![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yumemory[Location: Lounge, morning]
Riquet: Master Sage!
I wrote about this case in the Sage’s Guide as soon as we returned to the manor—while I was writing, Riquet came running over to me with bright, twinkling eyes.
Riquet: Cain and Prince Arthur praised me just now! It seems like Oz told them about what happened at the school.
Akira: That’s great! What did they tell you?
Riquet: Prince Arthur said he's happy to have such a dependable friend!
Riquet: Cain petted my head, but he said it's because he was complimenting me, so I forgave him for today.
(Mitile arrives)
Mitile: Riquet! I heard your mission was resolved properly! I'm glad you’re all safe.
Riquet: Mitile!
Snow and White: Yes, Riquet was especially outstanding.
After talking about what happened last night, Mitile looked as happy about Riquet's success as Riquet did.
Mitile: That’s amazing! As your best friend, I'm so proud of you for completing this mission!
Mitile: I’d love to hear more about what happened!
Riquet: I accomplished what I had to do, yes, but, um... Mitile, will you ever hate me?
Mitile: Huh? H-Hate you?
Riquet: Actually... The students at Beryl School assumed that the incidents were caused by a wizard...
Riquet: I knew I was supposed to guide them, but my heart felt like it was buzzing, and I couldn't help but have unpleasant feelings for them.
Riquet: I hated everyone, and I wanted to abandon the investigation.
Mitile: Riquet...
Riquet: I thought I was doing something wrong. I'm an apostle of God, one given the role to guide people, but at that moment, I felt I was the one who needed guidance.
Riquet: Not once have I ever felt like this when I was in the church, so I found it really scary...
Mitile: ...............
Mitile: You’ve faced so many worries, Riquet...
Riquet: So many that I have been contemplating quite a lot. We were able to find a resolution to this case thanks to everyone’s support, but...
Riquet: I realized that becoming one of the Sage's wizards and learning all these new things might change me someday.
Riquet: Mitile, do you think it's good that I'm changing from who I used to be? Or do you think it's bad?
Mitile: ...............
Mitile: I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but...
Mitile smiled gently and squeezed Riquet's hand tightly, as if trying to share his worries.
Mitile: What I’m sure of is that I love the Riquet in front of me right now.
Riquet: ............!
Mitile: We took classes together, laughed together, and had a lot of other great times together...
Mitile: I’m happy for every day that we spend together. When a new day comes, it becomes a happier day than the day before.
Mitile: That's why I love the you who's right in front of me right now!
Riquet: Mitile...
Mitile: ......Was that an acceptable answer?
Riquet nodded his head and smiled like a blooming flower. He then said:
Riquet: I'm really happy! Thank you, Mitile. I love you, too.
Mitile: Ehehe, thank you so much!
Riquet: As a token of my gratitude, I'll tell you an interesting story I heard at the school. It's the story of a cursed mirror in the dining hall.
Mitile: Huh?! Is it another ghost story?
And they laughed happily together as they swayed their still-connected hands.
Snow: Hohoho. Good for him, good for him.
Akira: Yes... It may not have solved all the problems he has right now, but still, I'm glad to see him laughing again.
Seeing how Riquet's worries had finally cleared up, Snow slightly narrowed his eyes in affection.
Snow: ...I truly love the simplicity of these young wizards.
White: Snow...
Snow: Even after living for thousands of years, I still cannot tell what I’ve done right or wrong.
The complexity of those long, accumulated years were clear in Snow's voice.
The twins then quietly snuggled together looking like lost small children, and I found myself taking their hands in mine.
Akira: ...Well, I love the Snow and White in front of me now.
Snow and White: Sage...
The two of them looked at each other in surprise... And then hugged me by the neck with huge smiles on their faces.
Snow and White: Good child! Good child! We love you too, Sage!
Akira: S-Snow, White...! My neck... You're hugging me too tight!
As the three of us cuddled tightly together, Riquet and Mitile then came running up to us.
Riquet: We have something to ask from you, Lord Snow, Lord White. Can you tell us another wonderful story?
Riquet: And we want to hear stories about your world too, Master Sage!
Murr: Oh, me too!
Mitile: Whoa! Mister Murr, where did you come from?
Shylock: Now, Murr, you’re causing trouble for our adorable Mitile.
Rustica: Will you be sharing stories about your world, Master Sage? I’m very much looking forward to hearing them.
Snow and White: And what about ourrr storieeess?
Rustica: Fufu, of course, I would love to listen in to them as well.
Shylock: Then, in today's class we shall be listening to stories shared by Master Sage, and by Lords Snow and White.
Rustica: That would be wonderful. Where will we be staying to listen to your stories today? The garden? The kitchen? Or the sky, perhaps?
Chloe: Huh?! Are you sure?!
Akira: Ahaha, I can tell we’ll have a fun class.
Chloe: ...Ah, I almost forgot. I have something to ask Riquet and Mitile.
Riquet: Mitile and I?
Chloe: I want to hear more about that time you two went to a school in the South. Will you tell me?
Riquet: Yes, my pleasure! It’s okay, right, Mitile?
Mitile: Of course!
And just like that, the lounge was filled with activity. In the middle of everyone stood Riquet, laughing heartily and happily.
In the future, there will be instances where he might be terrified and confused by his own feelings, in experiencing them for the first time.
But even so, I hope that Riquet will still be able to love himself, and I truly wish that I’ll be able to provide comfort to his heart during the times when he feels lost.
Just like what one would do for a friend they cherish. Because I, too, love him very dearly.
Riquet: Master Sage, come join us!
Akira: I’m coming!
Keeping those thoughts in my heart, I held the hand Riquet offered to me, and let myself bask in the light of this warm and tender moment.
TL: yumemory | Proofread: Alle
< Previous | Index
