[She begins by retrieving various ingredients - milk, eggs, flour, and sugar - but then there's shouting from outside and Kino's sticking their head in to yell:]
Merchant's here!
[It has Master frowning.]
"What? So soon?"
Yup! He came early today!
"Strange..."
[She looks over to Hurricane, setting the milk back in the refrigerator.]
"We can put this on pause until after we talk with him."
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[She confidently marches out to meet the man, greeting him and advising him on - well, apparently some kind of firearm she'd gotten from him the last time? Kino leads his horse to a stable to rest while Master negotiates the actual trade of vegetables for other goods. Eventually, Master announces:]
"Let's all have tea inside."
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[The man stopped. In front of his eyes was the brown coat carefully hung from the wall. The teen stopped.]
“I’ve seen a man wearing exactly the same coat not long ago. I think I saw it somewhere.”
……
[The teen held their breath. The old woman beside them asked the man:]
“Oh! Who was this man?”
“He already returned home. In his country, this is the only durable coat that is suitable for traveling, so it seems that everyone uses it. So they always laugh when they meet someone outside the country and realize that they are fellow countrymen.”
[The man continued without noticing the teen staring at him.]
“This country is not far from here. They are engaged in trading too.”
Where is it?!
“Wha—!”
Where is it?! Where is this country?!
“……”
[The man gave a surprised look at the woman and the teen. The old woman didn’t say a word.]
Please, tell me where this country is!
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[After a moment of hesitation, the merchant agrees to give them the directions. It's fairly close - they'll be able to make it before the end of the day.]
I'll go today, then.
[Their expression is nervous, but determined as they turn towards Master.]
"...Alright. But let me get some supplies for you before you go."
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
I have to find the family that coat belonged to. And when I do... I have to apologize.
[Meanwhile, Master a large leather bag, pulling the contents out: a folded black jacket and black pants. Two belts for the jacket and for the pants, both made of thick material. A hat with a brim and flaps that could cover the ears, and goggles with much more solid frame compared to ones they used for horse riding.]
“Please, put these on. Your usual clothes probably aren’t fit for traveling. I asked the gunpowder seller if he had some clothes that are suited for riding a motorrad and he brought these.”
Master...
“Actually, I wanted to give it to you as a present for your next birthday. But because such time has come—— Well, it’s kind of early, but it’s for you.”
[Before Kino could reply, Master continued.]
“Please, take this too.”
[With these words the old woman took a holster from a shelf on the wall. It was meant to be worn on the waist and it was pretty long. It contained the high caliber revolver that the teen used in training.]
“Master, this is——”
“Yes. You should load it with bullets, perform maintenance and hang it on your belt, and then depart. This thing is important to keep you safe.”
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[The old woman lightly placed her hands on the teen's shoulders.]
“It’s early to thank me. Besides, who knows how everything will turn out? Maybe you’ll regret it, thinking, ‘If that person hadn’t save me back then, I wouldn’t end up like this.’”
……
“Or maybe you won’t. Everything depends on you. Kino, I don’t regret that I saved you. And—— I wish you luck.”
[Kino nods, looking over to Hurricane.]
...Okay. Let's go.
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
“Eh? —— Ah, yes. What?” The teen finally noticed Hermes’ question and asked back.
“I’ve got a question. What are you planning to do when you arrive in that country? I haven’t asked you about this essential point yet.”
They were quiet for a while; the trees just kept moving in the opposite direction. It seemed that they and the motorrad stood still, while the scenery, which didn’t change a bit, was moving.
The teen slowly spoke: “I am not ‘Kino’, after all…”
“Huh?”
“I think that I’m not ‘Kino’. No, I think that ‘I’m different’. That’s why I’m going there… to his homeland…”
“And then?”
“I’ll look for people who knew Kino, his family. I’ll meet with them…”
“What will you do when you meet them?”
The teen slowly raised their head. They looked at the dark gray sky spread above them.
“I’ll apologize,” said the teen, turning their gaze back at the road.
“Wouldn’t it be better to tell them what happened first?”
“Yes, I’ll tell them and then apologize…. That’s why I’m going…”
“Well… It’s off-topic, but don’t you want to make a small break? You’ve been driving for quite some time, your arms and legs must be tired because of the vibrations.”
“No, it’s fine.”
...
Soon the motorrad stopped in front of a wall standing in the middle of the forest.
A little further by the road was the gate. Two guards came out of the guard post. Both had old rifles on their backs — one was in his thirties, and the other one was quite young, around twenty.
“Uh, are you a traveler? Do you want to enter our country?”
“…Um… Well…” The teen dashed to the carrier. They lowered the bag and opened it before the guard made a surprised look. They took out a gently folded brown coat from the bag. “This… probably belonged to someone from this country…”
“Can I look at it?”
The teen nodded. The older guard spread the coat and said: “Yes, this coat belongs to a person from our country. Let me see… Yes, there’s still a resident number in here. 48402-15855, who might this be?—— I’ll look this up.”
The young guard repeated the number and went to the guard post near the country wall. After some time he came out holding a thick ledger.
“‘48402-15855’. Yes, there’s such number. This person left the country from this gate four years ago. His name is——”
“Kino!” the teen shouted.
They both looked at the teen. The older one asked them carefully, trying not to look too harsh: “If you don’t mind, can you tell us where you got it?”
The teen didn’t answer the question. They just said: “Does he have any family?—— If he has, I want to meet them! Please!”
The guards were surprised when they saw the tears flowing down the girl’s face.
There was the sound of a film roll coming to an end. And so, your character finds themself standing next to the teen as the guards open the gate for entry.
They are free to act as they wish.
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[The guards tip their heads in acknowledgement, holding out their arms - gesturing for the two of them to enter. The teen scrubs the tears from their face, still holding on tightly to the coat as they glance at Hurricane before stepping in.
It's a middle-aged woman and an old man who come to greet the pair, gesturing to a little truck behind them.]
“I’m not Kino’s family. But I was asked to come here and take you there.”
Where?
“To his only blood relative —— to his mother. Will you all come with me?”
[The teen looks again to Hurricane, anxious - almost doubting themself now that they'd made it this far.]
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[Hesitates longer,]
Baking cupcakes.
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
"Alright then. Come inside - we should have enough ingredients to make cupcakes."
[Kino looks envious, but Master waves at them.]
"Go practice on the tree. You know the one. Hermes can observe your work."
Yes Master...
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
Was that not, like... okay?
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[Master waves Kino off as they go to do their training. And then, leaning over and speaking low, as though confidentially:]
"I think they're just jealous because I don't let them cook."
[Master clears her throat and returns to regular volume as she gestures for him to follow.]
"This way. We can get started while we wait for the merchant to come by."
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[Falling in after her]
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[She leads the way through the building, past a dining room with a long brown coat hung up along the wall.]
"To begin with, do you know how to bake at all? Or should I show you it step-by-step?"
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
So maybe I shouldn't touch nothing? But I can watch.
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
"Alright. Watch closely."
[She begins by retrieving various ingredients - milk, eggs, flour, and sugar - but then there's shouting from outside and Kino's sticking their head in to yell:]
Merchant's here!
[It has Master frowning.]
"What? So soon?"
Yup! He came early today!
"Strange..."
[She looks over to Hurricane, setting the milk back in the refrigerator.]
"We can put this on pause until after we talk with him."
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
"Let's all have tea inside."
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
Want me to get it ready?
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[She's already shown him the kitchen - there's some simple tea fixings inside, too.]
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[Heading over to start making some tea, then, while they talk, though he's keeping an ear out]
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[The man stopped. In front of his eyes was the brown coat carefully hung from the wall. The teen stopped.]
“I’ve seen a man wearing exactly the same coat not long ago. I think I saw it somewhere.”
……
[The teen held their breath. The old woman beside them asked the man:]
“Oh! Who was this man?”
“He already returned home. In his country, this is the only durable coat that is suitable for traveling, so it seems that everyone uses it. So they always laugh when they meet someone outside the country and realize that they are fellow countrymen.”
[The man continued without noticing the teen staring at him.]
“This country is not far from here. They are engaged in trading too.”
Where is it?!
“Wha—!”
Where is it?! Where is this country?!
“……”
[The man gave a surprised look at the woman and the teen. The old woman didn’t say a word.]
Please, tell me where this country is!
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
I'll go today, then.
[Their expression is nervous, but determined as they turn towards Master.]
"...Alright. But let me get some supplies for you before you go."
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
You gonna go look for...?
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
I have to find the family that coat belonged to. And when I do... I have to apologize.
[Meanwhile, Master a large leather bag, pulling the contents out: a folded black jacket and black pants. Two belts for the jacket and for the pants, both made of thick material. A hat with a brim and flaps that could cover the ears, and goggles with much more solid frame compared to ones they used for horse riding.]
“Please, put these on. Your usual clothes probably aren’t fit for traveling. I asked the gunpowder seller if he had some clothes that are suited for riding a motorrad and he brought these.”
Master...
“Actually, I wanted to give it to you as a present for your next birthday. But because such time has come—— Well, it’s kind of early, but it’s for you.”
[Before Kino could reply, Master continued.]
“Please, take this too.”
[With these words the old woman took a holster from a shelf on the wall. It was meant to be worn on the waist and it was pretty long. It contained the high caliber revolver that the teen used in training.]
“Master, this is——”
“Yes. You should load it with bullets, perform maintenance and hang it on your belt, and then depart. This thing is important to keep you safe.”
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[The old woman lightly placed her hands on the teen's shoulders.]
“It’s early to thank me. Besides, who knows how everything will turn out? Maybe you’ll regret it, thinking, ‘If that person hadn’t save me back then, I wouldn’t end up like this.’”
……
“Or maybe you won’t. Everything depends on you. Kino, I don’t regret that I saved you. And—— I wish you luck.”
[Kino nods, looking over to Hurricane.]
...Okay. Let's go.
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
There was the sound of a film roll coming to an end. And so, your character finds themself standing next to the teen as the guards open the gate for entry.
They are free to act as they wish.
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[His voice is quiet]
Please.
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
It's a middle-aged woman and an old man who come to greet the pair, gesturing to a little truck behind them.]
“I’m not Kino’s family. But I was asked to come here and take you there.”
Where?
“To his only blood relative —— to his mother. Will you all come with me?”
[The teen looks again to Hurricane, anxious - almost doubting themself now that they'd made it this far.]
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
C'mon.
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