Breakfast goes by in a warm, quiet rhythm.
The canned food and drinks Rose packed taste surprisingly fresh—but the weight in my chest stays.
Am I really fine with this?
With letting her shoulder everything?
Her life becomes heavier because of me… and it all begins with my mistakes.
"Rose," I call softly.
"Hm? What is it?" She looks at me.
"I… feel guilty," I say, lowering my gaze. "I haven't paid for the journey, the ship, anything. I never meant to burden you like this."
She shakes her head at once.
"It is no trouble. Do not think of it, Hiro. I chose this from the beginning—whether you had money or not. It is my decision. I simply… pay the price to witness the show, no?" she says with a small smile.
I lift my head, meeting her eyes.
"That person told me he wanted to see me grow. And you just said you want to witness me, too. What does that even mean?"
"No one touched the crystal after Moon died," she explains. "Its soul—its power—became full. And Omni-Core binds itself to the first person who lays a hand on it. That person… is you, Hiro. Your growth will draw many eyes. And I wish to watch it from close by. That is all."
Her head tilts slightly, her smile soft and sweet.
"I don't know what awaits me… but my life is already set on its path. I live by my mother's message. And… before she died, she told me something important," I say. Her face flashes in my mind—those final moments.
"May I know?" she asks gently.
"'Peace, calm, and freedom… seek these three meanings in your life, my son.'
That was her last message to me."
Rose nods slowly.
"I understand, Hiro. But I stand by your side now. My wish is to stay with you… until our final day." Her cheeks pinken as she closes her eyes, smiling faintly.
"Telling you this… makes me remember something Father said, in the days after," I add, wanting this moment to stay warm beneath the rising sun.
"Truly? What did he say? I want to know everything about you," she says.
I smile back.
"He said there was a place he dreamed of."
I pull a rolled parchment from my belt pouch.
"This place."
I point at a mark on the world map—on the central continent, Solcendria, one of the five great continents. Near its far edge lies the name:
"Lumineth?" she gasps. "That place is a paradise to many. Even I used to dream of going there. Hiro… would you go with me someday?"
"Yes. Mountains everywhere, villages spread across wide green fields, all seasons meeting in one land… and the great curtain of colored lights that dances in the night sky, right?" I ask.
Rose nods, a soft smile on her lips.
"The more I hear you describe it, the more I long to see it. I truly hope we can go together, Hiro."
I smile as well.
"I hope so too, Rose. Though we're still far from it. But… if we stay together until then, maybe we'll reach it."
She yawns.
"Hooaamnn…" She tidies the empty cans, packs the bags, then settles beside me, leaning against the ship's railing.
"I'm very sleepy, Hiro…"
Her head gently falls onto my shoulder.
"Lumineth…" she whispers.
"I hope I dream of you..." Her voice drops more softer.
"Hiro." Again.