10 Yume's worries

After the disaster which was Haruhi's birthday party, something changed in my room. It's like we always had an extra person.

...

I approached the sofa from behind and whispered to the ear of the silver haired woman who's sitting there.

"... What are you doing here?"

"U-UWAA!"

She jolted back up from her slouched position and looked at me.

"You fuckin-"

She dropped the controller and threw hands at me but I flawlessly dodged it while I laughed at the situation.

"Come here, Cerbie!"

Haruhi ran and threw a ball towards Yume's dog, aptly named Cerbie after the guard dog Cerberus. She barked enthusiastically and jumped to catch the ball in all her magnificent fur.

"Good job!"

Haruhi chuckled as Yume and I looked at them with heart warmed eyes.

"Anyway..."

I shifted my attention back to Yume

"Why are you here?"

She looked at me with a beaming face.

"Why? Can't I visit every once in a while?"

"I mean, sure you could, I just wasn't expecting you."

I sat beside her on the couch and looked at the game she's playing. Seeing this, she smiled and said:

"Also, I can play games here."

"No consoles at home?"

"None, my apartment's too cramped for consoles."

She smiled half pained. I picked up her little call for help:

"Well, you can always play here if you have free time."

"Really?"

Her face lit up once more, even brighter than the setting sun bidding farewell to all the residents of Earth.

"Besides, I think Haruhi likes your company here as well."

I said as I looked over my shoulder to see how Haruhi and Cerbie are doing. Yume smiled but still with a hint of pain and uncertainty. I can see her soft, thin lips trembling... but from what?

"Yume, is something wrong?"

Her gaze lowered and breathing slowed. As if she's preparing for something to come.

"Just... a little problem."

"I'm here if you want to talk about it."

Her eyes locked with mine as she moved a little closer to me on the couch.

"I'm just a little jealous."

She lowered her gaze again.

"Jealous of what?"

"Of you guys."

"Of us?"

My eyes widened, shocked by the statement but her eyes and tone says she's serious about it.

"Don't tell me you want a daughter too?"

I joked, an attempt to lighten up the situation even just for a bit.

"Not that, dummy."

She smiled, a carbon copy of the pained smile she's been showing me today.

"I'm jealous of the family you have."

She continued, now looking at the TV screen with eyes glittering like crystal.

"I-I never had that, you see."

A slight pause.

"I was an orphan, I didn't get to know who my parents were. The moment I opened my eyes to the earth, I'm all alone."

She took a breath and continued.

"I never had the kind of warmth that you had with your parents, I never had the fun you had with them. I was raised in an orphanage where we didn't have enough food to feed ourselves. It was hell. Like a battle royale where everyone's out for your food. It's...O-Oh, I'm sorry... It seems like I'm ranting now. Hahaha."

She laughed dryly, droplets of tears already on the verge of kissing her cheeks.

"It kinda... reminded me of my position. I always thought that being alone would be much better."

Then she looked at me, tears already flowing.

"But now, I don't know."

She sobbed quietly.

"Need a hug?"

I opened my arms.

"Screw you, Kuro."

She laughed, threw herself at me, and started rubbing her face on my shirt.

"Hey!"

I protested but she just laughed it off.

"I just want to stay like this for a while, is that okay?"

She said, her face still buried on my shirt.

I sighed and just surrendered.

***

A couple of minutes have passed where we can only hear Haruhi and Cerbie playing but not a sound from Yume and I. Yume lifted her face and looked at me.

"Phew! That was nice getting it off my system."

"... and having your tears all over my shirt."

I added.

"Hahaha! Remembrance!"

She laughed and stood up.

"Anyway, I think it's time for us to leave. It's getting dark."

She called to Cerbie who immediately went to her side and made her way to the door.

"Goodbye, Kuro."

There's a hint of gloom in her tone so before the door closed, I rushed to keep it open and said:

"You're always welcome here, Yume."

She stopped walking and stood straight, probably surprised by the sudden comment. She turned to face me and painted on her face was the most genuine smile she had ever made in front of me.

"I guess I'll see you later then?"

She put her index finger on her chin in a cutesy way to which I replied with a smirk,

"Whenever you want, miss."

***

"Papa, I see that you're making progress with Mama Yume."

I almost spat out my food at Haruhi's sudden comment.

"H-Huh?!"

"I see both of you being touchy feely earlier!"

She smiled impishly.

"Will Mama Yume actually become 'Mama Yume'?"

I just looked at the food Haruhi cooked and smiled.

"Who knows?"