“Where are you going?” Aleen asked.

Aya put on a surprised expression and gazed at Aleen. She then looked down and hugged Lily on her chest.

“… I’m going home.”

Aleen frowned after hearing Aya’s words. Afterward, he sighed. “Were you going to leave without telling us?”

Aya bit her lips with an ashamed expression. Aleen could not help but shake his head. “Is it so hard for you to accept our help? Or do you dislike us?”

Aya shook her head. “…. It’s not it. I just don’t want to depend on the pity of others.”

Aleen fell silent when he heard it.

To be honest, he had to admit that part of the reason that he helped Aya so much was due to pity, but it was just a small part. As he said before, the main reason was that he was grateful.

But Aya, on the other hand, did not think so. She could accept the siblings’ help the first time when they found her in the rain because it could be considered as they repaying her for saving Claire’s life. But now, if she continues accepting their help, it would feel as though she is accepting their pity.

After all, although Aleen said that she helped him during the game, for Aya, it was Aleen who helped her to survive.

Aya liked the siblings very much, and if it was possible, she truly wanted to become their friend. But for the same reason, she did not want to accept their pity.

Moreover, they belonged to different worlds.

Aleen and Claire were respectable people. Although they were orphans, they had a good life, with friends and neighbors that liked them. But she... She was nothing more than a beggar; a beggar and a thief.

Someone like her was not appropriate to be friends with the siblings.

Aleen was not a genius when it comes to feelings, but he more or less could understand Aya’s thoughts.

With another sigh, he pointed to the couch. “Why don’t you sit down. We can talk for a bit.”

Aya furrowed her brows, but after a moment of hesitation, she nodded.

She and Aleen sat on the couch. When they sat, Lily jumped from Aya’s arms to Aleen’s lap.

Aleen made a startled expression before smiling and combing her silver fur with his hand.

“… She likes you.” Aya said with an expressionless look after a while.

Aleen nodded softly with a smile. “I can see it.”

“… She normally is not close to other people besides me, but she likes you very much. Claire too.”

“Is it so?”

“Yes… She says that she likes your aura.” Aya looked calmly at Aleen with her deep blue eyes.

Aleen did not know how to respond to those words and could only smile wryly.

After petting Lily for a while, he turned to Aya and asked with a curious expression.

“Do you live close?”

Aya hesitated for a moment before answering. “… I live in the outskirts of the city.”

Aleen frowned immediately. According to his knowledge, the outskirts were the place where homeless people live.

In London, the number of homeless people was very few. It was because the government makes sure of taking action to keep the number of homeless and beggars low. They created programs to rehabilitate homeless people and help them to return to society.

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to eliminate beggars completely; and it’s an open secret that the outskirts of the city are the place where they reunite.

Therefore, when Aleen heard Aya’s words, combined with the clothes she was wearing when Aleen first met her, he could to deduce Aya's situation.

But anyway, he had to confirm it.

He fell silent for a moment while he organized his next words.

“I see. Do you have a job?”

Aya raised his face and stared at Aleen. She then shook her head.

Aleen nodded slightly. “Do you remember miss Leona’s advice?”

Aya put on a startled expression and recalled the conversation with Leona. After a few seconds, she nodded her head.

“What do you think about it?” Aleen asked.

Aya did not answer Aleen immediately and instead thought deeply. Her silver hair waved softly with the night wind and her blue eyes gazed at the ground.

Aleen did not hurry her. He waited patiently for her answer.

After a few seconds, she gazed at Aleen and Lily.

“… I’m not sure.”

“Well, I’m not sure either.” Aleen replied with a smile. “But I think it’s worth a try.”

Aleen then patted Lily’s fur softly and looked at Aya. “As you saw today, the games are very hard, and it’s easy to die in them. At any time, you can suffer an injury and fall into danger while completing a mission, so, if you have someone you can trust, it can help to save your life in a dangerous situation.”

Aya understood his meaning.

“… I know that you cannot make a decision so suddenly.” Aleen continued. “So, why don’t you think about it tonight and you give me your answer?”

Aya hesitated slightly when she heard Aleen. She knew that it was mostly an excuse to convince her to stay the night, but she could not deny that Aleen's words were right.

Furthermore, for some reason, though she did not want to accept more of the siblings’ goodwill, she did not want to leave them.

So, if she could continue seeing them after today, it would be great.

Looking at Aleen that was waiting for her answer, Aya finally agreed.

Aleen sighed in relief and smiled. “It’s good.”

He wanted to continue talking to Aya, but he realized that he could not find something to say to her. Aya, on the other hand, simply remained silent.

After a brief and awkward silence, Aleen stood up and returned Lily to Aya. He then pointed to the courtyard. “I’ll continue training then. Goodnight.”

Aya put on a curious expression when Aleen mentioned training, but in the end, she decided not to ask.

She had too many things to think about tonight.