"Absolutely not." She denied it without hesitation.
He hugged her, his tiny arms wrapping around her legs. She was momentarily surprised but quickly recovered.
"My Mama," he whispered, lips curling into a smile. It was a happiness too large for words.
"Of course yours." Her fingers brushed gently through his hair. The moment etched itself into her memory like something that never will be forgotten.
Then a thought passed through his mind, disturbing his stillness.
"Mama, when will I get hair as long as yours?" He tilted his head up, eyes searching hers.
She chuckled and pulled back slightly.
"You'll know when you're older."
"Mama, where's Sinu? I want to go to him."
"Stop calling your father by his name. That's bad manners." She knelt to his height and tapped his chin lightly.
"Okay," he said, walking away.
Once he reached what he considered a safe distance, he turned back.
"I will never." He stuck his tongue out teasingly.
She didn't react. She simply stood there, watching him with quiet fondness. She could have caught him instantly if she wanted to.
"Such a troublesome child," she muttered as he disappeared beyond the courtyard of Light's Mansion.
The guards stopped him at the gates.
"Your Highness, please return inside," the guard on the right said respectfully.
"Let me go outside. I asked Mama." Akarum pointed at the massive wooden gates before lowering his hand.
"You didn't. We know," the guard replied. They were well acquainted with his daily schemes.
"Let him go. He wants to see his father," Neues said calmly from the courtyard, her expression unreadable.
At her command, the guards immediately opened the gates without further question.
As soon as the gates parted, Akarum stepped outside, exaggerating each stomp. One hand rested on his waist as if mocking them for delaying him.
He reached a nearby village not far from the Village of Queens. The structures looked almost identical.
Children were running around, shouting, laughing.
Akarum approached them.
"Hey. I want to play too."
"Okay. You're the catcher. We'll be the runners." A blue-eyed boy pointed at him.
"Fine," Akarum replied, indifferent. It didn't matter to him. Catching them would be easy.
They scattered in all directions like a web snapping apart. Each of them holding a smile.
Akarum chased the blue-eyed boy first. The boy tried to lose him by sprinting around the huts. At first, Akarum ran at a normal pace, observing.
When he realized the boy had reached his limit,
He sprinted.
Too fast.
He grabbed the boy by the collar.
"I caught you."
He let go, and the roles switched.
But instead of chasing Akarum, the blue-eyed boy ran after a girl named Daisy.
Almost caught.
His hand stretched inches away from her.
She sped up and slipped away.
She turned her head and stuck her tongue out.
"Loser."
Akarum watched from a distance, expecting the boy to come after him next.
He didn't.
The boy chased someone else.
"Loser," the runner shouted again.
This time, the blue-eyed boy caught him instantly.
"That's what happens when you're too cocky," the catcher laughed, now gasping for breath.
"I'm not playing for a while." He leaned against a hut, chest rising and falling heavily.
"He's fat. He'll never be able to catch anyone," Akarum giggled.
He darted between the catcher and another runner. The fat boy reached for him.
Too slow.
Akarum stopped several steps away.
The boy didn't follow. He focused on easier prey.
"Loser," Akarum muttered quietly, disappointment seeping into his tone.
"Just standing there?" Daisy bumped her shoulder against his.
"Yeah."
The fat boy ran toward them, breath ragged.
Akarum effortlessly stepped aside. The boy ignored him and chased Daisy instead.
"Even after years, he won't be able to catch anyone," the blue-eyed boy mocked from where he sat.
"Show some empathy. Take his role," another child said sarcastically.
Akarum glanced at them, then at the struggling catcher.
Why aren't they trying to catch me?
His eyes darted from one child to another.
I feel alone… even while being with them. What is this?
The children's smiles felt more like harsh mirrors to his mind.
He ran past the catcher again, deliberately placing himself in reach.
"Catch me." He waved.
The boy grimaced in irritation. He knew it was pointless. Akarum was too fast.
Akarum's expression slowly fell.
Even if I wasn't here… my absence wouldn't matter.
Daisy came to stand beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Game over!" she declared, raising her hand dramatically before dropping it.
"I'm never playing this game again," the fat boy muttered, collapsing onto the dirt.
"That's common sense. You shouldn't eat too much," Akarum said awkwardly.
"I'm going home. Bye," Daisy called.
Then she turned.
Slapped the back of Akarum's head.
And ran off.
He stood there, confused, but didn't chase her.
The other children left one by one. Even the fat boy eventually walked away.
Akarum stepped out of the village.
"I forgot I was going to Sinu." He facepalmed.
He turned toward the next village.
A calm, controlled voice cut through the air.
"Karumi. Let's go home. Your mother is calling you."
Liyoku's expression was unreadable.
"But, Uncle, I want to see Sinu." Akarum turned toward him.
"Your mother is calling you," Liyoku repeated evenly.
"Let's go."
Akarum stiffened.
He didn't argue.
They walked toward Light's Mansion.
Akarum glared at Liyoku's back.
"Weirdo," he muttered.