The boy wanted to change.
But he never had enough courage.
Still, Xiao Xiao had given him a direction to strive toward.
That was right.
This was the kind of adult he wanted to become.
Calm and unhurried, at peace with the passing years.
"...I'm just too useless..."
The boy lowered his head, his whole demeanor downcast.
His fingers unconsciously rubbed the side of his cup, over and over.
A faint ache came from his fingertips.
"You just haven't moved on from the memories of your childhood."
That was putting it gently.
More bluntly, the boy hadn't escaped the shadow of his childhood.
First impressions were extremely important.
The effects they had were also very "stubborn."
The boy had come to believe that monsters were terrifying.
He'd even developed a conditioned response whenever he saw one.
He felt afraid.
He was habitually afraid.
He habitually avoided them.
It took a long time to develop a habit.
Changing one might take even longer, as well as determination and courage.
"You're not afraid of Feifei."
Xiao Xiao reminded the boy of a simple fact.
The boy wasn't afraid of every monster.
That wasn't strange.
Feifei's appearance was more likely to make people like him than fear him.
To put it in extreme terms, most people judged by appearances.
Because he was so cute...
Even the monster he'd always been afraid of no longer seemed so repellent.
That's why so many people had always pursued beauty and handsome looks.
A pleasing appearance really did make it easier to win favor and indulgence.
The boy froze.
Feifei...
He instinctively looked toward Feifei.
Feifei had returned to the way he'd looked when the boy first saw him.
His eyes were closed, as if he were deep in a sweet