"Hu~ Hu~"
Rem gently blew on the steaming porridge, like a docile puppy.
Then she tilted her head back slightly and took a small mouthful from the spoon.
The smooth meat porridge, with a hint of saltiness, slipped down her throat; it was soft and glutinous, and the temperature was just right.
Warmth spread down her esophagus, reaching all the way to the bottom of her heart.
"Green-kun, you don't have to be so gentle with Rem..."
At that moment, Rem's smile gradually faded.
Without her realizing it, tears once again welled up in her two beautiful blue eyes.
This time, they weren't tears of laughter from being teased, but a sorrowful weeping.
Grin felt a bit flustered and said hurriedly, "What's wrong? What's the matter? Did you burn yourself?"
"It was clearly Rem who hurt you, so why are you still being so gentle to Rem?"
"When Rem is so weak... and has no talent..."
"If it wasn't to save Rem, Green-kun wouldn't have been cursed..."
As Rem spoke, her tears fell as if they cost nothing.
Grin set down the porridge bowl and couldn't help but place his hand on Rem's slightly trembling head.
"Rem, don't treat the harm caused by the enemy as your own sin. Carrying too much will make you lonely."
Rem's hair was very soft, feeling like a fluffy cloud to the touch.
She pinched her sleeve and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"Green-kun is Sister's important benefactor, but Rem failed to protect you."
"Why wasn't it Rem who got cursed?"
"Why wasn't it Rem whose horn was broken?"
"Rem is just a replacement for Sister. Even though I took one of Sister's horns, I can't even compare to half of her..."
Grin felt a pang of sympathy; this insecure girl was living as her sister's shadow.
"Rem, you are not anyone's replacement. In my eyes, you are unique."
Rem looked up blankly, "No, everything Rem does is just a poor imitation of Sister..."
"Ram isn't as amazing as you say."
Grin put on a look of disbelief and began counting on his Fingers:
"That girl isn't as gentle as you, her figure isn't as good as yours, and her cooking is terrible. Speaking of cooking, I'm really speechless—she's the one who burnt the first pot of porridge today."
Rem turned her head away, avoiding Grin's gaze.
"No, if it were the real Sister, she would definitely have done better."
"Whether one has a horn or not shouldn't affect cooking skills, right? Anyway, Rem's Crusty Trout gets ten points, while Ram's pot of black, burnt porridge gets one point—and that's only because I'm afraid she'll hit me; otherwise, it would be a zero."
"But, Rem has always thought of herself as a replacement for Sister..."
"In my view, Rem is Rem, and Ram is Ram. You both have your own strengths, and neither can replace the other."
Grin picked up the bowl of porridge again and gently placed it in Rem's hands.
"Alright, give me a smile, Rem. If you cry while eating, the farmers who grew the grain will be unhappy too."
Rem took the breakfast bowl. The food was no longer as scalding as before; its warmth had transferred into her heart.
Rem wiped her eyelids with her sleeve again, then scooped up a large spoonful of porridge and stuffed it into her mouth. After chewing for a while, she revealed a faint smile.
"I really can taste a little bit of a burnt flavor..."
Grin nodded seriously, "This home really can't do without you, Rem. If I hadn't noticed early today, Ram would have definitely burned the kitchen down."
Rem felt a bit embarrassed by Grin's compliments, "Rem isn't that amazing..."
"But I really think you're super amazing, Rem!"
"When I fell under the curse, you were the first one by my side. You were the first to step forward and say you'd save me, and you were the first to reach the forest to fight for my life!"
"In my heart, there is no one more incredible than you! Rem, you are my hero."
That was what Grin said, and it was also what he thought.
From Rem's perspective, she had no idea that Grin had allowed himself to be cursed or that he had means to save his own life.
Yet, she was still the first to step forward, shouting with all her might that she would save Grin.
Rem slowly raised her head, like a lonely sail lost at sea searching for a lighthouse in the night.
It looked like she was about to be coaxed into a puddle.
"Rem is actually very weak, so she will definitely rely on others..."
She also longed to be favored and shone upon by a beam of warm sunlight.
Grin stood up, thumped his chest hard, and said smugly:
"What a coincidence, Rem! There just happens to be a very reliable person right here! It's perfectly normal for companions to rely on each other."
Rem raised her right hand, spreading her Fingers and reaching out toward Grin.
She was afraid that everything before her was a dream, a phantom.
She was afraid that the light would dissipate the moment she touched it.
But in the end, Rem's hand landed on Grin's chest, feeling his presence solidly.
Grin grabbed Rem's wrist and pulled her into his arms.
"Give me a smile, my hero. Consider it a reward for my busy morning."
"Green-kun, you are Rem's hero! Waaah—"
Rem leaned tightly against Grin's chest and cried even louder.
Tears were like a spring tide breaking through a dam, instantly washing away the tension in Rem's face.
Her thin shoulders trembled violently, and her hands gripped Grin's clothes tightly.
"There, there. Why did you start crying all of a sudden..."
Grin didn't do anything extra; he just silently patted Rem's back, quietly waiting for her to release her long-accumulated emotions.
After a long time, Rem finally stopped crying, but she still kept her head buried deep in Grin's embrace, her thin shoulders twitching every now and then.
"Grin."
"I'm here."
"I want to eat the porridge."
"Alright, no problem!"
Grin took the breakfast bowl in his hand, only to realize that the porridge had lost all its warmth.
"The porridge is cold. I'll go get you a fresh bowl."
Rem quickly pulled at the corner of Grin's clothes.
"No, I want this bowl!"
Grin couldn't win against Rem, so he obediently scooped up a full spoonful and brought it to her lips.
Rem blinked her sparkling blue eyes and said dissatisfiedly, "You have to blow on it."
"Huh? Oh, okay, no problem! Hu... Hu..."
Between laughter and tears, Grin blew on the already stone-cold mashed potato and meat porridge.
When he offered it to Rem again, the girl finally opened her mouth obediently and ate it.
Rem obediently finished the entire bowl.
Grin first put the utensils back on the tray, then cleaned up the fallen crumbs.
"Get some rest, Rem. I'm going to wash the dishes now."
Rem nodded obediently and tucked herself back into the covers. "Tomorrow... can I have breakfast with Grin tomorrow too?"
"Tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, I'll be right here. Don't worry, crybaby."
Grin gave a hearty laugh and opened the door.
A certain peach-haired maid who had been eavesdropping against the door lost her support and tumbled in with a "clatter," falling to her knees in front of Grin.
Grin looked dumbfoundedly at the equally dumbfounded Ram and said weakly, "It's not even New Year's yet, Ram..."