In the small room bathed in silver moonlight filtering through the wide western window, Liam sat in a simple wooden chair beside a bed. On the bed, a boy lay nestled under the covers, his frail chest rising and falling unevenly, his breaths shallow and labored. His dark-green hair fanned out over his pillow, framing a face so pale it almost blended into the sheets.

Yet, despite his sickly appearance, the boy's only visible eye, his right eye, held a spark of life, dim but present, as they gazed toward the one behind the spark, Liam.

The room itself reflected a child's imagination. The puzzle-piece rug sprawled across the floor was a patchwork of vibrant colors. Toys lay scattered here and there, some well-worn, others pristine. In the far corner, a stuffed wolf-dog sat like a statue, its mossy green fur and lighter, bushy mane lending it an almost ethereal quality, like a creature from a fairytale.

Liam, his posture relaxed but attentive, read aloud from an old leather-bound book. His voice was steady, warm, and animated as he recounted the final moments of the tale.

"…and with one final, mighty blow, the knight vanquished the dragon, its fiery roar silenced forever. The kingdom was saved, the princess freed, and they all lived happily ever after." Liam closed the book with a crisp sound. "How was that, Juin?"

Juin's lips curled into a faint smile. His imagination, one of the only things not frail about him, painted vivid pictures of the knight's bravery and triumph. "That...was amazing..." Juin murmured between labored breaths, his voice faint but filled with wonder.

Liam chuckled softly, leaning forward in his chair. "It's a good one, isn't it? 'The Knight's Tale' was one of my favorites as a kid. Still is, to be honest." He patted the book fondly, his own memories of childhood adventures flashing briefly in his mind.

The door to the room creaked open, drawing their attention. Ronoa, Juin's mother, stepped inside, balancing a tray with practiced care. She wore a white apron over her dress, its edges slightly damp, likely from kitchen work. Her expression softened the moment her eyes fell on her son.

"Mom…" Juin said weakly but affectionately, his voice rising slightly in childish fondness as he turned his head toward her.

Ronoa's smile widened as she crossed the room, her warmth palpable. "I brought drinks for everyone." She announced gently. "Green tea for Liam, a little tonic for my strong boy to help him feel better, and cranberry juice for me."

Liam stood, setting the book down on the small table beside the bed. "Thank you, Ms. Ronoa." He said as he stepped over to take the tray from her.

She handed it over with a nod of gratitude. "I should be the one thanking you, Liam…" she replied, her tone earnest. "You've taken time out of your day—on the Enohay Spirit Festival, of all days—to spend it here with Juin. I just…" she choked for a moment, "I'm so grateful to you, truly. I only wish I could do more to repay you."

Her words, though heartfelt, stung Juin. The boy's smile faded, and his expression turned somber. He pulled the covers up closer to his chin, sulking quietly as guilt crept into his heart. He wasn't clueless to how much others sacrificed for him because of his illness, especially his own mother, the one he owed his life to, and Liam. While he also understood they did so out of love, it still left a lingering sadness in him. He wished he wasn't such a burden.

Unaware of Juin's shift in mood, Liam chuckled at Ronoa's gratitude. "It's no trouble at all!" He began to say, but a sudden knock at the front door interrupted him.

Ronoa flinched slightly, her eyes darting toward the sound. She looked back at the tray in both her and Liam's hands, her expression a mix of surprise and indecision. "Oh, who could that be?" She muttered, glancing around as if searching for a place to set the drinks.

Liam, noticing her hesitation, took the tray with an easy smile. "I've got this. You go see who it is."

Ronoa hesitated for a moment but then nodded, grateful once again. "Thank you, Liam." She said before heading out of the room. The door clicked shut behind her, leaving Liam and Juin alone once more.

Setting the tray down on a nearby table, Liam turned back to Juin. "Alright, bud," he said, his tone light, "what do you want to do now?"

But Juin didn't answer. He stayed silent, his face turned away, half-hidden beneath the covers.

Liam noticed Juin's silence and the way the boy had turned away, his small frame trembling under the covers. Concerned, he stepped closer, kneeling beside the bed and gently placing a hand on Juin's shoulder. "Hey, what's wrong?" Liam asked softly, his tone laced with genuine care.

Juin sniffled, the sound faint but telling. After a moment, his shaky voice broke through the quiet. "I'm…I'm sorry..." he said, his words cracking as he fought back tears. "I'm the reason...you're missing such...an important day in the village. I…I didn't want to ruin it for you…"

Liam's heart felt heavy, as though it had been anchored by the weight of Juin's sorrow. Yet, he mustered a warm smile, his hand remaining steady on the boy's shoulder. "Juin," he began, his voice gentle but firm, "don't say things like that. You didn't ruin anything, okay? I don't regret taking time out of my day to be here with you. Not even for a second."

Juin hesitated, his quiet sniffles the only sound in the room. Liam continued, his tone lightening in an attempt to ease the boy's guilt. "You know why? Because you're pretty fun to hang out with. You've got a great sense of humor and a lovable personality—way better than most people I know. Illness or not, you're still you, and I wouldn't trade that for anything bud!"

Juin shifted under the covers, his sniffles growing quieter as he listened.

"And you're one of the strongest people I know." Liam added, sincerity in his every word. "Really. You face things every day that most people can't even imagine, and you still keep going. I cherish every moment I get to spend with you, Juin."

Liam's voice softened even more as he delivered the final words. "Just because you're sick doesn't make you a burden. You deserve as much joy, love, and care as any other kid."

Slowly, Juin turned his head, his pale, tear-streaked face emerging from the covers. His wide, watery eyes met Liam's, his lips quivering.

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"D-Do you…mean all of that?" Juin asked, his voice barely above a whisper, laden with hope and disbelief.

Liam chuckled softly, reaching into his pocket to pull out a neatly folded handkerchief. "Every single word." He said, gently wiping away the tears that streaked down Juin's cheeks, careful not to brush against his flushed skin too roughly.

With one final sniff, Juin's trembling subsided. He gave Liam a small, shy smile, his voice steadier now. "Thank you, Liam…"

Liam smiled back, ruffling Juin's hair. "Anytime, buddy. Anytime."

The moment would be interrupted by approaching footsteps. Liam and Juin turned their heads at the sound echoing down the hallway leading to Juin's room. Liam's brow furrowed slightly in confusion as he noticed not one, but at least four distinct sets of footsteps approaching.

Before either could say anything, a soft knock came from Juin's door, followed by a familiar voice. "Hey, Juin, it's me! I brought Mumu and Nini with me!"

Juin's face lit up with excitement, a broad smile breaking through his earlier gloom. His pale complexion seemed to glow with happiness at this unexpected visit.

Liam chuckled, already moving to the door. When he opened it, his suspicions were confirmed. Standing before him were Dama his stitched companions Nini and Mumu, and Ronoa, who stood with a fond smile. Liam greeted them with a grin of his own with a hint of amusement in his voice. "Dama! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be enjoying the festival?"

Dama stepped forward, gesturing for Liam to bend down to his height. Liam raised an eyebrow but complied, leaning in as Dama cupped his hand to Liam's ear and whispered so Juin wouldn't overhear.

"I already had my fun at the festival." Dama explained, his tone matter-of-fact. "The dance coming up isn't really for me since I don't have a partner—but you do, Mr. Liam. Ms. Alexandra's waiting for you! I'll stay here with Juin and keep him company so he won't feel lonely, either. Not to mention, I haven't visited him in a while, I sort of missed him! Go on, Mr. Liam!"

Liam's eyes widened slightly at Dama's words, surprise flickering across his face. But as the boy stepped back, his expression softened into a grateful grin. He straightened up, placing a hand on Dama's shoulder. "Well, great minds think alike, huh?" Liam said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "I agree, Juin is super fun to hang around with!"

Stepping aside, Liam allowed Dama, Mumu, and Nini to enter the room. The moment Dama approached the bed, Juin's eyes lit up even more, and he immediately began chatting excitedly with his best friend.

"D-Dama!" Juin said, his voice raspier than usual but filled with joy. "You came!"

"Of course, I came!" Dama replied with a grin. "What kind of friend would I be if I didn't? Oh, and wait 'till you hear what happened between Tsubasa and Owain before I left!"

As Dama launched into the tale, complete with animated gestures and exaggerated voices, both he and Juin burst into laughter. Even Nini let out a soft, high-pitched noise that resembled giggling.

Meanwhile, Juin glanced back toward Liam, who had been standing near Ronoa, speaking with her. His gaze lingered for a moment, his smile never wavering.

"Hey, Mr. Liam?" Juin called out, his voice clear despite the effort it took.

Liam turned toward him, his expression gentle. "Yeah, Juin?"

"I'm really thankful for you," Juin said sincerely, his smile warm and genuine, "Ms. Alexandra's waiting for you."

Liam's chest tightened at Juin's thoughtfulness, but he managed a soft laugh and gave the boy a fond look. "You're too good for me, kid."

He then bid farewell to Juin and the others, promising to bring him something special from the festival. Juin nodded eagerly, his face lighting up at the thought, while Dama silently berated himself for not thinking of bringing Juin something earlier.

As Liam departed, Ronoa lingered for a moment at the door. She turned to Dama with a gentle smile. "Thank you so much for coming, Dama. If you need anything at all, just let me know, okay?"

Dama nodded. "Thank you, Ms. Ronoa. I'll be sure to ask if I do."

Ronoa's smile grew as she added, "And thank you for spending time with Juin. It means the world to both of us." With that, she left the room, closing the door behind her.

Once alone, Dama and Juin shared a smile. The moment of silence, however, was soon interrupted when Juin paused. His expression turned puzzled as he realized Nini was no longer by Dama's side. "Where's Nini?" Juin asked weakly, his voice tinged with curiosity.

Taking a gander to the side, then around the room, Dama and Mumu both noticed Nini by the wolf-like plush in the corner of the room. Nini was pawing at Baba, sniffing the giant plushie's mossy-green fur with what seemed like quiet curiosity.

"Nini, what are you doing to Baba?" Dama asked, his tone half-amused, half-curious.

At the sound of her name, Nini turned her head toward Dama, then bowed her head to Baba, as if showing both her curiosity and respect.

Intrigued, Dama walked over to where Nini and Baba were. He knelt down and gently patted Nini's head, his thoughts wandering. Looking at the giant plush, Dama couldn't help but marvel at how surreal it was that Baba had been made alongside Mumu and Nini by his mother, Madima. Yet, while Mumu and Nini were alive, Baba remained still and lifeless, a silent protector in the corner of the room.

Retracting his hand from Nini's head, Dama glanced at his palm, a faint memory of it glowing briefly flashing through his mind. He looked back up at Baba, contemplating something. "It's worth a shot." He thought, placing his hand on Baba's stitched snout. Closing his eyes, Dama hoped for a miracle, almost like a child testing out an old rumor.

The room fell quiet as dozens of seconds passed, yet still, nothing happened. Dama's heart sank with a pang of disappointment, though he had expected as much. His thoughts were broken when he heard Juin's weak voice.

"Dama?" Juin called softly, confusion evident in his tone. "Is something wrong?"

Dama quickly turned his attention to the boy, shaking his head. "No, nothing's wrong. I just...got lost in a memory about Baba, that's all." He offered a small smile before changing the subject. "Do you still enjoy having Baba around? Does he keep you company?"

Juin's face lit up at the question, his expression brighter than it had been all evening. "I don't just like Baba—I love him!" he exclaimed, his voice cracking slightly. "He's like my silent guardian. He's always watching...over me, protecting me...from the monsters in the dark...and other scary things...like thunder."

As he spoke, Juin's gaze shifted to the ceiling, where his faded star stickers dotted the surface, a makeshift night sky for the bedridden boy. His smile softened, adopting a hint of longing. "Sometimes though...I wish Baba was like Mumu and Nini...alive."

A bittersweet smile crossed Juin's face as he turned his attention back to Dama. "But it's okay. Baba's presence alone...is all I need. He...He reminds me of Ms. Madima...and her kindness. I'll always be grateful to her...for giving me Baba, my companion...even in the loneliest times."

Dama's heart swelled at Juin's heartfelt confession. He smiled warmly as he returned to Juin's side, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "If Baba were alive, I know he'd be grateful to have such a great companion like you too, Juin. And I can say that because Mumu, Nini, and I all feel the same way!"

At this, Mumu bobbed his head in agreement, while Nini let out a soft, high-pitched chirp of approval.

Juin's eyes shimmered with tears of joy as he stared at Baba. "Thank you, Dama..." he whispered, his voice thick with emotion and hope to one day hear those words from Baba himself.

Dama simply smiled. "Always, Juin."

Curiously enough, unseen by anyone there, when Dama's emotions reached their peak from both his love & pride for his mother, and his friendship with Juin, a small glint of golden energy sparkled within Baba.

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Next: (Extra Chapter 34) Moa's Suspicions

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