No matter how you slice it, my fundamental nature hasn’t changed at all.

Even when I know there’s a problem right in front of me, and I understand that there are solutions, if it involves pain, I just freeze up.

Just like with the issue at the **Sanctuary**, Garfiel finds himself reflecting on this.

In the end, it feels like I haven’t changed at all since I was just barking from a cramped space.

“Ah! **Gorgeous Tiger**!”

“Whoa… hey, that’s dangerous!”

Seeing Garfiel visit his home, the boy brightens up instantly.

Running up with all his might, Garfiel feels a mix of anxiety and relief as he catches the boy in his arms.

“Please, at least look where you’re running! If you trip and hurt yourself, you’ll just look stupid!”

“Ouch! It hurts when you fall, right? When Mimi was little, she fell down a lot! And each time, **Hetero** made a painful face! But Mimi didn’t mind much. Strange!”

Mimi laughs innocently, but that’s not really strange; it’s just that her clumsy brother took on all the pain and wounds.

An overly pampered sister has grown up to be careless enough that she might still fall.

Anyway—

“So, has things settled down at home a bit since then?”

“Yeah, it’s fine. Mom and big sis are feeling better too, right?”

“I see.”

Garfiel ruffles the boy’s head, looking up at the large mansion.

For Garfiel, it’s a place that brings out complicated feelings.

At the **Thompson Mansion**, the family’s breadwinner, **Gyalek Thompson**, has long been absent.

If it were due to his work at **City Hall**, too busy with reconstruction to return home, it would be somewhat alleviating, but unfortunately, that’s not the case.

Gyalek Thompson has lost his humanity and now has taken on the form of a black dragon.

Garfiel has already confirmed this fact himself.

Though Gyalek has transformed into a black dragon, his vocal cords are intact, enabling him to communicate. In that aspect, he was better off than other employees at the hall.

As for those who had been transformed into flies, they were unable to communicate at all, not even conveying their intentions. Many see this as a blessing.

If they could have spoken with the people turned into flies, it would have been easy to guess what despair-driven desires they’d express due to their transformation.

“Hey, **Gorgeous Tiger**. When is dad coming home…?”

“———”

“He’ll come back, right?”

Feeling his younger brother’s unease, Garfiel roughly ruffles the boy’s head once more.

It would be easy to spout empty words of encouragement here without any basis. But doing that would not imbue any warmth into Garfiel’s words.

And when he considers the potential scars such shallow words might leave on the boy, Garfiel couldn’t bring himself to say anything reckless.

If the boy were but a mere acquaintance, perhaps he could offer frivolous encouragement.

But since he is not, Garfiel finds himself unable to say anything comforting. It’s complicated.

“**Fred**? Why are you keeping the guests outside for so long… ah.”

“…Hey.”

While he was having a heartfelt conversation with the boy, a blonde girl appeared from inside the house.

She’s the boy’s older sister, also likely Garfiel’s presumed little sister.

Upon noticing Garfiel, the girl first brightens, but then quickly shifts to a flustered expression. Her quick changes in expression could usually be described as cute, but now it only exposes the painful complexity of her inner feelings.

“Did you really come all the way here? **Gorgeous Tiger**, you sure are a big free spirit!”

“Yeah, just taking a little break. I wanted to see your faces, but if I’m not welcomed, I’ll leave right away… hey.”

“Garf, make sure to look the person in the eyes when you talk!”

Garfiel finds himself hesitant in front of his shy little sister. But when he communicates his intention to not push her, he gets pinched by Mimi behind him.

When he turns back, sure enough, the girl looks like she’s on the verge of tears.

At least, he thinks to himself, she doesn’t seem to be telling him to leave.

“Mom supports us and takes care of my little brother… big sis must have it tough, huh?”

“——! Right, it’s true. So, um, I could at least chat with you a little. Having an extra person around doesn’t change much anyway.”

“It’s not just one person, there are two—!”

“Having two more people around doesn’t change anything either!”

With her face flushed in anger, the girl causes her younger brother and Mimi to look at Garfiel with expectant faces. Considering the innocent expectations from the three children directed at him, Garfiel isn’t cruel enough to brush them aside.

Rather, with how he feels now, he just wants to respond to their gazes, especially since they are his siblings.

“Well then, let me come inside for a bit. If Mom finds out I’m a nuisance, I’ll skedaddle real quick.”

“That could never happen…”

“Mom wouldn’t do that!”

The siblings exchange confident smiles toward each other.

And indeed, that was true.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

“I’m sorry. Even though you came all this way, I’m not prepared for proper hospitality… if only I were a little more competent.”

“Don’t worry about it. It was my fault for dropping in unannounced.”

“You don’t need to look so anxious; I don’t think it’s a bother at all. Having you take time to come here is really a boost to my spirits.”

“——”

Caught off guard by the sincerity hidden behind those words, Garfiel feels a tightness in his throat.

Yet, on the other hand, the way Riala expresses it is completely devoid of malice. That’s only natural; Riala—his mother—was someone truly unmarred by ill intent, both for herself and others.

Even after losing her memories, that aspect hasn’t changed at all, Garfiel has found as he interacts with her.

“But still, the house feels strangely empty, doesn’t it?”

“Hmm, I guess it does? The last time I visited, it felt rather cluttered, but now it feels like everything’s all clean and tidy?”

Scanning the house aimlessly, Garfiel hears Mimi bouncing on the sofa agreeing with him.

Once again, invited into the family’s living room, Garfiel and Mimi find Riala preparing tea on the table, who chuckles softly at their observations.

“Hehe, you have a keen eye. I spend every day here, so perhaps I don’t notice it as much…”

“That’s not true at all. It feels really odd, you know? Mom seems a bit too unconcerned about things.”

“Big sis, you’re so noisy.”

“What was that!?”

The boy and girl race around the room noisily, darting past Garfiel as he wonders what’s going on.

“——?”

“Uh, wait, what’s that mean? Is there something going on?”

Noticing it was futile to probe them silently with his gaze, Garfiel decided to ask for clarification directly.

In response, Riala claps her hands.

“Oh, it’s not difficult at all. Right now, everyone in the city must come together and support each other. We’ve been giving some furniture away to those in need and releasing some of our savings, that’s about the gist of it.”

“……So that’s why there are fewer things around.”

“There were plenty of items here to begin with. Rather than being a hoarder, I just have a bad habit of not being able to throw things away.”

Riala sticks her tongue out childishly; however, this isn’t such a simplistic matter.

Certainly, the pretense of helping one another is present. However, the **Thompson** family has a slightly different situation. After all, they are missing their pillar—their father.

In such a situation, one would expect them to be the ones in need of assistance instead of offering it.

“My husband… Gyalek will return soon. I believe that. Therefore, it’s really okay not to worry about me.”

“——!”

“But you see, I always thought that the more you worry, the more happiness slips through your fingers. Even when I say ‘a long time ago,’ it’s just about ten years. I can’t really remember much from that time… Oh, did I surprise you?”

“…It might be a dull topic, but sorry, I heard about that from your husband beforehand.”

“Oh, I see… Ugh, that guy.”

Memory loss turned out to be a well-known excuse to shock others, and Riala appears mildly disappointed that her fact failed to elicit any surprise. Despite the hopeful use of an amnesia line, it could have been a complete disaster had Garfiel been unaware of it earlier.

While he feels he can handle it a little better now, it is largely due to the time he has taken and the support of various others.

And moreover, what struck him more than Riala casually stating her amnesia was that the fundamental parts of a mother’s beliefs hadn’t changed, even after losing her memories.

—There may be good things waiting tomorrow, as that was the source of her actions.

“Nothing existed prior, and it was Gyalek who gave me the last ten years. He turned the empty me into who I am now, providing me the opportunity to have this lovely daughter and son… So if I can’t believe in Gyalek, then what’s the point?”

“———”

“So please, you don’t need to fuss too much over things. I’m genuinely okay, because I believe in Gyalek… It’s not that I wouldn’t have been fine with him coming back as a black dragon, provided he doesn’t mind.”

“I’ll say it again, definitely nobody else would say that.”

“Is that so? I thought he looked quite cool that way…”

Riala’s clumsy support of her husband in his dragon form says much. After all, while he has merely transformed, Gyalek has retained his intellect and ability to speak. Nevertheless, it was also their mutual decision to enter cryostasis.

Garfiel did not eavesdrop on their discussions; hence, Riala’s feelings were solidified by herself.

“…You’re really strong, aren’t you?”

“Yes, of course. I’m the mother of two children.”

Riala puffs out her chest proudly with a smile. Factually, she’s the mother of four children, but indeed she’s incredibly strong—probably too strong.

A strength Garfiel didn’t know, one not rooted in mere physical confrontation. He could see a similar strength connected to **Subaru** or **Otto**, in the figure of this mother who lost her memory.

Surely, it’s the unrefined strength Garfiel hasn’t yet trained.

“Actually, I have a question I’d like to ask **Gorgeous Tiger**.”

As Garfiel’s eyes drift off into thought, Riala suddenly claps her hands.

Her usual baiting tone catches Garfiel off guard, so he casually nods, “Sure, ask me anything. But honestly, I don’t really get involved in the important parts of the discussion. I don’t think I’ll have much to offer.”

“No, that’s not what I meant. I’m curious about you, **Gorgeous Tiger**.”

“Me?”

“Yes. I’m curious why you’re so concerned about us? That’s been weighing on my mind.”

Out of nowhere, this unexpected direct hit causes Garfiel’s instincts to tremble, causing the resolve he had prepared to splinter.

“———”

Before Garfiel stands Riala, and beside him is Mimi, both waiting silently for his response.

With the weight of their gazes, Garfiel’s thoughts spin round and round.

By the time he had come here with Mimi, he had anticipated this moment to some extent.

He wonders if he wanted to convey his lost past memories to Riala.

Or perhaps he yearned to declare himself their brother to his siblings.

Or maybe just express his concerns regarding Gyalek and depart quickly.

Now he could no longer recall what his intentions had been.

“I… I come to see you guys because I felt I had some connection, and I couldn’t take my eyes off you. You were just… so vulnerable, you know?”

“Well, that’s terrible. Can’t say anything in response, because you’re right.”

“Oh, I see! You’re vulnerable? What does that even mean? Is it ‘fur’? You see, when it’s fire season, my fur gets super thin! But in ice season, I’m all fluffy! Fun trivia!”

A stuttered explanation draws some expected reactions from Riala and Mimi.

As their reactions hit him, a very open sense of relief floods Garfiel’s natural instincts. Considering their personalities, they are unlikely to pursue any more tricky inquiries.

While Garfiel feels this inexplicable sensation welling up inside him, he thinks it might just be time to leave this space—at least for now.

Such matters should be dealt with calmly, allowing for time to pass while searching for the right answers. Perhaps he ought to confirm with **Frederica**, his older sister, and then go from there…

“—Ah.”

“Are you alright, **Gorgeous Tiger**?”

“Why…”

“Why do I feel like you seem like a little child who seems so lonely?”

Garfiel, stunned, realizes Riala’s slender fingers touch his head.

Riala bends towards him, stroking Garfiel’s hair. The gentleness of her touch is incredibly warm, brimming with a kind of love directed at her child.

The disconnected memories of Riala and the fading memories of Garfiel resonate.

Somewhere along the way, perhaps he had once been cradled in Riala’s—**Leicia Tinzel**’s arms, receiving such affectionate stroking.

The physical memories come surging back to him, binding Garfiel’s heart.

And before he could even think of resisting, his emotions overflow.

“…Mom.”

“———”

“Mom… Mom, Mom…!”

With her fingers still stroking his head, Garfiel calls out to Riala.

His eyes swell with tears, his voice trembles, and to anyone watching, his petite form seems ever smaller, as if Garfiel is wholly fragile.

It’s only natural.

No matter how bravely one might act or how hard they might struggle, before a mother, everyone remains a child.

No matter how much bravado one puts on in front of a figure of a parental role, it amounts to nothing more than a child’s stubbornness.

“I… I want to…!”

He has so much to say. The words he wishes to convey are as many as the stars.

The thoughts he has given up on expressing, that he believed could never be conveyed, continue to shine brightly within Garfiel, rejoicing at this rare moment of opportunity.

Cradled in his mother’s arms, forgiven, desiring to call out in that tranquility…

“I… I’m Garfiel, right?”

“———”

Tears pooling in his eyes, he looks down, straining to speak out.

Next to him, Mimi suddenly calls out his name, but Garfiel doesn’t know if that was directed at anyone.

He only hears the sharp intake of breath and feels the fingers that had been on his head pull away.

“——Ah.”

The fingers withdraw, the warmth of his mother recedes, and Garfiel emits a weak sound through his throat.

However, that feeling is quickly replaced with another.

“Garfiel, come here.”

Before Garfiel, Riala opens her arms, smiling.

With that gesture and the words spoken, Garfiel feels the cessation of his thoughts.

But even if his mind seemed to stop, his body, his soul, instinctively know what to do.

“Y-You mom…! Mother…!”

Crying like a child, Garfiel leaps into Riala—into Leicia’s embrace, burying his head in her chest and struggling to express it.

The gentle, soft palm strokes Garfiel’s hair as he cries out.

“Good boy… Garf, you’ve been such a good boy. You’ve managed so well all this time.”

“—That’s right! I’ve been putting in so much effort! But I keep messing up, and still… everyone…!”

Incoherent words stream from Garfiel as he continues in the comfort of Leicia’s arms.

What spills forth are the tumultuous fifteen years of Garfiel’s life.

After losing his mother, being separated from his older sister, and pushing against the winds of loss to ensure he wouldn’t lose his family any further, only to be shattered by Subaru and the others after ten more years…

In those moments, how many times had he nearly been crushed by all he bore? How often had he wailed in despair?

He had been desperate to hold onto a lost love, to not let go, trampling on countless feelings along the way.

Ideally, from a much younger age, he should’ve clung to his parents, finding solace to overcome the walls of his heart.

Fully aware there were walls, he had grown accustomed to passing by lower paths, leaving towering walls behind, forging ahead on his own.

“…Mother!”

“You’re safe, Garf. I’m here with you.”

With gentle words spoken, comfort flows from her love—one that he had long sought but never received, and he entrusts his heart to the love of a mother.

He remembers being loved by family.

Garfiel understands that he had once been cherished by his sister and his grandmother. He also knows that his mother had loved him.

However, at that moment, while feeling the love of his older sister and grandmother, for the first time, Garfiel feels his mother’s love rooted deep within him.

To possess that which he had known all along makes Garfiel cry.

The feelings surging from his heart elude comprehension.

Garfiel still doesn’t know that name.

He merely feels, and that feeling now trembles his heart, rings his teeth, and shakes his soul; that alone is the answer.

Surely, it is an answer all have known—that Garfiel could finally, just for a moment, grasp in his fingertips.

—This burning emotion is the answer.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

“Oh, Garf has stopped crying? Have you cried enough? Honestly, Garf is such a crybaby!”

As the storm of tears calms down, Garfiel grimaces at the awkwardness when Mimi returns, leading his younger siblings through the door.

Before he even realizes how long they’ve been gone, it seems they’ve given him this moment alone with Riala.

“**Gorgeous Tiger**, are you alright?”

“Seriously, I can’t believe you were crying like a baby in front of everyone. You’re just like our **Fred**.”

Despite not witnessing it directly, his loud weeping echoed throughout the house. Mimi had tried to give him some privacy, but it looks like her efforts might be wasted now.

“…Sorry about that.”

“Hmm? What’s up? More than that, I’m curious if you’re satisfied, Garf? Also, will there be sweets for dessert?”

“Yeah, I see.”

As she beams at him with her carefree smile, Garfiel wonders how much thought has gone into this whole endeavor.

Does she really act on pure instinct like this? If that’s the case, she isn’t to be underestimated.

“Hmm? What’s up? Did you fall in love? Did you fall in love?”

“I didn’t fall in love.”

“Oh, I see.”

“I didn’t fall in love… but you know?”

After their exchange repeats a few times, Garfiel hesitates to add on one last note.

Mimi’s widened eyes stare up at him, as does Otto, watching everything with amusement.

With thoughts lingering about his mother, his siblings, those left behind like **Subaru**, he continues…

“—Thank you.”

He feels as though he’s taken just a small step forward.

With a grin showing his teeth, Garfiel smiles.