Today was a day off for the performing circus troupe of Circo, Land of Aspiration.
Two princes who were usually busy with the circus were taking a relaxing day off.
Nero: “The weather’s nice.”
Morta: “It is. Even though it’s been raining for the past few days… I enjoy this calm that gives the impression of a dead world.”
Nero: “Yeah… now that you mention it, it’s been raining non-stop.”
Nero smiled wryly at Morta, whose voice seemed to contain a sense of yearning, then set down the laundry with a thud.
Morta: “Yes. That’s why the clear weather has caused the troupe members to be in high spirits, and why there’s a lot of laundry to do now.”
Having seen the troupe members with their massive loads of laundry, Nero and Morta had offered to help.
As he finished pinning up a striped shirt with a clothes pin, Nero seemed to remember something and smiled.
Nero: “You know, I remember when Welger and Drole used to get caked in mud and we, as their older brothers, would do their laundry like this.”
Morta: “Yes… because the two of them were always staying up late practicing.”
At Nero’s words, Morta nodded as he recalled the incidents.
Morta: “I remember well the two of them stubbornly competing… as to which of them would master a new technique first.”
Nero: “That takes me back… the two of them have made a lot of progress since those days.”
Morta: “Indeed. They are reliable younger brothers, spending plenty of time playing with the children.”
There was pride in Nero’s voice as he looked up at the blue sky, and Mora squinted as he looked at Nero.
Morta: “Of course, as for me… you are also a dependable little brother Nero.”
Nero: “Morta…”
Morta smiled, his expression soft, as he looked Nero in the eyes. As his eyes turned back to what he held in his hands, his voice came out in surprise.
Morta: “…oh, this is…-“
Nero: “Welger’s costume huh… hey, that’s got a pretty big rip in it.”
Morta: “I wonder if it’s from the other day when he was showing us that technique during practice.”
Nero: “Yeah. He said it was flawless, then ended up making a huge mistake. Even though I told him not to do anything so rash.”
Morta: “I’ll go ahead and fix this. I wonder if I should do it up and strengthen it with some kind of animal-themed embroidery.”
Morta spoke seriously, but when he and Nero looked to each other, they both let out a small laugh.
Nero: “Geez… his technique may have improved, but he’s still a troublesome little brother.”
Morta: “Haha, that he is.”
The freshly washed laundry fluttered as a refreshing breeze blew.
END