Part 23: Episode 22: Sunsets and Cup Sets

The return to school was mostly uneventful. I found a student ID card in the hall, though, and when I asked Mr. Nanaki about it, he said that the student hadn’t been here since the middle of first semester. That was weird, but I didn’t worry too much about it.



The next elective day, I took Mr. Nanaki’s math class. I hope I didn’t forget everything over the break!


School was going well for me at the start. I feel so invigorated!

Hey, Goon?
Ryouta? What’s up?
Want to walk home together? Though, if you were going somewhere else…




The most elegant of seasons…
Hey, look, a swallow!
The most elegant of birds…
Oh, there’s its nest!
They’re supposed to be done rearing chicks by the start of summer… I guess all birds are changing, now.
I guess so. The chicks are really small…
…That reminds me of something from a long time ago.

When I was young, I found Ryouta freezing on the ground after falling out of his mother’s nest.
Doves breed all year round… No wonder they’re everywhere.

That was how we met, right? When I found you flopping around in the dirt and carried you back up to your nest.
Th-that’s mean!
Thinking about it, if I hadn’t walked by then, you’d be dead.
Though, you’re still not the healthiest bird around!
Yeah… Thank you, Goon. If you hadn’t found me then, I wouldn’t be here now.
I remember it as if it were yesterday. Ever since, I’ve… I’ve always loved your kindness and monkey tree-climbing genes.

Ehehe…

It was nice to be able to talk to Ryouta like this. Being with him always seems to put my mind at ease.



A couple weeks later and the school was aflutter with activity.

I don’t have anything to do, so I guess I’ll go look around.
Where to go, where to go! Let’s see…
Goon, wait!
What’s up, Ryouta?

Y-you’re right… Where are they all coming from!?
Leave it to me, Ryouta! I’ll give them a taste of my SUPER MAID technique!

And so I never ended up looking around the festival. Only maids now!