The quiet evening filtered into the nursery as the gentle sway of the rocking chair matched the soft humming of Reiji's mother. Reiji, now eight and cradled in her arms, felt a warmth he'd never known in his past life, where affection was always out of reach. He leaned into her, his small hands clutching the fabric of her blouse, his deep red eyes half-closed as he savored the moment.

The gentle lull of her tune wrapped around him like a blanket, soothing him into an almost trance-like calm. When her voice faded, she looked down at him with a soft, amused smile. “Reiji, darling, are you planning to stay glued to me all evening?” she teased, her eyes bright with affection. “I still need to check on Shu and see if he’s home from his friend’s house.”

Reiji’s eyes opened fully, and his response was immediate—a firm squeeze, pulling her closer. “No,” he mumbled, his voice muffled against her shoulder. He held on even tighter, almost as if afraid she’d vanish the moment he let go. There was a slight pout to his expression, his red eyes narrowing slightly, showing an unexpected flash of possessiveness.

She chuckled softly, running her hand over his dark hair. “Oh, you little clingy one,” she whispered, gently kissing the top of his head. “Alright, just a bit longer.”

Reiji sighed in satisfaction, holding on tighter still, wanting this feeling to last forever. It was the one place where he felt truly secure, and he wasn’t ready to share her just yet. In this life, he’d make sure his mother’s attention belonged to him alone.