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For as long as she can remember, Kate has always woken up surrounded by darkness. No matter how much her room gets cleaned, the moment she opens her eyes, her room will always be covered in soot.
She hates it.
She hates herself.
She hates herself for emitting soot whenever she feels negative emotions, for being in the Shadows House, and for being so powerless. Sometimes Kate thinks it would be better if she didn’t ex—
“Good morning, Miss Kate!”
Oh, her sun is here.
Kate doesn’t remember when it all changes, but whenever she wakes up, she is not only greeted by her soot-covered room, but also a warm, embracing sun. Emilico’s presence is like being gently kissed by the sunray on a perfectly warm, sunny day. Inviting, affectionate—
“Good morning, Emilico.”
— and lovely.
——————
Kate takes a brief moment to observe her surroundings. The walls, the ceiling, the bedcovers — everything is once again coated in a fine layer of soot, a silent testament to the power she holds within herself. Despite the ever-present soot covering her room, Emilico's presence effectively serves as a comforting contrast to it.
Turning her attention back to Emilico, who enters with an energy that seems boundless, she silently reflects on the stark difference between them — Emilico's optimism and cheerful innocence compared to her own.
Though, that’s what makes Emilico boundlessly charming.
Emilico opens the curtain to let the light of the morning sun into the room. "Let's do our best today as well!" Emilico says cheerfully.
Kate's gaze follows Emilico's movements, her eyes adjusting to the sudden influx of light streaming through the room. She slowly rises from the bed, the remnants of sleep receding, replaced by a determined resolve.
A thoughtful hum escapes her as she listens to Emilico's cheerful words. It is easy to be influenced by Emilico's optimism and motivation even when waking up every day to a room caked in soot. Kate finds comfort in that.
"Yes, we will."
———————
Emilico starts her early morning duties cleaning Kate’s room.
"You've gotten better at cleaning," Kate remarks.
Emilico smiles cheekily. "Of course! I can't always cause trouble for you, Miss Kate. From now on, I'll be the most perfect living do—wo-WOAH!"
Emilico trips on the rug and lands face-first on the floor, bumping the stool that has a vase on top, making it wobble and smash to the ground.
Kate's eyes widen as she witnesses Emilico's clumsy fall, her heart skipping a beat in momentary panic.
"Emilico!"
Reacting instinctively, she moves quickly to Emilico's side, kneeling beside her and immediately checking for any injuries. Thankfully Emilico appears unharmed — apart from potentially a bruised ego. Meanwhile, the shattered vase remains a stark reminder of the recent incident.
"Are you alright? That was quite the fall you took there."
Emilico shuts her eyes in pain but also in embarrassment. "Ouch, ouch, ouch…"
Kate smiles. "We're going to run out of vases at this point."
Emilico only slumps down. "I'm sorry, Miss Kate..."
Kate watches as Emilico rubs at her sore temple, a small chuckle escaping her lips. The sight of the shattered vase and Emilico's dejected form is quite a comical but also familiar sight to her at this point.
"Kate swears, you're far more likely to break something than to clean it," Kate teases, her voice laced with a hint of affectionate jest. She gently pats Emilico on the head, attempting to lift her spirits.
As Emilico slumps in defeat, Kate's expression softens. She can tell that the girl is feeling guilty and embarrassed by her clumsiness.
"It's alright, Emilico. Accidents happen," Kate reassures, her voice gentle and understanding. "You don't need to apologize. Just... maybe be more careful. Kate doesn't want you to get hurt."
Kate holds Emilico’s hand; Emilico’s hand is rough, a clear sign of her daily work cleaning. Yet it is warm beyond belief, making it harder for Kate to let it go.
Emilico must've noticed it as well. "Miss Kate?" she asks, tilting her head.
Kate hasn't realized it until Emilico speaks up, but she is indeed still holding the girl's hand. She looks down at their interlocked hands, her touch lingering for a few more seconds, before she finally lets go. The absence of Emilico's warmth is almost palpable, and Kate finds herself missing the contact almost immediately.
Clearing her throat, she responds, "Ah, apologies. Got lost in thought there for a moment."
Emilico doesn't question it; of course she doesn't. She trusts Kate more than anything in this world. She just smiles happily and gets back to her feet to grab a broom and dustpan to clear the vase shards on the floor.
As Emilico resumes her work, Kate watches for a moment, a mix of emotions swirling within her. Her gaze moves from Emilico's focused expression to her own hand, still holding onto the memory of the warmth only moments prior.
A war rages within her mind as she battles with her emotions, her feelings for Emilico a constant struggle to keep hidden. More than anything, she is scared to let it show.
Emilico is her weakness, and she knows weaknesses are easy to exploit. If… if something were to happen to Emilico because of her, Kate would never be able to forgive herself.
But… if someday, somehow, Emilico were to turn on her, Kate is not sure she would have it in her to fight against Emilico.
Clenching her hand, she forces herself to look away, silently vowing to keep her feelings in check. For Emilico's sake.
And for her sake too.