Chapter 6

"Meow..."

"Niya, please bear with me. We need another long walk, to the person you also know."

Sho was massaging Niya, and they were on the lawn of their house, relaxing. This had been a part of Sho's everyday routine to boost his heart health.

After a few more minutes of relaxation and quality time with Niya, Sho decided to go inside the house and prepare for their trip. It was a beautiful sunny day, but the breeze was so cold that Sho needed to wear his hoodie.

He brought a backpack with him and tied Niya with a long leash. He told his mom and grandma that they will go for a walk, without them knowing his true intentions.

Sho enjoyed the view of the trip and the cold breeze that gently brushed his face. When they finally reached their destination, he hid himself in the same area, just like before (behind the bush), and untied Niya.

"Niya, please find Arrietty and tell her I'm here."

He gently brushed Niya's forehead before the cat went on her way to find Arrietty.

Sho waited for quite a while before he could hear Niya's fast running. When the cat came back, it was really dirty, and he noticed its one leg hurt because Niya was struggling with it in moving.

"Oh God, Niya! What happened?!"

But, before the cat could respond a "meow," a small sound among the bushes interrupted Sho and Niya.

Sho was surprised with what he saw - a little man about Arrietty's size covered with animal fur faced him, pointing his arrow towards him.

Niya immediately hid behind Sho, afraid.

The little man was now standing on a medium-sized rock, so he was more visible to Sho's eyes. Both of them stared at each other - Sho still shocked and the little man angry and fierce.

"What are you doing here?" The little man finally spoke.

Sho was still processing everything, still overwhelmed. But, he finally got the courage to speak.

"Are you a Borrower?"

"Answer my question first." The little man asked with authority with no trace of fear in his voice at all.

"I came to see Arrietty. She's a Borrower and my friend. Do you know her?"

"Yes. I'm like her, a Borrower, but I specialize in hunting." The little man then pointed his arrow even higher, letting Sho know that he's not afraid.

"Oh, really? That's cool! May I know your name?"

"Spiller."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Sho." Sho then extended his hand to hopefully shake hands with Spiller (just a finger for Sho though). But, Spiller took that as an attack and let his arrow go. He hit Sho's finger, letting the human bleed.

Spiller got another arrow and pointed it at Sho again.

"Please Spiller, I'm not a bad person. I'm a friend." Sho spoke calmly even if his hurt and bleeding.

Spiller was still pointing the arrow at Sho, not convinced the human was a friend. Sho read this on Spiller's face and continued to encourage the Borrower that he's a good one.

"Please, I'm not here to hurt Arrietty or any Borrower. I'm a good human. I want to be friends with you, Borrowers."

"Why?" Spiller asked with doubt.

"I see you as humans, just like me. I don't mind sharing my food or shelter with you. I want to help you in any way I can."

Spiller was still pointing the arrow and not convinced still.

Sho went on, didn't want to give up in convincing Spiller.

"Arrietty was the first Borrower I saw, and I really wanted to be friends with her because I want to know more about your existence. When we became friends, I was really happy because I had the chance to understand the world you're living.

But, a lot has happened, and our friendship became even stronger as time passes. I wanted to ser her more - talk to her and know her deeper."

Spiller was still pointing the arrow at Sho and didn't want to let his guard down. But, he finally responded to what Sho was saying.

"You humans are a threat to us. Many from our kind died because of your doing. You should cut your connection with us Borrowers. We cannot trust you."

"I understand you may have hate on humans, but not all of us are bad. Some truly care with our surroundings and want to understand things that are happening around us."

Spiller only frowned at Sho's response but decided to respond, too.

"Arrietty almost died because of you."

Sho was shocked.

"What?! Why?"

Spiller's anger became more visible on his face now.

"She risked her life just to see you."

Sho couldn't believe what he heard. His bleeding finger didn't matter anymore because his mind was focused on what happened to Arrietty.

"Please Spiller, can you tell me what happened to her? Is she alright?"

Spiller deepened the frown on his face but still chose to answer Sho.

"She went alone last night to see you. But, on her way, she met a frog that's about to kill and eat her."

Sho wanted to hear how Arrietty got out of the tragic situation. But, he thought that Spiller might have done something to prevent Arrietty's ending.

Sho and Spiller were just staring at each other, evaluating each other's emotions.

"I just want to see Arrietty for the last time. I won't bother her anymore." Sho finally spoke.

Spiller was a little surprised and slowly put his bow and arrow down.

"Wait here. I'll call her."

Sho felt really thankful for Spiller's consideration. He then slowly removed the arrow that's hanging on his finger and covered the wound with a bandaid he had in his bag.

Niya then peeked behind his back to check whether Spiller was still there or not.

"It's okay Niya. Spiller is not harmful. He's only protective." Sho then massaged Niya's forehead.

After a few minutes, Spiller came back, with Arrietty.

"Sho!" Shouted Arrietty with excitement.

Sho smiled at her but with sadness.

"I came here to see you again."

"Oh Sho! You have no idea how much I tried to see you, too."

Sho and Arrietty then turned their heads at Spiller's direction because they heard a sound of a twig that's just been broken, and it was his doing. Spiller was just standing really firm and fierce.

"Arrietty listen, I came here to finally say goodbye to you."

Arrietty was confused.

"What do you mean?"

"You won't see me again."

"What?! Why? Have I done something wrong?"

"No, it's not you. It's me. I won't come back in this place again."

Arrietty couldn't understand what was happening. She did not want to hear from Sho any further. She's really hurt.

"Why Sho? Why so sudden?"

Sho glanced at Spiller before responding.

"Things changed, and I might start a new life. I'll be staying in the city most of the time, and I might not have time to have a vacation here in the future. I just won't come back here, and I won't see you again."

Arrietty felt really broken. It was a feeling equivalent to a breakup between two lovers.

"Don't do this Sho please. Please come back. I'll wait for you. I..."

"Arrietty!" Shouted Spiller.

She forgot about Spiller who was just standing at a distance. He reminded her of what her true purpose in this world is - a Borrower.

Arrietty only cried and couldn't stop her tears. Sho, on the other hand, forced not to cry, too, because he was hurting as well.

"I need to go now, Artietty." Sho then stood up and carried Niya, who was struggling to walk.

Arrietty only wiped her tears because she didn't know what to say to Sho to convince him to come back.

Sho turned around and faced his back on the two Borrowers. But, before leaving, he finally said his last words.

"Please take care of yourself, Arrietty. Goodbye." Sho was trembling because he also started crying, without them knowing.

"Sho! Please!" Cried Arrietty.

Sho took faster steps to walk away from that area as soon as he could and hopefully forget about the Borrowers, about Arrietty.