But no matter how hard he tried, the anxiety never disappeared, and he hated how he was always the one being protected.
His Mama could do everything.
The Mama he loved.
He had worked hard in his own way so that one day he could be praised by him.
"And I told you before, did I not? As long as Cari does not say he does not need Mama, we will always be together. You said you would never say that. You said we would always be together, right?"
"...sniff… yeah… together…"
He would never say he did not need his Mama.
As long as his Mama did not say he did not need him, they would always be together.
Remembering how happy that had made him before, he held onto that feeling once more.
"I love you, Mama."
"I love Cari too. Of course, I love Albe as well."
"...I see."
Even though Qiong Xing had just reassured them so gently, Albe's response toward him was oddly curt, which made Cari tilt his head in confusion.
...
"That helped. I thank you, human."
"...?"
A voice was heard.
