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Since he had started living with the Cleaners, everything had been… difficult.
At first, he didn’t understand anything. The rules, the people, that place… everything was different.
But now…
Now he understood it a little better.
Even so—
There were things that hadn’t changed.
Rudo lifted his gaze slightly.
The gray sky stretched above him as he stood there in silence.
Sometimes…
He missed Regto too much.
No…
He always missed him.
Sometimes he thought…
If he were still alive… he would probably like this place.
Maybe he would even get along with the Cleaners.
Rudo let out a small scoff.
He could also imagine Regto scolding him for eating too many sweets.
—Tch…
He knew that day would never come.
Not anymore.
His gaze slowly dropped to his hands.
The pain was still there.
Sometimes lighter… sometimes worse.
But it never really disappeared.
- . . . .
He clenched his fingers slightly.
Enjin, Riyo, and Zanka always tried to help him.
In their own way.
Clumsy… but sincere.
And even so…
He missed the way Regto used to take care of his hands.
How he made it seem… easy.
He exhaled slowly.
At least he wasn’t alone anymore.
Gris and Follo had helped too.
Even with something like this.
His gaze shifted toward the grave in front of him.
It wasn’t perfect.
But it was cared for.
Enjin had helped him find a good place for it, somewhere quiet, away from the noise.
And he hadn’t done it alone.
Zanka and Riyo had been there too, helping him set it up, making sure it stayed firm.
Gris and Follo, on the other hand, insisted on fixing it up a bit more.
They added small details: carefully placed pieces, cleaned scraps, something that gave it… shape.
It wasn’t elegant.
Rudo didn’t say it out loud…
But he liked it.
He liked that it didn’t look abandoned.
—…
It was still hard to accept everything.
Especially when he thought about Regto.
His father.
His chest tightened slightly.
It still hurt.
It probably always would.
He would never fully get over it.
And deep down…
He knew he didn’t want to.
He stayed silent
Sometimes…
Gris reminded him a little of him.
He didn’t know exactly why.
But there was something.
Something in the way he acted.
Rudo looked away.
—…
They always invited him to watch movies.
At first, he didn’t even know what that was.
Now he understood it better.
But he almost never went.
He didn’t know why.
Maybe…
He just wasn’t ready.
Rudo was sitting in front of the grave when he heard footsteps.
He looked up.
It was Enjin.
Rudo stood up almost immediately, as if by reflex.
Enjin smiled when he saw him.
—Want to come watch a movie with us?
His tone was relaxed, as always.
No pressure.
Rudo looked at him for a moment… then looked away.
—I… I’ll think about it…
Enjin nodded without insisting.
—We’ll be waiting.
Before leaving, he glanced at the grave.
He stayed silent for a second.
Then, naturally, he adjusted one of the small objects placed on top, making sure it wouldn’t fall.
A simple gesture.
Respectful.
Without saying anything else, he turned and left.
Rudo watched him walk away.
He took a couple of small steps forward… hesitant.
But then he stopped.
His gaze returned to the grave.
—…
He wished he were there.
To tell him everything.
To hear him again.
But…
There was no other choice.
He had to accept reality.
—…Just a little longer…
He murmured.
And just as he was about to step closer again—
He felt a push.
Light.
But clear.
His body moved forward.
Rudo turned quickly, surprised.
—W-what…?
No one was there.
Silence surrounded him.
He blinked.
Confused.
—…Do you want me to…?
He didn’t finish the sentence.
Because, without realizing it…
He had smiled.
It was small.
Barely noticeable.
But it was there.
He exhaled softly.
—…Tch.
He turned.
And started walking.
Toward where the others were.
Because even if he wasn’t there anymore…
Regto was still pushing him.
Forward.
Toward his new home.