I was reincarnated.
To put it simply—that was the truth.
Half a year had already passed since then.
It wasn't a dream.
The six months I spent in this shabby wooden house were undeniably real.
Right now, I was crawling across the hard wooden floor of a dilapidated hut.
If this were any other world, it would probably be called abuse—but I was used to it. The skin on my knees had already grown thick.
"Come on, come on! Over here!"
"…(Pui.)"
"Ugh… ugh… Mama… Leo, please…"
…Sigh.
As usual, she spread her arms wide and called my name.
Leo.
If I ignored her, she would be on the verge of tears, so I crawled over.
The woman waiting for me—my biological mother in this world—was Nina.
"Cute! Leo is the cutest in the world! I can't get enough of those eyes!"
Everything I did was praised without exception. She smiled with her entire face.
Then she hugged me and rubbed her cheek against mine.
…Too long. Stop.
"…Wah."
"Leo likes it!"
…No.
I gave up.
A baby's strength was meaningless. Even when I tried to push her away, she mistook it for reaching out and hugged me tighter.
She kept breathing in my scent.
A little too much.
Nina picked me up and opened the window.
"Such nice weather today, Leo."
Beyond the window stretched green grasslands and golden wheat fields. Windmills turned lazily, and thatched huts dotted the land.
A quiet rural village.
A warm spring breeze flowed in, fluttering Nina's golden hair.
She was beautiful.
And somehow, that scared me. I was afraid the light in her eyes when she looked at me would disappear someday.
"Want to go outside for a bit?"
I couldn't answer properly. I just looked at her.
She smiled, put on a straw hat, and prepared to leave.
Nina walked with a limp. Her leg was clearly injured, and she relied on crutches.
"Just a moment."
When our eyes met, she smiled—then lifted me with one hand and stepped outside.
Despite her slender frame, she was strong.
She could hold me easily with one arm and carried heavy buckets daily using only one leg. It felt like some unseen power supported her.
"Nina-chan! Leo! Morning!"
"He's grown!"
"Still the cutest baby in the village!"
"…Hm."
"You're an unfriendly one! That's what makes you adorable!"
The villagers laughed.
The old man with a long beard and arms like tree trunks always called out to me.
I named him Hiji in my head.
This village was full of elderly people… and children.
No young men.
Come to think of it—where was my father?
A single-mother household?
Apparently, Nina's husband wasn't here.
After our walk, we returned home. I was fed milk, then put to bed.
That was my life.
Even before this, I had lived my days in a daze. As a baby, that didn't change.
Staring at the sky, doing nothing—I was good at that.
In my previous life, I'd done the same. Just following orders. Just existing.
But there was one thing that was different.
"Good night, Leo."
"…Night."
Sleeping with someone every night.
I slept strangely well. Being held was warm. It made me feel at ease.
But I didn't trust it.
I had opened my heart before.
Everyone except Ryu had left me. Hated me.
Nina would too.
Someday.
By the time I turned one, I could speak a little.
That night was especially cold.
Snow fell outside—just like winter back in Japan.
"Cold?"
"…Mm."
"Mama too."
"…Hurts."
I fell asleep in Nina's arms, wrapped in the warmth of real skin—not artificial heat.
Late at night, I woke up thirsty.
I couldn't say water.
The word wouldn't come.
So I moved.
I didn't want to wake her.
And I still didn't know what to call her.
I couldn't call her Nina.
I couldn't say Mom.
So I said nothing.
At one year old, I could walk.
Earlier that day, Nina had filled the tub with water.
"…There."
Calling it a living room was generous, but the tub sat on a table.
Too high.
I dragged over a chair. Heavy—but I moved it little by little. Chairs were precious.
I stacked things carefully, making a crude staircase.
I reached the tub and drank.
Water.
I couldn't taste it.
I never could.
Even in my previous life, food had been flavorless since that winter cold at the orphanage. The doctor said it was mental.
Looks like reincarnation hadn't fixed that.
I climbed down, put everything back, and returned to bed.
Sleep came quickly.
A baby's body demanded it.
Pain ripped through my stomach.
Sharp. Twisting.
"Ah—!"
I cried out despite myself.
"Leo!?"
Nina picked me up.
I vomited instantly. Burning. Sour.
She lit the lamp and saw the wet floor, the disturbed tub.
"…How did you—no, that doesn't matter now!"
The nausea wouldn't stop. My body felt cold.
Ah… I'm dying again.
…Fine.
Darkness swallowed me.
Cold wind.
The door opened to a blizzard.
Nina was carrying me, wrapped in cloth.
She limped forward, holding crutches and a lamp, snow cutting into her body.
It was reckless.
A suicidal act.
But I was warm.
No one had ever carried me through a storm before.
No one had cared enough to try.
"It's okay, Leo. I'll take you to the town with a doctor. It's close."
Her breath was ragged.
She fell once—shielded me with her body—then stood again.
Her injured leg. The freezing cold. The exhaustion.
Still—
"Just a little more… just a little more…"
Why… for me?
With pain and confusion tangled together, I lost consciousness.
Voices.
I opened my eyes faintly.
"Food poisoning. He vomited most of it out. I gave him medicine—he'll be fine."
"He's only one year old. Don't let him drink river water."
"Thank you… thank you very much."
Nina bowed deeply.
We were in a larger building—a clinic.
She sat beside me, holding my hand.
"…You'll be okay, Leo… thank goodness…"
She collapsed forward, exhausted, still gripping me. Her hand was ice-cold.
I pulled the blanket over her.
She smiled, hugged me, and slipped under the covers with me.
Our hearts were close enough that I could hear hers.
My mouth trembled.
"…Thank you… Mom."
For the first time, I said it.
My heart raced. Fear surged—fear of loss, rejection, abandonment.
But—
"Hehe… this is the first time you've called me that."
Her arms tightened around me.
"I'm happy."
My heartbeat slowed, syncing with hers.
Something inside me changed.
Time passed.
I turned five.
My legs were steady. I could run.
Living in this world felt real.
"Good morning, Mom."
"Good morning!"
Her morning kisses came fast—nine, then begging for ten.
My favorite daily hug.
"Gyuu!"
"That's too long!"
She staggered.
I hugged her back—too roughly.
"Sorry… be careful."
"My son's so cool! Such a gentleman!"
A kiss on my cheek.
…I didn't hate it anymore.
One day, I asked—
"Mom… why is your leg hurt?"
She paused.
"…You're old enough now."
"Actually… Mom used to be a knight."
"…A delusion?"
She laughed.
"No. I'll show you."
She rolled up her sleeve.
A crest glowed faintly on her skin—
crossed swords over a shield, pulsing softly, like a heartbeat.