“I want to do it too!”
It would be nice if you at least tidied up your messy hair.
Our little mouse Zion quickly came over to our side and settled down between Noelier and me.
Thanks to that, the hands we were holding fell apart.
I let out a heavy sigh as I felt the cold filling me again. It was nice being warm. Deep down, I felt a sense of regret.
Noelier, like me, repeatedly clenched and unclenched his hands, as if recalling the temperature from just moments ago.
"Include me, too."
Then, Zion looked back and forth between Noelier and me and spoke.
"...Zion"
Then, Rachel called out to Zion in a voice that had somehow lowered slightly. Her face, wearing a small smile, looked just like a doll.
At Rachel's call, Zion tilted his head, then let out a loud "Ah!" and sprang up from his seat.
"That's right. My seat is here!"
Then, he took a seat between Noelier and Rachel.
No, the siblings held hands to become close again, so how can you butt in between them?
I shook my head and gestured toward my clueless younger sibling, Zion.
"That's not the place, Zion. Come this way."
"Yeah, I like it here."
"Zion."
"It's okay."
Noelier smiled and shook his head. However, I felt nervous for no reason.
It was because, even though things had gotten a bit better lately, I was worried about what would happen if he showed his wolf ears again.
Not just one, but two red cloaks!
Just in case, I checked the coldness in my body.
Hmm. As expected, nothing special.
Damn half-wolf. I gritted my teeth softly.
“What were you doing?”
"Cold bath and hot bath play."
"Huh? What is that?"
Zion tilted his head and looked back and forth between Noelier and me. I gestured toward Rachel's hand that I was still holding.
"I like holding hands! I want to do it too!"
Zion said that and grabbed Noelier's hand.
"...!"
Noelier recoiled slightly, perhaps startled by the child's bold touch.
"Wow...!"
At that moment, a glint appeared in Zion's blue eyes.
"Th-this guy...! He's amazing!"
Zion spoke with an excited look on his face, as if he had discovered a great treasure. It seemed to be due to the warmth emanating from Noelier's hand.
It was one thing, but since Zion was particularly vulnerable to the cold, Noelier must have been a human stove itself.
Noelier had a slightly bewildered look on his face. He seemed flustered by Zion's innocent reaction.
"Brother, you have the sun!"
"...Sun?"
"Yes! My sister said the sun is the warmest thing. You're like the sun!"
Noelier looked a little surprised at Zion's words.
I watched him carefully. I was worried about what the child's innocence would mean to him.
"...That's the first time I've heard that. Thank you."
Fortunately, it seemed he didn't take it badly.
Noelier stroked Zion's head with a faint smile. Zion closed his eyes tightly and enjoyed the touch.
True to his wolf nature, Zion really loved having his head stroked.
As expected, Zion's cheeks flushed red.
'Something feels a bit off...'
A sense of foreboding was creeping up on me. I fidgeted like someone in urgent need of the restroom.
'When making that face, Zion was surely...!'
Softly.
Oh my God.
'This is crazy!'
As expected, my hunch was right.
A wolf's tail was wagging behind Zion's back.
'Zion!'
I let out a silent scream.
Rachel and Noelier were looking at Zion from the side. They seemed not to have seen the tail yet.
'This is insane. This is practically a dead flag being planted down. What am I supposed to do? It's only a matter of time before his ears pop out.'
How could you give me a bad ending so suddenly!
I let out a peck inwardly.
'Zion, please, please!'
I used every muscle in my face to send a signal to Zion.
However, Zion tilted his head as if he hadn't noticed his tail.
The tail wagging in time with the head nod was a bonus.
"...Are you feeling unwell?"
Noelier asked with a worried look on his face.
"Huh? Oh. No, it's not!"
I hurriedly relaxed my expression and forced a smile. It was obvious I would look ridiculous because of my awkwardly stiff facial muscles.
'No, this is actually better. At least the eyes are on me.'
I shouted in an exaggerated tone on purpose.
"Well, it's a bit cold! Haha!"
"Cold?"
"Isn't it? Is it hot? That's right. I think it's hot."
"..."
It was truly a free-for-all of nonsense. Noelier looked around, perhaps bothered by my comment about the cold.
'No! Where there is firewood is where Zion is!'
Growing desperate, I grabbed Noelier's hands with both of my own. A burning heat seeped into my body.
"I... I think this would be good!"
"...Like this?"
"Yes! Oh, this is so good! Please never let go!"
I nodded vigorously. Noelier nodded slowly, appearing flustered by the sudden contact.
'It should be enough now. Please, please, Zion...."
I rolled my eyes discreetly and looked at Zion.
"...Uh?"
I blinked, forgetting that I had to steal Noelier's attention.
Rachel pressed down firmly on Zion's head. As if trying to prevent his ears from popping out, Zion kept his mouth tightly shut like a sinner, only rolling his eyes. Before anyone realized it, his tail had also disappeared.
'Surely not, Rachel...?'
Contrary to my flustered expectations, Rachel tilted her head and spoke.
"Sister, what's wrong?"
"Uh. No, it's nothing. More importantly, why..."
I took one hand off Noelier and pointed at the two rattles.
Seeing my gesture, Rachel stroked Zion's head and smiled faintly.
"Because Zion looks especially cute today."
"Yes?"
"Yes. It makes me want to keep stroking your head."
Rachel spoke emphatically, word by word. Zion smiled awkwardly and glanced at Rachel.
He's my little brother. He's always cute and adorable, but...
I guess she just patted his head?
Come to think of it. If Rachel had known he was a wolf, she wouldn't have stayed quiet either.
Thinking that, I let out a sigh of relief. It felt like my lifespan had been shortened by about ten years.
"..."
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
Thanks to that, I even forgot that I was gripping his hand so tightly it felt like I would crush it. I hurriedly let go of his hand.
"... It's okay."
He smiled faintly and shook his head. Perhaps because so much heat had seeped in, my hand stung as if it had been burned. Feeling needlessly embarrassed, I turned my head away.
"Zion."
“Uhm."
"Good job."
"Huh?"
I saw Rachel stroking Zion's head with a different expression than before.
Of course, Zion's cuteness deserved to be praised, but... I didn't think that was the only meaning.
I fiddled with my hands, forgetting to even try to deduce the significance of their conversation.
'If I absorb too much heat, won't the remaining ice power diminish?' I thought to myself.
"..."
Noelier seemed to share my thoughts, too. He was fiddling with his hand. 'I caught a glimpse of the tips of his ears; they were red.'
***
Zion and Rachel were sitting facing Noelier, their eyes narrowed as if to scrutinize him.
Zion, who had been gazing at Noelier with eyes full of curiosity, began to whisper something to Rachel.
"Ruby, you're right."
"Isn't it? I tell you, if you listen to me, fire comes out even in your sleep."
"Yeah, yeah. Ruby is smart, as expected."
The children whispered incomprehensible words like a secret.
Hey, what is it? Let me join in...
I moved closer to the children and sat down.
At that, the startled children shook their heads and stepped back.
I couldn't help but be shocked.
To think those little mice are avoiding me...
It was then that I was staring blankly, feeling betrayed. Rachel poked Zion in the side.
"Huh?"
"..."
After a moment of bewilderment, Zion nodded with a look of realization.
"I want to play with that older brother."
Then, he took a seat in front of Noelier.
I gestured toward Zion while hiding my astonishment.
Who are you trying to drive to death?! You were wagging your tail happily just a moment ago!
I refused any further threats to my survival. I gestured to Zion.
"Zion, you shouldn't bother the guest. Come here."
"No..."
Zion just shook his head from side to side while clinging to his arm.
No, why are you suddenly acting like this! Just a few days ago you said you hated that older brother!
Noelier smiled awkwardly as he watched me look bewildered.
“I’m fine.”
"I'm sorry. Sion is throwing a tantrum today. Sion, come over here quickly."
"I hate it..."
"I'm really fine. I'm a little nervous because I'm not used to it with a child, but..."
Noelier raised the hand not held by Zion and stroked Zion's head.
It seems true that the child is not used to it. The touch was clumsy.
Zion was giggling like a fool, as if the warmth coming from his hand was comforting.
It was just as I was about to call that clueless, sly little mouse over.
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