Joshua woke up once again from a dream he couldn't quite remember.
Nine, who seemed always to be watching by his side, appeared when he stirred. Seeing Joshua's trembling hands, Nine frowned slightly.
[Another nightmare? Don't be afraid.]
A dry, almost mechanical attempt at comfort.
Joshua stared blankly at his hands. A nightmare? What was so terrifying about that dream? In it, someone had promised to protect him for life. He should've been happy… not like this.
He lay in a daze, suddenly raising both hands and rubbing his face frantically. His soft cheeks were kneaded into all sorts of shapes, like a pair of squishy buns.
Nine was taken aback. Before he could say anything, Joshua sprang up from the bed, kicked the blanket aside, clenched his fist, and declared loudly, "It's just a dream or two! I can't even remember what happened after waking up—let's go find something tasty to eat!"
Seeing Joshua like that, Nine finally felt a bit more at ease, though he still muttered,
