Etude of the Melancholy Sunflower | Chapter 3

[healingbonds]

Chapter 2 << | index | >> Chapter 4


Akira: Lunch was delicious. ....But Faust still didn’t show up.
It looks like the magic headquarters will start getting missions soon, thanks to all the work Arthur and the others put in.....
But Lennox said that it’d probably take some time for Faust to open up......
I wonder if the Eastern wizards are all right......

Nero: Mister Sage.

Akira: Nero.... Oh, thank you for lunch. It was so delicious.

Nero: Glad to hear it. Do you think you can deliver this, then? To our teacher.

Akira: A lunch box.... Is this for Faust? Why don’t you bring it to him, Nero?

Nero: I need to clean up, so. Take care of it for me. Thanks.

Akira: ....... I understand.

I take note of Nero’s consideration — and the fact that he looks like he won’t take no for an answer — and accept the lunch box.

Akira: (...The Eastern wizards are kind of clumsy.....)
(They’re misanthropes who love being alone. Yet they’re all serious and kind, and keep at a distance to avoid bumping into each other.)
(I feel like they could all get along, but I guess it’s not so easy.....)

I gaze at Nero’s back as he leaves the room and let out a small sigh.
But that’s when Nero comes walking back.

Nero: You know what, I’ll take it to him.

Akira: Really?

Nero nods hesitantly and scratches his head.

Nero: Well.... You’re busy and all, so. It feels kind of unfair to make you do it.

Akira: You’re busy too, Nero. Yet you took the time to make him a lunch box. I think you’re a very kind person.

I smile and look up at Nero. Nero seems taken aback, and then smiles awkwardly, as if he doesn’t know how to respond.

Nero: You’re so guileless.... I tried to make you do my job, you know?

Akira: You mean bringing him the lunchbox?

Nero: I mean talking to someone I have trouble speaking to.

I blink. That’s when I sense someone behind me and turn around.
There stands Faust.

Akira: Faust......

Faust: .....Why are you so surprised? Even I go out for a walk now and then.

Faust says awkwardly as he steals a glance at Nero.

Faust: And I didn’t want to make you deliver lunch to me again. Giving me special treatment when there are younger wizards around.....

I sense some guilt and a tiny bit of warmth in Faust’s gaze. Nero pauses for a moment before grinning mischievously.

Nero: True, it was kind of immature.

Faust: ....Shut up. The quiche you baked the other day was delicious. ....Is there any lunch left over?

Akira: Faust, this.....

Faust: What? ....Ah. Looks like I’ve already made you cook for me.

Nero: Don’t worry about it. But you know.... Uh.....
If you’re in the mood for it, come eat in the dining hall instead of in your room. I’ll pour you some delicious coffee after your meal.

Faust laughs, clutching the lunchbox in his arms. His brows are turned downward, as if he’s lost this battle.
I like how they laugh. Even if they can’t reach out to hold each other’s hands....
They slowly, carefully turn towards each other and try to ascertain where they belong within the other person: that’s how they smile.

Faust: I guess I will, then.

Nero: Yeah.

✦✧☾✧✦

Nero and I chat with Faust as he eats his meal.
They don’t speak about anything that strikes close to home. But as they continue along with their mundane conversation, they begin to grasp the other person’s character.

Nero: I used some sauce to bring out this flavor, but it tastes good with just salt, too.

Faust: Huh. I’d like to try that.

Nero: Do you prefer simpler tastes?

Faust: No, I like this carefully crafted sauce too. I wouldn’t cook this sort of thing myself, after all.

Akira: What kind of food do you cook for yourself?

Faust: I can’t tell you in front of a chef.

Nero: I bet you cook fairly often, though. I can kinda tell just by watching. Though Cain’s cooking really surprised me.

Faust: What does he do?

Nero: He deep-fries everything. From vegetables to fish to mushrooms. The one exception is clams — he puts those in tomato soup.

Faust: Haha. Even his cooking is hearty.

Akira: Deep-frying is difficult; that’s amazing. I made ojiya with Heathcliff before.

Nero: Huh. I’ve never heard of that before. Teach me how to cook it.

It’s a gentle spell of time. He hides it behind his easygoing attitude, but I can sense Nero kindly watching over Faust.
Faust also pretends to be acrimonious — but in reality, he’s respectfully showing concern for Nero.
The two of them were more opposed to living in the magic headquarters than anyone else.
Maybe their words from that day continue to bite into them. But it’s still a gentle exchange.

Shino: Sage.

I raise my head at Shino’s voice. Apparently he and Heathcliff have returned from Blanchett.
Heathcliff spots Faust and looks both delighted and surprised.

Heathcliff: Mr. Faust......

Faust awkwardly averts his eyes for a moment. But before long he looks back at him and smiles.

Faust: That’s a lot of luggage. Were you out on a trip?

Heathcliff: We just got back from Blanchett. My father’s acquaintance asked us to look into a mysterious occurrence....

Akira: A mysterious occurrence....?

Heathcliff: Yes. It was a request from the Lord of Landsberg. I’ve never visited the region, but it lies near the Central Country border of Eastern Country.....
It involves the legend of Bianca, the man-eating witch of the sunflower fields.

Someone else raises his voice in surprise.

Lennox: ....Bianca from Landsberg....?

Chapter 2 << | index | >> Chapter 4