Liliana sighed deeply.
"So, let's find something you're good at besides fighting.
Whether that's applying for jobs or going to college."
“I will think about this.”
Damian, thinking about his abilities, naturally turned his attention to Liliana.
“By the way, what are you doing, Liliana?”
"Me?
I was a college student.
But you see, I'm on leave because of my health."
“I see.
What university are you studying at?”
“University in the state of Noster.
I think I mentioned it before, but I am of eastern origin.
Have you heard of the Università Cleta?
I live there.”
Noster was a province located in the eastern part of Istria, and Cleta belonged to that province.
Although it was a university in a small city, Noster State University had a good reputation.
Since Cleta was not a particularly special place, not many people knew about it.
“Are you a senpai now?” (He is originally a senior or a senbaenim, but I myself have reserved the rights to the anime, so this is easier for me)
“Ah... well... yes...?”
Liliana's voice stopped mysteriously.
Damian didn't understand what she meant, so he looked at her and she waved her hand and said,
"Well, yes.
I'm a senior.
Yes."
Liliana confirmed, but her tone was a little strange.
Damian nodded and asked again,
“So you were in the East all this time because of school?”
"That's part of it."
“Do you travel a lot, or do you have relatives living elsewhere?”
“I haven't traveled much, and my family situation is... complicated...
I only have my aunt as a relative....”
Liliana responded hesitantly, and Damian said in an indifferent tone,
"I see.
I don't have anyone I can call my parents either, so it's a bit complicated for me too."
Liliana nodded with her round eyes and suddenly burst out laughing.
"Why are you laughing?".
“Well, when people hear my story, they usually feel embarrassed and don't know what to say, thinking I have a dark past.
But you're the first person I've met who simply says he doesn't have parents either, as if you're reaching out to me.”
"Ah, I understand."
Damian nodded.
"So you don't have parents either, Damian.
No wonder you look a bit lost, like a kite with its strings cut."
"Yes…".
“Are they dead?”
“No, but...”
Damian searched for the right words, then gave a vague answer.
"It just happened that way."
Liliana seemed to sense something from Damian's expression and didn't try to pry any further.
“I see.
My mother died when I was young, and my father died recently... so my aunt has been taking care of me.”
“I grew up in an orphanage because I didn't have any relatives.”
"Show".
Just like Damian, Liliana didn't pity him after hearing his story.
She just drank her coffee.
Meanwhile, Damian was thinking to himself.
:If she has been studying at a university in the province of Noster all this time, it does not match Lintray's story of her being in Edenvalen since she was twenty years old.
Furthermore, Noster and Kilta are to the east, and Edenvalen is to the west.
If Liliana is honest, traveling between East and West frequently will be a great burden.'
Lost in his thoughts, Damian unconsciously turned his head.
'But her father died recently?
When exactly does "recently" mean?
Would she be angry if I asked her?'
Damian was looking intently at Liliana, who was eating the cookies.
Could it really be Mrs.
Lentrae...?
Liliana felt Damian's gaze, so she pushed the cookie box towards him.
“Do you want some?”
“No, I just thought you liked it well.”
For Damien, who never had a sweet tooth, the combination of caramel, macchiato and sweet cake was enough to melt his tongue.
But Liliana was enjoying her snacks with a satisfied expression.
Damian looked at her face and suddenly asked out of curiosity,
"What's your major in college, Liliana?"
Liliana put her hands on her hips and said somewhat proudly,
“I specialize in art.
I mainly paint with watercolors and oils!”
Damian imagined Liliana filling a white canvas with bright colors, holding a brush, and nodded.
“This seems to suit you.”
"Really?
I'll show you my paintings one day if I get the chance.
I'm very proud of them."
Damian pushed the metal can towards Liliana.
I bit into a cookie like a rabbit eating a carrot and asked,
“By the way, have you always lived in Nishio, except when you were recruited?”
“The orphanage and school were here.”
"Oh, really?
So you must know Nishio well?"
Suddenly, Liliana's eyes lit up as she looked at Damian.
"I've only been to Nishio once!
And that was a short visit when I was little, so I don't know much about it.
So, I have something I want to do when I get back to the hospital."
"What is this?".
“Nothing special, I just want to walk around Nishio.
I want to visit famous tourist places and eat at delicious restaurants!
Okay, okay!”
“...You're asking me to show you around, aren't you?”
Damian said, who had subtly grasped the situation, and Liliana nodded vigorously.
"If you're busy Damian, I won't bother you.
But if you have time, would you like to go out with me?
You can decline if you don't want to."
Liliana suggested cautiously, her voice somewhat timid at the end.
Damian answered without thinking much.
"certainly".
"Really?
Are you sure?"
“Yes, it is not a difficult request, and I have no reason to refuse it.”
Liliana's face lit up.
“Yay, I'm so excited!
I was worried about having to explore the place on my own!
I've heard so many stories about how Nishio is so complicated that you could be fooled in broad daylight!”
“It's not so bad.
By the way, isn't Madame Pascal coming with you?”
"Well... she has work in Kelta, so she can't be away for long.
That's why she can only visit me once a week."
Liliana looked a little sad and lowered her eyes.
Damian finally began to understand the situation.
Liliana must have been lonely while in the hospital.
From what he heard, she only had her aunt as a relative or family member, and didn't mention any friends.
It was as if no one could visit her from her hometown of Klata or the university in Noster.
She must have enjoyed spending time with Damian on a regular basis.
'No wonder she followed me so easily.'
Damian looked at her with a complicated expression.
“When will you be discharged?”
“This is Friday!”
"This is faster than I expected."
“They said I could switch to outpatient treatment if I didn't overdo it.”
"This is amazing".
“Right?
I'm glad it came sooner than I expected.
But I was a little sad that I won't be able to see you anymore...
I'm glad you said you'd spend some time with me.”
“Then when will you return to Cleta?”
“I'm not sure about that...”
Liliana scratched her head.
“I decided to live here for a while.
I was transferred here because the hospitals in the east couldn't handle my condition.
If I return to Kalita and have another attack or shock, my condition could be serious.”
The eastern part of Istaria was relatively underdeveloped compared to other regions, especially with regard to medical services.
So it was true that there was no better place than the capital to treat seriously ill patients.
But Liliana continued speaking with a dissatisfied expression.
“My aunt wants me to stay in the capital until I fully recover, but shouldn’t people with my condition go to the countryside to recover, where the water and air are clean?
Especially for heart problems, quiet is the top priority.
But is it okay for me to stay in Nishio, which is crowded and the air is polluted?
My aunt can’t stay here for long, so I will be alone.
Of course, I am an adult, so I can live independently if I have to, but I would like to at least live in a familiar place.”
"But Ms.
Pascal is right in her point.
Proximity to a major hospital is a huge advantage for the patient."
“And you think so too?”
Liliana frowned.
Damian answered calmly.
"Don't worry too much.
I think you can manage on your own, Liliana.
Someone who has survived three heart failures can survive anywhere.
And you already have a friend, don't you?"
Liliana nodded with her big eyes and pointed at him.