Fujimaru Ritsuka reached her room and opened the door with a touch of awkward hesitation.
Inside, she found a man resting his head comfortably on the lap of a strikingly intelligent-looking beauty.
"Sorry, wrong room."
She shut the door at once, scratching her head in embarrassment.
Oh no, I actually walked into the wrong room.
She was already turning to leave when something felt off. She glanced back at the plaque—yes, this was definitely Master Room 48.
Fujimaru Ritsuka: "???"
She opened the door again.
"What are you two doing in my room?"
Void Shiki saw straight through her identity at a glance. In this world, the weight she carried was equal to Adam's.
Void Shiki raised a single finger to her lips and whispered softly,
"Shh~"
She motioned for silence and gently turned Adam's sleeping face into view. The instant Fujimaru Ritsuka recognized him, her mouth snapped shut and she froze.
Adam?!
Her mind was still spinning, but the moment she confirmed it really was him, the knot of anxiety that had been twisting inside her finally loosened.
After rayshifting back to Chaldea, she had discovered Adam hadn't returned with her. For a brief, terrifying moment, both she and Mash had panicked.
But the aftereffects of rayshifting, piled on top of everything they had endured in Singularity F, had left her utterly exhausted.
Doctor Roman had urged her to rest first—any problems could wait until she woke up.
Even though worry for Adam gnawed at her, there was nothing else she could do. So she had followed his advice and headed back to her room.
Only to find Void Shiki cradling Adam's head on her lap right at her own doorway.
Void Shiki seemed to sense how drained Fujimaru Ritsuka was as well. She patted the pillow beside her in invitation.
Fujimaru Ritsuka stood there, stunned. Her thoughts were already a mess; now they had turned into complete mush. Yet the overwhelming aura of gentle, maternal warmth that radiated from Void Shiki made her obey almost without thinking.
She walked over to the bed in a half-daze and stared blankly at the scene.
"Um… what exactly are you two doing here? And… who are you?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka turned her gaze to Void Shiki—this complete stranger.
Void Shiki kept stroking Adam's cheek, fingers gently threading through his hair, and smiled warmly at the girl.
"That isn't important right now."
"What matters is that you look just as exhausted."
"Come rest."
She patted the pillow beside her again.
Fujimaru Ritsuka blinked, momentarily speechless.
Something feels very off here.
Isn't this my room?
Why do you two look like you own the place?
Who is this woman who's practically glowing with motherly gentleness?
Why is she giving Adam a lap pillow? Is she his mother?
But one glance at Void Shiki's youthful face—looking barely older than herself—made that impossible.
Her thoughts kept spiraling.
Void Shiki patted the pillow once more, urging her gently.
"Stop overthinking for now."
"After everything you've been through, you must be tired."
"Rest first. Regain your strength before worrying about anything else."
Fujimaru Ritsuka almost refused—after all, it was only a single bed. There was no way three people could fit.
But then she looked at Adam again, and a realization struck her.
If she lay down now… wouldn't that mean sharing the same blanket with him?
The very next second, she was already on the bed.
Suddenly, squeezing three people onto one mattress didn't seem impossible at all.
Fujimaru Ritsuka settled onto the pillow and pulled up the same blanket that covered Adam.
She burrowed deep into the covers and took several long, greedy breaths, inhaling the scent that clung to the fabric.
Inhale~~~
Honestly, if Void Shiki hadn't been sitting right there, she probably would have pulled Adam into her arms and left her own marks all over him.
She stole a glance at Void Shiki, still cradling his head so tenderly, and found herself daydreaming about doing the same. Watching that serene maternal warmth, she even began to wonder what Void Shiki's lap pillow would feel like.
Void Shiki seemed to read her mind. She stroked Adam's cheek again.
"Sorry, but this belongs exclusively to him."
Caught in the act, Fujimaru Ritsuka gave an awkward little laugh. She opened her mouth to ask who Void Shiki really was—
But Void Shiki, noticing the girl was still overthinking and not wanting anything to disturb Adam's rest, lightly placed a hand on her forehead and tapped once.
Before Fujimaru Ritsuka could even wonder what that meant, her consciousness sank like a stone into deep, dreamless sleep.
Void Shiki had sent her straight into profound slumber. Even if loud noises erupted right beside her, she wouldn't stir.
Void Shiki smiled in quiet satisfaction at the now-sleeping girl, then returned to tenderly caressing Adam's cheek. Her soft, unwavering gaze stayed fixed on his peaceful sleeping face the entire time.
If Fujimaru Ritsuka had still been awake, she might have seriously wondered whether Void Shiki wanted to keep Adam's sleeping form all to herself.
——————
Early the next morning.
Adam's awareness gradually returned. A deep sense of refreshment washed over him—he couldn't remember the last time he had slept so well.
As his eyes slowly opened, the first thing he saw was Void Shiki's face looking down at him, her eyes filled with gentle affection.
"Good morning."
Her voice brought an instant wave of peace. He stretched lazily.
Fully awake now, he realized she had been holding the exact same lap-pillow position all night long, her expression never changing.
"Shiki… did you really stay like that the entire night?"
Void Shiki gave a soft nod.
"Mhm. Yes."
Adam's emotions grew complicated—grateful, yet a little upset.
Even though she was connected to the Root, her body was still mostly human. Maintaining such a tiring posture for hours on end…
"Thank you, Shiki."
"But don't do that again. You can't stay frozen in one position overnight like that."
"I got to sleep comfortably, but what about your own body?"
She had made sure he rested while sacrificing her own sleep.
Void Shiki's gentle smile brightened, her tone growing lighter and happier. It was the exact expression of someone thinking: I know I shouldn't, but I'd probably do it again anyway.
"It couldn't be helped~"
"When you sleep, you look so rare and adorable. How could I resist watching over you the whole night?"
Adam gave a helpless smile, warmth blooming in his chest. This feeling was truly—
Before he could fully savor it, a sharp sting on his neck caught his attention. He touched the spot—it felt hot and marked.
Several distinct red imprints dotted his neck, like the traces left by ripe fruit.
"This is…"
He turned to the only possible culprit.
Void Shiki continued watching him with those same soft eyes, completely calm.
It hadn't been her doing—though she was certainly involved.
Meeting his questioning gaze, she answered quietly.
"This is that child's handiwork."
The moment she said "that child," Adam knew exactly who she meant.
"Her, huh~"
Ryougi SHIKI.
***
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