Etude of the Frog Taking Shelter From the Rain | Chapter 9

[healingbonds]

Chapter 8 << | index | >> Chapter 10


It’s a wonderful idea.
But we are all visibly surprised that it’s coming from Bradley.

Mitile: I didn’t expect Mister Bradley to say that sort of thing.....

Bradley: What, am I not allowed to?

Bradley frowns self-consciously. But then he smiles at Mitile with quiet eyes.

Bradley: We ought to honor the dead. We live in such a messed-up world; if we’re half-hearted about turning into stone.....
We’ll wind up living half-hearted lives, too.

Figaro: .........

Bradley: We got to see such a crazy sight because there once was a crazy fool.
So let’s pay our respects by dancing like crazy fools.

Bradley grins, and Rutile’s hand shoots up.
Raindrops bounce off the glittering tips of his fingers.

Rutile: I’m down!

Mitile: Me too!

White: I am as well!

Snow: Let’s hop across the puddles and dance on the moonlit lake like Chloros!

Figaro: Ahaha. I guess that’s fine. We might as well enjoy this garden while we’re here.
Let’s make this a fun goodbye.

Mithra scratches his ears in silence. He sighs, as if he’s given in to all the cheering.

Mithra: All right. That’s fine.

And that is how we come to await nightfall in Chloros’s garden.

✦✧☾✧✦

Mithra: ........

(Footsteps)

Mitile: Mister Mithra..... Can we talk for a bit?

Mithra: ....Sigh. What is it?

Mitile: Um.... What kind of person was Mother? You were her friend, right?
I’ve never met Mother, so.... I was wondering if you could tell me about her?

Mithra: ...What kind of person....? Tiretta was a powerful witch. She laughed all the time.

Mitile: Really? If she laughed all the time, does that mean she lived a happy life?

Mithra: Who knows.... If marrying a human, giving birth to a child, and turning to stone is happiness, then I guess she was happy.

Mitile: .........
Do you hate me?

Mithra: Why do you say that?

Mitile: ......... Because Mother died from giving birth to me.......

Mithra: What a strange thing to say. She simply stuck to her beliefs.
She weighed your life against many, many goodbyes — and chose to give birth to you.
I was simply not chosen.

Mitile: .........

Mithra: How should I put it.... You seem like something she would choose.

Mitile: ....Ehehe. That makes me happy.
I’m always sad that Mother isn’t around, but..... I get to hear about her, and I have nii-sama by my side, so.....



Mitile: Mister Mithra, just as you had Mother, I have Dr. Figaro and Mister Leno by my side, so I’m not lonely.

Mithra: Is that so.

Mitile: Yes. They’ve always watched over us. They’ve always protected us.

Mithra: ........

(Footsteps)

Mitile: Mister Mithra.... Where are you going?

Mithra: I’m tired of babysitting. That’s why I’m going to make a compromise.

✦✧☾✧✦

Mithra: Lennox.

Lennox: ....Mithra.... Where’s Mitile? I thought he went to speak to you.



Mithra: I spoke to him. I’m leaving the rest to you and Figaro.

Lennox: ........

Mithra: Please don’t let Rutile or Mitile die.

Lennox: ....Of course.

✦✧☾✧✦

Rutile: This is such a lovely garden. It’ll be a waste to see it go.

Akira: I agree.....

I’m walking around the bank of a lake with Rutile and Bradley.
A garden of endless rain. But tonight, the rainfall will finally come to an end.
It makes me sad, but as I look across the garden, I realize that it’s filled with common, yet miraculous smiles left and right.
Mithra is smiling next to Lennox. He playfully takes off Lennox’s glasses and puts them back on.
Mitile leaps across puddles and runs to Figaro’s side.
It looks like he wants to show him something he found. Figaro looks even happier than Mitile, who is showing off his discovery.
The twins dance hand in hand, enveloped by the gentle sound of rain.
They’re perfectly in sync; their hearts are one.

Bradley: This was a great place.

Rutile: It truly was.... What a wonderful place.

Rutile smiles softly, as if taking it all in. Tears begin to well up in his eyes.
Bradley spots those tears, and teases him while laughing. Rutile giggles tearfully and pretends to punch him.
I feel something welling up in my chest as well. Things that are lost, as if washed away by the rain. The people who were lost.
Is it possible to love something when you know it will one day be lost?
Is it possible to continue loving something, even after it has been lost?

Figaro: Sir Sage!

I look up upon hearing Figaro’s voice.
He points up at the sky and smiles.

Figaro: It’s almost nightfall.

At those words, Bradley takes me and Rutile under his arms.

Bradley: All right then! Let’s go wild!

Akira: Huh?

Rutile: Woa....h!

Bradley leaps into the lake with a splash.

(Splash)

Chapter 8 << | index | >> Chapter 10