Stare.
The girl lifted her head from her knees. She stared unblinkingly at Ren, her black pupils devoid of any emotion.
"Want some?"
Ren took out the bag of candy he had just bought. He smiled, tore open the package, grabbed a handful, and offered them to the girl.
He had heard the delinquent mutter that she was a mute, so her silence didn't bother him.
Her frail frame and dry, brittle white hair were clear indicators that life hadn't been kind to her.
This sight made Ren unconsciously think of the day he met Koharu.
Back then, his white tiger was in the exact same state—perhaps even more pitiful than this girl.
It was in the dead of winter. The poor cub had been rejected by her own mother at birth. Denied milk and warmth, she had been left to freeze.
Fate seemed to have played a cruel joke on Koharu.
Abandoned, emaciated, and dying of hunger, the cub was lucky enough to meet Ren.
Ren took her in without hesitation. Regardless of the cost, he provided her with the best treatment and care. Soon, Koharu was no longer the shivering bag of bones she once was. With love and food, her body grew robust and powerful, far surpassing other tigers of her kind.
When a living being is loved, it thrives.
That saying was perfectly verified with Koharu. And in return, the tigress became attached only to Ren.
Looking at this white-haired girl now, Ren felt an overwhelming sense of déjà vu.
"Thank you..."
Taking the candy from Ren, the girl spoke softly.
She peeled off the wrapper and carefully placed the candy in her mouth, closing her eyes as she savored the sweetness spreading across her tongue.
So sweet.
How long had it been since she ate candy? She seemed to have completely forgotten.
Since her grandfather passed away and she was adopted by her uncle's family, she hadn't tasted anything sweet.
Living at her uncle's house was a nightmare. Because her body was weak and sickly, she couldn't do heavy housework, so her aunt saw her as nothing but a useless burden.
Sarcasm and insults were her daily bread. They filled her head with thoughts that made her feel inferior and worthless.
Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. She ran away.
Clutching the only thing that truly belonged to her—a torn black rabbit doll—she fled the "home" she had no attachment to.
Days passed. Her uncle's family didn't seem to care that she was gone.
The little money her grandfather had secretly left her was gone. She didn't know what she would face next, so she chose to escape into herself.
Squatting by the roadside, burying her head in her knees, she tried to hide from this cruel reality.
She wasn't stupid.
She knew exactly what that delinquent wanted to do.
But she chose to remain silent; she chose to escape again. She naively thought that if she ignored him, he would let her go.
Reality was different. Seeing her silence, the delinquent only became bolder.
She buried her head deeply into her knees, like an ostrich hiding its head in the sand, thinking she could protect herself by not looking at the danger.
Until she heard the sound of knees hitting the concrete and Ren's deep, commanding voice—"Apologize"—ringing in her ears.
The girl lifted her head. She didn't look at the thug kneeling on the ground, begging for forgiveness. Her eyes were fixed entirely on Ren, the stranger who had stepped in to help.
"Want more?"
Seeing that she had finished the candy, Ren grabbed a few more and handed them to her.
"Thank you."
Her thanks were much clearer this time.
She unwrapped every piece Ren handed her and ate them all quickly. She didn't want to think about anything else; she just wanted to savor this hard-won sweetness a little longer.
If this is a dream, please let me sleep a little longer.
"You're welcome. Have the rest."
Ren ate one and passed the rest to the girl.
Koharu used to eat like that too, devouring her meat with pure joy. Because this girl reminded him so much of his beloved white tiger—both fragile yet resilient—Ren felt a rare patience for her.
Looking at the pile of candy in her arms, the girl asked hesitantly, "Is it all for me?"
"Yeah. It's for you."
Ren reached out and patted her head gently. He hoped to give the poor girl a little sense of security.
Her eyes lit up. She started peeling another wrapper.
She peeled a candy and held it up to Ren's mouth, her eyes curving into happy crescents. "Here."
Ren ate the candy she offered and smiled. "Thanks."
Just like that, the heir to a massive empire and a runaway girl sat by the roadside together.
The girl focused on peeling wrappers, feeding both herself and Ren, while Ren just sat there, enjoying the moment.
Ring, ring.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. Ren answered. "Hello?"
"Ren-sama? I wanted to ask how long until you arrive. We are preparing to start the banquet."
The person on the other end asked carefully.
The agreed time had arrived. Normally, the banquet should have started already.
But once they learned that Ren would be attending as the Head of the Family, the schedule didn't matter anymore. Ren's arrival was the signal for the banquet to start; this was the decision of all the organizers.
To avoid letting the guests wait for too long, they made this call.
"I had something to do just now. I'll be there in about five minutes."
"Please take your time, Ren-sama. We will wait."
Ren hung up the call and stood up to leave. But as he moved, a small hand grabbed the corner of his coat.
"Are you leaving?"
The girl asked timidly. Her eyes were full of fear and loss.
Ren hadn't stepped away to take the call. She knew he had business to attend to, but she couldn't help it.
When a beam of light shines into the darkness, it is cruel because it shows you what you are missing.
But if that beam of light doesn't leave the darkness, then it becomes salvation.
Ren had become the light in her world. She didn't want him to leave so soon.
Even if... just to stay with her for a few more minutes.
Just a little while was fine.
Back then, the young Koharu also used to hook her claws into his clothes like this, trying to stop him from leaving.
The feeling of déjà vu was overwhelming.
Ren sighed lightly. He squatted down again and looked at the girl seriously.
"Do you want to come with me?"
It was exactly what he had said to Koharu years ago.
"Can I?"
Her eyes filled with hope. She waited desperately for his answer.
Ren didn't say yes or no immediately. He just looked at her with a smile, seeing the shadow of his white tiger in her hopeful expression.
"I want to go with you!"
The girl said firmly, gripping his coat tighter.
That's the spirit.
She didn't need to ask questions. She needed to have a goal.
"Hello. My name is Ren Katsuragi. Please take care of me from now on."
He reached out a hand to her, speaking seriously.
The girl let go of his clothes. She placed her small hand in his palm and held it tight.
"Hello. My name is Sora. Sora Kasugano. Please take care of me from now on."
Years ago, Ren adopted a rejected white tiger named Koharu. At this moment, he chose to adopt the girl in front of him.
Anyone human or beast who longs for salvation and actively reaches out for it, deserves to be saved.
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