The hellish morning cleaning is over, and both Ririi and I are completely burned out.
We don’t even have the energy to sit on the floor, so we drag ourselves to the couch and sink into it.
“…I can’t move…”
“Want candy…”
The moment she falls into the couch, she lets out a gudeh sound like a small animal, and stops moving. Her arms and legs go limp, with her battery completely spent.
With how she moved around, it’s no wonder.
Good job Ririi… I’ll grab some sweets…”
I say as I raise my heavy body, but then…
“Weiss.”
I have a bad feeling.
I turn around, and see Sieglinde with a notebook in hand.
“You just cleaned, so let’s look back.”
“Look back?”
“Just organizing what we did today. What was done, and what needs to be improved.”
Apparently it’s not like she’s mad. I sit back down on the sofa.
“Ririi’s job was well done. You stuck to it the whole way, didn’t give up on it, and listened to instructions.”
“Really!?
She raises her head.
“Yes. But…”
Sieglinde stops.
“You lose focus too quickly. Your attention gets diverted too easily.”
“Disappointed…”
She faces down.
“Of course, she’s a kid. I don’t even remember cleaning as a kid.”
“That’s nothing to be proud of.”
She responds immediately, but there’s no sting to her voice.
“But you have a point. Some of it can be explained by her age. That means she should get used to it gradually.”
I’m a little surprised by her way of saying that. I assumed she would demand perfection, but she’s looking at it in steps.
“Then can we take a break? I want to feed her something sweet.”
Sieglinde doesn’t immediately respond, and turns to Ririi, limp on the sofa.
“We should set a time for a snack.”
I figured. I grab the chocolate hidden in my pocket… And then…
“But… Today is the first day.”
Her eyes move back to me.
“Not giving her anything after working so much would have the opposite effect.”
“…!”
Ririi’s eyes shine.
“C-can Ririh eat!?”
“Just a little.”
“Yes…!”
I pull off a triumphant pose, and take the chocolate out to give to her.
She takes it with both hands, and unwraps it like it’s a treasure.
Chomp.
The next moment, her expression loosens.
Her eyes squint, and her cheeks move, clearly using her whole body to munch on that chocolate.
“…Tasty…”
Is all she says, and it has more power than any review. As I look at her happily squinting, Sieglinde lets out a small sigh.
“…Just this time.”
“Did you hear that Ririi, today is special.”
“Special!”
We high five, and Sieglinde can’t help but let out a laugh.
“I didn’t think a chocolate would make you this happy.”
“It makes me wonder how free she is normally.”
I put out a chocolate, and Sieglinde hesitates for a moment, before grabbing it and eating it.
“…Sweet.”
“Right? You really need to eat this when you’re at an age where you like this sort of thing.”
“I get that.”
She didn’t deny it.
“But you need boundaries. If you’re vague there, it will be bad for her future.”
“…I guess.”
If I was alone, I wouldn’t think about it that far. I would just be whatever. But Sieglinde doesn’t let that sort of thing escape her.
I’m glad Sieglinde is with me. I think my connection to her is the best thing I got from that school. I never thought I’d be thinking that.
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