Chapter 10
The Beginning
〈10〉 Being Short Makes Even a Washbasin of Water a Struggle
“Shunsuke, you’re really good at greeting people.”
“Am I?”
The lively trio of girls followed along as we were shown into another room.
“This room is for children up to two years old. They’re all downstairs right now.”
I see. Rows of cribs with safety rails lined the walls. The windows were open for ventilation — no one was here, but the faint scent of milk lingered in the air.
“Now then, let’s move on.
This next room is for girls. Once they’re out of diapers, they sleep here.”
She didn’t step inside, just peeked through the doorway.
“Hey, Macchan, is this where you moved to?”
“Yup! In the girls’ room, I’m the smallest one.”
“The smallest one,”
Yone answered, and Matsu echoed proudly.
As they chatted, we passed by the girls’ room.
“This one’s for the boys,” said Rai-sensei as she opened the next door and stepped inside.
Several bunk beds filled the room, with curtains dividing the space for a bit of privacy. There were waist-height windows — and oh, a sliding door window too, leading out to a balcony.
“Please be quiet. One child is sick and resting.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Rai-sensei, is Shito still sick?”
“Yes. You girls go to the reading room or downstairs.”
“Okay!” chorused the girls, before they scampered off to the reading room.
Sure enough, in the back of the room, there was a curtained-off section.
From behind it came the sound of shallow, uneven breathing.
“Ugh…”
Rai-sensei ignored it and pointed to another bunk bed. There were drawers beneath it and under the window.
“You’ll sleep on the top bunk from today. Keep your things in the storage space by the window.
Valuables — that pouch, perhaps? Keep it on you at all times. If you take a shower, leave it with me or a sister. Some children have sticky fingers.”
“Understood.”
Sticky fingers, huh? Sounds like someone’s not being properly taught manners.
Not that I could ever say that out loud.
“Um, about that sick kid…”
“Probably just a cold. Children catch them often. Nothing serious enough for the clinic. If it were infectious, we’d send him there.”
Still worried, I peeked through a small gap in the curtain.
So this was Shito.
Whoa — his face was burning red.
“Rai-sensei, may I stay with him until dinner?”
“You might catch it.”
I’ll be fine. I’m basically seventeen inside — I’ve got an adult immune system.
“Still, it feels wrong to leave him alone like this.”
“…That’s true. I still have church duties, and the other sisters are busy with the infants. Would you mind watching him?”
“Of course. Um, where are the washbasins, water, and towels?”
“Basins and water are beside the dining hall on the first floor.”
“Towels are here.”
She opened a large cabinet drawer and handed me one.
“I’ll come along.”
“Thanks.”
Downstairs, next to the dining hall, there were wash areas, toilets, and showers.
At this size — a five-year-old’s body — even lifting a basin full of water would be a disaster (I’d definitely spill it).
So I asked someone in the kitchen to pour cooled boiled water from a big kettle into a smaller one (maybe two liters), then set that kettle in the basin to carry it.
Apparently, raw water isn’t safe to drink here. Well, yeah — this isn’t Japan. Makes sense.
“Shunsuke, you’re clever. That’ll work. When you’re done, pour the water out onto the balcony.”
“Got it!”
“If anything happens, pull the cord by the door. It rings the bell in the staff room.”
“Understood.”
Back in the room, I approached the bed where Shito lay.
I wet the towel in the basin and wrung it out tightly.
Even wringing it out was a chore — these tiny hands!
“Hey, Shito. I’m Shunsuke. May I wipe your face?”
“…Uh? …Mm-hmm.”
Gently, I touched his burning forehead.
Whoa — he’s burning up.
“Do you feel hot or cold?”
“Hot… right now.”
“I see. Then…”
I wiped his forehead and face, then re-wet and re-wrung the towel to wipe under his chin and neck.
“Feels… nice.”
“I’m glad.”
I loosened his pajama collar and pressed the cool towel to his neck, making sure his clothes didn’t get wet. After a few rounds, his breathing eased a bit.
“Shun… suke? That’s your name?”
His voice was hoarse.
“Yeah. Nice to meet you!”
“Mm.”
“Want some water?”
“Mm.”
I took a pack of sports drink from my pouch — I’d found tons of these inside.
There were also PET bottles, but for someone lying down, the pouch type was easier.
I popped the cap and helped him lift his head, pressing the spout to his lips.
He looked puzzled at the strange packaging, but after one sip, he gulped it eagerly.
“What’s this? It’s sweet and yummy.”
“Right? Let’s keep it a secret.”
“Heh. Thanks.”
“Want more? This one’s just water though.”
“Okay.”
I poured some of the kettle’s water into a cup and handed it over.
By now, Shito was sitting up in bed.
“Thanks. Ugh, the water’s gross. The other one was better.”
I wrung the towel again.
“Your change of clothes is here?” I asked, checking under the bed drawer.
“Mm.”
“Found it. Let’s at least change your top. First, let’s wipe off that sweat.”
I wiped his back, arms, and belly.
“Ahaha, that tickles.”
When he was done, I helped him into a clean pajama top.
“Shunsuke, are you a wizard? I feel better already!”
“You still have a fever. And I can’t use magic — I just gave you water and wiped you down. You’re not cured yet, so rest a bit longer. I’ll stay here.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
Such a polite kid. Totally different from how those girls described him.
They said he was the same age as me — five.
Once he lay back down, I pulled up his blanket and tucked him in.
After chatting a little, his eyelids drooped.
I stayed quiet, holding his hand until his breathing turned soft and steady.
Once I was sure he was asleep (and nearly dozed off myself — close call), I quietly carried the basin to the balcony.
There was a drainage hole under the railing, so I poured the used water out there.
Then I put the wet pajamas, towel, and kettle into the empty basin and carried it downstairs.
There was a big shared wash area with lots of faucets — just like the ones you’d see at a Japanese school.
At one end, I spotted a familiar faucet with a red knob.
While waiting for more boiled water for the kettle, I turned that red tap — and hot water gushed out.
Nice. Pretty hot, too. This should kill some germs. Probably. I’m no expert, but it’s better than nothing.
“Oh, Shunsuke — you can use the hot water?”
“Rai-sensei. Yes, this is about all I can manage, though.”
“That’s quite enough.
Are those Shito’s pajamas?”
“Yes. I gave him water and wiped off his sweat. I thought rinsing his clothes in hot water might stop the cold from spreading.”
“You’re very knowledgeable.”
“My mom taught me. Ow— hot!”
Gotta show a little clumsiness, right?
I carefully flipped the sleeves out, then the towel too.
“Be careful. That’s near boiling. You’ll burn yourself.”
“Right. Think it’s done now?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
I turned off the hot water and switched to cold.
Rai-sensei took the pajamas, wrung them out, and tossed them into a big laundry basket already full of clothes.
“There. They’ll go into tomorrow’s wash. Dinner will be ready soon.”
“Okay.”
I washed my hands again and pulled out my hand towel from my pouch to dry them.
There wasn’t any soap, so I discreetly sprayed my hands with a little portable sanitizer.
Seriously — this pouch (when I appraised it, it showed as [Extra-Large Magic Bag]) — what is my mom?
Everything I could ever need is inside.
Even with an infinite item box skill, it’s useless if it’s empty.
For now, I’ll keep treasuring this waist pouch — my last memento from Mom.
