted to his docile state, back into the bathroom.

“I’m going to wash you inside and out!”

【？！！！】

“Don’t hide! I just finished bathing, don’t splash water on me— I’ll get angry, and the consequences of my anger are serious. I won’t let you sleep with me anymore.”

Although sleeping together felt awkward, Dazai reluctantly learned to be a bit more open-minded.

Normal friends do sleep together sometimes, right?

“Dororo!”

In the bathtub, a startled Hyakki was thrown in, clothes and bandages stripped off. A chilling sensation ran through his soul, proving how much humans rely on clothes for a sense of security.

Dazai smirked cunningly, “Calling ‘Dororo’ won’t help until you learn other words.”

He pressed Hyakki down into the water.

“Let’s have a pleasant bath, I’ll clean you up just like Mori treats Alice… Ugh, so disgusting, I really can’t learn that girl-con thing.”

Balancing on the edge of the bathtub with one foot, Dazai bent down to look at the inexplicably shy Hyakki.

Both were in their most innocent age.

They understood what they should, but lacked the experience.

But before Dazai could grasp a deeper meaning, he was led astray by Hyakki’s oblivious innocence.

“Be good, I’ll only hold the clean Hyakki.”

This sincerity…

Is for the cleanest you, and the most turbid me.