It's The First Time For Both Of Us

Translator and Editor: Bunny and Wyvern

Chapter 33 – Part 1

He wasn’t crying, but Arumia’s eyes were already red, and he blinked a few times before he leaned towards me.

“H-hello, Ma…”

“Mariette.”

“Oh, Mariette, I’m sorry. I was so surprised that I couldn’t remember.”

Arumia’s voice, which I could only now hear properly, was as soft as I had expected and clearer than I had expected.

“It’s alright.”

“H-how come you’re here again? Master said that no one could enter here because of the barrier.”

’I don’t know that either.’

“Hilla allowed it. I can also meet you.”

“Hilla…? Oh, Master. Master?”

“Hilla may not be able to come here today because he was busy as of late… or should I call him?” Just in case, I asked Arumia who had a desperate expression on his face.

He quickly turned his head in the opposite direction. “N-no, Master will be in trouble if he comes,” he said sadly.

“That isn’t it. Hilla likes Arumia.”

’Otherwise, I couldn’t have asked him for a favor!’

Arumia’s eyes twinkled as they grew wider. “Really…?”

“Hmm, Hilla does. So, it won’t be a problem at all.”

“But he told me, he… he cannot come here.”

Watching Arumia who was digging the ground again, I searched in my pocket and held out a piece of chocolate. “Would you like to eat this?”

I only brought three chocolates, but I was lucky to have some left.

Nod, nod.

Arumia couldn’t take off his eyes from the chocolate as he nodded. I took off the wrapping paper and handed it to him.

“Here.”

“What about you?”

“I also have one.” I handed it to Arumia, then looked through my pocket and took out the last one. Only then did Arumia take the chocolate from me with confidence.

“This is so delicious. Try it.”

“Thank you…”

I watched with delight as he carefully put the chocolate into his mouth as if it were a great treasure.

“Ah!” Arumia’s face turned white in an instant. I

“Does it taste awful?”

’That can’t be.’

He shook his head. “Sorry.”

“Huh? For what?”

“I… didn’t bring your h-handkerchief. I lost it because I was an idiot… but it’s yours.”

’Handkerchief?’

I realized that Arumia was talking about the handkerchief I had given him last time.

“It’s alright, I already gave it to you.”

“Still…”

“I said it was alright. I have a lot of those.”

“Still. Next time… I will bring you something good.”

“It’s fine.”

Then suddenly, I found that half of Arumia’s wrist, which was half-covered with his sleeve, was bruised blue. I grabbed his arm unconsciously. His eyes widened once again.

“What’s wrong with this?”

“…Nothing.” Arumia hurriedly stepped back and covered his arms.

I thought it was a big stain at first, but it was clearly a bruise upon closer inspection. “You are bruised. It looks serious.”

“Ah, it’s always like this. I am fine.”

’How did he get all these bruises on his wrists?’

I remembered that he was crying when we first met, so I pushed Arumia a little more. “You… who punished you?”

Shake, shake.

He hid his arms as he shook his head. His golden eyes seemed to be a little more damp than earlier for some reason.

“Then, you fell over while playing alone?”

His eyes shifted. “Hmm, yes, I fell over.”

’Lie.’

I hardened my face and said, “Hilla hates liars.”

Arumia’s face turned white at my words.

Hilla never said anything like that, but his effect on Arumia’s feelings was clear—because he seemed to be the biggest existence that kept him coming here.

“S-so…” His soft voice trembled more. “It’s because I didn’t listen. It’s alright since I will get better soon.”

“Are you hurt anywhere else? Or is it only here?”

Arumia didn’t answer right away.

’Hilla will catch me if I try to lie, but I am afraid of telling the truth.’

Arumia’s inner feelings were clearly visible as I had been in charge of a child who showed me the same expression in my previous life.

Arumia raised his head after moving his mouth silently several times. “There was, but I didn’t get sick because it was all treated. I usually heal quickly, but I just left without getting treatment…”

If he was being abused by his parents, then I could understand to some extent why he was trembling with anxiety and depended on Hilla.

There’s no way Hilla wouldn’t know this, so why did he leave it alone?

’You’re an adult. You have the power to solve it!’

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tl/n: hello! as this novel’s raw chapters are too long, it has been split in order to lessen the pressure on the staff. thank you for your understanding!