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“Master, I have a matter I’d like to discuss with you.”

While drying Hom’s hair after her bath, I noticed an unusually serious look in her eyes.

“What is it, Hom? Is it about next week’s elective classes?”
“…It is tangentially related, but not directly about that.”

For Hom, such a reserved response was unusual. It must be something difficult for her to bring up. I should guide her into feeling comfortable enough to share.

“If it’s a concern of yours, I’m happy to listen. Go ahead and tell me.”
“It’s about this weekend… I would like to switch rooms with Lady Alfe.”
“…Switch rooms…?”

Her unexpected proposal caught me off guard, and I took a moment to process it.

“Are you worried about Alfe, by any chance?”
“I may be overstepping, but I thought Lady Alfe, now that she’s away from her family, might need more time with Master…”

Hom spoke, her gaze dropping as if weighed down by discomfort. I could easily imagine how conflicted she must have felt; for a devoted attendant like Hom, suggesting she leave my side must have been a deeply uncomfortable notion. And yet, she was willing to lower the priority of her duty for the sake of me and Alfe.

“You’re such a thoughtful girl, Hom.”

I patted her head, and the scent of freshly washed hair wafted up.

“…For someone like me, leaving Master’s side feels like I’m doing something wrong, doesn’t it?”

She hesitated, leaning into me slightly as though seeking reassurance.

“You’re doing this because you care about me, right?”

She nodded uncertainly, her worried eyes fixed on my face as she continued, “From what I’ve observed in class, you seemed quite lonely too, Master…”

“If even Vannabelle can tell, I must have been wearing my loneliness on my sleeve.”

The truth of her words surprised me a little. In my past life, I had never experienced this kind of emotion, and I still didn’t know how to reconcile with it. I could ignore it, but that likely wouldn’t help the current me, Leafa.

Because, in a way, feeling lonely means there’s someone worth missing—it reflects being fortunate enough to have a supportive environment. That’s not a bad thing at all.

Leaving Alfe in her loneliness weighed heavily on my heart, and I was genuinely touched by Hom’s proposal. So, I decided to accept her offer without hesitation.

“I’ll consult Aunt Ur and make arrangements for Alfe to stay over this weekend. Knowing you, you’ve already spoken with Farah about this, haven’t you?”
“Yes,” Hom replied, nodding cheerfully.
“Good thinking, Hom. It’s a big help that you’ve considered others as well.”
“You have always instructed me to act so, Master,” she said with a small smile.
“Right.”

While her attentiveness included a concern for my position, I found her thoughtfulness genuinely admirable.

“Listen, Hom. In this academy, there are very few issues that can be resolved on an individual level. That’s the nature of group life. Moreover, as a militaristic state, prioritizing collective benefit is highly valued.”

I wanted this to be an opportunity for Hom to learn about maintaining harmony within a group. Since I still had a lot to learn myself, working through this together made me feel my decision to pursue a different field of study was worthwhile.

“In the Military Department, they’ll drill this concept into you more than enough. Fortunately, Farah, Vannabelle, and Numelin are also in that department. I hope you’ll coordinate with them to overcome challenges together.”
“Of course, Master.”

Hom was becoming quite reliable. Witnessing her growth as her creator filled me with immense pride. It made me wonder if Mother had felt the same way about me. The thought of her seeing me in this light made my memories of our family even warmer and more vivid.

It reaffirmed for me that creating Hom had been the right choice. While my initial intentions had been different, my growing affection for her as family was something I wanted to nurture. This was a sentiment I had dismissed in my previous life as unnecessary, something I had never even dared to seek.

“…Come here, Hom.”

I spread my arms and pulled Hom close again after she had put some distance between us. She embraced me tightly, as if to envelop me entirely¹.

“…I might make you feel a little lonely this weekend, Hom, but I’d be happy if you could have fun with Farah in your own way.”
“I will. Lady Farah is a very delightful person, after all.”

Judging from the tone in her voice, Hom seemed genuinely excited about spending time with Farah. Perhaps they would even have a sparring session, given Farah’s Magic Eyes. The thought of the two of them training together was vivid in my mind—a testament to how much I trusted and valued Farah as a friend.

“It’s great that you two get along so well².”

I couldn’t help but feel grateful that Alfe and Farah were roommates.

1. Robinxen: Okay this is cute.
2. Robinxen: Although this brings me back to WHY THE HELL DID THEY LET A CHILD MAKE AN ENTIRE PERSON?! WITH A FIXED SHORT LIFESPAN!

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