Chapter 90 - Epilogue
This town was apparently known as a "town easy to raise children in."
When a child cried, a lullaby could be heard coming from somewhere. It worked surprisingly well, allowing both the child and the parents, tired from childcare, to sleep soundly in their dreams.
"That song, after all, isn't even in the textbooks."
"No, it isn't."
Everyone in town knew it, yet no one truly knew it. Who wrote the lyrics and composed the music? Who was singing it? Where did it come from? No one knew, yet everyone in town remembered the song.
According to one theory, it was said to come from the "God's Forest" at the edge of town. It was only said to be in that direction, and it didn't seem like anyone had actually confirmed it.
It was surely a string of words from a distant, foreign language, with meanings and precise pronunciations unknown.
"Suu-hii, izaraa-naruu, rii-aa"
"Naari-riizu, aa, raaruraa"
Lyrics remembered only by the townspeople, vague in memory but perfect in pitch.
My grandmother used to say that humans born in this town were raised by that mysterious singing voice.
When the song ended, my friend Misha suddenly asked something completely out of the blue.
"By the way, how are things with 'him'?"
"How are things? Nothing's happening."
"You're not going to confess?"
"There's no way I would. He's a customer. I can't cause him trouble."
I fiddled with the handle of my school bag with my thumb and muttered again, "...It would be troubling, normally."
Misha accepted it indifferently, as if it were none of her business, and started singing again. I couldn't bring myself to join in, so I walked while listening to Misha's singing voice, where the ending notes tended to jump.
'He' probably didn't even know it himself, but he bore the title of 'First Love Thief'.
When I first heard it, I thought it was ridiculous, but regrettably, I had completely fallen for that First Love Thief.
I deeply hated how everyone in town irresponsibly cheered me on with "Do your best." Why did humans care so much about other people's romantic paths? Even if someone dated someone else, or if some wife committed adultery, I could only think, "Good luck to the people involved."
My family ran a tea shop. We stocked and sold delicious teas from around the world: orthodox tea, scented tea, and fruit-infused tea.
I started helping out at the shop when I was nine, so it had been three years. I was twelve. 'He' looked to be about the same age as me, but how old was he really? Ideally, I preferred someone about two years older.
Since we were close in age, I thought we might get along if we talked, but when I was in front of him, my mouth wouldn't move properly, which was troubling. I could explain things about tea, but that was knowledge drilled into me by my parents, not my own story. I helped with adult business earlier than everyone else, so I thought I was a bit more mature than them, and therefore felt slightly closer to him, who seemed adult-like. ...If only I could try just a little bit harder.
If it were another boy, I could act normally. But those guys were childish. Unlike him.
I parted ways with Misha on the way home, rested a little on the second floor of my house, and prepared myself again.
Then, while descending the stairs to the first floor, I thought.
Will he come today?
He usually came about once every sixty days.
How many days had it been since he last came? It was probably about time; it wouldn't be strange if he came today.
While thinking, I took a deep breath before stepping down the last step and entering behind the counter. Just in case he was at the shop, I prepared myself for the shock of seeing him, who was so dazzling. Come on, go, don't be nervous. What's there is just a plain, familiar, and boring shop.
I stepped one foot behind the counter and called out with a lively voice, as if picking a fight.
"Welcome!"
"Ah, hello."
He was there.
His bright blonde hair flowed smoothly, his deep blue eyes like the deep sea narrowed gently, and his beauty shone brilliantly. His appearance was neat, and he smelled nice like flowers. Misha had said that while he was cute now, he would surely become very handsome when he grew up.
Compared to him, other boys were like old potatoes. He would never do things like torment ants with water, stick boogers on a girl's clothes out of spite for being rejected, or obsessively dig up a teacher's single mistake all year round.
"Are you helping at the shop again today?"
"Yes. I am the poster girl, after all."
"That's amazing."
He smiled. See, even his smile was special. Soft and elegant, like a young master from the upper class.
At first, I wondered why a noble-like boy like him was passing through such a mediocre town where the only thing to be proud of was the fountain square.
He didn't seem to live in this town, and his true identity remained a mystery. He sometimes walked around town, but when I heard that his destination seemed to be our shop, I was so happy I could have jumped. He said he always came on errands requested by his parents.
"Oh?" My grandmother's voice came from behind.
"You're here again. I thought I had forgotten your face."
"Hahaha."
"Grandmother!!!"
I couldn't believe it. Don't say such rude things, even as a joke!
My grandmother looked at him and said cheerfully, "He really is a cute boy."
He answered without hesitation.
"It is natural that I am cute. Because my parents are my parents."
He had a mysterious trust in his parents.
According to him, his mother was a very kind, slightly foolish, and beautiful person. But she was scary when angry.
According to him, his father was a calm, people-averse shut-in, but also a beautiful person. But he was very scary when angry.
These were testimonies he had casually dropped during our service interactions. In addition, he said both of them were "otherworldly." I wouldn't say I wanted to meet them, but I wanted to see them once.
"So, what kind would you like today?"
"Let's see... A flashy tea inspired by roses. And another one with a scent that isn't too pungent. They are for a lively girl and a boy with a very good sense of smell. Since they are souvenirs, could you wrap them separately?"
"Sure."
As soon as he asked, I prepared wrapping paper and ribbons. I should leave these slightly complicated conversations to my grandmother.
"Even so, your parents are always busy, aren't they? If it's a gift, wouldn't it be more reliable if they chose it themselves?"
"Ah, no. Today it's not an errand for my parents. I wanted to prepare it personally. They are relatives, but since it's the first time meeting them, I wanted to do something."
He smiled, looking slightly embarrassed. Precious.
I saw him off after he selected the tea leaves and completed the payment, and then I realized.
"The change...!"
Two hundred and sixteen Ril that I forgot to give him.
Of all things, on his purchase! Such a blunder!
Why am I always like this!!!!
"Grandmother! Sorry, I messed up a bit. Can I go for a moment!?"
"Sure, be careful. Also, check for cheap vegetables while you're at it."
"Yes!"
"And check if there are any cheap eggs left, and if the shutters at the florist are open. If there are eggs left, ask them to hold them for us."
I jumped out from behind the counter and rushed outside, nearly knocking over the signboard placed outside. I looked right and left down the stretching roads and spotted his beautiful blonde hair. He stood out very much. He had already walked quite far, so I wouldn't catch up unless I ran.
I ran.
As I did, I thought that if I kept this up, I might find out where his house was.
No, no, please don't misunderstand. I am not such a suspicious woman. After all, he was a mass of mysteries, counted among the Seven Wonders of the Town, and everyone was curious about him. It was just a whim.
I used the mere two hundred and sixteen Ril as an excuse to follow him. I deliberately kept a certain distance.
He turned right with our shop's paper bag, went straight, entered a narrow, complicated path, went to the edge of town, and finally arrived at...
"...Here."
It was the forest where we were told not to enter.
We were told not to approach it carelessly because God resided there. Everyone in town knew this, yet he entered it as if it were natural.
What was going on?
Confused, I finally arrived at the entrance of that forest. Although it was called an entrance, there was no door-like structure. The trees happened to leave a suitable gap, creating a path just right for a person to pass through. The gaping opening seemed to welcome anyone, yet I had never seen anyone enter it—until thirty seconds ago.
The leaves fallen on the ground were softly leveled, reflecting the sunlight and illuminating the inside of the forest. The bright green broad-leaved trees were translucent and bright. The moss-covered thick trees all looked this way, curiously peeking at me as if asking, "What will you do? Will you enter?" Birds were singing somewhere. When the wind blew, the sunlight filtering through the leaves swayed gently, giving me the illusion that it was spreading right before my eyes, filling my vision.
I wanted to enter, but I couldn't. I couldn't take a step forward.
As I stood frozen, holding the two hundred and sixteen Ril, I suddenly heard a singing voice.
' '
' '
' '
It was like the wind. It had no presence, yet once I noticed the voice, I didn't want to miss it. It was strange yet gentle, a woman's song that was warm yet transparent.
I had long forgotten that I was following him.
—According to one theory, it was said to come from the "God's Forest" at the edge of town.
—Humans born in this town are raised by that mysterious singing voice.
Everyone born in the town knew it.
Somewhere, sometime, they remembered that singing voice and fell asleep.
It felt as if it was being sung for me, alone here. I felt honored and overwhelmed, and an indescribable emotion welled up. A single tear flowed, but that was all.
A song I knew from somewhere.
A nostalgic song.
It felt like I had heard it long, long ago, dozing in a cradle.
When I realized it, I could no longer hear anything.
I wondered how long I had been standing there; it was already dusk.
It felt like I had been dreaming. Or perhaps it had been a dream. I was disappointed, thinking I might have been sleeping while standing. In my hands, only the warmth of the two hundred and sixteen Ril, which had transferred my body heat, was real.
The entrance to God's Forest remained gaping open as before.
"...I should go home."
I turned around. Taking advantage of being alone, I quietly hummed.
"Suu-hii, izaraa-naruu, rii-aa"
Suddenly, I felt like I was being watched and looked back at the forest.
Only one tall tree was swaying, even though there was no wind. It seemed that a large bird had just taken flight from there. Blue particles of light sparkled and scattered, eventually disappearing.
It must have been my imagination, I thought.
[Happy End - The End]
It was a song end.
From here on, I will only be adding to thin expressions, correcting typos and omissions, and revising sentences. Probably.
For the epilogue, there were two versions:
・'He' and his mother came to town, got entangled with a nouveau riche old man, and his father came to help, causing a commotion.
And a simple story. Since the former became unmanageable, I ultimately chose the simple one. The one I didn't write might be posted as an extra story rather than a side story. (There is a page for posting extra stories besides this main story, so please look for it if you are interested.)
Thank you very much for reading this long story.