![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yumemory
Raws: @sumiitaru (thank you!)
Card Story: The Children’s Sentiments (Figaro, Shino, Akira)
Card Episode: Barely A Joke (Figaro, Akira)
WARNING: This card story contains minor event story spoilers.
The Children’s Sentiments: Chapter 1
[Location: Figaro’s clinic, evening]
Akira: Figaro, what are you up to?
Figaro: Shh.
Akira: Huh...
Figaro: Keep your voice down. The kids are asleep.
Figaro: That mission was especially difficult, wasn't it? They must be tired; we should let them rest.
Figaro sat by himself in the dimly-lit infirmary, his gaze settled on Mitile and the others while they lay asleep, wrapped in blankets.
Figaro: You can come closer if you're curious, Master Sage. But do it quietly, so we don’t wake them up.
Rutile and Mitile: Zzzz....
Heathcliff and Shino: Zzzzz...
Akira: ...Mitile and Rutile look like they're sleeping comfortably.
Figaro: Yeah. Earlier, Mitile was talking to you in his sleep.
Figaro: Shino was sleep talking, too. Apparently he was eating dinner in his dream. Heathcliff’s been pretty quiet, though.
Akira: It's very much like Shino to talk about food in his sleep...
Akira: Did you always spend a lot of time with Rutile and Mitile like this?
Figaro: Yeah. Not frequently, but Mitile and Rutile have always liked coming here.
Figaro: They’ve often visited to help me take care of the children who needed to spend time here.
Akira: I can imagine it. Those two always do their best for other people, after all.
Figaro: Yep, they’re very kind and hardworking children. Back then, there was a time when Mitile felt really down when the clinic's flower beds withered.
Figaro: Flowers don’t usually grow in Southern soil, so you can imagine how hard it is to make them bloom.
Akira: I see...
Figaro: I told him I'd help him out and we’d grow flowers together again someday. After hearing that, he nodded and smiled...... I still remember how happy he seemed then.
As Figaro spoke to me, I felt warmed by the Southern wizards' lovely relationship and just how much they care for each other.
Figaro: ...............
Akira: (He's watching them with such a gentle expression...)
Shino: ...............
Figaro: Shino? Sorry, I must’ve woken you.
Shino: No… I just got thirsty. It’s fine.
Figaro: I see. Then, what should I get for...
Shino: Figaro. I gotta tell you something while we’re here. Iー
Figaro: How about water? Or maybe some warm milk?
Shino: Hey, don’t treat me like a kid. Forget it.
Shino: I don’t like you, Figaro.
Figaro: ...............
Akira: S-Shino? Why are you suddenly... Is it because we were talking too loudly?
Figaro:《 Possideo 》
Akira: ...Huh?
The Children’s Sentiments: Chapter 2
[Location: Figaro’s clinic, evening]
A thin film formed around us right after Figaro chanted his spell.
Akira: Just now... What was that spell you cast?
Figaro: It's to keep our voices low. It’d be pretty unfortunate to wake everyone with something we oughta keep secret.
Figaro: ......Now then, what did I do to upset you, Shino? Or did I really speak too loudly and wake you up?
Shino: Don’t apologize to me. I’m fine.
Shino: What I don't like is the way you treat Mitile and Rutile.
Akira: ...The way he treats Mitile and Rutile?
Shino: Those two love you. So they want you to rely on them.
Shino: When you're in trouble, they’ll wanna come help you.
Figaro: Hmm...
Shino: But do you even feel anything real for them?
Indeed, at first it seemed like Figaro didn't want Mitile and Rutile to help save this precious place, this clinic.
’There are times when giving up is the best idea.’ That's what he told them, over and over.
It was Figaro’s own way of protecting what’s most important to him. But...
Shino: ...You don't believe in what they can do. In your eyes, they're just a couple of helpless children.
Akira: (Shino most likely thinks that Figaro wasn't properly confronting Mitile and Rutile's wishes...)
Shino: I know what it's like to be with someone weak enough that you just want them to stay out of it. And I know what it's like to want to protect that someone from danger at all costs.
Shino: But... Don't do things halfway. Tell them they're slowing you down. Tell them you don’t want their help.
Shino: If you don't, it’s only gonna get worse in the future, that's for sure.
After Shino’s straightforward declaration, Figaro was quiet for a while. I didn't know what to say, either, so I stayed silent and watched them.
Figaro: ............Thank you, Shino.
Shino: ..."Thank you"? Did you even listen to me?
Figaro: Of course I did. I heard you loud and clear, and I'm expressing my gratitude.
Figaro: Shino. You're mad at how I don't seem serious about the way I treat Rutile and Mitile. You feel that way because you care for them, right?
Figaro: They made friends in the manor who genuinely cherish them. That makes me really happy.
Shino: ...............
Figaro: That's the reason I'm thanking you. For that, and for worrying about them.
Figaro: I really care about them too, and I want to be as honest as possible with them.
Akira: (Figaro…)
Figaro: But I guess that’s just how I am. I don't know how to get my feelings across right sometimes.
Figaro: I want to face them honestly. That has always been my intention.
Shino: ...............
Figaro: You’re right. Sometimes, I make sure to drive them away from danger.
Figaro: But I need you to understand that it's my own way of truly caring for them.
The Children’s Sentiments: Chapter 3
[Location: Figaro’s clinic, evening]
Shino: Figaro, you...
Mitile: ...Mmh...
Shino, Figaro, Akira: !!
Akira: (...Did we wake him up?)
Mitile: Doctor Figaro… Shino… Please get along...
Figaro: Just now...
Akira: W-Was he sleep talking?
Shino: Guess so.
That's what Shino asserted while looking at Mitile. The way he was so cool about it was a bit funny, and I couldn't help but laugh.
Akira: ...Ahaha! That came at the perfect time!
Shino: ...Hmph. Are we fighting in his dream, too?
Figaro: Haha, who knows? Telling people to get along sounds like something Mitile would say, though.
Shino: Fine. If that’s what he wants. I'll let you off the hook, for now.
Shino: I sorta understand your feelings for them.
Shino: But don't think I won't tell you off again later.
Figaro: Sure. And I hope you'll be as angry with me then as you are now.
Shino: Huh? Are you happy that someone's getting mad at you…? You're weird.
Shino: Whatever. I’m going back to sleep… Zzzz...
Figaro found himself laughing at just how Shino instantly went back to sleep.
Figaro: Kids sure fall asleep fast.
Akira: They really do.
Figaro: How about you, Master Sage? You headed to bed yet?
Akira: I’m not really feeling like it yet.
Figaro: Then how about coming with me for a little evening flight?
[Location: Sky, evening]
Figaro invited me to ride with him on his broom. We flew up the sky, easing through the evening breeze.
Akira: Wow, the view's amazing up here! The wind feels so nice.
Figaro: Right? Look down there. The clinic's lights are pretty small when viewed from here.
Akira: They are! It doesn't feel like we were just there a little while ago.
Figaro: Shino said a lot of stuff to me, didn't he... Well, how should I say it, I guess kids can be pretty sharp.
Figaro: I’m not lying when I said I care for Rutile and Mitile. But I never thought that others would see it the other way around...
Figaro's hair swayed softly under the stars as I found myself at a loss for words. He then continued:
Figaro: Do I really look like I'm being insincere?
Akira: I don't think so. For me, at least. You seem sincere enough based on everything you said earlier.
Figaro: That’s good to know. Thank you, Master Sage.
Figaro: If you can say that, then it probably won't be long before everyone else starts feeling the same way, don’t you think?
Akira: Yeah, I feel like that day is coming soon!
We laughed together as we gently flew through the Southern night sky where memories were being made.
From up in the sky, there was Figaro's clinic lit up, looking like a very warm and lovely place.
Card Episode: Barely A Joke
[Location: Dining area, morning]
Akira: Figaro, thank you for taking me to your clinic the other day!
Figaro: No problem. I'll take you there again when we get the chance.
Akira: I can tell it's a very important place for the Southern wizards, so I'm glad you invited me to visit.
Akira: Do you have any memorable stories that happened there?
Figaro: Hmm, memorable stories, huh...
Figaro: Ah, there was that time when Leno kicked down the door. It surprised me.
Akira: Huh?! What in the world made him do that?!
Figaro: I thought Lennox already told you? I pranked him by turning all his sheep to Faust.
Akira: (He said it so casually...)
Akira: Now that you say it, I think I've heard of that story before. He said you have a terrible sense of humor.
Figaro: Is that what he told you? Leno was searching for Faust for a very long time, so I expected he'd have a more positive reaction about what I did, you know?
Akira: Uh, really?
Akira: (To be honest, it seemed like a really bad prank to me...)
Figaro: I guess what I thought as a little joke wasn’t so little for our ever-serious Leno.
Special Home Screen Line
Figaro: There are several ways to fight. Sometimes it's by exhibiting your strength, and sometimes it's by making good use of your words... Doctor Figaro isn’t too good at fighting, in any case.
TL: yumemory | Proofread: Alle
