Wish on the Star-Filled Sea Chapter 3

[xuebingcode]

 

Chapter 3

Figaro: Think what you want, but if it really was just a fake, why would I bother telling you?

In fact, if it was a fake, how come I haven’t thrown it away yet?

Mithra & Owen: …

The two were shut up by his questions. They ponder his words, now carefully considering them. 

Lennox: Persuading others is an easy feat when you’re as knowledgeable as Dr. Figaro.

Rutile: That’s true. And hearing that you can become an emperor is enough to make me want to play!

Figaro: And I’ll be giving that magical tool to whoever wins it. 

Everyone, I’m sure you’re all curious on whether that tool really works or not, but let’s keep the truth to the winner.

Lennox: By the way, what kind of game are we playing?

Figaro: Hmmm. Well, since Tanabata is a festival where you pour your heart out wishing to the stars your long held dreams, I’m thinking a game among those lines would be good.

Like, asking everyone in the manor their wishes and granting them with magic. The one who grants the most wins. How about that?

Akira: (Granting others’ wishes through magic…)

My heart began to beat faster at his proposal. I remember in the past the countless wishes I had that were never granted. 

I never got upset when they didn’t come true, but what if I had magic to give me that little push to help grant it? 

I knew that that was something I’d never be able to experience back in my world, that I could only dream about it. 

Rutile: Granting the wishes of others sounds like tons of fun!

Akira: I like it! The ones who are granting and the ones being granted will both be able to have fun. 

Murr: It’s that “Winwin” thing again!

He said with a wink. Somersaulting in the air once more, he returns to Rustica’s side. 

Murr: Let’s hurry up and tell the others! Rustica and I will go get Shylock and Chloe.

Rustica: At this hour they must be at the bar right now. 

Rutile: Then I’ll go find Mitile, Riquet, and Heath and Shino! They told me they’d be out in the forest today. 

Lennox: Please leave Lord Faust and Nero to me. It’d be nice if they participated in the festival too…

Figaro: Remember, it’s alright if some people can’t join in the game.

We already have enough players in this room to start with.  

If they’re interested in the prize, then they can join in too. If not, they can just write their wishes on a tanzaku for the festival.

Akira: Yeah, that way we won’t be forcing others to play the game if they don’t want to. 

What will you guys do, Mithra, Owen?

Mithra: I have little interest in the magic tool. It’s being called a loser by default that I won’t let slide.

Owen: I think the game sucks but if I can win and make Figaro and Oz my pet dogs, I’m down.

Though they looked annoyed they didn’t grumble any complaints as the only thing they cared about was being the winner.

Akira: (Oz is…)

Oz: …I will go ask Arthur and Cain what they want to do.

Rutile: Alrighty, I can’t wait! Can you, Master Sage?

Akira: Me neither!

That night…I found myself unable to sleep, so I went out to the garden alone to look at the stars. 

Akira: (Never thought I’d be able to experience Tanabata in this world…)

Up above in the sparkling night sky, is a galaxy like the Milky Way. At this familiar sight from my home world, I begin to feel glum.

Akira: …

Figaro: If it isn’t the Sage. What’re you doing out here so late?

Akira: Good evening, Figaro. I was just taking a stroll since I couldn’t fall asleep.

Figaro: Is that so? Looks like we’re in the same boat. Wanna chat until you feel sleepy?

At my approval Figaro smiles a little and looks up at the sky. 

Figaro: …Star gazing?

Akira: Yeah. I was just thinking that the stars of this world and the stars of my world aren’t so different.

See that cluster of stars over there? They remind me of the galaxy that Orihime and Hikoboshi are said to be separated by…

Figaro: The Milky Way, right? That’s what you can see during Tanabata in your world. I remember since the name is so pretty. 

Akira: The cluster of stars looks like a swirl of milk, so that’s why it’s called that. 

…Oh yeah, Figaro! Thank you for earlier this afternoon. For proposing the Tanabata party. 

I thanked him. Due to his wonderful management, everyone seemed excited for Tanabata. 

Figaro: You’re welcome. Though, I should be the one thanking you.

Akira: Me?

Figaro: I wasn’t sure what to do about Oz, Mithra, and Owen, until you came in. 

Not only that, but they’re even participating in a party together. That combination is enough to flip the world upside down.

What happened today was nothing short of a miracle. It’s all thanks to the bonds you weaved. 

The faint light of Figaro’s eyes gently gaze at me as the night wind softly rustles my bangs.

Figaro: On top of that, it’ll be a fun activity for the kids. All of this is thanks to you sharing Tanabata with us.

Akira: Huh, no, I…it was you who said that it would deepen everyone’s bonds with each other, Figaro.

And, I was overjoyed to find out I’d be able to celebrate Tanabata here.

Figaro: Then we’re good. I’ll still be relying on that pool of wisdom of yours though.

Akira: Haha, yes, anything I can do!

The next day–

After writing in my journal, I happened to enter the foyer and stopped dead in my tracks.

Akira: What the…?!

Right in the centre of the foyer, was a huge tree growing. At that unusual sight I stood, mouth agape in surprise.

Lennox: Master Sage.

Mitile: Hello, Master Sage!

Near the tree were Lennox and Mitile, along with Figaro and Rutile.

Akira: Hey everyone…so what’s that you got there?

Lennox: A tree. We figured that it matched the description of those ‘bamboo’ trees the most.

As he stood next to me, Lennox reached his hand up high and shook a low hanging branch. The leaves did resemble the type of bamboo trees we used for Tanabata. 

Figaro: You drew a picture of what kind of leaves those bamboo trees had yesterday during our discussion.

That’s when Leno told me. Back in South when he’d go out to the pastures he saw a tree with leaves like that before. 

Akira: Don’t tell me you guys went to South Country just for this…

Lennox: Do not worry. We already had affairs to return to South for, so along the way home we picked it up.

He casually says ‘along the way’, but to think it’d be done in a day’s work…

Akira: (Its looks and its texture are more bamboo like than I thought. They did this for me…)

I was touched by their thoughtfulness. That was when Mitile and Rutile, hiding something behind their backs, called out to me in a cheerful tone.

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