When you think like a kid, your imagination runs wild, and suddenly, anything seems possible.
Speaking of kids... do you like kids?
Me? Oh, absolutely. I like Kid.
Wait. Hold on a second. That sounded weird. Let me clarify before the police burst through the door.
What I mean is, kids are innocent, cute, and... oh no, that sounded even worse!
I can already feel the handcuffs tightening around my wrists.
Alright, before I get thrown in jail, let me tell you what actually happened.
It all started in an ordinary country (so ordinary that I already forgot its name).
I was busy making a potion-because I found some coins that were so filthy, they refused to shine no matter how much I scrubbed them.
So there I was, in a totally-not-suspicious abandoned house, brewing my very own cleaning potion.
"Hehehe... I can do it. This will be my greatest creation yet!" I muttered to myself, like every mad scientist cliché ever.
Why an abandoned house, you ask? Simple. Elaina strictly forbade me from doing it in the hotel we booked.
Something about "no explosions near the croissants" or whatever.
Just as I was about to add the final ingredient, I heard voices approaching.
Turning around, I saw Elaina, Amnesia, Saya, Avilia, and Mina walking toward me like some kind of intervention squad.
"Oh? Do you miss me already?" I teased with a smirk.
Elaina's eyes rolled so far back, I was genuinely concerned they might get stuck.
Crossing her arms, she retorted, "In your dreams, Arche."
Mina chimed in, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "We're just here to check if you've already managed to blow yourself up."
"I haven't! ...Yet," I replied confidently, though the bubbling potion behind me made a very suspicious pop sound.
"I heard you found quite a lot of money, but it's super dirty, huh?" Amnesia asked, approaching me with curiosity in her eyes.
"Sis!" Avilia tried to stop her, tugging on her sleeve like she was about to drag her away from a crime scene.
"Yes! Of course!" I said enthusiastically, holding up a bag stuffed with filthy coins.
"I'm making a potion that will make these coins shine like new!"
"And how long have you been at it?" Saya chimed in, raising an eyebrow with a skeptical look.
"Three hours! Believe it or not, I was called a genius at the academy, you know?" I puffed out my chest with pride.
"The genius who nearly blew himself up experimenting with potions, you mean," Elaina remarked, her tone so dry it could evaporate water.
"How did you know?!" I asked.
Saya stepped closer, picking up the recipe I had scribbled on a scrap of parchment.
She squinted at it, then at me. "Wait... you didn't actually follow the recipe, did you?"
"I did a little improvisation," I admitted nonchalantly. "Couldn't find some of the ingredients, so I adapted."
"Adapted?" Mina repeated, her voice flat with disbelief.
"You know improvising with potions can be dangerous, right? Especially since—oh, I don't know—you didn't use any of the ingredients listed here!"
"Of course, I know that!" I said, waving her concern away like it was a pesky fly.
"But listen, in this world, we need innovation. Visionaries like me don't play by the rules!"
Elaina groaned audibly, pinching the bridge of her nose like she could physically hold in her frustration.
"Innovation is great, Arche, but changing the ingredients of a potion without knowing what they do is literally how you get yourself killed."
I sighed dramatically, as if their lack of faith in my brilliance was personally offensive.
"You guys are way too negative. You've got to think outside the cauldron!"
"Watch this—when I add this final ingredient, voila! It'll be a potion no one's ever created before!"
With a flourish, I dropped the last ingredient into the bubbling mixture.
BOOM!
The cauldron erupted in a violent explosion, filling the room with a thick, ominous smoke.
"Why did I have a feeling that was going to happen...?" Elaina muttered, shaking her head as if this was just another Tuesday.
The others stood frozen in horror as the smoke swirled around me.
"Sis!" Avilia cried, rushing forward before Mina grabbed her arm.
I didn't even have time to process what went wrong.
My body felt like it was shrinking, my surroundings grew hazy, and then... nothing.
When the smoke cleared, Elaina, Avilia, and Mina approached cautiously. What they saw froze them in place.
Our bodies had shrunk.
"Sis!" Avilia and Mina shouted in unison, rushing toward their sisters.
Shock filled their faces as they found Amnesia and me—third of us transformed into children.
Amnesia and Saya body had become that of a six-year-old, and I... a mere seven-year-old.
Elaina, Avilia, and Mina gasped audibly, their wide eyes filled with disbelief as they stared at us.
"A... A child...?" Avilia muttered, her voice trembling.
I slowly opened my eyes, the world around me unfamiliar and unrecognizable.
My gaze landed on Elaina, the first person I saw.
"Are you my master?" I asked, my voice flat, devoid of any warmth or emotion.
Elaina stiffened at my words, her eyes briefly widening in surprise.
"Your... master?" she echoed, trying to process what I had just said.
I said nothing, my cold emerald gaze piercing through her as I waited for an answer.
She glanced at my small form, realization dawning on her that the potion had not only shrunk our bodies but seemingly altered our memories as well.
"We're... in a country called Delmia," she said hesitantly, struggling to find the right words. "And just... call me Elaina."
"Isn't that rude?" I replied sharply, my tone unnervingly detached.
I then turned toward Avilia and Mina, who were standing nearby. "Who are they?"
Before Elaina could respond, I pointed at Amnesia and Saya, who remained unconscious on the floor.
My next words cut through the silence like a knife. "Oh... Are they fellow slaves as well?"
Elaina's eyes narrowed, her calm demeanor faltering for just a moment.
"Slaves...?" she repeated, her voice sharp with surprise.
"No," she said firmly, her tone regaining its composure. "They're not slaves. They're my friends."
Her words hung in the air, but I didn't respond. Instead, I shifted my gaze to Amnesia and Saya, who were beginning to stir.
Amnesia's eyes fluttered open first, followed closely by Saya.
Mina let out a shaky breath of relief but couldn't hide the worry etched across her face, mirrored by Avilia's tense expression.
"Huh... Where am I?" Amnesia muttered, her voice tinged with confusion.
She glanced around before her eyes landed on Avilia. "And... who are you?"
"I'm Avilia! Your sister!" Avilia replied earnestly, her tone desperate to convince.
"Sis?! Are you okay?" Mina asked, concern etched into her face.
"Are you... Mina?" Saya chimed in, her small form fidgeting slightly. "Why is your body bigger than mine?"
As the confusion among them grew, I simply stood in silence, observing the scene with detached calmness.
"It seems like something's going on, right, Miss?" I said, my voice devoid of emotion.
Elaina sighed heavily, crossing her arms as her eyes narrowed in my direction.
"I have a hunch that a certain someone's experiment went horribly wrong and dragged all of us into this." Her tone carried a sharp edge, dripping with annoyance.
"What an idiot," I muttered.
"An idiot indeed," Elaina shot back without hesitation, her agreement cutting like a knife.
She turned her attention back to the group, her expression unreadable as she watched them adjust to their smaller forms.
Avilia and Mina began explaining what had happened, carefully piecing together the situation for everyone.
Once the reality of the situation sank in, I stepped forward and knelt, lowering myself into a deep bow before them.
"It was my fault. I take full responsibility and apologize."
The sudden display of humility seemed to catch everyone off guard.
"Well..." Elaina began, her voice laced with suspicion. "I don't think I've ever seen you act like this before."
Avilia and Mina exchanged surprised glances, their eyes wide as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing.
"The adult version of me must be arrogant, isn't he?" I asked, my voice cold yet steady.
"You must find him irritating."
"Well..." Elaina smirked faintly, tapping her fingers against her arm.
"I won't deny that he can be arrogant. And yes, annoying."
The sisters nodded subtly, their expressions betraying reluctant agreement.
"But," Elaina continued, her tone softening ever so slightly, "it's not like you were unbearable. Just... a bit much sometimes."
I said nothing in return, keeping my head bowed. "Please, tell me what I can do to make it up to you."
"If I must grovel, then so be it." My voice wavered slightly, though I forced myself to maintain composure.
The little version of Amnesia tugged at my sleeve, her eyes wide and curious. "Your name is Arche, right? Are you okay?"
"Yeah," I replied curtly, barely sparing her a glance as I remained prostrated.
At this moment, I felt less like myself and more like a dog waiting silently for its master's orders.
A fitting punishment, perhaps, for someone who brought this calamity upon them.
"Tell me what I can do to make it up to you," I said evenly, my voice calm yet firm. "And spare my life."
"Arche..." Elaina began, her tone thoughtful as she studied me.
"Lift your head. There's no need for you to keep prostrating yourself like that."
"Understood, Miss," I said, rising to my feet with measured movements, brushing off the dirt from my knees.
"Why did you have to prostrate yourself like that?" little Saya asked, tilting her head curiously. "Isn't just bowing enough?"
"No," I replied bluntly, my voice steady but devoid of emotion. "Kowtowing is the logic of survival for slaves who value their lives."
Avilia's expression shifted, a mixture of shock and concern flickering in her eyes. "You... You were a slave, Arche?"
"Yes," I answered simply, turning my gaze to Elaina. "Looking at Miss Elaina's expression, she doesn't seem surprised."
"That means you already knew, correct?"
Elaina nodded, her usual calm demeanor slightly softened. "Yes. I was aware of your past," she admitted.
"But seeing you like this, as a child, reliving those memories... it's unsettling."
Her words hung in the air, but I didn't respond. The others, however, were visibly shaken by the revelation.
"You must have had a terrible life," Amnesia said quietly, patting me on the back as if trying to console me.
"I did," I replied without hesitation.
"But I've grown used to it." Then, turning back to Elaina, I asked, "So, what is our next course of action, Miss Elaina?"
Elaina paused, considering for a moment before responding. "For now, our priority is reversing the effects of the potion."
"We need to figure out how to return all of you to your normal ages."
"That... and clothing," Amnesia chimed in, looking at her smaller frame and the ill-fitting clothes hanging loosely.
"Agreed!" Saya exclaimed.
"Indeed," I said curtly, glancing at my oversized sleeves. "This is hardly practical."
Mina nodded in agreement. "You're right. You can't exactly walk around like this."
"We'll need clothing that fits your current sizes. But that also means we'll need money..."
"Not an issue," I interrupted, pulling out my wallet and tossing it toward Elaina.
"My adult self appears to have prepared well for emergencies like this."
Elaina caught the wallet with ease, her eyebrows raising slightly as she opened it to inspect the contents. Her eyes widened just a fraction.
"Well," she said, a hint of surprise breaking through her composed tone, "you weren't kidding."
Avilia and Mina gasped audibly as they caught sight of the hefty sum inside.
"How do you have so much money?" Avilia asked, disbelief in her voice.
"My past may have been grim," I said, my tone as cold as ever, "but my adult self clearly learned how to thrive in the present."
Elaina smirked faintly, shaking her head. "I suppose I can't argue with that."
Back at the hotel, I, Amnesia, and Saya remained in the room as instructed.
Elaina, Avilia, and Mina had gone to purchase new clothes and the ingredients needed to fix this mess.
The silence was short-lived.
"Hey, Arche! Let's play!" Amnesia's cheerful voice broke through, completely ignoring the situation.
"Play?" I repeated, turning to her with a blank expression. "What exactly do you mean by 'play'?"
"Chase, hide-and-seek, you know, fun stuff!" Saya chimed in, her energy just as misplaced.
I glanced at the two of them, unimpressed. "We're in towels. Do you think that's appropriate?"
"So what?" Amnesia grinned. "Come on, lighten up!"
"I have no interest in entertaining your childish whims," I said bluntly, turning away.
But, of course, they didn't listen. Within moments, they were tugging at my arms, their insistence growing louder.
The sound of the door opening interrupted their antics.
Elaina, Avilia, and Mina walked in, carrying several bags filled with clothes and supplies.
"We're back," Elaina announced, her tone neutral but her eyes sharp as she scanned the room.
"And what's this? You look like you're having the time of your life, Arche."
"I'd hardly call this 'fun,' Miss Elaina," I replied curtly, stepping away from Amnesia and Saya, who still clung to my sleeves. "It's their idea, not mine."
Avilia stepped forward, holding out a bag with a smile that didn't quite match the tension in the room.
"We got some clothes for you, Sis."
Mina followed, her enthusiasm more tempered. "Yeah, you'll look... decent in this."
Saya and Amnesia snatched their clothes and hurried off to change, dragging their little sisters with them.
As for me, I began removing the towel, only to catch Elaina's pointed stare.
"Do you even realize you're still a man on the inside?" she asked, her tone as sharp as ever.
"And you're still a woman," I replied coldly, meeting her gaze. "Do you have a point?"
Elaina sighed, turning away. "Just change already."
I quickly dressed in the simple attire they'd picked out, inspecting it with an indifferent glance. It would suffice.
Amnesia and Saya soon returned, dressed in overly cheery outfits that screamed of their younger sisters' tastes.
"Cute," Avilia and Mina muttered under their breaths, their gazes lingering on their sisters.
Saya clapped her hands, her energy undiminished. "Let's go to the park, Arche! Let's play!"
Amnesia chimed in immediately. "Yeah, Let's have some fun!"
I frowned, my tone colder than before. "We should be focusing on the potion to fix this."
"Or do you not care about returning to normal?"
Saya pouted. "You're no fun, Arche..."
Amnesia crossed her arms. "Always so serious, aren't you? Just for once, try to enjoy yourself!"
"Enjoy myself?" I repeated, my voice sharp. "What exactly is enjoyable about being reduced to this state?"
Elaina stepped in, her gaze steady. "Arche, they have a point. This is temporary, and nothing will change if you don't relax a little."
I sighed, my frustration slipping through. "If that's your command, Miss Elaina, then so be it. But don't expect me to find any of this amusing."
"No, this is not an order. This is a request from your friend," Elaina said, her voice calm yet firm. "And drop the 'Miss.'"
Her words stopped me in my tracks. Friend? Why would she say that?
My brows furrowed slightly as I processed her statement, questioning her intentions.
But before I could respond, Elaina knelt down to meet my eye level, her tone softening.
"Arche," she began, her gaze steady. "You don't have to treat me as your master or superior all the time. We're equals-friends."
She reached out and gently patted my head, an action that felt strangely foreign yet... oddly comforting.
"So, don't feel the need to address me like that anymore. Just call me Elaina, okay?"
I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. But seeing the sincerity in her expression, I finally relented.
"Okay... Elaina," I said, my tone even but stiff.
Satisfied, she smiled faintly and stood up.
Later, we headed to the park. As soon as we arrived, Amnesia tapped my shoulder with a sudden burst of energy.
"Arche! You're it!" she declared, her voice full of excitement before sprinting off with Saya.
I blinked, caught off guard. "What...?"
"Tag," Elaina clarified, her tone tinged with dry amusement. "You do know what that is, right?"
"It's not that I don't know," I replied, frowning slightly. "I simply forgot."
Without further hesitation, I started chasing them, my movements calculated and precise.
Elaina chuckled softly, watching the scene unfold. "Looks like you remembered now," she remarked, the corner of her lips quirking upward.
Meanwhile, Mina and Avilia stayed off to the side, busy taking pictures.
Their focus, unsurprisingly, was on their younger sisters.
Amidst the laughter and play, I found myself wondering how I'd been roped into such childish antics.
Yet, for the first time in a long while, the weight of the past seemed to ease-if only for a moment.
I don't know why, but I feel something I haven't felt in a long time.
What is this?
Ah.
I remember now...
Happiness.
"Don't run away," I called out, my voice sharp as I pursued them.
Perhaps due to past experiences of escaping angry mobs or enemies, my body instinctively moved faster than theirs.
In an instant, I caught up and tapped Saya's back. "You're it," I said, my tone even, though a small sense of satisfaction stirred within me.
"Ah! How are you so fast?!" Saya exclaimed, her eyes wide in disbelief.
We were playing tag, and it seemed my speed far outmatched theirs.
"Arche... why are you so fast?" Amnesia gasped, trying to catch her breath.
I slowed my movements, folding my arms as I waited for them to recover.
"Come now, don't give up so easily," I said, though there was a faint trace of encouragement in my voice.
Unknowingly, a small smile formed on my face.
"Ah! He's smiling!" Amnesia exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "We did it, Saya!"
"Yes! You're right! We made him smile!" Saya cheered, her voice triumphant.
I blinked, caught off guard by their excitement. "Huh?"
"From the first time we met, you've been so serious and stiff," Saya explained, her tone playful but sincere.
"Amnesia and I made a plan to get you to smile at least once."
"...I see," I muttered, turning my face away as I felt heat creep up my cheeks. "I appreciate your... effort."
"Oh?" Elaina raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile playing on her lips as she observed the interaction.
"So that's what those two were scheming," she mused aloud, her amusement evident.
"Exactly," Mina added, folding her arms. "They came up with the plan while we were getting changed earlier."
"I was surprised they even thought of something like that," Avilia chimed in, her tone a mix of amusement and disbelief.
Elaina nodded, a quiet chuckle escaping her lips. "I see. That explains a lot."
Her gaze lingered on the two children, their excitement contagious.
"Looks like they knew exactly what they were doing," she said with a smirk.
"Quite clever, I'll admit."
"Let's play hide and seek!" Saya suggested with bright eyes.
"Yes! Let's go!" Amnesia and I chimed in unison, equally enthusiastic.
"Hey! Don't go too far!" Elaina's voice rang out, her tone laced with both caution and annoyance.
"Yes!" The three of us called back in perfect harmony before scattering like wild birds.
Elaina, Avilia, and Mina settled down on a garden bench, keeping watch over our antics.
"They look like they're having so much fun," Avilia said softly, a gentle smile forming on her lips.
"But you seem unusually kind to him, Elaina," Mina remarked, giving her a knowing look.
Elaina leaned back, crossing her arms with a faint smirk. "Well, I do have a bit of a soft spot for younger versions of him."
Avilia tilted her head, curious.
"Why's that?"
Elaina's expression shifted slightly, her eyes softening as she spoke. "Because I know what he went through as a child."
"His past?" Mina asked, her tone curious but cautious.
Elaina's face grew solemn as she nodded. "Yes... He grew up as a slave. From a young age, he was robbed of the freedom every child deserves."
"Forced to obey orders, endure abuse, and live without hope."
Avilia and Mina fell silent, their faces reflecting the weight of Elaina's words.
Meanwhile, I crouched behind a thick bush, my eyes scanning for Saya and Amnesia.
Their laughter echoed faintly in the distance, but something else caught my attention.
Footsteps.
I turned my head slightly, my eyes narrowing as a shadow loomed closer.
"Hey, little guy," a rough voice called out, and I turned to see a man with a suspicious grin.
He crouched down, holding something in his hand. "I've got some delicious candy. Want some?"
Ah, a kidnapper, huh?
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of my lips, but I quickly wiped it away, masking it with an innocent expression.
"Really? Candy? Where?" I asked, my voice dripping with childlike curiosity.
The man's grin widened, and he gestured for me to follow. "It's just over here. Come on."
"Okay!" I chirped, skipping after him.
But in my mind, I thought, You messed with the wrong kid, old man.
I won't let you lay a finger on Saya or Amnesia.
After some time, Amnesia and Saya approached Elaina and the others, their faces filled with worry.
"Avilia! We can't find Arche anywhere!" Amnesia exclaimed, her voice tinged with panic.
"He's really good at hide and seek too? I thought he was only good at tag," Saya grumbled, crossing her arms in frustration.
Elaina's eyebrows furrowed, her expression sharpening as she processed Amnesia's words.
"What? He's missing?"
"Are you sure you've checked everywhere?" Avilia asked, her tone concerned, already standing up.
"We have to find him," Mina said, her usual calm replaced with urgency.
Elaina nodded, her voice firm. "Alright, we'll split up and look for him. Check every corner, every shadow. Call out if you find anything."
The group quickly dispersed, each heading in different directions to search for me.
Elsewhere, I stood in the dim shadows of a dark alley, face-to-face with the suspicious man who had lured me there.
"So," I said casually, my tone flat, "where's the candy you promised, old man?"
The man smirked, his expression turning sinister. "Candy? You idiot! Did you really believe me? You're dumber than you look!"
I raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by his outburst.
"I knew it," I mumbled under my breath, folding my arms.
The man laughed triumphantly, clearly mistaking my calm demeanor for fear.
"You're in for it now, kid! You shouldn't have wandered off on your own!"
But as he stepped closer, I narrowed my eyes, a faint smirk creeping onto my lips.
"Old man," I said, my voice cold and deliberate. "You really shouldn't have messed with me."
I began walking toward him and struck his stomach, but the man barely flinched, showing only a slight hint of pain.
"Is that all you've got, kid?!" he taunted, launching an attack of his own.
I managed to dodge swiftly, my eyes darting around until they landed on a glass bottle nearby.
Without hesitation, I grabbed it, stepping behind him in one smooth motion.
With all the strength I could muster, I smashed the bottle against the back of his head.
Blood immediately trickled down, and the bottom of the bottle shattered, leaving jagged, dangerous edges.
The man collapsed to the ground, groaning in pain.
I stepped closer, gripping the sharp remains of the bottle, ready to end it all with a strike to his back.
The tense atmosphere of the alley dissipated the moment a familiar voice rang out.
"Arche!"
I froze, my head snapping toward the source. Standing a short distance away, her silvery hair glinting faintly under the dim light, was Elaina.
"Found you!" she declared, pointing at me as if I were some mischievous child caught sneaking cookies.
Ah, that's right. Hide-and-seek. I had almost forgotten.
Scratching the back of my head awkwardly, I muttered, "Oh... you caught me."
"There you are," Elaina said, her tone teetering between concern and relief. "You had everyone worried."
I tossed the glass bottle I had been holding into a nearby trash bin and began walking toward her.
"Let's go, Elaina."
Elaina glanced past me at the man crumpled against the wall, still groaning in pain. Her sharp eyes flicked back to me.
"Alright," she said with a sigh, falling into step beside me. "Let's head back to the others."
Before we walked too far, I turned and looked back at the man.
My voice was low and cold. "Don't worry. I won't kill you—but the hospital bill will."
Elaina raised an eyebrow at my words but said nothing. We walked in silence for a while, the tension fading with each step.
Eventually, I broke the quiet. "You're not going to ask about the guy from before?"
Elaina gave me a sidelong glance, her expression unreadable. After a pause, she spoke.
"No," she said simply. "I can tell there's more to it than what I saw. And honestly, I trust you had it handled."
I chuckled lightly, surprised at her response. "I appreciate that, Elaina."
Her lips curved into a small smile. "You're welcome," she replied softly.
"But," she added, her tone firm, "you should be more careful"
"Don't go getting yourself into dangerous situations unnecessarily."
"Yeah, yeah," I said, waving her off dismissively.
But after a moment, I glanced at her again, a thought crossing my mind.
"Hey... if it's alright, can we stop by a restaurant or cafe? I haven't had sweets in ages," I asked, my voice almost hesitant.
Elaina blinked, caught off guard by the sudden request. Then, her expression softened into something warm and fond.
"Of course," she said, a genuine smile lighting up her face. "Let's find a cafe with all the sweets you can eat."
My lips quirked upward into a small grin.
Meanwhile, Avilia and Amnesia found themselves standing in front of a quaint little café, its warm glow spilling onto the cobblestone street.
Amnesia's gaze was fixated on the customers inside, happily indulging in colorful parfaits and decadent pastries.
She could only watch longingly from the window, her small hands pressed against the glass.
Noticing her sister's expression, Avilia gently patted her shoulder.
"Do you want to go in and buy something?" she asked with a knowing smile.
Amnesia hesitated, fidgeting slightly. "Uh... I do, but we have to find Arche first!" she said, trying to mask her desire.
"It's okay," Avilia reassured her. "I have a feeling Elaina has already found him."
"Really?" Amnesia blinked, tilting her head.
Avilia nodded confidently. "Call it sisterly intuition."
After a brief pause, Amnesia relented. "Okay... if you say so, Avilia."
With that, the two stepped inside, the aroma of freshly baked treats and coffee greeting them warmly.
Avilia held Amnesia's tiny hand as they made their way to a cozy table.
Once seated, they began flipping through the menu.
Amnesia's eyes lit up as she pointed excitedly at a parfait topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit.
"Avilia! I want this one!"
"Alright," Avilia said with a nod, a gentle smile on her lips.
"Thank you, Avilia!" Amnesia beamed, practically bouncing in her seat.
"Anything for you, sis," Avilia replied warmly, patting her sister's head.
Elsewhere, Mina and Saya wandered through the park where we had been playing earlier, their eyes scanning the area.
"Did you find him?" Saya asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"Not yet..." Mina sighed, her gaze sweeping over the playground.
As she searched, Mina's attention was caught by a vibrant flower swaying gently in the breeze.
She crouched down and plucked it carefully, her expression softening.
Approaching Saya, Mina called out, "Sis!"
Saya turned to face her just as Mina tucked the delicate flower behind her ear.
"You're so cute," Mina said with a smile, stepping back to admire her handiwork.
Saya giggled, her cheeks flushing with happiness. "Thank you, Mina!"
Mina shook her head, her voice soft. "No, I should be the one thanking you." She seemed to treasure seeing her sister in this younger form, cherishing the innocence that radiated from her.
Their moment was interrupted when they spotted Elaina and me walking out from the shadows of a nearby alley.
"There he is! Elaina found Arche," Saya pointed out, her eyes lighting up.
"Let's go, Sis," Mina said, tugging gently on Saya's hand.
"Mhm! Let's go!" Saya nodded enthusiastically, and together, they walked toward us, their steps quickening with excitement.
We all gathered in the café, with Elaina trying to explain what had happened earlier.
But of course, there was the slight omission of the fact that I nearly ended a man's life.
Instead, Elaina just casually mentioned, "The man stumbled and by the time I arrived, he was already lying on the ground."
Yeah, right, Elaina. Stumbled. I'm sure it had nothing to do with my 'gentle persuasion'.
But hey, I'll take it. It's not like I'm trying to go around making a mess or anything.
Meanwhile, Amnesia, Saya, and I were happily indulging in our mountain of sweets-parfaits, cakes, you name it. It was like a simple paradise.
Amnesia's eyes sparkled as she dug into a giant slice of chocolate cake, and Saya was practically floating with joy as she slurped down a strawberry parfait.
It was the most blissful moment in recent memory—nothing could ruin it, right?
Wrong. Because after that blissful café moment, we all headed back to the hotel.
Elaina, Avilia, and Mina immediately set to work on a potion that could return us to our real ages.
You know, important stuff. Meanwhile, the rest of us had absolutely nothing to do.
So naturally, we found ourselves with time to kill.
And what better way to kill time than to goof off like children?
We started running around, throwing pillows at each other, and pretending the furniture was some kind of imaginary obstacle course.
That's when Saya screamed.
"AAH! MR. RACCOON!"
Elaina, who was elbow-deep in potion ingredients, nearly dropped the entire concoction in shock.
She whipped around, her eyes wide, "Huh? What happened?!"
Saya, clearly in a state of distress, pointed to the wardrobe.
"While we were playing, Arche accidentally threw Mr. Raccoon onto the wardrobe!" she cried, like it was the biggest crisis of our time.
I scratched the back of my head awkwardly. "Sorry, my bad," I mumbled.
Amnesia, ever the philosopher, chimed in, "No, it's my fault. I said, 'What would happen if raccoons could fly?'"
"Oh yeah," I added, "and naturally, I was like, 'I'll fulfill that curiosity!' So, I chucked the poor thing onto the wardrobe."
Elaina blinked, completely deadpan, "Well, I never thought I'd have to discuss flying raccoons in a hotel room. But here we are."
Avilia, who had been quietly watching the chaos unfold, calmly reached up, retrieved the raccoon doll from its perch on top of the wardrobe, and handed it back to us.
We stared at her, amazed by her calmness in the face of such chaos.
"Thank you, Avilia!" we all said in perfect unison.
She just nodded, an almost too serene look on her face.
"You're welcome," she said, before turning back to the potion-making task at hand.
We went back to our ridiculous antics, but the room had a calmer energy now.
Not because we had changed, but because, well, Avilia had rescued Mr. Raccoon.
And Elaina? She simply sighed and went back to her brewing, muttering under her breath, "I should've stayed in the café."
As we moved into my room to continue our "playtime," a sudden crash shattered the peace.
The door swung open, and there they were—Amnesia, Saya, and me—armed to the teeth.
I was holding a gun, Amnesia had a knife, and Saya? Well, she was proudly clutching a bomb.
And my bag? Lying innocently on the floor, the contents scattered all around like a treasure trove of potential disaster.
Mina's eyes widened in horror. "Don't hold it!" she practically leaped into action, rushing over to wrestle the weapons away from us.
"Ah..." Avilia breathed, her hand over her face in disbelief. "Arche's room is a very dangerous place for children."
"Yeah," Elaina said, her tone deadpan as she rubbed her temples, clearly feeling like an idiot. "I should have figured that out sooner."
Amnesia, ever the enthusiastic one, waved the knife around like she was practicing for an action theater.
"It's fine! We were just playing... well, pretend playing!"
"With knives and bombs?" Mina shot back, glancing between the three of us like we were the most bizarre collection of children she'd ever met.
"Yeah, I guess I should've noticed the 'danger zone' sign earlier..." Elaina muttered, clearly feeling a little too relaxed in this chaotic situation.
"Sorry about that, everyone."
Once the weapons were safely out of our hands, we decided to escape the madness of the hotel room.
A safer environment-like the park near the hotel-was calling our names.
We all spilled out into the fresh air, far away from my "dangerous" collection of items.
Meanwhile, Elaina, Avilia, and Mina were hard at work, determined to finish the potion and restore us to our real ages as quickly as possible.
They moved with quiet focus, knowing that the sooner they completed the potion, the sooner they'd be rid of our current predicament.
But of course, peace was a fleeting thing, and the soothing atmosphere of the park was shattered by a sudden, loud cry that pierced the air.
Elaina, Avilia, and Mina immediately stopped what they were doing, their expressions a mixture of concern and confusion.
They turned towards the source of the noise, their instincts kicking in.
They rushed to the park where we had been playing, only to find Saya on the ground, tears streaming down her face, clutching her wounded knee.
"Saya! Saya! Calm down!" Amnesia was frantically trying to comfort her, but it wasn't working.
"Sis?! Are you okay?" Mina was the first to approach, kneeling down to heal the wound.
But the sobs didn't stop. In fact, seeing her cry only made Amnesia's own tears flow freely.
Meanwhile, I stood there, completely frozen, desperately trying to think of something, anything—to say to calm them down.
But my mind was blank, and the weight of the situation only made it harder to get any words out.
"Umm... uhh..." I stammered, feeling like a complete failure in this moment.
"They... really can't keep calm, huh?" Elaina sighed, clearly trying to suppress the urge to roll her eyes.
"Calm down, please don't cry," Avilia said in a soft yet commanding voice as she knelt down beside the girls.
Her calm demeanor contrasted with the chaos around her, and she gently spoke to both Saya and Amnesia, coaxing them into calming down.
Once the tears started to subside and the sobs became sniffles, we went back to playing as though nothing had happened.
It was like a brief storm had passed, and now the sun was shining again—at least for the moment.
Elaina, Avilia, and Mina let out collective sighs of relief. They were visibly exhausted, the emotional rollercoaster of the day taking its toll.
We had interrupted their potion-making several times with our shenanigans, and they were starting to feel the strain.
We all settled down in Elaina's room, where we drank water to quench our thirst, while the trio of exhausted women slumped in chairs, drained from managing our chaos all day.
"Never a dull moment..." Elaina muttered, her head resting in her hands.
"Tell me about it," Avilia added with a tired smile, though it was clear the weight of the day had worn her thin.
Mina simply let out a heavy sigh and leaned back in her chair, her energy completely depleted.
The room was quiet for a moment, the calm after the storm, until someone—likely me—would inevitably interrupt again.
"How about the potion you guys made?" I asked after drinking some water, my curiosity piqued.
Elaina, looking like she'd run a marathon, sighed heavily.
"The potion's... almost done," she said between breaths.
"We just need a few more minutes to finish it."
"After this potion is finished, you will not remember what you did when you were a kid," she added, her voice tinged with a mix of exhaustion and determination.
Mina's eyes widened at the revelation. "Are you serious?"
"Yes, that's a side effect of this potion," Elaina confirmed, nodding.
Immediately, Mina jumped to her feet, looking a little too eager.
"Follow me for a moment, sis!" she said to Saya, who seemed too dazed to protest.
Without missing a beat, they dashed off to their room, and naturally, we being the curious bunch we are-began eavesdropping.
"Ah~! Sis, you're so cute!" Mina's voice was full of joy.
"H-Huh? M-Mina?!" Saya's voice, a mix of surprise and confusion, followed shortly after.
We exchanged awkward glances, not quite sure what was going on but having a pretty good idea.
"We really don't need to know this," I muttered, backing away slowly from the door.
"I also want to be alone with my sister for a while," Avilia added with a mischievous glint in her eye.
Before anyone could react, she and Amnesia slipped into their room.
Leaving Elaina and me alone in her room, the silence stretched for a moment.
I took a seat in a nearby chair and began writing something down.
Elaina, her curiosity clearly piqued, glanced over at me.
"What are you writing?" she asked, her voice soft, almost as if she didn't want to disturb the quiet atmosphere.
"You can only read it after I return to my real age," I replied with a grin, not looking up from my writing.
"That sounds intriguing," Elaina said, her lips curving into a slight smile. "Guess I'll have to wait, huh?"
"Yep," I answered, still scribbling away. "Guess you will."
Elaina continued her work, mixing the potion ingredients with intense concentration, but I couldn't let the moment pass without saying something that had been on my mind.
"Elaina," I called out, my voice breaking the quiet focus in the room.
She looked up, her fingers pausing mid-air as she turned her attention fully to me.
"Yes?" Her tone was soft, but there was a hint of curiosity behind her gaze.
Suddenly, the words just spilled out of me, without thinking. "I like you."
There was a brief silence. Her eyes widened, and for a moment, I thought I might've just made the biggest mistake of my life.
"You... like me?" she repeated, her voice almost a whisper, disbelief clear in her expression.
"Yes," I continued, a little more confidently now.
"You're independent, kind, and even though you look indifferent most of the time, I know you're a good person." I gave her a smile that I hoped wasn't too awkward.
She blinked, clearly taken aback by my direct confession. "Y-You think so?" Her voice cracked slightly, revealing a small hint of vulnerability beneath her usual calm demeanor.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small folded piece of paper.
"Read this after I have returned to my real age," I said, holding it out to her with a grin.
Elaina hesitated for a second, then gently took the paper from my hands, her fingers grazing mine briefly.
"After you return to your real age, huh?" she murmured, repeating my words as if she was trying to process everything I'd just said.
Before she could respond further, the door to the room suddenly opened.
"Arche!" Amnesia called out excitedly. "Let's play one last time!"
Avilia peeked in from behind her, smiling as well.
"Yes! Come on!" Saya chimed in, practically bouncing on her feet.
Mina was grinning too, her joy obvious in the way she looked at all of us.
I couldn't help but smile in return. "Mhm! Okay!"
The three of us-Amnesia, Saya, and I—made our way out to the park near the hotel.
The sun was starting to set, and the cool evening breeze made everything feel even more serene.
I felt genuinely happy, enjoying this simple moment with my friends.
We played for hours, running around, laughing, and just soaking in the pure joy, even if only for a little while.
When we finally headed back, the exhaustion of the day hit us all at once. We piled into the bed together, tired but content.
Before we fell asleep, we slipped into the adult versions of our clothes.
Elaina had explained that when we returned to our real ages, we wouldn't want to feel cramped in the child-sized clothing.
I could only imagine how strange it would be, returning to my normal size after all this.
As we drifted off, the sound of the potion being brewed continued in the background.
We were all so worn out from our playtime that we barely noticed the time passing.
Elaina, Avilia, and Mina had finally managed to finish the potion, and as we slept peacefully, they quietly slipped the potion into our drinks, careful not to disturb us.
They let us rest, knowing that the next morning we would return to our real selves.
But for now, all we could do was sleep, unaware of the changes awaiting us.
I slowly opened my eyes, a groggy feeling washing over me.
My head was dizzy, and everything felt... blurry.
It took me a moment to focus, but when I looked to my left, I saw Saya's sleeping face.
A wave of confusion hit me, but before I could process what was happening, I turned to my right and was just as startled to see Amnesia peacefully snoozing beside me.
Wait... what? Why are we all in the same bed?! What did I do to them last night?!
Before I could get my thoughts together, the door to the bedroom creaked open.
Elaina walked in first, followed by Mina and Avilia, all looking at me as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
"Oh? You're awake already. I didn't think it would happen this fast," Elaina muttered, her tone casual.
Mina, raising an eyebrow, asked, "Yes, you said it would still take another hour for him to return to his real age, right?"
Avilia nodded, confirming, "When we left them, they were still like ten years old, right?"
I blinked, completely lost in the conversation. "H-Hey! Can you guys explain what happened?! Why am I here, and why are they-"
Before I could finish my sentence, Amnesia stirred, rubbing her eyes.
"Hm... What's all this commotion about?" she mumbled groggily.
"Yeah, you can't calm down at all, Arche..." Saya also woke up, her voice heavy with sleep.
I was in the middle of them, both of them blinking at me in confusion.
I felt like I was trapped in some kind of weird dream, trying to figure out how I ended up in this situation.
After a few moments of silence, I blurted out, "It seems like we had a pajama party before," despite the fact that none of us were wearing pajamas.
The moment they realized we were all in the same bed, I could see their face turn a bright shade of red.
"What did you do to us, you idiot?!" Saya yelled, slapping the side of my head.
I took the blow without protest, too confused to even react properly.
Meanwhile, Amnesia crossed her arms and gave me a stern look.
"You better explain yourself, Arche!"
I could only manage an awkward smile, fully aware I had no idea how to explain any of this.
After a few tense moments, Elaina cleared her throat, and the three of them started to explain what had actually happened the night before.
To my surprise, their explanation sounded... well, rather exciting.
Apparently, they had managed to finish the potion and, while we were sleeping, slipped it into our drinks to restore us to our real ages.
However, things got a little blurry for me—everything from the moment I drank it up until now was a haze.
After hearing the story, it began to make sense. My confusion melted into gratitude.
"Thank you, for changing us back to our real age, Elaina," I said, finally understanding the situation.
Elaina just shrugged nonchalantly, but there was a small, knowing smile on her lips.
"You're welcome. Just try to keep your head together next time."
"You're welcome. Glad we could get everything sorted out," she responded, her voice filled with amusement.
"Although, I have to admit," Elaina said with a raised eyebrow and a teasing smirk, "I didn't expect to find all three of you sharing a bed."
Hearing that, Amnesia's face turned crimson. She quickly sat up and waved her hands in denial.
"It's not like that! From what you explained, we were just tired from playing and accidentally fell asleep together!"
Saya, however, crossed her arms and huffed. "Besides, why couldn't I share a bed with Elaina instead? This feels like favoritism."
"Sorry I disappointed you all," I muttered under my breath, feeling as though the universe was conspiring to make me look bad.
Suddenly, a thought struck me, and I turned to Elaina.
"Wait... you said you received a paper from the child version of me, right?"
Elaina nodded, her expression softening slightly as she recalled the memory.
"Yes, you handed it to me right before running off to play with Saya and Amnesia."
I gulped. "And... you haven't read it yet?"
A sly smile crept onto Elaina's face as she pulled out the folded paper from her pocket.
"I was saving it for now. Guess this is as good a time as any."
Elaina carefully unfolded the paper and scanned its contents.
Almost immediately, her eyebrows furrowed, and then she broke into a grin.
"Wow. Your handwriting is really bad, isn't it?"
I felt my cheeks heat up in embarrassment. "Shut up! It should still be readable, right?"
"It's passable," she said with a shrug, her voice dripping with amusement.
"But seriously, you should take a calligraphy class or something."
As Elaina continued to read, her teasing expression softened, and for a brief moment, her eyes widened in surprise.
Then, to my confusion, a gentle smile appeared on her lips. "That boy..."
Suddenly, without warning, she tore the paper in half.
"WHAT?!" I exclaimed, my jaw practically hitting the floor. "Why would you do that?!"
Elaina tilted her head with a nonchalant expression, as if what she did was the most natural thing in the world.
"That was a request from your younger self. He specifically told me to make sure you couldn't read it."
I stared at her, utterly dumbfounded. "Huh...?"
"Don't overthink it," Elaina said, waving her hand dismissively.
"Your younger self was surprisingly thoughtful. Maybe he just wanted me to keep the secret safe."
I sighed, rubbing my temples in frustration. "I can't believe even the kid version of me was this dramatic..."
The next morning started out pretty normal—or at least as normal as life with Elaina, Mina, and Avilia could be.
We were working together to brew a potion that would clean a bunch of dirty coins we'd found on one of our recent adventures.
Simple enough, right?
I followed Elaina's instructions to add ingredients, feeling oddly proud of my flawless potion-making skills.
But then came the twist.
"Elaina, uh..." I hesitated, scratching the back of my head. "I, uh... may have forgotten to buy one of the ingredients."
Her eyes narrowed. "Which ingredient?"
"The essential one," I admitted sheepishly. "But don't worry! I found something similar!"
"Wait!" Mina suddenly interrupted, staring at the ingredient I'd handed over. "That's not what we need!"
I then immediately put similar ingredients into the couldron. "Problem solved!"
"What? Why did you replace it?!" Avilia scolded, looking somewhere between frustrated and resigned.
"Well, because we didn't have the right one..." I trailed off. "I'll fix it! Let me go buy the proper ingredient now."
Before anyone could stop me, I bolted out of the room, feeling like a hero on a mission.
But barely five steps away from the door, a deafening BOOM echoed behind me.
"What the—?!" I spun around just as Amnesia and Saya came running toward me, panic written all over their faces.
"What happened?!" Amnesia asked, looking more alarmed than I'd ever seen her.
"No idea! I was just about to—" I stopped mid-sentence, staring in horror as smoke poured out of the room we'd been working in.
When the smoke cleared, the sight before us was... well, unexpected, to say the least.
Elaina, Mina, and Avilia were lying unconscious on the floor—but their bodies had somehow transformed.
They were tiny. I mean, really tiny. Like... six-year-old tiny.
Elaina was the first to wake up, rubbing her head groggily. She blinked up at me, her big, round eyes filled with confusion.
"Where... am I?" she mumbled, her voice high-pitched and adorably squeaky.
She looked at me suspiciously, tilting her head. "Hey... who are you?"
I stared at her, feeling my sanity slip away as her tiny form somehow made me forget the concept of laws entirely.
"You don't remember?" I asked, trying to sound calm.
Meanwhile, Mina and Avilia stirred awake, looking equally disoriented. When they saw Saya and Amnesia, their faces lit up.
"Sis...?" they said in unison, their voices as small and childlike as their bodies.
Saya's jaw dropped. "WHAT?! How did this happen?!"
"It was probably his fault," Amnesia deadpanned, pointing a finger at me.
Now, we were stuck with a new problem: figuring out how to take care of three miniaturized, chaotic versions of Elaina, Mina, and Avilia-and, more importantly, how to turn them back into their adult selves before anything worse happened.
I froze.
Elaina cuteness was illegal.
"Tell the police," I muttered under my breath.
"Huh?" Mina squeaked, her tiny hands clutching the hem of her ridiculously oversized dress.
"Tell the police!" I said louder, walking forward dramatically and pointing at Elaina, my heart unable to handle her adorableness.
"That I'm ready to go to jail!"
Sometimes, taking shortcuts or ignoring instructions can lead to unexpected consequences-not just for yourself, but for those around you.
It's a reminder that responsibility isn't just about following orders, but about understanding the impact of your actions.