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yumemory[Location: Manor’s lounge]
White: Well then, we shall proceed to find you another helper.
Rutile: Will there be someone to help us too?
Snow: Yes. It should be helpful to have someone who is good at physical labor.
[running steps]
Snow and White looked at each other and smiled, then they ran somewhere else for preparations.
Those of us left in the lounge decided to ask Cain more about the festival.
Cain: In this festival, first we will have the chief give flowers and offerings to the spirits who rule the good harvest and prosperity.
Cain: Next, citizens will gather in the city square, and offer our prayers.
Cain: Once the ritual’s over, we’re pretty much free to drink, dance, and be festive all night long.
Akira: Ending the festival with a feast, that sounds just like the people in the City of Glory.
Cain: We hear that a lot. What’s more is that this festival has another unique tradition.
Chloe: A unique tradition?
Cain: The “prosperity” we wish for through this festival is not only about the city’s prosperity, but also its people.
Cain: If we declare our feelings to the people we cherish, or go out of our way to have new encounters, it’s said that the bond will last forever.
Cain: In fact, I’ve seen people become lovers from this tradition.
Hearing Cain’s story, everyone cheers in excitement.
Rutile: So it’s a romantic festival as well!
Chloe: It sounds exciting! Cain, have you ever had someone confess to you? Or the other way around?
Cain: Well, it’s a special day, after all. Can’t say there was no such thing.
Akira: (Cain certainly seems to be the popular type….)
Cain: Though to me it always felt more like a day where we get to express our gratitude to our friends and family.
Akira: Friends and families? So it doesn’t have to be someone you like?
Cain: Yeah.
Riquet: I see…. I had the impression that it is one immoral tradition, but to express your gratitude towards someone important is a wonderful thing.
Heathcliff: The tradition may make it easier to say the things you would usually be embarrassed to say, I suppose.
Akira: (Expressing your feelings towards someone special, and showing gratitude towards friends and families….)
Akira: (In a way, it sounds just like Valentine’s Day back in my world.)
Chloe: We should do our best to make the festival all the more jolly for the citizens!
Cain: The citizens should handle the ritual preparation, so our part is to help with the following feast.
Cain: I want to make the feast flamboyant, so we can comfort everyone’s worry about < the Great Calamity, > even by a little.
Chloe: Hmm, flamboyant… How about setting off huge fireworks, like Murr usually does?
Rutile: Maybe we can ride our brooms and fly through the sky to make a drawing!
Heathcliff: Or maybe we can do crafts, one that they can use to decorate their houses to give them a good memory.
Riquet: In this festival, we are to give comfort to people’s hearts.
Riquet: Then, how about we dine a warm meal together? That can heal our hearts, all while offering prayers to the spirits.
Akira: (All of their ideas sound nice. As for me…)
Akira: (Since this is just like the Valentines, maybe we can do something similar?)
Akira: Cain, how about we give out chocolates to the citizens?
Cain: Chocolates?
Akira: Yes. Actually, there is an event similar to this in my world.
Akira: It’s called Valentine’s day. It’s common to give chocolates when you want to express your feelings to someone you hold dear.
Riquet: Valentines!
As the word falls into his ear, Riquet’s eyes gleam.
Riquet: It is the same event where we made a statue out of chocolate for Oz just the other day1, right?
Riquet: The Oz chocolate statue tasted so delicious!
Rutile: Dr. Figaro seemed to like the chocolate we gave him as well. It would be great to have Valentines in the manor again.
Everyone remembered about the Valentine's day I told them not long ago2. They’re talking about it avidly.
Heathcliff: Chocolate….
Heathcliff: How about using our sugars for it?
Heathcliff: Wizards’ sugar has protective effects when eaten, after all.
Cain: If we’re going to give out chocolates, it might be good to give them two kinds each.
Cain: One kind is for them to give to the person they hold dear, along with their feelings.
Akira: That sounds wonderful! It’s certainly pleasing to receive something from someone special. I think it would be a good memory for both parties.
Cain: Then it’s settled!
Rutile: Agreed. We shall make the sugar as soon as possible.
Chloe: Um, I have an idea….
While we were all getting eager, Chloe slowly raised his hand.
Chloe: Can I make matching outfits for all of us to wear at the festival?
Chloe: If we do that, maybe we can feel a sense of unity on the day of the festival…. Ah, that is if everyone is okay with it!
Everyone nods, with their eyes glimmering at Chloe’s proposal.
Cain: Chloe’s clothes would paint the festival in glamor!
Rutile: I, too, want to walk around the festival with matching outfits!
Riquet and Heathcliff nod, agreeing with Rutile’s words.
Chloe: I’m glad to hear that. I’ll work hard, then!
TL Note:
1 Here, Riquet used the word 先日, which is mostly used to refer to a past occurrence no longer than a month back. ↑
2 Akira used the word 少し前, meaning roughly ‘not long ago’. Honestly, I do not know if that means this event took place not too long after the 2020 Valentine’s event. ↑
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