Alice and Lily walked along the road, the sun dipping below the horizon. The fading light bathed the village in warm hues, painting everything in gold and crimson. The sight was breathtaking, but Alice wasn’t watching the sky—her gaze flickered to Lily instead.

Lily’s usual stiff expression had softened, her eyes reflecting the changing light, shifting into something lighter, more open. She hesitated, biting her lip before glancing at Alice. “Uhmm… thank you. For earlier.” Her voice barely rose above a whisper, and a faint redness crept up her cheeks. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, uneasy yet sincere. “And… sorry. For being mean.” This time, the usual sharpness in her tone had dulled, replaced by something unfamiliar—something gentler.

Alice’s lips curled into a warm smile. “You’re welcome. I’m just glad you enjoyed it.”

For a moment, they walked in silence, the village alive with the distant hum of conversations and the scent of freshly cooked meals drifting through the air. Then, Alice’s brows furrowed slightly, a thought gnawing at her. “You apologize a lot,” she mused, tilting her head. “Even when there’s nothing to apologize for. Why?”

Lily’s steps faltered, and Alice stopped too, watching as Lily’s face tensed again, the light in her eyes flickering. “Just a habit,” she muttered, gaze dropping to the ground. Her fingers curled into the fabric of her skirt, pressing tightly, lips pursed.

Alice reached out, cupping Lily’s cheek with gentle hands. Lily’s eyes snapped wide open, her breath catching.

“W-What are you doing?” she stammered, her voice still edged with sharpness, but now laced with uncertainty.

Alice didn’t pull away. “You don’t have to be on guard with me, Lily.” Her voice was soft, yet firm. “I know a sincere apology is a sign of strength, but doing it too much—even when you’ve done nothing wrong—can give people the power to make you feel small.”

She leaned in slightly, her forehead almost touching Lily’s. The warmth of her breath brushed against her skin. “Don’t let them take that from you. Stand your ground, even if people turn against you. Don’t give them a reason to step over you like you’re nothing.”

Lily’s lips trembled. Her fingers clenched tighter around her skirt, but she didn’t pull away. The words sank deep, too deep. She squeezed her eyes shut, biting down hard on her lip. When she finally spoke, her voice had lost its usual sharp edge—it was softer, raw, almost fragile.

“In order to survive in this world, sometimes… you have to lower your pride. For the sake of the people you love.” Her fingers loosened, her grip on her skirt easing. “I understand what you’re saying, Alice, but this is my battle. No one can fight it but me.”

She exhaled slowly, then opened her eyes. Alice stiffened slightly. There it was—a spark. Faint but unmistakable, glimmering in the depths of Lily’s gaze.

Then, Lily did something Alice never expected. She smiled. It wasn’t forced or bitter—it was small but genuine.

“Thank you, Alice,” she said, her voice light, the ice inside her heart cracking bit by bit. “I appreciate your kindness, but this is something I have to do alone.”

Alice’s throat tightened. But before she could respond, Lily’s fingers brushed over her hand, resting there for just a second.

“…But if things get too heavy in the future, will you be there?”

Alice inhaled sharply. The question caught her off guard, but not as much as the vulnerability in Lily’s eyes.

A soft laugh escaped her lips, thick with unspoken emotion. She pulled Lily into a gentle embrace, her arms wrapping around her.

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“Of course,” she whispered, voice breaking slightly. A single tear escaped down her cheek. “Lean on me. I’ll always be here.”

And for the first time, Lily let herself believe it.

The day finally came to an end, and after parting ways, Alice stepped into the house. The familiar scent of cigarette smoke hit her as soon as the door swung open. It was the first time she’d seen Arthur smoking since she started living with him. She paused, eyebrows furrowed, as she took in the sight of him sitting on the sofa, the cigarette still smoking in the ashtray beside him.

“What’s wrong?” Her voice was soft, yet curiosity curled around her words, unsure of what she might find.

Arthur lifted his gaze slowly, blinking as if he’d been lost in thought. His hand moved toward the cigarette, snuffing it out with a deliberate motion, before he stood. Alice noticed the heaviness in his expression—a sadness that clung to his features like a shadow.

He walked toward her, his footsteps slow and almost hesitant. Then, without a word, he leaned into her, his face resting gently on her shoulder. His hand found hers, and in that moment, Alice froze, her heart racing in her chest. Her body went rigid, her eyes widening as her lips trembled. The sudden warmth of his touch felt foreign, like a spark igniting a flurry of heat on her skin. Her face flushed crimson, and the silence between them seemed to stretch, thick with meaning.

Arthur pulled back after a long moment, but the weight of his words hung in the air. “I visited Lily’s house earlier.”

Alice’s blush instantly faded, replaced by a sharp sense of clarity. Her eyes locked onto him, her curiosity now turning to something far deeper. She straightened, her posture tense as her mind raced. “Do you want to know her current situation with her family?” Arthur’s voice was quieter now, his expression dark. His lips were pressed tightly together, and his fingers trembled slightly as he spoke.

Alice’s gaze never wavered. She nodded, her hands curling into tight fists on her lap. Her eyes hardened with determination. “Please, tell me. Arthur.” Her voice was gentle but filled with an unwavering resolve.

As Arthur recounted the horrific details—the guttural, inhuman sounds, Lily’s mother bound and isolated—Alice’s breath hitched. Her chest tightened as if the very air had thickened. Her hands clenched harder, knuckles white, but she didn’t notice. The world seemed to spin as her mind struggled to comprehend the reality of it all. Her lips parted, but no words came. Instead, she released a shaky breath, her chest rising and falling in uneven rhythm. A cold shiver ran down her spine, and she blinked rapidly, trying to clear the blur of disbelief from her vision. “A-Are you joking right?” Her voice was small, tentative, but the gravity of the situation sank deeper with each passing second. When Arthur met her eyes with a deadly seriousness, she knew. He wasn’t joking. This was real.

Her voice quivered as she stuttered, “T-Then, w-what should w-we do to h-help her?” The words caught in her throat as if the weight of the situation was too much to bear. Her hands trembled in her lap, and she gasped for air, her chest feeling as though it was being squeezed. Her mind raced, but nothing made sense. How could this be happening to Lily? She was just a child.

Arthur’s eyes softened as he saw her struggle to breathe. He quickly stood and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Calm down for now, Alice. You’re carrying too much right now.” His voice was low, soothing, and filled with a rare tenderness. But Alice could barely focus on his words. The pain, the helplessness in her heart, consumed her.

Her lip quivered as she pressed it into a thin line, struggling to keep her emotions in check. But the tears came anyway, hot and fast, streaking down her face. “B-But it’s too much for her. She’s just a child. Trying to act like an adult when the world is breaking around her…” Her voice cracked, the weight of everything crushing her. “She needs help, Arthur. She needs our help.”

Arthur’s jaw tightened, his own memories flooding back. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, remembering his own cruel past—how he’d been molded into a weapon from childhood, forced to face horrors no child should ever see. “Most children in this world experience pain that scars them for life. And none of it is deserved. But that’s the world we live in. We’re meant to help each other, to lift one another up. No matter how many barriers the world puts in our way, it can’t take our humanity. It can’t strip us of our kindness.” His voice grew stronger, and his gaze turned sharp. The determination in his eyes was palpable.

Alice blinked, surprised by the intensity in his words. She looked at him, her heart swelling with both sorrow and hope. The warmth in her chest returned, spreading as she wiped the tears from her face. “Let’s help her. Arthur.” Her voice was calm now, filled with a quiet strength that made Arthur’s face soften into a genuine smile.

“Of course,” he replied, his tone steady. “I’ve got your back, Alice.”

And in that moment, the two of them knew: they would face whatever came next together, united in their determination to help Lily.