Disclaimer: Touhou, all of its characters, and musics belongs to Zun. The only things I own here is the OC named Reuel. This fanfict may or may not be canon. Besides that, I've got nothing else to say. So with that, please take a seat, grab your drink, pick your snack, and have a pleasant ride (or read).
Chapter 11 "Unexpected Companion"
"Uwaaahhh!" I moaned loudly as I stretched my body. Cracking sound came from most of my joints, evidence of my stiff body. I looked around to see that I've covered almost all of my reading material and also written quite a lot. "…I need some rest." I muttered to myself as I realized that I've been reading and writing for quite some time.
After I went back from my …. rather emotional journey yesterday, I went back straight to my room. Luckily, Akyu was too busy with her own work to notice me got back quite late. Well, I hope she didn't notice me since I hate to explain my whole experience. It will be quite hard and embarrassing to do.
Actually, after yesterday I realized that I've gotten quite good at sneaking, don't you think? I mean, I managed to slip past the servants that loitering around the place. Greeting the mansion guard as short as possible, I slipped into my room. And from the way everyone's footsteps slowed a little near my room, I could at least guess that they weren't expecting the room to be lit all of a sudden. Well, that's just my guess.
But maybe they knew but chose to ignore me. I am a rather strange guest. One who came from the outside world and also able to converse with the famous hermit.
"…The famous hermit, eh." I somehow stopped my train of thought. The reason?
"…K…a….s…e…."
Yeah, that scene played in my mind after thinking about the hermit. It seemed I've trust her more than I thought. As people usually said, the stuff you said near your death is true, than I guess that was true for me too.
Feeling tired, I leaned backward and make my body laid down on the tatami covered floor with my hand as my pillow. It felt nice to do that when you are tired. As I looked at the ceiling, I continued my thought. The first thing that came into my mind was Kasen again. It felt that I unconsciously relied on her at that time. I don't know why though.
Maybe it was her passion for correcting people, whether they want it or not. I honestly thought that people like her was very rare. Staying true to her path even if no one else shared that way of thinking. Remarkable and amazing if you ask me.
Then maybe it was her positive way of thinking. At the time when I confessed to her that the thought of dying came into my mind, she still looked at me with her optimistic look. I admired that.
"Heh, she's just like nee-san." I muttered that under my breath. When I came into that conclusion, I felt a bit melancholic. I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself.
Knowing that thinking it more will probably make my own emotion much more unstable, I changed the topic of my own introspection. The only thing left after that was my two friends.
"How are they now?" I asked no one in particular without any hope of receiving an answer anytime soon. I realized that the problem they were having would not be solved in an instance. They need to reflect on their own way of thinking and also the time they have spent. My role would not be the decision maker for them. I will only be a person that will show them a different way of thinking. The conclusion will have to be from them.
I rubbed the place near my collar bone. The moment I felt a bit of sting, I knew that my hand have arrived at the place where Nitori grabbed me. It was probably still bruised and discolored judging from the amount of pain I received. Thankfully the spots were easy to conceal. I could avoid worrying both Akyu and Kasen in case I meet them.
"Reuel-san!" Uwah! Who was that? "Are you inside?" Err, was that Akyu? Speak of the devil.
"Ah, yes, I am, Hieda-san." I quickly sat up and tidied up my clothes to conceal the bruises.
"May I come in?" Okay, I don't know her, but that didn't sound good to me at all.
"Yes, of course." I stood up and opened the door. As the screen door opened, the figure of the purple haired girl came into my view. "Please come in, Hieda-san." I moved out of her way to let her into my room.
After that, she nodded and then she came into my room. Before I could say anything, she glared at me.
"Please sit down with me for a while, Reuel-san." She stated that with a calm voice as she sat down. But I noticed a trace of either irritation or anger inside her tone. Definitely not a good sign. Not wanting to anger her or anything, I nodded and then sat in front of her.
Although my body size was larger than her, I kind of felt small at the moment. The one in front of me didn't have that same aura of the little girl I met a couple of days ago. She felt…intimidating for some reason.
"Reuel-san."
"Y-Yes?" Ah, not good. I stuttered. I need to calm down or else she might suspect me for something.
"How much of the chronicle that you've read?" She looked at me with serious expression.
"Err, almost all of them. Probably." I answered her with a rather unsure voice.
"I see." She nodded slowly. Oh man, this is getting to tense for me. I couldn't even breathe properly in front of her. "Then after you got back yesterday night," ugh, she knew, "how long have you sleep?"
Eh? How long did I sleep? Uhm…
"Uhm, I guess… not long?" I wasn't very sure myself.
"I see. You are not sure." Ugh, she knew, didn't she? "Let me rephrase the question, Reuel-san. Have you slept? At . All?" Okay, that's the verdict.
"…No, ma'am." O wow, I was so scared of her, I instinctively referred her in a much more polite way. This girl really does have the potential to become a charismatic leader. I was even too afraid to look her straight in the eye.
"I see. You didn't sleep, at all." She closed her eyes and nodded slowly. "Did I get that right?"
"…Yes." I nodded quickly.
"Then you are still planning to work again?" Err, she didn't leave me any way out, didn't she?
"…I was, but…I guess I shouldn't."
"Good. You understand quickly." She then rummaged her sleeve and then pulled out an envelope. "Here, take this."
"Ah, y-yes." I quickly took the envelope from her hand. "And this is?"
"Reuel-san, you hardly have any rest." Ow! "The last time, you came back late." Ugh! "And now you didn't rest at all." Ouch! "As your host, I will forbid you to work until tomorrow." Say what!? I have a deadline here, miss! ….Uhm, no I didn't. Ugh, that was probably a sign of my fatigue started to pile up.
"Understood, Hieda-san." I nodded at her.
"I will also ask the village patrol to not let you get out of the village, just in case you try to do your work."
"Err,…okay." A bit much, don't you think? But I already thought about that actually. That will teach me not to mess with a girl who has memory of a few generations.
"I will also expect you to get back here in the evening. You are free to roam the village or anything, but you are not allowed to leave the village premises. Do I make myself clear, Reuel-san?" She leaned forward slightly and asked me with a very serious expression on her face.
"Yes, Hieda-san." I nodded at her again. Talk about detail. No wonder the village looked up to her as the village head.
"Inside that envelope is some money you can use." She pointed to the object in my hand. "I will not ask you to return any of it. Take it as my gift for you. All I ask is that you will spend it wisely." Oh, money? No wonder the envelope felt a bit heavy.
"I see. Thank you very much, Hieda-san." I bowed at her. That was very caring of her. Pushy, but caring. I couldn't complaint. All she said was true, you know? And I think a day of rest will do me quite good.
"That is all I have to say to you. Good day, Reuel-san." She bowed a bit to me and then stood up. I quickly stood up too and opened the door for her. She then left the room right away without looking back at me. Along the way of the conversation, her expression looked kind of angry. But to be angry at a guest who was negligent to his own health was something I admired.
"Well, no time to waste, eh?" I then went back into my room and then equipped myself for my rather forced day off.
"And…where should I go?" I asked myself as I stood in front of the gate of my caring host's mansion. I knew I should ask someone about the village's location and such. But I hardly know anyone in the mansion except the mistress of the house.
As I pondered how to spend my day off, my stomach rumbled and gave a loud sound. Come to think of it, I skip breakfast today, didn't I? Not a good lifestyle, but hard to change. I'm guilty. I know.
Well, I guess that means my first destination will be to get food to appease my grumbling stomach. I'm sure that I will find one sooner or later. I hope I can find it soon though.
"Ah, Reuel-san!" A voice came from in front of me. I looked to the source of the voice and found a girl with orange hair fashioned in a short twin-tails.
"Ah, Kosuzu-san! Running an errand?" I asked at the rather energetic girl.
"Yes, I am, Reuel-san." She nodded at me, making the bell decorations on her hair jingled a bit. "Are you going somewhere?"
"I'm feeling like having breakfast outside today." I said to her with a smile. "Have any good recommendation, Kosuzu-san? Surely a local such as yourself will know this place specialty like the back of her hand."
"Ahaha, you're overestimating me, Reuel-san." She said with a blush on her face. "Well, if it's breakfast, I guess the eatery around the village center served the best misoshiru here. They always served that in every menu they served, so it is a good choice to go with almost anything they offer." Well, she was just as I expected. For local specialty, always ask the local. And she was the proof of that.
"Well, tell me the place and I'll be right there, Kosuzu-san." I felt pumped to try that food now. Although misoshiru is a simple stuff for almost everyone, I really want to try how different that dish is here.
"Thank you, please come again!" The sound of the eatery owner from behind me was a very soothing end to my breakfast. Man, that's what I call good food! I ordered the menu recommended by Kosuzu and I couldn't be happier. The okayu was delicious, the grilled fish was perfectly done, and the misoshiru. Oh, don't let me start on that! That was beyond delicious! I couldn't exactly compare it to the one served in Akyu's mansion. I could only say that they were both magnificent for me. Call me glutton or anything, I'll take it anytime as long as I can eat those.
With a full and satisfied stomach, my mood was on the bright side, just like the sun above me. I'm glad it was such a good day to enjoy the village. The hustle and bustle of the only safe village in Gensokyo was a very pleasant sight for me. From one place to another, the scenery of hardworking men and women were an everyday sight. It was a nice change for me who saw the suit cladded workers with their handheld device on their hand and their ears plugged with their headset walking all over the place.
"Hmm, now that's an interesting thought." I muttered to myself as I walked away from the eatery with my hand on my chin.
The first group, the villagers here, and the second group, the suit wearing office workers in my own world, were doing the same thing every single day. They were working. So why did the former group make me feel happier than the later one? That's a very interesting thought.
Maybe it was just a simple change that makes it refreshing? Usually people will view something different as something refreshing and pleasant. But that different thing will turn into the ordinary if experienced often.
Maybe it was just that I hate seeing people walking with their gadget connected to them 24/7 like there is no tomorrow. It made me feel very annoyed and irritated. That was a very logi–
"Kyaah!"
Eh? What was that? I felt something bumped into me. Or maybe I bumped into something. I quickly looked around me and found the one that shouted that.
"Ow…" The one that hit me–or the one I hit, whichever you preferred– was a girl. The girl was on the ground with her lavender colored hair covering half of her face due to the fall earlier.
"Oh, I'm really sorry! Here!" I quickly gave my hand to help her stand up.
"No, that's fine." She took my hand with her slender hand. It almost felt that it would break if I grabbed those hands of her carelessly. "I wasn't paying attention too." Huh? That flat tone seemed rather familiar.
"Are you okay?" As I helped her stand up, the design of her clothes reminded me again of someone familiar.
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you," said the girl while dusting her pumpkin-shaped salmon skirt. After that she repositioned the mask on the side of her head….Mask?
"Hata no Kokoro-san?" I said the name of the girl that I bumped into.
"Eh?" She then looked at me with her expressionless face and her lavender colored eyes. "How did you know my name, oni-san?"
"Uhm, I…" How can I say it? I read your profile in the chronicle? Doesn't that make me looks suspicious?
"Do I know you?" She leaned her head toward me who was taller than her. The mask on her head changed into the monkey mask. "Oh!" She then looked as she realized something. At the same time, the mask on her head changed into that of the Thunder and Lightning God, Raiden. "The one that arrived here recently! The one that shouted and laughed all of a sudden!" said the expressionless girl with confident voice while pointing at me.
"Hey, hey, hey, not to loud! Please!" I don't want to make a scene. I already did one just as she stated. I sighed before I continue. "Yes, you're right. I'm that guy. Pleased to meet you, Hata-san." I said as I bowed to her. "And also thank you for your help the other day. You're a lifesaver."
"You're welcome, uhm…" The mask on her head changed to the monkey one again.
"Reuel. My name is Reuel, Hata-san." I bowed once again with my right hand in front of my chest, mimicking the style of one of those gentlemen of the old days.
"Ah, nice to meet you, Reuel-san," said the girl as she bowed to me politely. "Are you working right now?" asked the girl while tilting her head slightly.
"Actually, I'm forbidden to work right now." I said while rubbing the back of my head.
"Ho? Forbidden to work?" She tilted her head to the other side with her ever expressionless face.
"It's a long story. Well, I was just having breakfast over there." I said to her as I gestured to the eatery with my hand.
"Ah, I see." She nodded once at me. Then a sound came from her stomach. "It seems my tummy is asking for some too." After she said that, the mask on her head changed into one that resembled a sad old woman.
"Want to have some too? My treat." I said as I remembered that I need to thank her. That and also a little companion for my day off while be nice. Might also talk about some stuff that I can use for my future work. Ugh,…I think of work too much.
"Eh?" Her face blushed but her expression still remained the same. With her mask changed into the monkey yet again, she said "I d-didn't mean that, Reuel-san."
"Don't worry, don't worry." I said to her in a relaxed tone. "Take it as thanks for the other day." I hope she will accept it. I just want to have someone to talk to. I won't force her though.
"Well, it's not that I don't want to, but–" Before she could say anything, the sound of her grumbling stomach stopped her. Once again, the expressionless girl blushed. At that, I couldn't help but giggled slightly. Seeing me giggle, she pouted her mouth but still without any visible emotion on her face and eyes. The only change beside that pout of her was the mask that changed into the hannya mask. How did she do that? That act of her was a reminder of how mysterious the power of a youkai is to a simple human like me.
"Well, if you don't want to, I won't force you, Hata-san." I tried to calm her down since I felt that I might anger her further if not. And the last thing I need in my 'day off' is an angry youkai girl attacking me.
"Hmm…" Her hannya mask changed into a fox mask. Now, I wonder if each of them refers to her state of mind. If they really do, how many masks does she have? I mean, we human have almost a ton of emotion. Then all of a sudden, the mask changed again into a…what was that mask? A mask that has a face of a man that has a very peculiar mouth and around it was colored in white with blue dots here and there. Ah, I forgot the name of the mask. "Okay, I'll go with you." She nodded.
"Oh, really? That's wonderful!" Okay, got a companion for today. "Well, how about you choose the place?"
"Really?" She leaned forward toward me. On her expressionless eye somehow I could see sign of happiness. Only slightly.
"Yes, it's my treat. Just…don't make it too expensive, 'kay?" I have to add that line or I might get bankrupt if she chose an expensive place. But…can I found something expensive in here? Let's put that thought aside, yes?
"Okay, then let's go there!"
"Excuse me," said the clear female voice in front of me. "Here's your order. Two oshiruko set and one mitarashi dango." And then she placed those onto our table. "Enjoy," said the waitress as she bowed at the two of us.
"They look yummy!" The girl in front of me uttered that without showing any sign of expression. And once again the mask on her head changed, this time into a mask that portrayed a face of a smiling woman. Was that supposed to show that she was happy? This emotionless girl is really something.
Just as she asked, we are currently at a certain tea house located not far from the center of the village. Compared to the previous eatery, the tea house was located in a bit farther to the center of the village but closer to the exit that lead to the forest. Kokoro chose the seat on the outer most area of the shop that gave us a nice view of the street. I quite like it here.
"Yes, they looked delicious." I agreed with her as I looked at our food. Thankfully, the cost for these weren't high. Maybe just a bit more than my breakfast, but still manageable. It seemed Kokoro really likes her sweet judging from her choice of place and also her choice of dishes. I guess girl like her really love sweets.
"Can I eat it now?" She looked at me. At that I nodded. Then she quickly reached for her oshiruko. "Ah, hot!" She retracted her burned finger right away after touching the hot container.
"Wow, careful now." I said to her as I see her rushing to eat her food. "Touched your ear, it will cool down your finger."
"Oh, right." She followed my instruction right away.
"Don't rush it, Hata-san. The food is not going anywhere." I said to her as I reached for my tea cup. Thanks to her, I reached it carefully, trying to avoid burning own finger. Fortunately, the cup wasn't too hot that it will burn my finger, so I lifted it up and drink it slowly. Oh, the tea here always tasted so natural. I love it!
"But it's hard to wait when the food is in front of you, you know?" She pouted a bit while looking at her snacks for today.
"Speaking of food, is it all right for you to eat this even though you haven't had any breakfast?" I remembered that the time was not exactly over for breakfast, that's why I asked her. I don't want her to upset her stomach just because of my selfish request.
"That's fine." She nodded at me. "Don't worry about it."
"Well, if you say so, Hata-san." If she said all right, it will be her responsibility. I will hold none of it.
She stared at her food so intensely that I started to think her eyes would shoot out laser beam any moment. Maybe that was not such an impossible thing for her. I mean, she's a youkai, you know? There might be a chance for that to happen.
"Has it cooled down enough?" She asked as she touched her bowl of oshiruko very carefully. After touching is, she grabbed it and moved it closer toward her. It seemed that it was quite ready to be eaten.
"Well, shall we?" I said to her as I also picked up the bowl of oshiruko. At my question, she nodded over and over again. She picked up her spoon faster than me. By the time I finally had the spoon in my hand, she was already scooping her first batch of treat and quickly delivered that into her mouth.
"Mmmhm! Yummy~" She muttered that while holding her left cheek with her left hand. Even though her voice's sounded to be a happy one, her eyes and face refused to show anything, still retaining her cold and flat emotion on display. Honestly, that trait of her intrigued me so much. It was a very interesting ability. Or lack of. You'll be the judge.
Seeing her enjoy her treat so much made me want to try the snack too. I scoop a meager amount of the soup just to try it. When the soup entered my mouth, I could feel the smooth texture of the crushed adzuki bean slid onto my throat after passing the taste buds on my tongue. The sweet and slightly savory taste filled my mouth completely. In short, it was a delicious and pleasing experience.
After that first spoon, I continued to scoop another. This time, I imitate my companion and scoop a much larger portion of the soup together with the mochi placed on the bottom of the bowl. As I fed that into myself, I noticed that my companion was staring at me.
"Do you like it?" She asked while tilting her head to one side, the monkey mask has taken place on her head instead of the woman mask.
"Yes, I'm quite surprised." I said to her with a smile. "I'm not someone who really likes sweet stuff very much. But this is really something."
"I see." After hearing that answer, the monkey mask switched place with the woman mask. "I'm glad that you like it too." And with that, she continued her eating.
After hearing her question and looking at her honest reaction, I started to think. The information in the chronicle could be considered to be much too little for me to understand her. The only thing I got from the chronicle that I could consider useful was that she was a youkai and she used mask to show her emotion. Besides that, the only thing left there was about her involvement in the religion war in the event called "The Hopeless Masquerade".
Just from the short time I spend with her, I could point several things. The first thing I noticed right away was that she blended in completely with the local. The reason was either she has another unknown ability or the villagers have accepted her for she was. I have no evidence to back either hypothesis, so I couldn't decide the real reason for that.
The next thing I could understand from her was that her personality was rather childish. It was either that was intentionally to reduce the suspicion toward her or she actually just has a childish personality as her true nature. Once again, with no evidence to back up my theory, I couldn't come up with any conclusion.
And lastly, she really loves sweet. This was the only thing I'm sure off since this place was picked by her and the dishes we ordered were also picked by her. Although that mitarashi dango looked definitely scrumptious, I doubt that I can finish it after eating this sweet soup. Maybe I'll order something salty to clean the sweet taste later on while waiting for her to finish her dango.
"What is it, Reuel-san?" Eh? I returned from my own thinking space and back into reality again.
"What do you mean, Hata-san?"
"You were staring at me." She said while pointing to her own expressionless face. "Something on my face?" She asked again.
"Eh? Oh, no, no. I was just…thinking." Ah, it seemed that I was staring at her as I was trying to digest the information I collected from spending time with her. I guess I was still working even on my day-off.
"Thinking?" She looked at me. "About what?"
"Hmm…" I hesitated to answer her with the phrase 'about you'. That sentence might bring misunderstanding. "I was curious about your mask." I said as I pointed to the mask that stayed on her head. Yeah, let's go with that for now.
"My mask?" She touched her mask that has changed into the monkey mask. From her reaction, I could concluded that the mask changing move was done automatically as I never saw her move her hand toward her mask even once. But that the mask kept changing as our conversation progressed.
"Yes, your mask, Hata-san." After saying that, I continued to eat my sweet soup.
"Why are you interested with my mask?" She asked again. Her question stopped my hand from taking another spoon.
"Hmm, why indeed?" I leaned back a bit as I pondered her question. That was a very interesting question indeed. Did I ask that because I need it for my work? Did I ask that because I want to know her better? Or did I ask that just to satisfy my curiosity? Interesting question. Interesting.
"So why?" She looked at me, still waiting for an answer from me.
"I guess…," although I didn't need to collect any data, my curiosity bugged me to have an answer, "I was just curious. I just want to know about it." She kept looking at me.
"I see." She crossed her arms and closed her eyes.
"You don't have to answer it." I continue my eating, trying to act calm after saying that. But inside my mind I actually want to know the answer to her mysterious mask.
"No," she shook her head, "I'll answer you." She said with a serious tone. I also noticed that her mask changed to another one. This time it was the fox mask.
"Is that really fine with you, Hata-san?" I don't want to force her. I know that as a youkai, that power of her is a part of her that she might want to keep in secret.
"I don't mind. But in exchange for that, I want you to do something for me." She said that with a tone full of seriousness, unlike her usual tone of speaking.
"You want me to do something for you?" Oh no, this is not good. I didn't expect her to ask me something.
"Please don't worry. It's not something difficult." Can I really trust her? But there was no obvious warning in the chronicle about her. And I'm not one who could trust someone just by their word alone.
"Can you tell me what is it first?" Let's just play safe, shall we?
"It's about your emotion the other day." Huh? "When you were under the tree."
"…Huh?" My emotion? Under the tree? ….
"You don't remember?" She looked at me with her empty looking eyes. "You were crying at that time."
The moment she said 'crying', my heart skipped a beat. My body tensed up as I remembered that scene. The scene that marked my time that I finally understood what nee-san meant that time. I looked at the girl in front of me. It seemed that she was there witnessing me. To think that I managed to let that slip. I've become careless when I become emotional like that time.
After realizing my mistake, I felt blood pumping to my head. The thought that I have display a weak side of me angered myself. I have sworn that I would never show that ever again. But it seemed that I failed to do so. My emotion has exploded to the extent that I broke at that moment. I wasn't embarrassed. I was angry at myself.
"Uhm, R-Reuel-san?"
"Heh? What?" Her voice snapped me from my self–reproach filled moment. I quickly shifted my gaze to her.
"A-Are you all right?" She looked at me intensely. Even if she didn't show any sign of concern on her face, her voice managed to carry some of it.
At that, I sighed and took a deep breath, calming my mind. She was not at fault. Showing her my anger and frustration would be unfair to her.
"I'm fine." I said as I reached for my tea. The bitter tea cleansed my palate and also soothed my mind a bit. "So you were there, Hata-san." I asked her. I received a nod from her. "I see. If I may ask, what seems to be your reason to ask me that?"
"My reason?"
"Yes. Since you ask me my reason to know about your mask, I also want to know your reason to know about…," I paused as I pondered what to call it and then continued, "My certain moment under the tree." That will do for now.
"Uhm, if you ask about my reason, then it's probably related to your question about my mask." She then placed down her spoon and straightened her back as she looked at me. "From my lack of expression alone, you could already guess what my mask is, am I right?"
"Your lack of expression? Do the masks represent your expression?" At that, she shook her head slightly. I was wrong, eh?
"Not my expression. The correct one is that my masks represent my emotion." Oh, I see. I see that the chronicle stated the right fact. To compensate her lack of ability to show emotion, she relied on the mask to represent that. A bit confusing, but still understandable for me. "I use it to show my emotion instead of expressing it on my face."
"Hmm, I see." I touched my chin as I tried to digest her explanation. "So that means that each mask represent different emotion? Am I right?" She nodded.
"Correct. For instance, this mask," said the girl as she pointed to fox head mask on her head, "shows that I am being serious right now." Hmm, she was wearing that fox mask from the start of the conversation. Does that mean she was seriously thinking? I guess she was not as difficult to be read as I expected at first.
"I see, I see." I nodded several time. "Then each mask represents one emotion? Did I get that right?" Once again she nodded.
"Correct. One mask represents one emotion." She stated that with confident voice.
"Then you must have a lot of mask." I said to her. Surely there is a variety of emotion, right? If one mask represent one emotion, how many mask do you need to be able to represent the whole emotion we living being can make?
"Unfortunately, no," said the girl after shaking her head once. "I only possessed 66 masks in total." Only 66? Although that was a lot of mask, does that also means that we human being only have 66 emotions? I couldn't really answer that.
"That is a lot, Hata-san." I gave my comment.
"Yes, it is. But," she paused for a while. After a few seconds, she then continued, "it is not enough."
"Not enough?" Once again, I couldn't give any definite answer whether that was enough or not. So I decided to ask her why she said that. "How can you be so sure that it is not enough, Hata-san?"
"Because I have witness some emotions I was unable to match with my mask." She said that with a sad tone. I also noticed that her mask has turned into a mask that depicted the sad old woman.
"Is that so? You have witnessed an emotion that cannot be match with any of your mask?" For unable to match an emotion with one of her many mask might really mean that our emotions were too complex to be separated into 66 masks alone.
"Yes, that's right. And as I am right now, I am still learning how to show emotion without the help of these masks. I want to show it more with my face and less with my mask." She said that still with her sad tone. So I guess that mask of her showed that she was feeling sad or depressed.
"I see. And…what's the connection with my…time under the tree?" I kind of felt heavy to ask that. But I had to or I wouldn't be able to give her a good answer.
"The connection to that, Reuel-san, is that you are the one that showed me that emotion." She changed the mask into the fox mask again, showing that she was being serious, while pointing at me.
"Me?" I clearly didn't expect that. That was really unexpected for me even after all the time we spend talking.
"Yes, you, Reuel-san, have showed me such a complicated emotion I couldn't understand at all. Not to mention that your expression was something I couldn't understand too." She gave her reason with a very firm tone. "I could perceive emotion due to my power, but your emotion was…far too complex for me to understand."
"…I see." I was at loss of word. I couldn't give her any proper reply.
"Your emotion at that time was filled with sadness, yet you also felt happiness. You felt despair, yet you also have hope. I…couldn't understand that." Her shoulder slumped down, her gaze casted downward, and her mask once again turned to the sad mask, showing me how she felt.
"…I see." Was I really having such an emotion that time? I was too tired, too frustrated, too confuse to understand any of that at that moment. Now I was hearing a stranger, in which I have met only the second time today, able to tell me that. Why was I having that emotion?
"If you could tell me how that is possible, please tell me, Reuel-san." She lifted her face to look at me again.
Hearing her said that, I was confused. Even I have no answer to that.
"Hata-san, I can't…."I paused all of a sudden. Maybe I have. I just need…to dig much deeper.
"Reuel-san?"
"…Please wait a minute, Hata-san. For now, let's finish our oshiruko. It has gotten cold." I need time. And finishing this will make enough time for me. At first, she seemed to be refusing to follow my request. But then she started to finish the food in front of her. I also joined her in finishing my sweet soup.
As I finish my soup, I was thinking and putting the pieces of puzzle in my mind, making me almost unable to taste anything. Good thing the portion was small.
After finishing the soup first, I drink the tea. I closed my mind as I carefully finish the words inside my head.
"Okay, I think that's enough." And just right as I said that, Kokoro finally finished her meal. "Now then, I will tell you what I can. This might not be the answer you're looking for, but this is the most I can give."
"I see. I understand."
"Good, then let's start. Firstly I will tell you about the reason I was there." She nodded. "I have just gotten back from visiting a friend who had friendship issues with her friend."
"Were they fighting?" She asked me with concern filled tone. I shook my head to answer her.
"No, they were not fighting. Well, maybe in a fierce argument, but not to the level of fighting. They were trying to understand each other and having difficulty to do so."
"Are they still friend?"
"…I hope they are." I hope so, but I couldn't be so sure. "But let's put that aside or we will not reach to the core of the answer I'm trying to say."
"…Okay, I understand." She nodded at me. I could somehow notice that she was unsatisfied with that. I might have to explain that to her later. But her question was the same as mine regarding my two friends.
"After talking so much with them, I have finally understood something that a…certain person I knew long time ago was trying to say to me. I guess the sadness part you've noticed from me at that time was because I was just able to do that after many years have passed. I guess I have also felt disappointed at myself that day."
"Sad and disappointed…." Kokoro muttered under her word.
"But I was also feeling happy that I was finally able to do that. I was also happy that my friends were able to somehow started to understand that when they were arguing with each other. With that, I also hope that they will understand that completely faster than me. If they can understand that, they can avoid breaking their bond with each other."
"Happiness and hope…"
"Do you get that for now, Hata-san?" I asked her, trying to make sure she could follow my explanation.
"Somehow, but what about the despair?"
"Ah, the despair, eh?" I leaned back and prepared myself to give the answer. "I felt despair because…I am unable to say to that person that I finally understand what she want to say to me."
"Why?" What an honest and innocence question.
"The person has passed away." I replied her question with a rather flat tone. Not that I want to make it like I was a cold person or anything, but that was the only way I could present the answer without breaking my concentration.
"…I'm sorry." She casted her gaze down. "I didn't know."
"Don't worry. It's fine. But, yeah, I felt despair when I just realized that I was far too late to finally understood what she meant." And to think that I have to be almost killed by Nitori to finally make me understand what nee-san really meant.
"…Such a complicated emotion. Very complicated emotion." She said with barely inaudible voice. But I could hear that. I guess in her quest to understand emotion, my display of emotion was too strange for her. I could understand that. We human beings are a complicated creature. It will take more than 66 masks to represent the emotion we could feel and show.
"Does that answer your question, Hata-san?"
"….I can't say for sure. Your explanation make many questions came into my mind. It seems I don't understand that."
"Don't rush it. More questions don't always mean that you don't understand one question. It is normal after understanding one question more questions popped up in your mind. It is all just a process." Just like that after understanding nee-san's word, more question popped into my mind. Maybe that's why I poured my concentration in reading the chronicle and writing as much as I can last night. It was just me running away from the questions.
"Can I possibly understand all of that?" She looked at me with such an innocence question.
"I cannot say for sure as I can't see the future. But the chances are there." I hope to also have the same for me. "You just have to understand it one by one."
"One by one."
"If you do that rather than rushing it, you might find out that in the end of the day you have gained much more than you expected."
"Much more than I expected?" She tilted her head, showing me that she was unable to understand what I was talking about.
"Take this dango for example." I said to her as I lifted one of the skewered snacks. "You can finish it in one big bite, but then you can't enjoy the taste."
"You might choke on that if you do that." She added.
"Yes, you are right. Not just that you will miss the taste, you risk hurting yourself. The correct way is to eat it one by one. Like so." I said as I bite one big chunk of the dango. I chewed and enjoy the sweet and savory sauce and also the nice texture of the dango. After that, I swallowed it down. "And you can fully enjoy the taste and fill your stomach at the same time."
"I see." She then reached for one of the skewered dango. She bit it and then chewed the food slowly, enjoying the taste. After finally swallowing it down, she said "Delicious."
"Thank you for the food, Reuel-san." In front of the store, she bowed at me after saying her thanks.
"Don't mention it." I waved my hand at her. "The food is good and the conversation is much better."
"Yes, I've learn something important. I will try to understand that." She wore her fox mask to show her seriousness.
"Good, that's a good thing." I say as I patted her head.
Eh? Why did I pat her head? Her head was just on a convenient place for my hand to pat. I have to retract my arm right away and apologize!
But before I could do that, I noticed that she wasn't moving away. The only change was that her mask became the mask that showed the woman face. Was that supposed to mean that she was happy?
"Ah, I'm sorry." I retracted my hand just in case and also apologized.
"E-Ehm, it's okay." She said while touching the top of her own head. "It …feels nice." She said to me with such quiet voice. I could swear I noticed that her face blushed a bit although her eyes still retained the same blank look.
"Ah, really?" She nodded once. At that, I pat her head once again. "Well, I guess this is also thank you for making me realize another thing."
"Make you realize another thing?" She said while enjoying my gentle gesture on her head.
"Yes. Your question made me realize that it is okay to take it slow as long as I don't give up trying to understand." Yes, the answer I gave her was also an answer for my own despair. I guess I can stop feeling sad that I couldn't understand nee-san answer fast enough. Now, I have to keep trying to understand that. "As long as we don't give up, we'll reach that point eventually." And that is the conclusion I've got after talking with Kokoro. Quite surprising that my day-off have given me such a valuable answer to my own confused mind.
"I see. Then I'll just have to give more effort to be able to reach that point sooner." Kokoro said while lifting her arm as if punching the sky. Her voice was serious and full of determination.
"Good for you. I will do the same as you, Hata-san." After saying that, I pulled my arm away from her head. Somehow this girl reminded of the many little girls on the orphanage. Filled with spirit and hope for the future. It was something that I lost in living my life. But it seemed that talking with Kokoro has made me realized that I have never lost it in the first place. It was there all along. I was just ignoring those emotions.
"Can I talk with you again? You seem to know a lot about emotion, Reuel-san." Oh, really? A surprising comment from her.
"Sure. For the mean time I am living in the Hieda's family mansion. You can meet me there."
"Okay." She nodded. "Well, I have to go. Bye, Reuel-san!" She bowed once again and then ran to the other side of the street. She stopped once and waved back at me. I waved back at her too. After that, she vanished among the many villagers who filled the bustling village.
Now what? I guess I will fool around the village. I have never seen the whole village before. Although knowing the information about this village, I have never been here beside the time I spent with Akyu and Kosuzu at lunchtime. Speaking of lunch, I doubt I can eat soon as the snacks I ate with Kokoro have filled the majority of my stomach. And judging from the looks of the sky, lunchtime was not far. Well, might as well look at the local delicacy. I still have some money on me. If I find something good, I'll buy it for Akyu.
"Reuel-san." Hmm? Someone called me?
I looked back over my shoulder. But I found no one there. My imagination, perhaps?
"Reuel-san." Eh? Again?
I looked back again and just as before, no one was there. Is someone playing trick on me? I looked around me but failed to find anyone.
"Reuel-san, it's me." Huh? That voice seemed kind of familiar. "It's Nitori."
What? Nitori? But why can't I see–Ah, yes, that's right.
"You're using the camouflage?" I asked the invisible voice.
"Uhm, yes." A timid voice came from near me.
"Not confident enough?" I asked her further, knowing that probably was the case with my shy and timid friend.
"…Yes." Thought so. Well, nothing I can do there.
"So what is it, Nitori-san? Something I can help you with?"
"Uhm,…." My invisible friend stayed quiet. But then she continued. "I, no, we want to meet you. Outside of the village if possible."
"Outside of the village?" Now that's something I couldn't do at the moment. "Uhm, Nitori-san, I hate to tell you, but at the moment I am forbidden to leave the village." I said to her with a rather quiet voice, not wanting to attract attention to anyone passing by.
"Huh? Forbidden to leave the village?" Her voice was filled with confusion. "Was it…because of what I've done?" I could sense guilt from her voice.
"No, no. It is not related. Long story." I tried to assure her. But I didn't know whether that worked or not as I couldn't see her face due to her camouflage device still enabled.
"Oh no, what am I going to do now?" She sounded rather panicky for me. Even without being able to see her, I could picture her quiet easily. Was that because she seemed to me to be a person who gets panic easily? I wonder why.
"Well, if you have something like a camouflage device like the one you gave me or something like that, that would be really helpful right now." I said with a joking tune. I doubted that she have that though.
"Oh, you're right! That will work!" Eh? You've got be kidding me! "Why didn't I think of that sooner?"
"You're kidding, right?" I couldn't believe her. But, hey, this is Nitori we're talking about, you know?
"Nope, not in the slightest. Please give me a minute." A slight bumping sound came behind me, making some of the villagers looked at me. To make it like I didn't do anything, which technically I didn't, I also looked back and just looked around me while wearing a confused expression.
Thankfully, that worked as seconds later the other villagers continued their work and other activity. I got to teach Nitori there's more to stealth to just being invisible.
"Nope, not this. Not this one either. Where is it?" The sound of her muttering and also the sound of object clattering sounded behind me. I pretend to ignored that for now.
"Ah, here it is!" Her voice sounded to quite happy. Wonder what her gadget is?
"Found it, I presumed?" I asked with a quiet voice.
"Yup. Before I use this, promise that you will be quiet and don't move around, Reuel-san." Huh? This is getting scary for me. "Promise me?"
"Sheesh, okay, okay." I gave up. There's no way I could understand what she was thinking.
"Okay, ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be."
"Good!" Then all of a sudden the world went black and I can't move.
"What!?"
"Shss! Be quiet! You'll attract attention!" said the kappa engineer to me. Before I could do anything or say anything more, I felt my body being lifted up. "Here we go!" My body then was carried by the girl toward place I don't know.
After a few minutes in darkness and opting to follow her warning to be as quiet as I can be, I realized that I was being kidnapped. By someone who I called friend! This girl really has some loose nuts on her head I tell you!
"Okay, we're here, Reuel-san!" And with that, I could feel she has stopped walking and put me on the ground. She opened whatever object she used to cover me up, making the light once again entered my vision. "You okay?" She asked after seeing me wore a rather annoyed expression.
"Well, let's see." I stood up and dusted up my clothes. I lifted one finger. "First, I was covered by something I don't know." I lifted another finger. "Second, I was in the darkness, not knowing what happened." And another finger. "And lastly, I was carried like a fish on someone shoulder to somewhere I don't know." I then looked at her. "What do you think, Nitori-san?"
"Uhm, slightly angered, annoyed, and irritated?" She said with a timid tone while fiddling with her finger.
"Glad that you understand that." I breathed out, trying to calm myself down. At least I know that she didn't mean anything bad. Once again, she had good intention, but her method needs some more thinking. And I mean A LOT MORE THINKING!
"I'm sorry, Reuel-san!" She bowed down repeatedly to me while apologizing with a timid tone. "I'm really sorry!"
"Enough, Nitori-san. That's okay." I said to her as I pinched the bridge of my nose trying to lessen my irritation. I've got to calm down or else we might not move on.
"I'm really, really, really sorry, Reuel-san." She said again.
"I said that's enough, Nitori-san. Let's just get on. I have to get back to my place early today." I said to her as I remembered that I have to get back before dark or Akyu will be mad at me. And judging from this morning, the chance of angering her going to be a bit higher than usual. Better not try my chance at that.
"Are you going to forgive me, Reuel-san?" She lifted her head and looked at me with a sadden face.
"I will, I will." I waved my hand lazily at her. "By the way, what did you used to cover me? And does it have the same camouflaging effect as the one you gave me?"
"Oh, you mean this?" She then lifted the object she used seconds ago. It was a sack of some sort. The surface has the same logo as the one on her head. And on the mouth of it there was several tubes connected to each other with wiring or some sort. Wait a minute!? A sack!? So I was literally sacked by a kappa!? "It has the effect of covering itself and the content. Great, isn't?" She smiled at me.
"So you put me in that sack, put me on your shoulder, exited the village, and the brought me here?" I asked while pointing at the sack.
"Yup!" Oh wow, what a smile she had! And how that smile irritated me.
I sighed once again. "Let's just move on, shall we? Where is Hina-san waiting?"
"Uhm, it's near the river not far from the village," said Nitori while rolling up the sack she used moments ago. "You forgive me, right, Reuel-san?"
"….Where is the river?" I asked her again.
"That way," said Nitori as she pointed to a direction. I followed her finger and could already see the river she was talking about. "Hey, you forgive me, right? Reuel-san?" She looked at me with a rather pleading face.
"…Let's just move." I said to her as I started walking.
"Huh? Ne, Reuel-san?" I could hear her steps from behind me. "Reuel-san? Reuel-san!" She kept calling me but I ignored her and kept walking toward the place she mentioned.
"Ne, Reuel-san!" With the girl still shouting my name, I kept on walking for some times. "Reuel–san!" Geez, talk about persistent.
"Nitori-san." My voice stopped her constant calling. "Where is Hina-san?"
"Uhm, that way?" She pointed to another direction. I then walked to that direction.
After a few more minutes of walking, I finally felt a difference in the air. Just by that alone I could be sure that our goddess was not far from our current location.
I walked faster, leaving my kappa friend behind me as I follow my instinct. In seconds I finally saw a familiar red frilly bow.
"Hina-san!" I called the name of my friend. The one I called shifted her head toward my direction, making her rather large bow sway on the air.
"Reuel-san!" She called me and walked toward me in a rather hurried step. "How are you?"
"I'm fine." I looked at our usual gentle goddess who looked at me with a worried expression. Her worried expression and tone made me realize what she meant. "Don't worry about it. I'm really fine."
"Really? Oh, Nitori." She then shifted her gaze to the person behind me. It seemed like Nitori finally catch up to me.
"Geez, Reuel-san. You don't have to leave me behind like that." She pouted at me. "I already said I'm sorry."
"Sorry? Huh? What's going on? Reuel-san?" Clearly didn't know what happened between the two of us, the goddess asked me for an explanation.
"I was kidnapped." I reply in a short and flat tone.
"Oh, you we–KIDNAPPED!?" Now this was an unusual scene. To think that the ever calm and gentle Kagiyama Hina would use that kind of voice. "By who? How? Why?"
"By Kawashiro Nitori. Put in a sack and then carried on her shoulder. She needed to get me out of the village without anyone noticing."
"Nitori!" She shouted to her friend.
"Reuel-san!" The kappa engineer shouted at me because of my way of explaining the recent happening. "Don't say it like that!"
"Did I get it wrong?" I looked at her with a smiling face, challenging her to give another explanation.
"Well, Nitori?" Hina looked at her with the same expression as I had. "I don't know what happened, Nitori. So please enlighten me."
"Uhm, err…" Being cornered by her friend, she looked to be so small.
"Well, I'm waiting, Nitori." The goddess walked closer to her and she seemed to have loomed over her figure.
"Err,…Reuel-san?" She asked me for my help. Should I help her or should I 'help' her?
"Hina-san." I called my frilly bow wearing friend. "Nitori met me in the village while wearing her camouflage device. She didn't want to alarm the villager so she did that."
"Oh, I see, I see." She nodded at my explanation. I could see Nitori face showed a bit of relief.
"But unfortunately I was not allowed to get out of the village due to a reason I'll tell you later. And no, it wasn't because of the bruise." I felt that I had to say that in case they have misunderstood of the whole situation. The both of them nodded at my explanation.
"Then what about the kidnapping?" Hearing that word, Nitori flinched a bit.
"Well, no, she didn't kidnap me technically." Another sign of relief showed on Nitori's and Hina's face. "She just put me on a dark sack, lifted me on her shoulder, and then hauled me out of the village without anyone noticing."
"Nitori!" Hina shouted her friend's name, making her flinched. "That's kidnapping!" She looked at Nitori with a rather angry face. So even Hina was capable of doing that? Although I called it angry face, her expression still held that gentle and calm essence. Hmm, impressive.
"Uhm, Hina, c-calm down." Oh wow, Nitori looking a bit scared there. I too will behave like her if the usually calm Hina shouted at me. "I j-just, uhm…I just, err…Reuel-san?" She looked at me again, pleading for another assistance to get out the sticky situation.
Looking at her, I felt pity for her. As many times as I mentioned before, she has good intention but with a very questionable method. I sighed after thinking like that again.
"Hina-san, let's just forget about it." I said to Hina to calm her down. "I've forgiven her, so don't worry about it." Hearing that, Hina looked at me with trace of her anger at her friend while Nitori mouthed the word 'thank you' at me. "You can scold her to your heart's content later on." And the relief on Nitori's face disappeared completely and replaced with fear of being lecture by her friend.
"I supposed you're right, Reuel-san." And Nitori's fear was added by her friend's word. "We have important thing to discuss."
At her last sentence, I became tense. I could also see Nitori react the same way. I know that I said to them that I will walk it with them together, but I actually couldn't bear to hear that they will not become friend again. I might get upset and saddened, but I'll have to refrain from showing it to them. I have given them my word and I have to do what I promised.
"I see. So the two of you have talk to each other, I presumed?" I ask the two of them.
"Yes, we have, Reuel-san." Nitori said to me as she walked to her friend's side. "We have talked for a long time.
"And we have also come into a decision." Hina said to me. Her expression became somewhat saddened. I don't like this way of the conversation. I fear for the worst. Hina then continued with a rather sad tone. "At first, I was against the decision, but I guess that was for the best for everyone." Oh no, please just no.
"I see." I could only reply with that. My mind was already a mess at the moment. I felt quite unwell because of my fear for the worst. I glanced at Nitori and found that she was also not in her usual happy and energetic self.
"Reuel-san," called Nitori. I looked at her with a calm face but with a chaotic mind inside. "You said that you want us to teach you about friendship, right?" She heard that?
"…Yes, I did." I said to her as I nodded weakly.
"I, no. We're sorry that we can't do that, Reuel-san." She shook her head to me. "We can't teach you that."
"Ah…I see." So that's their decision? I…have somewhat expected, no, fear that they will choose that route. I can't blame them. I can't. But… I just… can't…
"… I see." Once again, my reply was weak and lacked my usual confidence. "I guess that the two of you have thought if very carefully then."
"We have, Reuel-san." Hina answered me with a resolute look on her face and voice that showed her seriousness.
" I see." I let out a heavy sigh.
I have grown tired of my monotone response but unfortunately I couldn't find anything else to say. I felt sad that these two were torn part just like that. But their decision might be the best for them, although I refused to believe it that way. And to make matter worse, this chain of event was started because of me. I couldn't feel guiltier than now. I… felt disgust at myself. For being the cause of their separation. For being too stupid to say anything that might change their mind. And also for being unable to give a proper response. I just don't know what to do.
"That's why, Reuel-san, we want to learn friendship together with you," said Hina to me. Eh?
"Yes, we can't teach you about friendship since we are also unable to understand it. Far from it, you know?" said Nitori while rubbing the back of her head awkwardly.
"…Eh, what?" I couldn't understand them.
"In short, we want you to walk together with us while also learning how we can help each other." Hina looked at me with a gentle expression while saying that.
"We are not the best of friend you can have, well at least I'm not. I still have a long way to go before I can become someone as close as Hina." Nitori smiled as she said that.
"Geez, Nitori. I'm also still learning."
"Like how to say what you have in mind and not to bottled it up yourself, eh, Hina?" Nitori teased her friend.
"Er, yes. That's one of them, I'm afraid." Hina said with a smile on her face.
What's happening? What's going on? So they are? They are not? Huh?
"Uhm, sorry you guys, I don't' quite…get it." I said as I looked at the two of them. I felt confused. Both Nitori and Hina shifted their gaze at me. "So, you're… still friend?"
"Yes, we are." The two of them said in unison with a smile on their face.
The moment that I heard that, my knee gave away. Weakness came over my whole body and I fell to my knees, unable to keep my own weight.
"Reuel-san!""Reuel-san!" Both of my friends ran toward me with a worried face. They quickly crouched near me.
"A-Are you hurt?" Hina asked me while examining me. Behind her was Nitori who seemed to be in a panic an unable to say or do anything.
"…Hehe…" A small laugh escaped my mouth, making the two have already worried became much more worried. "Oh wow, I need to sit down." I said to them as I fell on my back instead of sitting down. I fell back to the soft grassy ground behind me.
"Reuel-san, are you okay? Did you get hurt somewhere?"
"Is it because of me? I'm sorry!"
The two of them panic at the scene of me falling on my back. At that, I couldn't help but smile.
"Hahahahahaha!" The smile on my face turned into a loud laugh. I laugh so much that my stomach felt on the brink of having a cramp. As I finished laughing, I wiped the tears on my eyes and shifted my sight to my two panic looking friends.
"P-Please calm down, Reuel-san. We'll get you some help." Hina's face was filled with mixed of fear and worried. Of course I understand that. Seeing someone who fell back all of a sudden and burst into a laughing fit will surely make anyone worried. I then shook my head to them.
"Don't worry, Hina-san, Nitori-san. I'm fine. Really." I said to them as I tried to reassure them. "I was just too relief to hear your decision that I lost my strength completely." Feeling that my strength have started to return, I pulled my own body to a sitting position. "You don't know how happy I am to hear that." My voice was filled with genuine happiness. Truly I am. The feeling of your fear and worries washed away in an instant was a feeling I wouldn't forget anytime soon.
"We are also happy, Reuel-san." Hina reached for my right hand and held it gently. "You are the one that opened our eyes, especially mine."
"Me to." Nitori also reached for my right hand. "You are the one that tried to make us see our bond in a different way. I…can't thank you enough." She looked at me with serious eyes.
"…Oh…wow…I… don't know what to say." I said to them as I tried to digest their enormous gratitude at the same time. That was the first time anyone has ever said something like that to me. My usual self who was always a loner and tend to drift away from people has made me taken aback by their response. Their responses were so pure and so honest that I couldn't move the gear inside my head to think for anything.
"Just say that you'll keep being our friend." Hina said with her gentle voice. "That is all we want from you. Isn't that right, Nitori?"
"Yup!" said the kappa engineer with an energetic voice. "Just promise to be our friend. We can't ask for anything more, Reuel-san." Nitori added.
"Keep being your friend?" They nodded together at my question. "I…will be more than honored to do that."
The two nodded at my response. They wore expression that emitted happiness.
"We weren't the best person to become friend. But we're willing to learn that, little by little." Hina's voice sound confident and full of resolution.
"Yes! It may take a while, but we'll try our best for it!" Nitori also uttered the same promise.
"Then I'll just have to give more effort to be able to reach that point sooner."
Heh, reminded me of the little girl from the village that eat oshiruko with me. They might become good friend.
"Yes, you're right." I grab both of their hand, one with my left and the other with my right. "I'll also do the same. Let's walk together." And they both gave me their answer with a nod.
We spent quite some time to talk about a lot of things. Hina has told me that she was about to break their friendship with Nitori, but then Nitori convinced her that would make all of my effort was for nothing. That was why she said that she opposed to their decision at that time and felt sad that she even have that kind of thought. I have misunderstood them.
After that, Nitori send me back to the village. Her method was the same, much to my complaint. The only difference was that this time I was left in a concealed alleyway to avoid suspicion. Nitori then quickly left me, saying something that her appearance here would inconvenience me further, which I understand. Although I still have a lot to talk about, the time wasn't exactly on my side as I have to get back early to Hieda Family's mansion. I dusted my clothes as I picked myself up. Finished adjusting my clothes, I prepared myself to walk back to the mansion.
I looked up to the sky and realized that it was getting closer to the time where I supposed to be home. "Damn, got to hurry!" Fearing that I might anger my host, I half ran to the exit of the alley. As I was nearing the exit of the alley, a silhouette entered my vision. "Watch out!" I couldn't react fast enough. I was only able to shout that warning.
"Kyaaa!" "Waaah!" We hit each other as I couldn't avoid the other person. I somehow managed to keep my balance with the help of the wall near me. I quickly shifted my sight at my unfortunate victim who has fell down.
"Are you all right?" I offered the victim my hand to help stand up.
"Ow, ow, ow." I help the victim stood up. "Please be more careful next time!" Oh wow, she's angry. Couldn't blame her though. Anyone would be mad when somebody bumped into them all of a sudden. The victim looked to me and she wore a surprised expression. "Reuel-san?" Huh? She know me? Wait a minute!
"Hieda-san?" I recognized right away after seeing her face. Oh no, this is not good.
"What are you doing running from the alley?" Ugh, what I feared has become reality.
"Uhm, I was running to get back. It's already getting dark, no?" I tried to reason with that. Hope she'll buy it.
"Really now?" She leaned closer to me. Even though her posture was shorter than me, but somehow I felt kind of small at the moment. "What were you doing all this time?"
"Uhm, let's see." I started counting my activities for this day. "I have breakfast in one of the eatery recommended by Kosuzu-san. The misoshiru was wonderful!"
"Oh, that one. Kosuzu kept talking about it. I'll try it later. Anything else?"
"Anything else? Hmm, oh yeah. I met Hata no Kokoro." Might as well tell her that.
"Hata no Kokoro? The one that started the event of Hopeless Masquerade?"
"Yes, that one. She's a good girl. A bit mysterious, but a good girl. Interesting person." I said to her while nodding. "We've had snack on one of the tea house. Good stuff there."
"Why does most of your comment are about food, Reuel-san?" Somehow Akyu didn't look too happy as I told her my journey for the day. She let out a sigh and then continued. "Well, at least you looked better than this morning."
"I do?" Really? I never noticed that.
"Yes, you do." She nodded at me. "It was as if your worry was gone." "At that, she smiled at me.
My worry is gone? She's right though. I was worried that I might break such a close bond of friendship between Nitori and Hina that I must have been working non-stop. I guess I used my work as an excuse to run away from my sadness and also from my worries. Thankfully, Akyu saw that and gave me this rest day. My day couldn't be any better. And because of that, I was able to smile from the bottom of my heart. "I guess that forcing you take a day off was indeed a good move." She nodded with pride.
"Agreed, Hieda-san." I also nodded with her, agreeing with her comment.
"Then I guess you are going back, yes?"
"Yes, I am."
"Straight to work?" She continued her question.
"Hmm, depends. Maybe just a little." Hearing my answer, Akyu furrowed her brow. "But then again, maybe I'll take it easy tonight. Today is not over after all." And with that, my host's brows turned back to normal.
"Good." She nodded with satisfied expression. "So shall we get back together?"
"After you, Hieda-san." I gestured toward her with a slightly bowed body. I earned a slight smile from her.
As she walked in front of me, I composed what I should write tonight. As long as she doesn't know, she wouldn't get angry, right? Just have to be more careful tonight.
*In an unknown part of the world
N: So it's like that, eh?
Ri: Yes, it is. Interesting, don't you think?
C : Uhm, excuse me.
N : Yes, yes. Very interesting.
C : Uhm, N-san?
N : What is it, Camera-kun?
C : The show is starting.
N : Oh! Sorry, sorry! Welcome and hello there! Really sorry for that, everyone! Once again, it is time for our small talk in the end of the show! I am your host, Mr. N.! And today we have the shopkeeper from Gensokyo, Morichika Rinnosuke!
Ri: Thank you for having me here.
N : The pleasure is all ours, Morichika-san. Before the show started, Morichika-san was sharing with me about the many story of Gensokyo. I have to say, it is very interesting.
Ri: Living it is more interesting than hearing it, N-san.
N : Yes, yes. But I guess a normal man like me will have many difficulties there, don't you think so?
Ri: At first, yes. But as you might know, human has a very good ability in adapting to their surroundings.
N : Yes, I agree.
Ri: Most of the newcomer in Gensokyo will found difficulty in their early days living there. But as they live there, they will adapt to the surroundings and become quite accustomed to the strange world.
N : Ah, I see, I see. But doesn't that mean that they will become just like any human being there?
Ri: Correct, N-san. And that's why Yukari gapped new one from time to time. Well, that's just my own hypotheses.
N : Oh, a good one, if I must say so, Morichika-san. Is that also the reason why our journalist was sent there?
Ri: Hmm, I can't say for sure. But I guess for him, the time needed to make him just like the usual human being there will be far from short.
N : That I agree with you, Morichika-san. Have you meet him often?
Ri: Not exactly. Just a couple of time. He usually helps me in identifying many strange items. I'm quite thankful that he has come to help.
N : Good to hear that, Morichika-san. Oh yes, that reminds me that our human journalist have once again meet with the ever expressionless Hata no Kokoro. Have you meet her, Morichika-san?
Ri: I have. In fact, she asked me about a lot of things.
N: Really now? Care to share that?
Ri: Hmm, let's see. Well, most of the conversation was about the variety of mask I got on my store.
N : Oh yes, yes. Mask, is it?
Ri: Yes. She seems to like the mask, saying that they are very unique.
N :Hmm, from your story, she seems to be such an interesting person.
Ri: She is. After passing the weirdness of conversing with an expressionless girl, she is a sweet and good girl.
N : Passing that will take some time, don't you think?
Ri: Yes, it does.
N :Well, thank you for that, Morichika-san. I see that we are almost out of time and now come the time to read the comment from all of the viewers out there.
First we have fuji92. Thank you for following the show. Well, about waiting what will he do next time, we are on the same boat with you. The guy is such a mysterious and unpredictable person.
Next we have illusion2438, thank you for still following the story. Oh, a very interesting question. There's a question whether he will develop any negative relations with other of Gensokyo's inhabitants. What do you think, Morichika-san?
Ri: In my opinion, unfortunately that will not be long. He has the tendency to be able to push the right button as he talk. I don't know how he does that, but that will surely result in varied reaction. And some of them will definitely be a negative one.
N : It seems we have the same opinion. There you have it, folks! Okay, moving on. We got here from Dead Pann, thank you for following the show! And also from another regular, raidouXVI. Thank you for following the show!
C : Another one, sir.
N : Oh, there's a lot. I'm very happy! Who is it from? Oh, it's from Helios-Rufus. Cool name, if I must say so myself. And your opinion on him is the same as ours. He is a very interesting guy. Oh, this is a very interesting statement. 'the Youkai act more human'. Ever heard that, Morichika-san?
Ri: Often. But not often enough in my opinion.
N : Ho? Why is that?
Ri: What people tend to forget is that beneath all the strange abilities and appearance, the youkai have feelings and emotion not very different from any human. Maybe the process of thinking is different from one with another, but isn't that the same with human from different culture and places?
N : Yes, it is the same, Morichika-san.
Ri: But I guess it is quite hard to see pass that. Human tend to judge something from the cover and forget to judge the content. Although the cover is the first thing that can be seen doesn't mean that one can forget about the content.
N : I have to agree with that. Sorry if I offend you because of this question. You seem to have some bad experience with it, Morichika-san. Am I right?
Ri: Unfortunately, yes. But that's a story for another time.
N : Okay then. Let's move on. Oh, the last one?
C :Yes, sir. But it seems that a letter from the management got mixed up.
N : Ho? Really now? Let me see. "Read this after you read the comment letter." Hmm? Strange? Well, let's see who this is from. Okay, last but least it is from… oh wow! It's from Sonanoka21093!
C : Sir? Who's that?
N : You don't know? This is a famous writer who has written many great stories! No wonder the management sent another letter! Okay, calm down now. Calm down.
Ri: Are you okay, N-san?
N : I'm fine. Don't worry. First I have to thank you for following the story. Oh, a compliment for Rumia! Well, no one should underestimate her, eh? Even our human journalist there was barely able to get away with his life.
C : She also completely emptied our stock of meat.
N : She did, eh? Oh, a note about how Hieda-san was panicking. I have to say that I also enjoyed it.
Ri: Sorry to say, but I have to agree with you.
N : Hahaha! And now let's read the management's letter. Let's see.
"I am your fan. Your writings have inspired me so much. I enjoy reading them. I have read almost all of your stories. Thank you for the comment and the compliment!"
Ri: It seems that your management really like that author.
N : Who wouldn't? I'm also a fan! Well, with that last one finished, it is the end of our show. Thank you for accompanying us, Morichika-san.
Ri: It is my pleasure.
N : glad to hear that. To everyone, don't forget to send us your comment (aka Review). Thank you for watching, have a nice day, and stay healthy, everyone! We'll see you next time! Bye!