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centralgoldstar[In the City of Glory]
Cain: We’ve arrived, Akira. Are you tired? It was a long trip.
Akira: I’m fine! It’s been a while since I last travelled to the City of Glory. Oh, I hear music coming from over there. It sounds lively.
Cain: Ah, they’re dancing over there. Looks like there is some festival going on today too.
Akira: Now that you mention that, this city sure loves festivals. Whoa, everyone is dancing so cheerfully. The excitement is infectious.
Cain: Fantastic! Since we rarely have the chance to, shall we join in?
Akira: Er, that looks fun but I can’t really dance.
Cain: Don’t worry about that. People here dance only to have fun. Come on, let’s go!
Akira: Whoa!
Cain: Look at everyone else. You can skip or bounce around or dance however you like. If you don’t feel comfortable, how about dancing with me? May I have this dance, Akira?
Akira: Th- Thank you.
………
Akira: Wow, this is really fun!
Cain: Ahaha, that’s the way to go!
Akira: (Cain looks so happy. It’s great that he gets to visit his hometown. Arthur too has been worried about him.)
As I danced with Cain, I recalled why we came to this town.
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[At the dining hall]
Akira: Hello, everyone. What are you having there?
Arthur: Hello, Master Sage. Rutile and the other Southern wizards cooked a specialty of the Southern Country for us. Its name is, uhm.
Cain: It’s rollito de pollo, rolls of cosmos bird meat. You want some?
Akira: Yes, thank you! It’s really tasty!
Cain: Right? You can get addicted to it.
Heathcliff: Come to think about it, the way everyone eats rollito de pollo together like this reminds me of the time before.
Arthur: Before?
Cain: Ah, before the latest attack of the Great Calamity, there was a grandma who was a Sage’s Wizard from Southern Country. She usually treated us to this dish.
Arthur: I see. This is a dish full of memories for you two.
Akira: (Now that I remember it, Bradley once said something similar.)
Arthur: Ah, can I bring some for Master Oz? He’ll certainly love delicious food like this.
Cain: Of course. He likes it more than anything. Bradley loves it too. He always showed here at the Magic Manor whenever Grandma made rollito de pollo for us. Thanks to that, I had the chance to talk to him.
Cain told us about the past with a bright smile. However, I remembered something else.
Akira: (That grandma. During the latest attack of the Great Calamity, she must have been… Cain acts cheerful in front of us, but he had to watch the comrades that he treasured perish under the attack of the Great Calamity. What is Cain thinking when he talks to us about the wizards who are no longer here?)
After the meal, I thought about Cain as I walked in the corridor.
Akira: (Cain almost never lets anyone know when he is sad or upset. )
However, if there was something about Cain that I had learnt when living here, it was that he did not have an endless reserve of sunshine and good cheer.
Arthur: Master Sage, can I talk to you for a bit?
Akira: Of course, what’s the matter?
Arthur: Ah, I’ve been thinking about giving Cain a day off.
Akira: A day off?
Akira: (Looks like Arthur too has been thinking about how Cain acted just now.)
Arthur: Yeah. He hasn’t taken a break since the latest attack of the Great Calamity. He is always working one way or another, whether it’s duties of Sage’s Wizards or helping me with state affairs. I’d like him to take it easy once in a while. What do you think?
Akira: Of course that’s a good thing! Let me talk to Cain.
Arthur: Thank you! Please tell him I’d like him to relax from time to time.
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[In the City of Glory]
Akira: Phew, I certainly danced a lot. Looks like my body will make its complaint known tomorrow.
Akira: (In any case, I planned to ask Cain to take a day off for himself, but I’m glad I got to accompany him. I’m supposedly invited, but it’s reassuring that I don’t get in his way.)
Cain: Sorry to make you wait. Are coffee and sandwich okay with you?
Akira: Yes! Oh, you’ve treated me to this coffee before. I wanted to drink it again so this is nice.
Cain: That’s great. This sandwich is my favorite too. Since I don’t get to come here with you often, today I want to show you more of the good stuffs in this city. This is also my chance to ask you about your hometown. I want to know more about you too, Akira.
Akira: Ahaha, I see! Hmm, what should I talk about? Ah, in my home world….
……….
Cain: Heh, so in your world, you can get conbini coffee anywhere?
Akira: Yes. Because conbini coffee was available everywhere, I often got it. Ah, as we talked about that, I’ve finished this coffee too. Thanks for treating me.
Cain: Hmm, now that we’re done with lunch, shall we go to a shoe store next? It’s a very nice store ran by a grandpa all by himself. I’d like to pick up new boots there.
Akira: Yeah!
……….
Cain: This store is… Huh?
Akira: Oh, looks like the owner took a day off. There is a sign saying something?
Cain: “This store has been closed because I'm too old for business.”.
Cain: Ahaha, that’s why, huh. Grandpa has retired. If only I could visit him one more time.
Akira: (He seems down. It’s indeed sad when your favorite shop is no longer there before you know it. Is there something I can do? Ah.)
Cain, shall we explore this area a bit?
Cain: Explore?
Akira: Back then when my favorite store went out of business, I took a path that I didn’t normally use and discovered a cool new one. Perhaps a shoe dealer in this area will know how Grandpa is now.
Cain: That’s a great idea! Let’s try the shopping district over there then.
………..
Akira: Oh, there is a shoe store there.
Cain: Indeed. I don’t know this store. Looks like it was set up recently.
Store owner: Welcome! Please have a look! We have everything you may want here.
Cain: Thank you! Huh? These shoes look a bit like those Grandpa used to make.
Store owner: Ah, were you his regular customer? Grandpa taught me a lot. He pushed me to make the leap and pursue my dream of having my own store, so I started this business with presenting the techniques I learnt from him.
Cain: So that’s how it is! No wonder they look so good. Is Grandpa well?
Store owner: He’s retired, still he is in pretty good shape.
Cain: Ahaha, I’m so glad to hear that!
Cain: Thank you, Akira. Thanks to you, I’m able to have this lovely encounter.
Akira: Glad to be of help!
………
Akira: Cain, thanks for taking me here today. I’m happy I got to talk a lot about my home world with you too.
Cain: It’s me who has to thank you. Thank you for the shoe store back there. Also, to tell the truth, I wanted to use today to show you my gratitude.
Akira: Gratitude?
Cain: Yeah. Akira, thank you for trusting us when we first met. I will never be able to forget those who were lost to the Great Calamity. Even so, I’m glad I got to meet you. I will definitely help you return to your home world someday, so for the time being, could you please lend us your strength?
Akira: Oh, of course! I too am glad I got to meet you, Cain. To tell the truth, in the beginning I felt so helpless and lonely. Because everyone is there with me, the Magic Manor has become like another home for me.
Cain: Yeah, same for me. Let’s buy lots of food to bring home and start a party! Let’s get everyone to join us! I don’t mind having some alone time, but I like to spend time with my beloved family and comrades the best! I’m really happy you’re here with me today too.
His large hand patted my head. As my heart is filled with his tenderness, I wished to return it. I placed my hand on top of Cain’s and squeezed it. As I did so, Cain’s eyes were wide with surprise.
Cain: Haha, what’s the matter, Akira?
Akira: Cain, thank you for always smiling for us. Your cheer has been helping us a lot. But still, please don’t force yourself. We are your comrades, so we’d like you to rely on us whenever you need something too.
Cain: Ahaha, you won. It’s me who talked about definitely returning you to your home world, but actually, I thought I didn’t want that day to come just yet.
Cain smiled ruefully. Looking at his face, I too wished the day to say goodbye, whenever it might be, would come just a little bit later.
Card episode: When I Feel Down
Akira: Aargh
Cain: Akira, what’s the matter?
Akira: It’s no big deal. I just felt like a failure about this thing, and I have been stuck in that mood ever since.
Cain: Ah, that happens to me sometimes too. If it’s me, I’ll do something physical to distract myself when I’m in such mood. Hmm, how about you try eating something tasty or drinking hard liquor?
Akira: Calling on the power of alcohol is one way to go too, I see.
Cain: Oh, sorry. You don’t drink, right.
Akira: It’s no big deal, don’t mind me. I’m a bit surprised though. You too drink hard liquor when you feel upset too?
Cain: Yeah, that’s one way to change your mood. I rarely do it though. Hmm, what else? Ah, how about you come to my room? Let’s chat about random silly topics. It’ll definitely cheer you up. And when you smile, I’m happy too.
Akira: Thank you so much! Still, is it OK to make you chat with me like that?
Cain: Of course! I need to tidy my room first though, so take your time to come. It won’t do to leave my clothes lying around after all.
Akira: Hahaha, got it!
