The gentle sunlight shone down, and the fresh, verdant green
trees shook…-.
Keith, Sieg, and Totori were carrying equipment before a
mountain that stood as a true marvel of nature.
Keith: “I wondered why we had to get up so early… but this
is going to be quite the outing.”
Keith tied up his favored horse, which he’d ridden to get to
the mountain, and eyed Totori as if demanding some sort of explanation.
Totori: “It’s far, but this area is full of nature and it’s
quite the popular hiking course.”
Sieg: “Incidentally, it was a long ride, but didn’t you
enjoy it Keith?”
Keith: “…well, I didn’t hate it.”
Totori: “Haha, it was the right choice to come by horse.
Since the three of us finally have a day off, I hope you’ll have fun from
beginning to end Keith.”
Totori looked up at the mountain in triumph as Keith
finished tying up his horse, at a loss as he smiled and let out a sigh.
Keith: “Hmph, the matter had already been decided when you two
invited me. I’ll go along with you for today.”
At Keith’s words, Totori and Sieg looked at each other and
smiled.
Totori: “Well then, shall we set off? I’m sure it’ll be a
fun day.”
Sieg: “You’re right. The weather is ideal for a trip like
this, so let’s enjoy it at our leisure.”
The princes, all old friends, each felt as if they were children
again as they took a step towards the mountain, the rustling of the leaves
sweeping over them.
…
……
Keith: “Hey. Didn’t I hear we were taking it easy?”
Totori: “I said I wanted you to have fun from beginning to
end.”
Totori was walking at the head of the group, a basket in his
arms crammed full of multicolored mushrooms and fresh fruit.
Keith: “I didn’t think we’d be fishing and gathering
mushrooms…”
During the hike, whenever they’d come across a river, they’d
abruptly stop and fish, and whenever they encountered fruit or mushrooms,
they’d start to collect them…-.
After letting out another sigh, Keith’s tone belied the fact
that he was amicable to the situation.
Sieg: “Even if you say that, I’m glad you seem to be
enjoying yourself Keith. Especially since Totori had planned this hike for
you.”
Keith: “For me…?”
Sieg: “Yes. He’d heard you’ve been working without any time
for breaks. So Totori proposed…we all go out together.”
Totori: “You wouldn’t want to stay locked in that stuffy room,
right?”
As Totori adjusted the basket he was carrying, he turned to
look back at Keith and Sieg.
Keith: “Didn’t you just want to go out and have fun?”
Totori: “Haha, I can’t deny that.”
Sieg: “…it’s kind of like when we were kids.”
Sieg murmured, his tone carrying nostalgia as both Keith and
Totori fell silent.
As the three thought of their time as children, they were
wrapped in the sounds of the trees rustling and the birds chirping…-.
Totori: “…let’s enjoy today to the fullest, just like when
we were kids.”
They smiled, just like they used to.
Beneath the clear blue sky, the refreshing wind carried with
it the sound of laughter.
END