“Thank goodness.” Luina let out a relieved sigh, but there was still a touch of concern in her eyes. “Anima... Did His Majesty offer to make you a mercenary?”
Just as Anima thought, she was worried that what had happened to her father would happen to him as well.
“He did, but I declined. I couldn’t bear being away from you. I want to be by your side, always and forever.”
The moment he said that, Luina bloomed a wonderful smile.
“I want to stay with you forever too, Anima!”
She tightly hugged him.
“A-Are you certain I’m not in the way?” Shaer asked. Watching their happy reunion from the sidelines must have been awkward for her, so Luina let go of Anima and looked at her with a gentle smile.
“Not in the slightest. In fact, I’m incredibly grateful to you, Shaer. Thank you for being our guide on this long journey.”
“Thanks!” Marie cried cheerfully.
Shaer’s cheeks flushed.
“I’m also grateful to you. Joining you on this wonderful journey was an experience I’ll never forget. It saddens me that the time to say goodbye is fast approaching... If I may be so selfish, I’d love to taste your cooking again sometime.”
“Why, of course. We’ll always welcome you with open arms.”
“You go home?” Marie asked with downcast eyes.
“No, Marie. We’re the ones going home. Today’s our last day here.”
“The trip’s already over... I joined in late, but I had tons of fun, m’kay?”
“It ober? I wanna do more! Lots more!”
Marie wanted to continue their trip. She hopped up and down like a bunny, proving how full of energy she was. Anima crouched down and petted her head.
“We did what we came here to do, but our trip isn’t over just yet. A trip lasts until you get back home.”
“Really?”
“Really really. And this won’t be our last trip either. Would you like to help me plan our next trip when we get home?”
“Uh-huh!”
“I so want to go to another hot spring! Oh, and fishing! I wanna go fishing again!”
“Fishing? That sounds awesome, m’kay?! Let’s go fishing! We’re having a contest to see who can catch the most fish, m’kay?!”
“I’ll make you regret challenging me! I’m a natural!”
“Myukey was sooo good! She catched lossa fissies! I catched lossa fissies too!”
“Wow, really? Good job, Marie! But don’t worry; I’ll catch lots of fishies too! I hope we go to a river on our next trip, m’kay?”
“That’d be neat, but climbing the mountain was awesome too! The view from up there was incredible!”
“And, and, the dadelins was so pitty!”
“Oh, yeah! That field of flowers was incredible too!”
“A river, a mountain, a field of flowers... I can’t choose! I’m totally lost, m’kay?!”
“There are a bunch of other cool places too! We really have to think this through.”
“Yeah, we do! Let’s take our time and come up with the best trip ever, m’kay?”
“I help too!”
Anima and Luina watched with delighted smiles as the girls excitedly brainstormed.
“They’re super excited about our next trip.”
“It just goes to show how much fun they had on this one.”
“Did you have fun too?”
“Of course! Thank you so much for taking us with you on this journey.”
Luina wrapped her arm around Anima’s and buried her face into his shoulder.
“Thanks for twip, Daddy!”
“Yeah, it was awesome!”
“I’ve never been on such a fun trip before, m’kay?!”
While sharing their words of gratitude, the girls ran in to hug him too. Anima was drowning in a sea of happiness, but suddenly, their idyllic family moment was interrupted by a deep growl. Bram turned toward Myuke with a cheeky grin.
“Myuke, are you hungry again? Well, I guess it makes sense. I mean, you are still growing, m’kay?”
“So are you! And it wasn’t even me!”
“Not me too!”
“Mommy?”
“No, I’m sure it wasn’t me. Was it you, Anima?”
“It wasn’t.”
There was only one other person in the room. Everyone’s gazes gathered on Shaer, who, while blushing like a tomato, kept her eyes focused on the ground and pushed her stomach.
“I-I’m terribly sorry. My stomach seems to have ruined a heartwarming moment. I shall take my leave at once.”
She was feeling more and more like an unneeded addition to their group.
“Me too! I hungy too!”
Myuke nodded in response to Marie’s cheerful exclamation.
“I’m starving. Can we have dinner soon?”
“That’d be awesome, m’kay?! Shaer, you know this place like the back of your hand, don’tcha? Can you take us to a nice restaurant? In case you were wondering, I’m dying for some seafood, m’kay?”
The girls managed to cheer Shaer up as she confidently opened her mouth.
“I know of a very good seafood restaurant nearby! Allow me to show you there. Should we leave right away?”
“It would be nice to get there before it gets too crowded. Would you like to join us for dinner?”
“M-May I?”
She didn’t want to disturb their family dinner. All she had wanted was to show them the way to the restaurant, but Luina nodded happily.
“The more the merrier.”
“I agree. The trip lasts until we get home, but our journey together ends here. Girls, eat up! We’re celebrating tonight!”
Anima’s statement put a huge smile on the girls’ faces. Shaer chased after the three of them as they leaped out of the room in excitement.
“They’re all so excited,” Anima commented. “We’re going to have a busy trip back home.”
“I imagine it’ll be busier than it was on the way here. We have Bram with us now, after all. She’s always so full of energy.”
“It’s no wonder. She wants to enjoy herself after all the pain she’s been through.”
“I’m sure she does. You know, she clung to me like a baby when we took that nap on the ferry. I want to make her feel at home the same way Marie and Myuke do.”
“I do too. We have to make sure to shower her with love and care every day so she doesn’t have to feel lonely ever again.”
“But you have to be careful. Myuke will go green with envy if Bram gets more attention from you than she does. They both love you a lot.”
“I know, but don’t worry. I won’t pick favorites. I love them both, and I love you too. You’re all part of my precious family.”
Anima’s heartfelt confession put a smile on Luina’s face. “How exactly do you love me?” she asked in her sweetest voice.
“Like this.”
Anima gently wrapped his arms around Luina’s waist and planted his lips on hers. After sharing a long, passionate kiss, Luina pulled back and gazed at Anima in complete ecstasy.
“I’m so happy,” she said. “I can’t express my feelings well, but believe me when I say that I’m really, truly happy.”
“Your happiness is my happiness.”
As Anima’s warm smile spread to Luina, the door to the room flew open, and the girls rushed in.
“I hungy!”
“My tummy’s gonna disappear if we don’t eat soon, m’kay?”
“C’mon! Let’s go!”
They desperately tugged at Anima’s and Luina’s hands.
“What a coincidence; I’m feeling hungry too.”
“Me too. We’re having a feast tonight!”
Anima’s heartfelt laughter filled the inn as he closed the door behind them and set out to share dinner with his lovely family.