At the sound of his name, Mumu’s head perked up, his button eyes shifting toward Kina, his curiosity unmistakable.

  Kina’s smile grew warmer as she began to answer Dama’s question. “Oh, Mumu, Nina, and I suppose by extension Baba, started out as both passion projects and gifts. Remember Baba?"

  "Of course I do," Dama replied with a knowing smile, "he ended up with Juin."

  Kina gave her own smile before continuing, "I see. Well, your mother called them gifts for her ‘future children.’ Super sweet, isn't it?” Her voice softened as she spoke, reflecting on the memory with a touch of reverence.

  Dama blinked in acknowledgement, as he already knew that fact from his own mother's mouth, yet still felt a certain, grateful way about the fact.

  Kina chuckled, nodding. “Though, you most likely already knew that, didn't you? Even before you were born, Madima knew she wanted to create something truly special for you and Jula. At the time, I was already skilled enough to help her with her usual projects, but when it came to those three, she outright refused any assistance. I’ll never forget what she told me when I offered.”

  Dama tilted his head, his curiosity bulging from the new information. “What did she say?”

  Kina’s gaze grew distant for a moment, her smile tinged with admiration. “She said, ‘These three are going to be very special one day. I can feel it. They’ll need every bit of my love, care, and skill. I want to make sure only my hands work on them.’”

  Mumu’s ears twitched again and his gaze shifted back to Kina as if he, too, was deeply absorbing her words.

  Kina let out a soft laugh, bringing herself back to the present. “Of course, I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing. I made sure she had all the materials she needed—fabric, thread, stuffing, you name it. And when she finally finished Mumu, then Nina, and eventually Baba, I was floored. Each one was more incredible than the last.”

  She turned her attention to Mumu with a teasing smile. “That's right big guy, you were the first. I remember the day she showed you off. It was like watching magic come to life. In saying that, imagine my surprise seeing you actually come to life a few years later.”

  Mumu tilted his head from left to right, still absorbing the information. For an individual that's been alive for a few years now, he never really questioned his existence all that much. All he knew was that Dama was someone he needed, no—wanted, to take care of and protect. He loves Dama, and Dama loves him, same for his sister Nini—he wouldn't want to be anywhere far from them.

  When it came to the name "Baba", Mumu struggled for a second to connect it with a face. But, using what he heard from Dama, he remembered Baba being his wolf brother that was created alongside him and Nini. However, he was given to the Adin Family some time before Dama's magic awakening. Mumu wondered for a moment how would life be like if Baba was also alive.

  Most curiously enough, he had faint memories of a woman's voice, light and caring, speaking to him before being born anew. The words themselves were intelligible at this point, the only other thing he could remember from then was the fact he couldn't move. Thanks to this conversation, Mumu then thought to himself maybe, just maybe, the voice he could hear in his head for as long as he could remember was his creator—Madima Jinbia.

  Mumu then looked up to Dama with a lively smile. Dama smiled back at Mumu, feeling a newfound sense of appreciation for the stitched bear who had been with him all his life.

  Kina glanced back at Dama, her teasing grin shifting to him. “And you know, this was all around the time you were born, darling. Oh, you were the sweetest little thing! Such a cutie-patootie baby—and super clingy to boot~!” She let out a laugh, covering her mouth as she recalled memories of a baby Dama.

  Dama’s face flushed a bit as he fidgeted in the rocking chair. “C-Clingy? I'm sure I wasn’t that clingy.”

  “Oh, you were, trust me,” Kina replied, her laughter ringing like bells, “always crawling and waddling after me or your mom, arms up, demanding to be held. Everytime I picked you up, you would look up at me with such wide and beautiful eyes~! You was just the most adorable thing!”

  Dama looked away, rubbing the back of his neck, though the faint smile on his face betrayed his embarrassment. “Well, I guess that isn't the worst to hear... I wonder how I treated Mumu, Nini, and Baba at the time..."

  Kina reached out to pat Mumu’s arm, smiling softly. “I heard you were pretty attached to them, even at such an early age."

  Dama smiled with nostalgia. "Heh, I guess I have to thank Mumu, Nini, and Baba when I see him again, for being my silent guardians since the beginning."

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  "And they’ll keep doing so, isn't that right Mumu~?” Kina added, of which Mumu responded with an enthusiastic nod.

  As Dama's eyes eventually wandered, landing on a neighboring room filled with bags of raw materials—mostly wool—stacked neatly in a corner. Intrigued, he asked, “Ah, Ms. Alder, are you planning on giving those bags to someone?”

  Kina followed his gaze and chuckled. “My, my, you’ve got such a keen eye, Dama. Yes, I am! I was planning to deliver them to Alexandra later. She always needs materials for her seamstress work, and I make it a habit to keep her stocked whenever I can.”

  Dama’s face lit up with enthusiasm. “Oh, I can deliver them for you! It’s the least I can do to help.”

  Kina’s heart melted at his earnest offer, and though she kept her expression composed, she couldn’t help but squeal internally at how pure Dama looked at that moment. “Well, aren’t you just the sweetest? I’d really appreciate that, darling. Today’s shaping up to be a bit busier than usual, so having one less thing to do would be a blessing.”

  Dama smiled brightly before his expression softened. “I’m sorry if I cut into your schedule, Ms. Alder."

  Kina shook her head with a gentle laugh, dismissing the thought with a wave of her hand. “Oh, honey, you don’t need to worry about that one bit. To me, you’re just as much of a son as my darling boys, who are all grown up now. You’ve already done more than enough just by being your sweet self!" she said before flattening her hand. "And anyway, your mother already repaid me tenfold for everything.”

  As Dama contemplated on Kina's last sentence, she finished threading the last stitch in Mumu’s final tear, leaning back with a satisfied smile. “There we go!”

  Clapping her hands together, she then sat straight and focused on Mumu’s arm. “Now, this part’s my favorite,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.

  Though Kina didn’t have the exact shade of green to match Mumu’s body, she didn’t seem worried in the slightest. She watched as the area she’d stitched began to morph, the thread seamlessly changing color to match the surrounding fabric.

  The blue vine-like patterns running along Mumu’s body pulsed faintly before new vines grew to replace the ones disrupted by the tears. The transformation was smooth and almost magical, as if Mumu’s body knew how to heal itself in response to the care it received.

  “Gosh, I've always wondered why that happens, but it's so cool either way!” Kina said with a triumphant grin, motioning to Mumu’s arm. “Good as new! No one will even notice you had a few tears.”

  Dama sat up from his chair in delight. “Amazing as always, Ms. Alder! Thank you!”

  Kina laughed, a proud yet modest tone in her voice. “Your mother made sure of that, sweetie. Not only is my skill and interest in sowing solely because of her, it's obvious the love and care she put into all three—she built them to last.”

  Mumu studied his mended arm before nodding in approval, his tail swishing lightly behind him. It was his quiet way of saying thank you.

  “You’re welcome, big guy~!” Kina said, giving his arm a gentle pat. Then she turned to Dama. “Now, about those bags of wool… Think you’re up for the task, cutie-patootie?”

  Dama grinned confidently. “Of course! You can count on me!"

  Later on at Kina’s front porch, Dama and Kina dropped the hefty bags of wool with soft thuds. Kina, dusting her hands off and whipping around to face her helpers, grinned with her hands on her hips. “Alright, my sweet little team! Ready to deliver these bags?”

  Dama and Mumu saluted in perfect unison, their timing so synchronized that it caught Kina off guard. She clutched her chest dramatically. “Oh, my stars! You two are too much!” Unable to resist, Kina pulled Dama into a tight, love-filled hug, squeezing him with all the affection in her heart. “You are just the most adorable, sweet little thing! How can I not just eat you up~?”

  Dama, his face squished against Kina’s chest and his voice muffled, looked up with a resigned but fond smile. (“T-Thanks...”) he said, though his thoughts betrayed his amusement, "One of these days, she’s going to break someone’s back with these hugs."

  After a moment, Kina finally released him, turning her gleeful attention to Mumu. “And you, my big, lovable teddy bear! Come here you!” She spread her arms wide, an invitation Mumu eagerly accepted.

  With a gentle motion, Mumu scooped Kina up into a soft, plush bearhug. She giggled and laughed like a little girl, her happiness infectious as she kicked her legs in excitement. “Oh, you’re the best hugger! I could just stay like this forever!”

  Eventually, Mumu set her down with care, and Kina took a deep breath to compose herself, though her grin didn’t waver. “Alright, you two be careful on the road back to the village, got it?”

  Dama nodded, picking up one bag of wool in his left hand and securing another under his left shoulder. Mumu, with his impressive strength, hefted the remaining bags with ease. “We will, Ms. Kina! Thank you for everything!” Dama called as they started down the path.

  Kina waved energetically, her voice warm and cheerful. “Goodbye, my darlings! And Dama, don’t forget to come see me before you head back to your cabin! I’ll have a basket of fresh fruits and veggies waiting for you!”

  Dama turned to wave once more, shouting his thanks as Mumu followed behind, his tail swishing contentedly. The two made their way down the path, Kina’s vibrant energy still lingering in the air behind them.

  Now in Enohay Village, Dama and Mumu walked along the bustling streets, the energy of the place ever-present. Villagers passed by, their voices carrying a mix of warmth and familiarity.

  “There goes that boy Dama and his pal working again.” one villager commented with a chuckle.

  “Keep it up, kid!” another called out cheerfully.

  Dama couldn’t help but smile, his heart swelling with gratitude. The simple kindness and acknowledgment from the villagers were small moments that always brightened his day.

  As he soaked in the atmosphere, he let his mind wander for just a second, until... “Dama, buddy!”

  A call snapped him back to reality, and he turned toward the voice to see a man waving at him. The man had short, blonde hair with neatly side-parted bangs, his appearance clean and composed. His face struck a perfect balance—not too soft, not too chiseled—and his posture was upright, exuding an air of calm confidence: It was Liam Leir.

  -

  Next: (Extra Chapter 6) Run In With Liam