"But... you already bought me clothes today," he said shyly, uncertainly.

Change shrugged, showing no emotion.

"And you've already been through so much. Consider this a gift," he replied calmly.

Diamond looked at him for a few more seconds, unsure what to say, before smiling slightly.

"Thank you... Change."

The clerk handed the bag with the stuffed animal to Change, who held it up, just out of Diamond's reach, toying with it a little.

"Kitty... kitty," Diamond murmured, raising his arms and standing on tiptoes, trying to reach it.

Change let out a small smile before giving in to the persistence and lowering the bag, placing it in his hands. Diamond carefully opened it, taking out the black cat stuffed animal, and as soon as he had it, he hugged it tightly, closing his eyes

For a moment everything seemed calm... but a sudden memory pierced him like a knife. That time Tri also gave him a stuffed animal, a gift that wasn't a gift at all, but a trap that sealed his fate. His body began to tremble, his fingers tightened their grip on the stuffed animal, and tears filled his eyes.

"Diamond?" Change's deep voice pulled him from his reverie. He had quickly crouched down, one knee on the ground, extending his hands cautiously, not quite touching him yet.

Diamond looked up, trembling, and his words came out in a whisper:

"You're not going to betray me... are you?"

Change blinked, confused at first, until he understood. He remembered what Diamond had

told him: the deceptions, the traps, the fall.

His expression softened, and his voice sounded firm and calm:

"No... of course not."

Then he carefully picked him up, pressing him to his chest, letting him find refuge there, where there was no suspicion or judgment.

"Thank you..." Diamond murmured, resting his head on his shoulder, as Change stood and carried him out of the tent, back into the quiet light of the village.

Change stroked Diamond's head, who was still snuggled in his arms, tenderly hugging the stuffed animal as the sunset bathed the path back in shades of orange. The light was slowly fading as they arrived home. Change carefully opened the door and went inside, placing Diamond on the sofa before going to make the bed.

"I'm hungry," Diamond murmured, rolling the words shyly between his lips.

Change looked at him, slightly surprised, from the corridor.

"We've already eaten today," he replied, not quite understanding.

Diamond watched him, a slight confusion reflected in his eyes.

"But... only once."

Change returned to him and sat beside him, resting his forearms on his knees.

"What was life like on that ship?" he asked calmly. "How many times a day did you eat?"

"Um... we ate three times," Diamond explained after a moment's thought. "Sometimes I'd skip a meal if I was busy or not hungry, but usually three."

Change raised his eyebrows, surprised. It wasn't a biological difference between cloth and ceramic dolls... it was social, a gap of custom and privilege.

"I'm almost afraid to ask, but... how did trade work there?" he added with a faint smile.

Diamond hugged the stuffed animal tighter

"Ah... well, we paid with gold coins. Only gold. That's why I don't have any bronze coins."

With that, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of gold coins that gleamed in the dim lamplight. Change's eyes widened in astonishment before he let out a hearty laugh. He had thought the little boy was penniless, and it turned out he was richer than he was.

But the laughter died away when he saw Diamond innocently handing him the coins.

"If you want, you can keep them."

Change shook his head gently, taking the small cloth hands in his large, firm ones to give them back.

"No, they're yours, Diamond. Don't worry. You'll need them. Tomorrow morning, I'll calmly explain how the economy works here."

Then he got up and walked into the kitchen, leaving Diamond on the sofa clutching his stuffed animal, the faint aroma of the dinner Change was preparing wafting through the air

After a few seconds, Change returned from the kitchen with a small plate full of chocolate chip cookies.

He bent down slightly and placed it on the table in front of Diamond.

"Is this enough?" he asked kindly.

Diamond nodded with a slight smile.

"Yes, thank you."

He took a cookie and, after biting into a small piece, raised his hand to offer one to Change, extending it insistently until it almost touched his face.

"Here, try one."

Change shook his head gently.

"No, no... thank you."

He didn't usually eat more than once a day, but Diamond insisted, moving a little closer, with that innocence of his that disarmed any refusal. Finally, Change sighed, resigned, and opened his mouth to take a small bite.

The gesture was brief, but when their eyes met, the silence was filled with something warm. Diamond smiled contentedly, before returning to his place and beginning to eat a few more cookies, slowly, just enough to sleep peacefully that night.

Change watched him for a few seconds in silence, before getting up and turning off some of the lights in the house, letting the calm envelop the place

Upon returning to the living room, Change found Diamond asleep on the sofa. It seemed exhaustion had overcome him before he even reached his bedroom. He approached silently and, with utmost care, lifted him in his arms, without waking him, making sure the small stuffed animal didn't fall.

He carried him to the room, gently removed his shoes, and settled him on the bed, covering him with a blanket. He stood for a moment beside him, watching him sleep peacefully, clutching his stuffed animal. A faint smile crossed his face before fading, and then he turned away, going to his own room.

Once in his bed, Change undressed, lay on his back, and stared at the ceiling. He didn't want to admit it, but his thoughts kept returning to Diamond: his voice, his eyes, the way he clung to small things. He sighed, turned onto his side, and decided not to dwell on it, trying to sleep.

A few hours later, in the middle of the night, the sound of footsteps woke him

In one swift motion, Change pulled a pistol from under the pillow and pointed it at the silhouette advancing in the darkness.

The glint of metal was the first thing Diamond saw. He jumped and, frightened, closed his eyes, covering his face with his arms; the stuffed animal fell to the floor.

"Diamond..." Change murmured, immediately lowering the weapon.

He sat up, on the edge of the bed, and picked up the stuffed animal, gently placing it in the little boy's hands