Rustica Mahopa SSR "A Tea Party with You by the Window"

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Card story: While Waiting for a Dear Friend

Akira: Whoa! What’s going on here?

One afternoon, as I went outside to have a walk, I unexpectedly came across a huge bed.

Rustica: *Yawns* Good day, Master Sage.

Akira: Rustica?! Why is this bed here?

Rustica: I was having a nap.

Akira: A nap?

Rustica: The weather is lovely today. I was tempted by sleep as I enjoyed the warm sunlight.

Akira: (So that’s why he brought the bed from his room. What a bold way to take a nap.)

Akira: I was a bit surprised, but it seems enjoyable to have your bed under the open sky. Oh, Chloe isn’t with you? Usually you’d enjoy something like this with him.

Rustica: Chloe is shopping at the market today. He smiled like a blooming flower before he left, because the trip was in the company of Rutile and Heathcliff.

Akira: I see. It feels a bit strange to see you alone because you two are always together.

Rustica: *chuckles* I feel the same. While Chloe and I are close, since arriving here at the Manor, he has made many friends.

Akira: Chloe has been very enthusiastic about that, hasn’t he.

Rustica: Indeed, it is the reward for his efforts. As we are talking now, he must be enjoying a delightful, exciting moment that makes one’s heart dance. I love even the moments like this where I wait for Chloe to return while imagining his smiling face.

Akira: (That’s such a Rustica way of thinking. Chloe would be happy to hear that.)

Rustica: Ah, Master Sage, if you don’t mind, would you like to share this moment with me?

Akira: Me? If you’re fine with that.

Rustica: Of course I am. It will definitely be a wonderful time when shared with you. Besides, I must confess I am a little lonely when Chloe isn’t around.

Akira: Ahaha. I’ll be delighted to accompany you. Today is my day off, so I’m happy to savor the free time with you.

Rustica: Thank you. Let’s go to the forest then. I’d like to invite you to an afternoon tea to remember with warm tea and delicious treats surrounded by beautiful greenery.

[In the forest]

Rustica: Amorest viesse.

Akira: Whoa!

As Rustica cast his spell, table and chairs, a tea set, tea and confections appeared one by one. They danced around as the tea party was being set up. It was such a beautiful sight that it made one’s heart dance too.

Rustica: Apologies for making you wait, Master Sage. Please take a seat.

Akira: Thank you. Huh? Uhm.. This chair, isn’t it still floating? Eh, the table too? Rustica, the preparation isn’t done yet, is it?

Rustica: On the contrary, everything is ready.

Akira: Eh?

Rustica: You had a good time watching the table and chairs dance, didn’t you. I think you too enjoy spinning round and round with them. How do you find that?

Akira: I- I see. It seems fun, but aren’t they moving a bit too much for a tea party?

Rustica: In that case, let’s change to a calmer, minuet tempo then.

With a gentle swaying rhythm, the table and chairs spun around in the forest with we sitting on them.

[A moment later]

Akira: Wow, this is like sitting in the coffee cups at the amusement park. Rustica, I’m having so much fun. So we can have a tea party like this.

Rustica: Your delight is my honor, Master Sage. I too have a lot of fun watching how your smile changes with the movement.

[Meowing sound]

Akira: Oh, a cat. It’s rare to see them this far into the forest. Kitty, kitty, come here. Do you come here to join Rustica’s tea party too?

Rustica: You’re amazing, Master Sage. You understand them so well.

Akira: Eh, is that really the case?

Rustica: Everyone would like to join a tea party after all. I have had the occasion to welcome many guests to my tea parties. Cats, birds, frogs transforming into beautiful women, and so on.

Akira: Frogs transforming into beauties?

Rustica: Yes, Shylock transformed them with magic. From time to time he and I play such games with each other.

Akira: That reminds me. I’ve heard stories like that before. One-two-three, let’s do something weird. Things like that.

Rustica: Indeed, Shylock transformed those frogs into beautiful women to entertain me. Hmm, you are certainly fond of cats, Master Sage. I am delighted.

Akira: Eh- Eeeh?!

Akira: (It can’t be that this cat… Was a frog?)

Rustica: Oh dear, what’s the matter? You have gone pale.

Akira: Uhm, Rustica, please wait until this one leaves my knees if you are going to turn it back to its original form.

Rustica: *chuckles* You certainly say interesting things, Master Sage.

Akira: Rustica?

Rustica: Please rest assured. This cat is really a cat.

Akira: O- Oh. What a relief. My heart skipped a beat when I thought that it were actually a frog.

Rustica: Hmm, maybe.

Akira: Eh, maybe what?!

Rustica: I am thinking about whether I would have searched for a frog and transformed it with my magic or not, hearing that from you.

Akira: Which one is it then!

[Late afternoon in the forest]

Akira: Rustica, thank you for the wonderful tea party.

Rustica: It’s me who should thank you. I got to spend my time in an unexpectedly delightful manner all thanks to you. Master Sage, may I request you to accompany me for a little while longer?

As he said that, Rustica produced his broom with his magic. He bowed to me in perfect form with utmost courtesy and offered me his hand.

Rustica: Let’s have a walk together under this blazing sky.

From Rustica’s broom, the Magic Manor, clad in the light of the sunset, made a beautiful sight.

Akira: It was fun floating around with the table and chairs, but flying on a broom feels so great.

Rustica: I’m glad to see you so delighted. Is the wind too cold for you?

Akira: Not at all!

Rustica: All is well then. I love watching the sunset like this. Just as I wonder if it transformed into a warm orange color, it becomes a majestic yellow. Then a deep blue wraps around the sky and ushers in the countless stars. I never get tired of it now matter how many times I’ve seen it before.

A little while later, the beautiful scenery changed in front of my eyes just as he described. In that moment, there was the sound of cheerful humming from behind me.

Akira: Beautiful. Is that a song you wrote?

Rustica: Yes. I’d like to turn the events of today into a song as a present for Chloe.

Akira: Whoa, that’s nice! Chloe will certainly love it. Oh, speak of the devil. Look, there’re three people flying on brooms over there. That’s Chloe and the others, isn’t it? Looks like they’re on the way home.

Rustica: Indeed.

Akira: Rustica, you look so happy.

The soft smile that appeared as soon as he saw Chloe spoke volumes of his feelings. Chloe too looked at our direction and waved his arm energetically.

Rustica: *chuckles* Suddenly I’m imagining how my dear friend will say ‘I’m home’. And then I will get to hear many stories from Chloe about his day, which was full of joy. In return, I will tell him about the wonderful time I spent with you, Master Sage. Including how you thought I transformed a frog into a cat too.

 

Card episode: To Spend One’s Day-Off Audaciously

Akira: Thank you for spending your free time with me the other day.

Rustica: The pleasure is mine. Thanks to you, it became a wonderful day.

Akira: That’s how you spent time with me. If it’s with Chloe, what do you do on your day off?

Rustica: *chuckles* There’re so many things I don’t know what to say. I think I will take my time and enjoy tea with Chloe from morning to evening. About what we’ll do, talking with each other the whole day would be nice.

Akira: (That’s so Rustica. That’s a bold way to use one’s time)

Rustica: We already have plans for our next day off though.

Akira: Oh, is that so.

Rustica: Chloe found beautiful fabrics when he went to the market the other day, so he made matching clothes for us. We’ve been talking about how we will wear those outfits to the market the next time we have a day off.

Akira: That’s a wonderful idea! Also, having matching clothes is like Snow and White. Please show me when you two wear such outfits.

Rustica: I’ll be glad to. Before we go out, Chloe and I will pass by your room. We will move in sync just like Master Snow and Master White too. We will make sure to practice a lot before then.