"Oh! Right!" Anna's expression shifted immediately, conflict forgotten. "So during December, everyone visited!"

"Everyone?" Reinhard raised a brow.

"Marie and Joseph came every week," Klein started counting on his fingers. "But then Scath came, and she was scary at first-"

"She wasn't scary!" Anasha protested. "She was just... Intense and then amazing."

"I agree with Anasha, she was pretty cool. She challenged us to water fights." Anna's grin turned wicked. "We filled up balloons with water and threw them at each other in the plaza-"

"Scath was terrifying during that." Klein insisted. "She had perfect aim and never missed and—"

"And she didn't hold back even though we're kids!" Anna's excitement overrode any complaint in her words. "It was amazing! We got completely soaked!"

"Gran came too." Anasha added, her blue eyes shining. "He made carts for us and then he and Scath and Joseph dragged us around the city in races-"

"I won twice!" Klein announced proudly and even puffed out his chest.

"Only because Gran let you!" Anna shot back. "He was clearly going slower for your cart-"

"He was not!" Klein's face flushed. "I won fair!"

"You won because you weigh less, so your cart was lighter-"

"That's still fair!"

Reinhard's chuckle interrupted their argument. Both siblings turned toward him, their expressions shifting from competitive to sheepish.

"And then?" Reinhard prompted gently.

"The water fountains!" Anasha took over, her hands gesturing around in joy. "They took us to these beautiful fountains in the city center and we played in the water-"

"Roana froze part of the water so we could slide on it." Klein quickly added. "It was like ice but not as cold-"

"And Nikki's flames kept us warm afterward so we didn't get sick," Anna continued. "She's really nice. She kept making sure we were okay and-"

"And then in January they took us to the beach!" All three children spoke simultaneously, their voices overlapping in shared excitement.

"There's a beach nearby?" Reinhard asked in surprise.

"About an hour south." Joseph supplied. "The weather's mild enough for swimming year-round."

"We built things in the sand!" Anasha's hands moved rapidly, shaping invisible structures. "I made a house with windows and a door and everything-"

"I built a Tonothus." Klein stated proudly. "With the horns and everything-"

"Mine was better, though." Anna interjected. "I built a whole village with multiple buildings and walls-"

"It collapsed when the tide came in." Klein pointed out with barely suppressed glee.

"So did your Tonothus!" Anna's hand shot out, messing Klein's brown hair roughly. "At least mine lasted longer!"

Klein laughed, batting her hand away. "Only by like two minutes!"

"Two minutes count!"

They dissolved into playful wrestling.

Klein grabbed Anna's wrist while she retaliated by tickling his side, knowing exactly where he was most sensitive. He yelped, trying to escape while laughing. Anasha watched with wide eyes before Anna's free hand shot out, grabbing Anasha's arm and pulling her into the fray.

"No fair!" Anasha squealed as fingers found her ribs. "I wasn't even part of this!"

"You are now!" Anna's grin was wicked as she tickled both Klein and Anasha simultaneously, her longer reach giving her an advantage despite fighting two opponents.

Klein managed to break free first before he dove at Anna from behind, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. "Anasha, now!"

Anasha needed no further encouragement, and her fingers attacked Anna's sides.

Anna's laughter filled the apartment without restraint. She collapsed backward onto Klein, who fell onto the carpet with her weight. All three of them ended up in a pile, giggling and gasping for breath.

Reinhard watched them with his chin resting on his hand with a faint smile before he glanced at Marie and Joseph.

"Thank you." Reinhard said softly. "For all of this."

Marie's hand shot out with her finger and flicked his forehead. "No, thanking us for this!"

Reinhard chuckled and nodded in acceptance.

"So." Marie's expression shifted, becoming more mischievous. "Do you want to go on another adventure?"

Reinhard blinked while Joseph frowned immediately and spoke. "Marie, I don't think that's a good idea. He just woke up and I'm sure he wants to spend time with Anna, Anasha, and Klein-"

"He still can because the adventure won't be approved for a while anyway." Marie's voice carried certainty despite Joseph's protest.

Reinhard's brow rose. "What type of adventure is it?"

"Joseph wanted to head to the eastern part of Hesod." Marie's grin widened. "He got a clue from the Information Institution that his older sister's whereabouts were spotted. But he wanted to leave us behind because he wants me to stay and keep you company while you're with your siblings and Anasha."

Reinhard's eyes widened before his gaze turned to Joseph.

Joseph's face flushed as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "It's fine if you guys stay. Rein will need help, and I think he should really enjoy the time he has with them."

"And leave you by yourself in the Eastern Part of Hesod?" Marie huffed, crossing her arms. "Don't be ridiculous." She turned to Reinhard. "So what do you want to do, Rein? Do you want to stay, or should we go with him?"

Reinhard furrowed his brows as he opened his mouth before closing, wanting to stay with the trio and wanting to help Joseph clashed.

"Of course you guys should go." Anna's voice rang out.

Reinhard blinked before turning to see Anna standing nearby, slightly out of breath from the tickle fight. Sweat beaded on her forehead, but her crimson eyes shone as she nodded her head.

"My big brother would love to go help out his friends."

"Anna?" Reinhard furrowed his brows.

Joseph blinked rapidly. "Are you sure? Wouldn't you like him to stay here with you three longer?" His voice dropped, becoming more serious. "Wait… Don't tell me you're doing this because of what we did-"

Anna shook her head, long black hair whipping with the motion. "Please. If it were just based on what you did, I wouldn't give up my precious time with my brother. It's priceless."

Joseph's eyes widened, and then he asked. "Why then?"

Anna's smile appeared while her face softened. "Because it's my big brother's friends asking for help. What more reason does he need? Or we need to let him go?"

Reinhard's eyes went wide while Joseph's mouth fell open slightly.

Marie laughed, with her hand reaching out and gently caressing Anna's cheek. "These guys still can't understand you, can they, Anna?"

Anna sighed, her shoulders rising and falling dramatically. "It becomes difficult sometimes."

Klein pouted from his position on the carpet. "What are you talking about, Anna?"

Anna glanced at him, then shook her head. She moved to Anasha, pulling the younger girl into a tight hug. "I'm happy you're here now, Anasha."

Klein huffed before pushing himself up and jumping on both Anna and Anasha, wrapping his arms around them from behind. "Don't ignore me, you annoying sister!"

Anna laughed while Anasha giggled between them, and Klein's smile cracked through his pout despite himself.

Marie turned to Reinhard, her expression softening. "Just as you're sacrificing so much for your siblings, they also want to do the same thing for you."

"I don't want them to..." Reinhard trailed off with his words before he chuckled as he smiled. "But I suppose I can't change their mind, huh?"

Joseph sighed, his own smile returning. "You can't, but it isn't a bad thing. After all, siblings should be like that, both willing to sacrifice things for each other's well-being and happiness."

Marie nodded with a grin and a wink. "That's the best kind of bond!"

Reinhard said nothing, but his blue eyes watched over the three kids. Anna held Anasha while Klein clung to both of them, all three laughing and giggling without care or worry.

He was happy to just stay here and spend time with them. But he also wanted to help Joseph, who has always helped him, and that is what friends do. He was happy with Anna's words and also blessed that he had such understanding siblings.

The warmth in his chest grew once more.

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