Cain March 2023 SSR "He's Radiant Like the Sun"

[centralgoldstar]

Card story: The unexpected reunion

After the incident had been resolved, the swordplay examination started again without any problem. We watched the duels with interest. The two candidates who were battling were both Hector’s friends. They went to shake hands with us before the match started.

Mitile: Whoa! Mister Cain, did you see the move just now? He found the opening so quickly. That’s really cool.

Cain: Yeah, that’s some fine swordsmanship. He moved in deep and picked his target without hesitation. Even so, wait and see…

Akira: Oh! There is a mistake in his stance, which allows his opponent to find a weak spot.

Cain: Tactics is important in swordplay too. You use your sense and instinct to predict your opponent’s missteps, things like that. Those two have trained together regularly so they should know each other well. They’re showing their skills by finding ways to exploit the openings of a familiar opponent.

Mitile and I wiped the sweats on our hands as we listened to Cain’s explanation. Suddenly, someone cheered for the combatants loudly behind our back.

???: What kind of counterattack was that?! Put your back to it, won’t you?!

Cain: Huh? The person just now…

Cain turned around and scanned the crowd as if to look for something. Mitile asked.

Mitile: Mister Cain, what’s the matter?

Cain: I’m okay. Just that I think I heard the voice of someone who helped me a lot in the past.

???: The losers will have to wash dishes in my shop! You hear me!

Akira: Oh, it’s that person, right? He has wide shoulders and stocky build.

Mitile: He also has curly black hair, and it looks like there’s a big scar on his cheek.

Cain: Oh! Then he’s definitely my acquaintance. I didn’t expect to meet him here.

Mitile: In that case, shall we go to greet him after this match? I’ll show you the way!

Akira: I’ll go talk to him first then. Cain, it’s a big crowd here so please take your time and go with Mitile.

Cain: Thanks a lot, your two. Let me use this occasion to introduce you to him too.

Thus when the match was over, we took Cain’s hand and led him to the man in question, whom we had tracked down.

Cain: Hi there, Uncle.

The uncle whom Cain knew: Oh, it’s really you, Cain.

Cain: The one and only. It’s been a while! You seem well, Uncle.

The uncle whom Cain knew: I didn’t think I’d run into you here! I see you’ve grown up and become even more of a fine young man.

The uncle approached us with a bright smile and clapped Cain’s back heartily. Cain smiled in return of the familiar gesture.

Cain: Haha, I remember this pain. Uncle, here are my friends. Akira, who is our Sage, and Mitile, a Sage’s wizard like me.

Akira – Mitile: Nice to meet you!

The uncle whom Cain knew: Hi there! So you two have been taking care of the kiddo here. I run a small restaurant in City of Glory. I’ve known Cain since he was a little rascal. He used to climb on my shoulders, and I cooked for him when he got hungry, you see.

Cain: Yeah. I especially love Uncle’s thick meat sandwiches.

The uncle whom Cain knew: Oh, you mean this?

The uncle rummaged in his bag and pulled out a package. Inside it was a large sandwich made of thick bread full of fillings.

Akira: It looks delicious. Besides the cheese and egg, there’re many thick slices of meat too.

Mitile: The filling is certainly very generous. And the bread is toasted and gives off the scent of butter.

Cain: Oh, the sandwich looks fantastic as always. There’s nothing better than opening your mouth wide and biting into it heartily.

The uncle whom Cain knew: Lots of the kids taking the exam today are from the City of Glory. I see them often enough at my shop. Since they love this kind of sandwich, I want to treat them. Since luck lets us meet each other today, feel free to help yourselves to some, Mitile, Master Sage! There’re more than enough to go around!

Mitile – Akira: Eh? May I?

The uncle whom Cain knew: Definitely. You two must be hungry already, watching the matches and cheering like that. You get one too, kiddo.

Cain: Uncle… Thanks a lot. Let’s eat together!

We said thank you and opened our packages, then sat down side by side on the steps nearby to eat. I did as Cain told us and took a big bite of the generous sandwich.

Mitile – Akira: Whoa, yummy!

Cain: It’s great, isn’t it? The spices in the meat and the rich cheese balance each other out wonderfully.

Akira: That’s right! And the meat is thick but it’s so tender and juicy!

Mitile: There’s fried onion inside too. It’s crispy and goes really well with the meat and cheese. So delicious!

The uncle whom Cain knew: Ahaha, so well-mannered! Seeing you guys eat so heartily is worth the work of making these.

Cain: You’re a great chef, Uncle. Your shop’s menu has a good selection too. That’s why I often took my team there when I was with the Knights.

The uncle whom Cain knew: Yeah, whenever your unit had a mission in City of Glory, you lot would clear out my shop, saying ‘yummy, yummy’ while inhaling mountains of food. You always paid for all of them, right, kiddo?

Akira: What? You paid for everything?!

Mitile: Wow, that’s so dashing!

Cain: Ahaha, my hands moved on their own and opened the purse string. There’s nothing better than eating yummy food together with your team, you know.

Mitile: Mister Cain, you often treat me when we go shopping together too. You look very cool when you pay for me, but I want to treat you too!

Cain: Oh, that’s something to look forward to. Even so, let me pay until that day comes. I love seeing you eat your fill as your face goes ‘yummy’.

Mitile: Oh.. Ehehe.

I couldn’t help a smile as I watched Cain ruffled Mitile’s head.

The uncle whom Cain knew: …

As I instinctively looked at the uncle, he was looking at Cain and Mitile like me. His gaze was very gentle.

When it was time to join Lennox, Mitile left ahead, leaving Cain and me with the uncle.

The uncle whom Cain knew: Well then, I should go find the kids who were in the match to give them a reward. I’m really glad to meet you guys today.

Akira: I’m glad to meet you too. Thank you for the delicious sandwich!

Cain: I will give your shop a visit soon, and I’ll bring not just Mitile and Akira but the rest of our team.

The uncle whom Cain knew: Okay, we have a deal then! Now, may I have a minute with you, Master Sage?

Akira: Yes, what do you need me for?

The uncle suddenly grinned in reply. And then, still looking at me, he casually ruffled Cain’s head, who was standing in a slightly higher spot.     

Cain: Uncle? What are you…

The uncle whom Cain knew: Master Sage, this brat always looks cheery like everything is fine with him, but he is prone to taking up more than he can handle ever since he was tiny. When he went to my shop alone, he would tell me that he wasn’t hungry at all, and ask me for the smallest, cheapest meal.

 Cain: Oh, that. Honestly I was pretty surprised when you gave me a big portion without saying anything.

The uncle whom Cain knew: Of course. There was nothing you could hide from me, you know.

The uncle’s eyes when he jovially replied to Cain was gentle, just like how he looked at Cain and Mitile’s conversation with each other earlier.

The uncle whom Cain knew: And that’s why I’m worried about you. Master Sage, he hasn’t been pushing himself too much, has he?

Akira: That’s….

As I was thinking about what to reply, I remembered that day when he visited the graves of the deceased Sage’s Wizards.

Akira: (Cain is brave and dependable. I’ve been availing myself on his kindness a lot. But I can’t say there has been no toil on his mind and body)

Cain: Akira.

Cain spoke up as I fell silent. He nodded and smiled as if to reassure me, and placed his hand on the uncle’s hand that had been ruffling his hair.

Cain: Uncle, thanks for worry about me. But please let me look good in front of Master Sage, won’t you? Everything is well. I’m always full of energy because I have Master Sage and my comrades.

Cain: So next time when I come to your shop like back then, I would say it properly. “I’d like a big portion, but with a discount, please!”

The uncle whom Cain knew: Haha! Yeah, you really look like you’re okay.

The uncle whom Cain knew: Master Sage, sorry for bothering you! Please look after this kid for me.

Akira: Of course I will! I’m still very inexperienced, but Cain is important to me as my friend. I want to be a friend who notices when he takes all burden on himself like you, and whom he relies on.

Akira: No… I mean I’ll definitely become such a friend!

I clenched my fist tightly to give myself courage. Cain looked at me and smiled.

Cain: You’re already that friend though. Even so, you look so cool saying that just now, Akira. You’re really our dashing Master Sage!

 

Card episode: Please keep it a secret from the others

Cain: Master Sage, I’m going to the City of Glory for an errand. Would you like to join me? You remember the uncle whom we met at the swordplay exam? There’s something I’d like to deliver to him, so I’ll pass by his shop.

Akira: Oh, the cooking uncle! You’ve known him since you were a child, right? I’d love to go with you. I’m curious about what his shop is like, so thank you for inviting me!

Cain: Haha, I’m glad to hear that. In that case, I should invite Mitile too.

Akira: Let’s go find him. Oh, is there anyone else you’d like to invite?

Cain: Let me see. Riquet will likely ask to join us since Mitile is there. And with those two around then there’ll be Oz and Arthur. Rutile too…

Cain: Heath is pretty skinny so I’d like him to have Uncle’s meat dishes. In that case, Shino would probably want to go with him, so I’d invite them both at once.

Cain: And then maybe I should invite Owen too. I’ve no idea if he’d agree, but the shop has a good selection of desserts.

Akira: That’s a pretty big group! I think Uncle would be happy to meet everyone who has been living under the same roof as you though.

Cain: Yeah, I think so too. Oh, but there’s no guarantee that Uncle would keep my childhood stories to a reasonable amount, I’m afraid.

Akira: What’s the problem though? The last time I met Uncle, it was fun to hear stories about you.

Cain: Yeah, there’re many funny stories that I’d like to share with everyone. But what he told you that time was a bit embarrassing.

Cain: So, Master Sage, do me a favor and don’t tell anyone about what you heard, please?