The room had gone very quiet.
Dr. Laurent slowly placed his pen down on the desk.
"…You've never been to school?" he asked gently.
Adrian shook his head.
"No, sir."
The word slipped out automatically.
Dr. Laurent gave a small, patient smile.
"You don't have to call me sir."
Adrian nodded quickly.
"…Okay."
But the silence that followed made him uncomfortable.
He glanced toward Marco and Dante.
Both men looked calm on the outside.
But something about their eyes had changed.
A darker emotion simmered there.
Anger.
Not directed at Adrian.
But at the years he had lost.
Dr. Laurent cleared his throat softly.
"That's alright," he said. "Everyone starts somewhere."
Adrian looked unsure.
"Even… someone my age?"
"Especially someone your age," the doctor replied kindly.
Adrian didn't answer.
He didn't know what school was really like.
He had seen children walking together in uniforms before.
Laughing.
Carrying books.
But that world had always felt far away from him.
Dr. Laurent continued asking questions.
"Do you remember how you got the scar on your arm?"
Adrian looked down.
A thin, faded line ran along his forearm.
"…Knife," he said quietly.
"Accident?"
Adrian hesitated.
Then he shook his head slowly.
"No."
Marco's hands tightened behind his back.
But he said nothing.
Dr. Laurent nodded calmly.
"I understand."
He didn't ask who had done it.
Some answers didn't need to be spoken out loud.
After another few questions, the doctor finally stood.
"That's enough for tonight."
Adrian immediately looked relieved.
Dr. Laurent smiled reassuringly.
"You've done very well."
Adrian blinked.
"…Really?"
"Yes."
No one had ever told him that before.
Marco spoke from the doorway.
"Thank you, doctor."
Dr. Laurent nodded.
"I'll prepare a full report tomorrow."
His gaze softened as he looked at Adrian one last time.
"For now, he needs rest."
Adrian liked that answer.
Rest sounded good.
Marco gently placed a hand on Adrian's shoulder.
"Let's get you back to your room."
Adrian nodded and followed him.
The mansion was quieter now.
The lights had dimmed slightly.
Adrian's footsteps echoed softly on the marble floor as they walked upstairs.
After a few moments, he spoke.
"…Was I bad?"
Marco looked down at him.
"What?"
Adrian's fingers twisted nervously in the sleeve of his shirt.
"For not going to school."
Marco stopped walking.
Adrian almost walked into him.
The older man crouched slightly so they were face to face again.
"Adrian."
His voice was calm.
"You didn't do anything wrong."
Adrian searched his face carefully.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
The answer came without hesitation.
Adrian slowly nodded.
"…Okay."
They reached his room again.
Alessio was still sitting on the bed.
He looked up immediately.
"How did it go?"
Adrian shrugged slightly.
"He asked a lot of questions."
Alessio smiled faintly.
"That sounds like him."
Marco stepped back toward the door.
"You should both get some sleep."
Alessio nodded.
"Goodnight."
Marco looked at Adrian one more time.
"Goodnight, Adrian."
Adrian hesitated.
Then he quietly said,
"…Goodnight."
Marco left the room.
The door closed softly.
Silence settled again.
Adrian looked at the bed.
Then at Alessio.
"…Do you really sleep here every night?"
Alessio laughed a little.
"Not in your room."
"I mean… in this house."
"Yeah."
Adrian slowly climbed onto the bed.
The blankets were warm.
Too warm.
He lay down stiffly.
Alessio stood up.
"I'll leave you to sleep."
But just as he reached the door—
Adrian spoke again.
"…Wait."
Alessio turned.
Adrian looked nervous.
"…Can you stay a little longer?"
The question was quiet.
Almost embarrassed.
Alessio didn't hesitate.
"Sure."
He walked back and sat in the chair near the bed.
Adrian stared at the ceiling.
After a while, he spoke again.
"…Do you remember me?"
Alessio looked surprised by the question.
"Of course."
"What was I like?"
Alessio leaned back in the chair.
Thinking.
"You were loud."
Adrian blinked.
"…Loud?"
"Very loud."
A small smile appeared on Alessio's face.
"You used to run everywhere."
Adrian tried to imagine it.
But the image didn't feel like him.
"What else?"
Alessio chuckled softly.
"You hated vegetables."
Adrian frowned.
"…I still do."
That made Alessio laugh.
The sound filled the room warmly.
For the first time that night…
Adrian smiled.
Just a little.
Then his eyelids began to feel heavy.
The warmth of the bed.
The quiet room.
The safety he still didn't fully understand.
Sleep slowly crept closer.
Just before his eyes closed completely, he murmured something.
"…Alessio?"
"Yeah?"
"…Will they really let me go to school?"
Alessio's answer came softly.
"Yeah."
Adrian was quiet for a moment.
Then he whispered something else.
"…I think I'd like that."
A few minutes later, his breathing became slow and steady.
He had fallen asleep.
Alessio stayed in the chair.
Watching him.
After a while, the door opened slightly.
Marco stepped inside quietly.
"He asleep?"
Alessio nodded.
"Yeah."
Marco looked at Adrian.
The boy was curled slightly under the blankets.
Like he wasn't used to having space.
Marco sighed softly.
"…He asked about school."
Alessio smiled faintly.
"Good."
Marco leaned against the doorway.
"We'll arrange it."
Alessio nodded.
But then he looked back at his sleeping twin.
"…Marco?"
"Yes?"
Alessio's voice became quieter.
"What if he never remembers us?"
Marco looked at Adrian again.
Then he answered calmly.
"That's okay."
Alessio frowned slightly.
"How?"
Marco's answer was simple.
"Because we'll make new memories."
Alessio looked at his brother again.
The boy sleeping peacefully in the large bed.
For the first time in years…
Adrian looked safe.
But neither of them noticed something.
As Adrian slept…
His fingers tightened slightly around the blanket.
And his brow furrowed.
Because somewhere in his dreams…
Fragments of old memories were beginning to return.
And not all of them were good.