The wind brushed against them again. Their hair danced as its partner, and its touch also grazed their skin with this soft tap. Helena was staring at a distance–through the trees and bushes, she peered at what existed there. She couldn’t see it, but she felt what it was. 

There, far at a distance, the outside world.

“But since we’re on that topic, I’ve actually been meaning to ask you too, Pierrot,” she said. A second after, she returned her gaze to Pierrot–both eyes staring at him with both kindness and seriousness. “Do you want to leave?”

The sudden turnaround took Pierrot by surprise. Not to mention her question that felt out of nowhere–no, it might instead sound appropriate given this opportunity.

Pierrot had never been this close to the outside world. If he stretched his left arm towards the direction, he believed to be the outside, he might reach it. 

“Since the beginning, it’s never been my intention to keep you here. Once you’ve recovered, I don’t think I can help you much anymore. You’ve no obligation to stay either.

“And unlike me, you still have a life outside.”

Upon hearing her words, Pierrot remembered his hometown. A village where the sound of the waves sang a lullaby every passing second. Then there was his duty as a soldier–to fight for his kingdom against the rebellion. He was one of the kingdom’s shields. A shield should protect its master, and right now, he wasn’t playing his role. 

The noble heart of a soldier permitted none of the disloyalty that could bring ruin to his kingdom. 

“So it’s your choice. If you want to leave, I’ll lead the way.”

But in the face of such a dilemma, one’s heart would flicker like a candlelight struggling to stay ablaze. Pierrot was no exception. 

Although it’d been only one short day in this place, this solace was too gratifying for him compared to the hellish landscape he himself had experienced. The quiet yet tender feeling inside this cottage and the colorful spreads of life adorning the field outside had softened. It was very comfortable–too comfortable.

The human heart is fragile. 

The entire time, Helena waited and spoke no more while Pierrot shut his eyes. He stayed like that for a minute or two, though from his perspective, it felt like an hour had passed. And at the end, he opened his eyes. The answer revealed itself. 

Although it’s fragile, Pierrot knew his heart still wanted to beat–still wanted to ease in this warmth called living. He knew he was no saint. He didn’t know whether his hand could carry the weight of another sword anymore. And now that he had lost an arm too, the battlefield wasn’t the place he belonged. 

But if it were for the sake of his savior, the girl standing before him, there was something he could do–he could still do to repay his debt to her. 

“I….” The first word that came out of his mouth fainted before reaching her. He just needed to loosen his tongue more. “I want to stay here.”

“....”

“Now that I’m like this, I don’t really know what I need to do. I still need time to figure that out,” he said. “So although this is selfish, I wish to stay here. I won’t do any funny business here. I also don’t mind doing all the chores. If that’s not enough, order me anything, and I will do it. At least I can guarantee you that having me here will also help you.”

Laying everything out bare, with no misunderstanding or deception, just the true wish that he had within him right now. 

“So….Please at least consider it.”

Not having the courage to face the answer, he lowered his head–both an act to escape and show his humbleness. With his heart thumping so loudly, he didn’t expect anything favorable. However, the soft sensation that landed on his head made him jolt, pressing his hair with gentle pushes. 

When he looked up, it was indeed Helena’s hand. 

“Ah, sorry!” she said before pulling her hand as quickly as possible. “I just thought your hair looked fluffy.”

Pierrot’s hair got a little rustled. It wasn’t exactly unpleasant, though to put it into words would be quite embarrassing. He looked at Helena who had her hands near her chest again. 

“Regarding your request, if you’re fine with me, then I’m also okay,” Helena continued. “Having lived alone for quite some time now, I might not be the best housemate in the world. But if you’re okay with it, please take care of me!”

Helena followed her words by bowing. The way she laid bare everything and accepted his request with kindness made Pierrot feel dumb for being suspicious of her. Following her gesture, Pierrot also bowed. 

“Please take care of me too.”

Both of them raised the upper halves of their bodies at the same time. They happened to look at each other, and simultaneously, their lips stretched and curved upside down. 

“Should we go back now?” Helena asked. 

“We should.”

They began to trace their way back to the cottage. 

“By the way,” Pierrot said. “When you went out and saved me, didn’t you go outside?”

“I did. What about it?”

“I thought you weren’t allowed to.”

“....”

“....”

“W-well, let’s just say breaking a rule once is okay….”

“....”

“....Right?”

The birds soaring high in the sky that had been chirping went silent, only flapping their wings as quietly as possible. Even they were taken aback by her statement. 

“I-it is what it is! There’s no point in talking about the past!” Helena said, dodging the matter in hand. “A-anyway! Shall we celebrate our partnership? I have an idea about what lunch I will make.”

“Sure. I can’t wait for it,” Pierrot answered.

“Don’t get your hopes up. I might mess it up.”

“So far, that hasn’t happened.”

Soon, they had cut the path and returned to that garden. As if they were greeting Pierrot and Helena, each of them swayed and waved in unison. 

“It’s so bright!”

Helena took the first step, now walking in front of Pierrot. She basked in the radiance that the sun granted her. And as he watched her back, he got the urge to say another thing that had been bothering his mind. This time, it was filled with sincerity. 

“Also Helena….Again, thank you for saving me.”

Turning her head around, Helena nodded. A soft laugh escaped her lips. 

“You’re welcome.”