Volume 6 Past
Arc 2
Years passed since Nozomu and Ken resolved to support Lisa's dream that night. Nozomu and the others were now around fourteen, and their appearances had changed considerably from when they were young boys and girls. Both Nozomu and Ken had grown taller, and their physiques were gradually approaching that of adult men. At times, Ken, who had a girlish appearance as a child, was gradually developing a more boyish physique and transforming into a handsome young man with refined features.
However, it was also
true that as their bodies grew larger, the amount of household chores they had
to do increased. Nozomu was now about to start tending to the farming tools he
used to cultivate his field. No matter how soft the soil, it was common for
hard stones to be mixed in. Each time, the blade of the hoe would be damaged,
and the more it was used, the worse its attachment to the handle became.
Furthermore, some of the hoes they used were made of wood. Metal ones were easy
to use and good for cultivating, but they were a bit expensive.
"I have to hurry,
or I'll run out of time..."
Nozomu wanted to finish
these chores quickly and head straight to the hill. However, it wasn't for
playing. Since deciding to support Lisa's dream, Nozomu and Ken had been
training on that hill. Of course, the training was just sparring with wooden
sticks, nothing particularly impressive. They had to help with household
chores, and this village was a small one with few people. There were mountains
of things to do. Nozomu had told his parents about his training on the hill and
his desire to become an adventurer, but his father just told him off, saying,
"Just help with the chores!" His mother also didn't look pleased,
even while saying, "It's fine." Nevertheless, they continued their
training. They were filled with the desire to be of even a little help to Lisa.
"Um... I guess I'll
start with this hoe."
Nozomu was about to
pick up a hoe with a rattling blade when he was suddenly called from behind.
"Nozomu, yahhoo~!"
"Li-Lisa, you're
here?"
Nozomu, who was about
to start tending to his farming tools, cried out in surprise at her sudden
appearance. Lisa stuck out her tongue with a mischievous smile. She had been
covered in mud and like a mischievous boy, but she had gradually grown out her
short hair, and now fine, crimson hair flowed down her back. Her appearance,
too, had completely changed from when she was indistinguishable from a tomboy;
her skin was like white silk, and her strong, determined eyes shone brightly.
Her physique still retained a bit of childishness, but she was gradually
developing a feminine curves. Lisa was blossoming into a woman, but her
mischievous smile remained unchanged.
Seeing Lisa's face,
Nozomu's heart pounded with an extra strong thump. His face flushed hot, and
his head felt as if it were steaming.
"Wh-what are you
doing? H-here, in a place like this?"
"Yeah. I just
delivered milk to Aunt Ashima, and I saw Nozomu doing something on my way
home."
Lisa crouched down and
peered at Nozomu's hands. At the end of her gaze was a disassembled hoe.
"What's
wrong?"
"W-well, as I was
using it, the handle got crushed, and a gap formed between it and the blade.
And the blade's a bit dented too. I'm fixing it because I can't till the soil
properly like this."
Nozomu inserted a
small wooden board into the gap between the handle and the blade, then tapped
it with a hammer, pushing the wooden board into the gap. His gaze was fixed on
his hands, but his voice was somewhat faltering. His hand movements also seemed
a bit fluttery. Lisa simply watched Nozomu. For some reason, a smile played on
her lips.
"Wh-what's
wrong?"
Nozomu involuntarily
asked Lisa, who was just watching him, but she didn't take her eyes off Nozomu,
who was repairing the farming tool, saying, "It's nothing." Her eyes
stared intently. At the gaze directed at him, Nozomu's heart beat faster, and
his movements tending to the farming tool gradually quickened. However, the
farming tools spread before Nozomu were not just hoes. There were various tools
like axes, baskets, and machetes, and many were quite worn from use.
Nevertheless, Nozomu, watched by Lisa, tended to the farming tools at an
unprecedented speed. Nozomu himself was still largely unfamiliar with this kind
of work, but a strange surge of power allowed him to work at an unprecedented
pace. It was out of embarrassment and joy from the girl he loved being nearby,
and just a tiny bit of showing off. For a while, time passed in silence.
Nozomu, who had been moving his hands at the fastest speed ever, had, by the
time he realized it, finished tending to most of the farming tools spread
before him.
"D-do you need
something?"
Even though it was
nearing the end, Lisa was still squatting beside Nozomu. Feeling happy that she
was staying by his side for a long time, more than just seeing him on the way
home, Nozomu couldn't help but ask Lisa the reason.
"Actually, I
do... but it's fine for now."
However, Lisa didn't
answer Nozomu's question, and for some reason, she looked happily at Nozomu's
somewhat erratic behavior.
***
After finishing the
repair of the last basket, Nozomu loaded the unused farming tools onto a cart.
Just a little more tilling, and today's work would be done. After that, the
long-awaited training time awaited him. With a surge of inner determination,
Nozomu gazed at the hill with the single tree.
"Hey, Nozomu. Can
I talk to you for a moment?"
So, just being called
by her like this made him giddy. He had little free time, but he still trained
tirelessly every day until he was exhausted. For Nozomu and Ken, the greatest
joy was having her by their side, smiling at them.
"Wh-what?"
Nozomu turned to Lisa,
his voice high-pitched. Her face was unlike her usual clear-spoken self, filled
with hesitation and anxiety. With her hands clasped behind her back, her gaze
slightly averted, and her cheeks flushed, she looked to Nozomu like she did
when he first became aware of her as a girl.
"I-I've decided
to go next year."
"Go... to
Solminati!?"
Nozomu was so
surprised by those words that his heart almost leaped out of his chest. But at
the same time, he wondered if this moment had finally come. Since confessing
her dream to Nozomu and the others at that time, Lisa's determination grew
stronger day by day. Recently, she had become calmer and spoke less openly
about her desire, but as a child, she would occasionally go out of control, to
the point of being reprimanded by her mother. However, Nozomu and his best
friend Ken knew very well that her feelings had not withered. Rather, by
keeping those feelings hidden deep in her heart, they grew purer, maturing like
vintage wine. Nozomu, captivated by her eyes, felt that she had finally decided
to leave the village where she grew up.
"Y-yeah. I've made
up my mind. What about you, Nozomu?"
"I..."
But at the same time,
an indescribable anxiety coiled in the depths of Nozomu's chest. Lisa's eyes,
harboring strong will yet inwardly anxious. Mixing expectation and apprehension
behind her words, she awaited Nozomu's answer. However, though irresistibly
drawn to the contradictory Lisa, Nozomu couldn't answer her question
immediately. What welled up in Nozomu's chest was the image of his parents who
had raised him. They didn't even approve of his training on the hill, so if he
told them he was leaving the village for another, they would undoubtedly
object. At the very least, his father would surely be furious. Moreover, Nozomu
was their only child. If he left, there would be no one to inherit the fields
and house after his parents passed away. It was precisely because he knew this
that Nozomu hesitated for a moment at Lisa's words.
"S-sorry, I asked
something strange. W-well then..."
"Ah..."
However, in the brief
moment Nozomu couldn't overcome his hesitation, Lisa hastily cut off the
conversation. When Nozomu inadvertently called out, her face was no longer
filled with the mixture of expectation and anxiety it had shown just moments
ago, but had returned to her usual energetic self. The words that escaped
Nozomu's lips vanished into the wind carrying the scent of grass. Lisa turned
on her heel and started to go home. Nozomu could only watch her leave, unable
to say anything.
"Hey, what if I,
about you, Nozomu..."
As she turned her
back, Nozomu faintly heard a voice. The words Lisa had involuntarily let slip
clung to Nozomu's ears even after she disappeared from sight.
***
As Lisa made her way
home, she smiled, recalling Nozomu's earlier demeanor. She remembered Nozomu's
flustered appearance when she suddenly called out to him. While they were
talking, Nozomu seemed somewhat aloof, but seeing that, she didn't feel
uncomfortable; instead, she felt a pleasant sweetness, a tingling sensation at
the top of her head. At the same time, the sound of her heart beating, thump,
echoed in Lisa's ears. It wasn't the first time she had felt this sensation.
She first felt it when she was young, during a fight with Muzil over the
playground on the hill. It was when Nozomu leaped at the bully, who looked down
triumphantly at her, remembering her father and unable to move. Nozomu's
figure, confronting him to protect her, overlapped with her father's back. That
was the trigger.
When she confessed her
dream, both Nozomu and Ken supported her. At that time too, Lisa remembered her
heart pounding. When she decided to go to Solminati Academy and consulted them,
they agreed. Nozomu and Ken seemed to be hiding it, but Lisa knew that the two
of them were secretly training on the hill. Of course, Nozomu and her father were
different people. As a child, she might have sometimes superimposed Nozomu's
figure onto her deceased father, but she was no longer that young. She was
simply happy that he cared for her. Lisa's heart purely leaped with joy at his
efforts for her. But it was also true that danger awaited. Having associated
him with her father, Lisa's chest was plagued by anxiety as much as joy.
***
After finishing his
chores, Nozomu faced Ken on the hill, sparring with wooden sticks. The crisp
clank, clank sound echoed in his ears, but Nozomu's mind was somewhere else.
Hey, what if I
about Nozomu...
Those words had clung
to Nozomu's ears. What had she been trying to say? That question loomed in his
mind, distracting Nozomu's concentration.
"Hah!"
"Whoa!"
With an exceptionally
loud clack, the wooden stick Nozomu was holding was knocked away. Ken, who then
pointed the tip of his own stick at Nozomu, sighed and glared at him.
"What are you
doing, Nozomu? You're not concentrating at all!?"
"S-sorry..."
Nozomu hastily apologized
at Ken's words, picked up the fallen stick, and faced Ken again. The two began
to spar again, but Nozomu still couldn't fully concentrate. The somewhat
anxious expression Lisa showed during the day. The tears she shed when Muzil
mocked her about her father in the past were clearly etched in Nozomu's mind.
At that time, Nozomu clearly felt that Lisa was a girl. And precisely because
he sensed her fragility, he might have repeatedly trained with Ken whenever he
had a spare moment, even if he was busy with household chores.
"...Ah."
Nozomu's stick was
knocked away again with a loud clack. Ken shrugged his shoulders at Nozomu's
obvious lack of concentration, then threw the stick he was holding.
"Ah, again.
Nozomu, let's stop for today."
"S-sorry..."
Nozomu lowered his
head apologetically to the exasperated Ken. The top of the hill was chilly even
in summer. The two sat down at the base of the tree on the hill and, letting
the wind cool their flushed bodies, gazed blankly at the scenery of Oire
Village spread out below.
"Hey, did
something happen?"
"Yeah, just a
little..."
For a while, the two
sat side by side, looking at the same scenery, but Ken asked Nozomu somewhat
hesitantly. Nozomu had perhaps anticipated this, and after a slight hesitation,
he immediately opened his mouth and began to talk about what Lisa had said.
"Lisa said she's
going to Solminati next year."
"...Eh?"
Ken's face showed
surprise at Nozomu's words. His eyes were wide, and he was dazed. It seemed he
hadn't been told that Lisa was going to Solminati yet. Unable to hide his
surprise at the news, Ken continued to question Nozomu, though stumbling over
his words a bit.
"S-so... what are
you going to do, Nozomu?"
Ken asked, somewhat
peering into Nozomu's face. Both of them...
"I... I still
want to go with Lisa, after all. I'm telling you this for the first time now,
but I like Lisa..."
At this moment, Nozomu
told Ken for the first time that he was attracted to Lisa. Ken's eyes widened
for a moment, then he looked down as if deep in thought. But Ken immediately
looked up and opened his mouth, meeting Nozomu's gaze directly.
"Honestly... I
sometimes wish Lisa wouldn't become an adventurer. Because there are many
dangers..."
Indeed, there were
many dangers. The death rate was high, and too many people died to count them
all. There was no guarantee that his precious girl wouldn't be among them. And
of course, themselves too.
"But, I still
want to be with everyone. I hope I can protect Lisa's back."
But Ken didn't want to
think about Lisa dying. He didn't want that to happen. The moment he thought
that, he too had decided his path.
"Then, it's
settled."
"Yeah. Let's go,
together to Solminati."
Let's protect her
back. Clearly stating that resolve to each other in their own words, the two
clasped hands. The sun had already begun to set behind the hills surrounding
the village. As dim shadows enveloped the world, they reaffirmed their promise.
However, due to the darkness that had begun to cover his vision, Nozomu missed
the slight shadow on his best friend's face.
When the two returned
to the village, an even more surprising situation awaited them. Standing at the
village entrance was a young girl. Her crimson hair, the same color as the
twilight sky, swayed in the wind like a veil.
"Lisa..."
"Nozomu. Ken was
with you too."
Lisa looked slightly
surprised at Ken, who was next to Nozomu. She probably thought Nozomu was
alone. Nozomu and the others had never told Lisa about their training on the
hill until now. It was a bit of pride. As boys, Nozomu and Ken didn't want to
show their efforts to girls much. Especially not to the girl they liked. Lisa
stood in front of Ken. Looking steadily into Ken's eyes, Lisa told Ken the same
words she had told Nozomu during the day.
"Ken, I've
decided to go to Solminati next year."
"Yeah, Nozomu
told me. So, what happened?"
Ken had already heard
from Nozomu that Lisa was leaving the village. Ken answered Lisa's question in
a somewhat detached tone. He was smiling as usual, but Nozomu felt that the
expression he wore was a little stiff.
"Um... just a
little..."
"...Nozomu, I'm
heading back first. See you tomorrow!"
Lisa hesitated, unlike
her usual self. For some reason, Ken, seeing her demeanor, left Nozomu and went
home first. Nozomu was bewildered by the suddenness of it all, but he
reconsidered, thinking she must have had some business with him, and faced
Lisa. However, just facing her like this made him feel his face flush hot.
"S-so, did you
have something you wanted to talk about?"
"Yeah, can I talk
to you for a moment?"
Prompted by Lisa,
Nozomu walked alongside Lisa aimlessly. The curtain of night had already
fallen, and darkness enveloped the surroundings. Nevertheless, Nozomu and Lisa
continued to walk along the village paths, relying on the light leaking from
windows. They passed through the paths between the houses and, after reaching
the fields, now walked along the side paths of the fields illuminated by
moonlight, arriving at a small stream. During that time, the two continued to
walk in silence. Both Nozomu and Lisa seemed to be conscious of each other, but
whenever they tried to say something, the words would catch in their throats.
Having reached the
side of the stream, Nozomu stood beside Lisa for a while, listening to the
murmuring of the river, and felt the distance between them, just about one fist
apart. Nothing touched his shoulder, yet he felt a warmth as if Lisa was
leaning against him. His heart pounded faster, and the pounding echoed like
tinnitus in his ears. Nozomu casually glanced at Lisa beside him and saw that
she had somehow turned to face him and was looking directly at him.
"No, Nozomu. Well...
you see."
However, the moment
Lisa's eyes met Nozomu's, she involuntarily looked away. Nevertheless, she took
a deep breath once, then began to speak with determination.
"You don't have
to force yourself, okay? Aunt and uncle will probably object, and they both
want Nozomu to stay..."
Nozomu's parents
objected to Nozomu leaving the village. For Lisa, who had lost a family member,
Nozomu's parents, with whom she had been together since she was little, were
not strangers. She had been cared for by them, and they had stayed at each
other's houses. She herself understood that she was pursuing a dream that
involved death. That's why she was anxious about Nozomu being exposed to
danger. However, at the same time, she also had a hidden hope that he might
still come with her.
"I-I probably
can't give up on this dream. The scenery my father and mother saw. My memories
from when I was little. There are parts I don't remember well, but I still want
to be an adventurer, after all."
"Lisa..."
Lisa rapidly spoke her
words, swayed by two emotions: the desire to still be together and the concern
for his well-being.
"When I said I
was leaving this village to become an adventurer, my mother didn't look
pleased, and Luludy cried and begged me not to go! It seems everyone in this
village knows better than anyone else that becoming an adventurer is
dangerous..."
Lisa's shoulders
slumped at not getting her family's consent. She looked down with a slightly
sad expression.
"But, but
Solminati Academy is strict, but the entrance fee and tuition itself hardly
cost any money! I think I can gain enough experience there, and there isn't
much danger either!"
However, she
immediately looked up, claiming she was alright, her face slightly flushed. Seeing
her try to alleviate her family's worries even a little this way, Nozomu
realized anew that Lisa, who was usually strong-willed and rivaled men, was
actually a kind girl.
"If I gain enough
experience, I think there will be less danger even if I become an adventurer
later, and I think my mother and Luludy will be relieved."
Nozomu's feelings for
Lisa grew stronger and stronger in the depths of his heart as she tried to
reassure her family even as she pursued her dream. The emotions swelling in his
chest were about to burst forth.
"But it's still
dangerous, after all. At that time, both of you, Nozomu and Ken said you would
come with me, but I still think it's better if you don't... so..."
And the moment Lisa's
words, trying to make him stop following her, reached his ears. His feelings
finally overflowed.
"No, I've
decided. I'll still come with you. If it's that dangerous, I just can't leave you
alone!"
Commanded by his
overflowing feelings, Nozomu's mouth asserted that he too would go, rejecting
Lisa's words.
"B-but!"
However, contrary to
Nozomu's enthusiasm, Lisa's anxiety increased. The words of denial that slipped
from her mouth, expressing her hesitation. The moment he heard those words,
which had inadvertently escaped, the last restraint holding back Nozomu's heart
finally snapped.
"Even if you say
no, I'll definitely follow! If the girl I like wants to fulfill her dream, I
want to be her strength!"
"...Eh?"
Lisa found words in
Nozomu's statement that she couldn't ignore. She was momentarily stunned by the
sudden turn of events, but the moment she understood the meaning of the words
that lingered in her ears, a bittersweet sensation ran through Lisa's entire
body.
"No, Nozomu. Just
now, about me..."
"...Ah."
Nozomu, having blurted
out the words, inadvertently fell silent. Then, intense shame assaulted him.
"S-so... that's
why…"
Nozomu fidgeted,
looking around awkwardly and swaying his feet, muttering incoherent words. In
the moonlit night, with no other light, Lisa could see Nozomu's face flush red
as if it were steaming. Unable to comprehend how to deal with his clumsy
confession, devoid of any atmosphere, Nozomu was simply flustered. At that
moment, her face came close, filling Nozomu's vision.
"Mmm..."
Before he knew it,
Lisa's lips were pressed against his. The sensation of Nozomu's slightly
chapped lips tingled down Lisa's spine. His head swam in a sweet, numbing
warmth, and he slowly pulled away from her lips.
"Thank you... I'm
so happy."
Lisa smiled at Nozomu,
her face radiant in the moonlight.
***
Two shadows overlapped
by the stream. A boy watched the two, illuminated by moonlight, conveying their
feelings to each other from behind a hut.
"...It can't be
helped, can it? Lisa, she's been looking at Nozomu all along."
Ken muttered to
himself, leaning his back against the wall of the hut. Ken had been watching
Lisa all along. Ever since she came to his house with her mother when they were
children. That's why he eventually realized that the way she looked at his best
friend was different from the way she looked at him. Was it triggered when
Muzil mocked her about being parentless? Before Ken could grab Muzil, his best
friend had leaped at the boy who made Lisa cry. From that moment, her gaze
towards Nozomu gradually grew warmer. What
if it had been me first? Such a thought welled up in his chest, but at the
same time, he had been with Nozomu all along too.
He felt sad. But if
she chose him...
"I'm glad for
you, Lisa..."
He slumped down,
leaning against the wall, and hugged his knees. With his eyes tightly closed,
Ken simply endured the pain that pierced his chest.
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