I Picked Up a Witch from a Novel

Episode 0-b. The One Who Falls.

There has always been a power in the world that causes similar kinds of beings to cluster together.

Though I have never seen any species other than humans while living in the Empire, it is a fact I have come to know from the many books that Ildrin handed to me.

In broad terms, it takes the form of species and territory, and in smaller terms, the forms of nations, cities, towns, and families.

They always created a community together, living and moving forward.

In the midst of that, there was happiness that arose from their connections, and there was also sadness that came from being connected.

But I clearly understood that being together was a great strength for them.

However.

For me, there was no similar kind to belong to.

I had no family left to me after being abandoned long ago, nor was there a community I could join.

This world was neatly classified into a small gray area and the countless who despised such grayness.

At one time, that made me a little—actually, really—sad.

I do not know what my fault was.

I do not understand why I was born with grayness.

Why could I not become an ordinary person, and why must I suppress my instincts, living like a beast?

Why.

Why could I not be born in a way that allowed me to stand by his side? It felt so unfair and heart-wrenching.

However.

Inside the fence that Ain created for me, several people had gradually come in and started a warm campfire.

In other words, they were certainly people completely different from me.

They were ordinary and kind people, far removed from my ghastly grayness.

Those who could not be classified the same as me.

The owner of the grocery store.

The librarian.

The parents of other families.

They certainly could not be lumped in with grayness; they were the dream of normality I had always longed for.

Such connections transcended the divisions that the world had made and filled my side.

So.

Even though the books said that only similar things clustered together, that was certainly wrong.

A community had somehow come into being for me, who had no similarities.

Thus.

If you were to ask me how I managed to endure three years, I would say it was probably the connections that Ain created.

It became possible because of the affection they poured into me.

The sun is gradually setting.

The sky, which was just blue and distant, slowly becomes tinted red as it approaches me.

It eventually shifts to a violet landscape, beautifully wavering.

In that time of evening I welcomed.

“Asha! Please bring this to the table!”

“Yes, just a moment, please.”

Now, it has become as natural as my daily life to have dinner with Ain’s parents.

“Be careful while carrying it. Ain has always spilled things while carrying them and got hurt.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not clumsy like Ain.”

“Puh, that’s definitely true!”

Seeing the bright smile of the one who was busy making dinner makes me smile too.

Home.

Home was warm.

The scenery he left behind was certainly filled with warmth.

I wonder when it began.

Thinking back, it was probably not long after Ain left.

From the time it became evening, it was always my time alone in the small room of the grocery store.

Uncle Rendo also had a family, so he would often apologize and prepare dinner for me before leaving.

After that, what was left for me was the empty scene of the grocery store and the steaming bowl of dinner.

And I was a little, in fact, quite foolish, so I didn’t eat that warm rice right away.

When alone, I would absentmindedly become dazed, and my emotions and thoughts would often veer toward the negative.

And so, I struggled alone, like a good child, until dawn, squirming and crawling around.

Only after venting all my emotions did I finally take a spoonful of the cold rice.

So.

In other words, for me, dinner was that kind of time.

A time to release emotions.

A time when I had to eat rice that had inevitably grown cold.

A time when I became alone.

However.

“Asha! Could you taste this for me?”

“Yes, um…. Mmm, it’s delicious.”

“Really? Then please take this too!”

Now, it is no longer like that.

Now, dinner has become a time that is not solitary.

It no longer has to be a time to experience a dull and empty scenery.

Even as the sun sets and it grows dark, I haven’t released any of my emotions.

I can now carry warm plates and eat steaming rice.

And.

After a little ding from the bell at the door.

“Yahoo, I’m home! Rain, Asha! Let’s eat!”

When that familiar gruff voice resonates, Ain’s mother and I approach the entrance and bow our heads.

“Zvezan, you worked hard!”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Right! I worked hard. So let’s eat together!”

That bear-like figure bouncing around is Ain’s father, Zvezan.

He is someone who knows my true identity but still smiles and pets my head.

Today’s dinner ends just like that.

Three people, enjoying warm and delicious food while chatting in a noisy manner.

After creating such a scene, it sadly comes to an end.

“No, Asha. I’ll do the dishes!”

“I’ll take care of it.”

So, I naturally cleaned up the leftover dishes and did the dishes.

I thought it would be rather rude to just eat and leave afterward.

And perhaps it was because I felt that this time had become something precious to me.

“See, you could just come over, eat, and leave. Hmm, okay. Then if I just lather it up, I’ll have Asha wash it with water!”

“No…, yes, thank you.”

However, Ain’s mother, Rain, wouldn’t leave me alone like that.

While I was scrubbing the dishes, she came over, smiled brightly, and rinsed them off with water.

And.

“Would you like to have tea after the dishes are done?”

“Um, uh…. Yes, I’d be grateful for that.”

Rain always comes close to me, never stopping her chatter.

“How about bread? Since the stomachs are separate, we should eat bread too, right?”

“Ah…, I think I don’t need to eat because I only have one stomach….”

“Eh, you’re not going to eat?”

“…No, thank you, I will eat.”

If I were her, I would have probably hoped that the ominous gray would leave the house quickly.

“Then shall we have bread and tea, and what should we do afterward? Do you want to play board games? Should I teach you chess?”

“Um, I’m not really good at those….”

“Well, then I can teach you. You need to learn in advance if you want to beat Ain later!”

For some reason, today Rain kept talking to me while we did the dishes, suggesting various activities to extend our time together.

And so.

While doing various things, dinner gradually turned into night.

“Asha, do you want to sleep here tonight?”

“Um, no, I….”

Rain said that to me while preparing to go out, gathering her clothes.

Though we had shared dinners for about three years, I had never slept here even once.

This place felt like a sanctuary to me, and I had never dared to think about wanting to sleep here.

“It’s quite late now, so you should sleep! How about we have a pajama party with just the two of us while leaving Zvezan behind?”

“…Ah, um. That, I mean, I….”

I was at a loss for words.

“I’ll lend you my pajamas. You’ve grown quite a lot since then, and they might be a bit snug, but there won’t be a problem as long as we keep Zvezan locked in his room!”

“No, um, Aunt, that. I… at the grocery store…, uh, wait, I….”

I could only stare at Rain’s back as she grasped my hand and led me to the room.

I was stuck in that moment, hesitating and stuttering for a long time.

Thinking about it, spending a night with someone was something I had never experienced before.

I had to change into those pajamas she offered without being able to hide my embarrassment.

And.

The pajamas lent by Rain did not button up.

“Hm, this is a bit tight. Asha, why is your chest so big? You used to be quite small back then.”

“Ah, um…. I’m sorry.”

It was probably because I had eaten too much.

“No, you don’t need to apologize for that. Um, would it be rude if Aunt wanted to touch it just once…?”

“….”

“Sorry.”

“Yes.”

I’m sorry, but even if she is Ain’s mother, that sounded as rude as Ildrin.

The night approaches.

A long night, where I always had to bleed and scream.

The dark veil covered the sky, and I had to experience the emptiness of being alone.

“Asha.”

“Yes, what is it?”

However, today I am not alone.

On the wide bed, I am here, and Ain’s mother is here too.

“Um, you have a bit of a belly.”

“….”

Rain kept putting her hand on my stomach, gently touching it.

“Yeah, it looks good. It’s better to have a bit of fat than to be skinny.”

“…, If you keep touching and talking like that, your words lose their persuasiveness.”

That was definitely affection, an affection that was more than I dared to hope for.

“However, wanting to touch something soft is human instinct.”

“I’ve read a few books about human instincts, but there weren’t any phrases about wanting to touch.”

Thinking about it, the playful words that come out reminded me quite a bit of Ain.

“Hmm, it would be strange to write in a book that you want to touch soft belly fat.”

“….”

Every time such conversations passed between us, the corners of my mouth would slightly rise.

But speaking of Ildrin, he does write such things in his research books.

Anyway.

Light-hearted, playful.

The comfortable and everyday conversation continued in the room.

The night was still long, and the dark veil still covered everything, but I listened to her stories with peaceful feelings.

“Ah, it got really late. Asha, you have work tomorrow, and I’ve held you too long.”

“It’s okay. I enjoyed it too.”

And time truly passed.

“Then let’s hurry and sleep.”

“Yes. Goodnight.”

Sadly, it was time to close our eyes.

Rain and I ceased our playful words and actions, gradually drifting into silence.

And.

In the still landscape, a small voice is heard.

“It must be really hard.”

“….”

It was a voice filled with many emotions.

“I’m sorry I can only offer you this.”

“….”

Surely, it was a caring and affectionate sentiment—one that was more than I could ever deserve.

“Someday, your wishes will surely come true, Asha.”

A hand that pulls me into a community, which I had been isolated from.

Such warmth flows gently across the soft bed.

I still wonder why you go so far,

Why you approach the monster of grayness and shower me with love.

I still do not understand at all.

However, I respond.

“Yes. I think it will.”

Like my wish, like their wish.

I hope and wish that it will be so someday.

Spending a night with someone.

It’s more peaceful and warm than I expected.

I closed my eyes tightly and fell asleep.

Though there will surely be nights when I must vent my accumulated emotions,

At least for today, I could avoid that.

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