“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—
[They take in a deep breath, trying to steel themself.]
Y-yeah. Okay. Let's go.
[They get Hermes loaded onto the truck, and the woman settles herself in the driver's seat. The teen looks to Hurricane, seemingly waiting for him to board too.]
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[They look legitimately grateful for his presence as they climb aboard.
It's a fairly uneventful drive past some fields, though the truck eventually stops in front of a log house, standing among the trees. The woman climbed out of the truck, turning to Hermes still strapped in place:]
“Would you mind staying here? It’ll be troublesome to load and fasten you again.”
Well? What do you think?
[Hermes addressed the teen, already in the process of climbing down from the truck as well.]
...Hurricane will be with me. So I'll be okay.
Okay.
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[There was not a soul in the living room that they just entered. There was a table with two chairs and a brick fireplace that had no fire lighted.
The teen took off their hat, put their goggles in it and held it under the folded coat.]
“We are here.”
[And from inside, a woman's voice responded:]
“Yes, I’m coming.”
[Soon a single woman came out of the back room.
It was a slightly thick-set woman of 45-55 years old, wearing round-lens glasses. She was wearing an apron above a one-piece dress. Seeing the teen, the woman addressed them with a smile.]
“Ah, it’s you. I was told that you know something about my son. What a charming traveler.”]
……Yes.
“What is your name?”
×××××.
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[She offers them both chairs, indicating to the other woman that she can leave them be until later. The woman with the truck nods and returns outside, closing the door behind her.]
…Um,—— I’m returning this!
[The teen put the folded coat on the table. The woman took it and slowly looked at the number on the inner pocket.]
“There’s no mistake. This belonged to my son, Kino. Where did you——”
“I’ll tell you everything! I’ll tell you!”
“…I understand.”
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[Despite how frantic they are, it takes quite some time for them to get through the story.
During that time, the clouds on the sky were blown away, exposing the setting sun. An evening glow lighted up the greenish brown rural country and the log house. The room was filled up with a mix of light red and orange.]
“...So, that was it.”
I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry...
[When the woman responds, her voice is indifferent, lacking in emotion.]
“Thank you for letting me know.—— I almost gave up, since he didn’t come back and I didn’t receive any letters from him for a long time. When I heard about the coat, I thought that he probably passed away. There’s no point in blaming yourself.”
Still… I’m sorry. If I haven’t said such things to my family…
“Then you won’t be you, right? That child…”
[The woman's tone suddenly changed. She started speaking lightly, as if chatting about ordinary things.]
“That child told me that he would like to travel. He said that it relates to his own growth and the growth of the country. He left the country many times, then came back, then left again… Since he “became an adult”, he rarely appeared in his own country. That’s why, every time he left, I would be waiting for him, thinking, ‘What if he doesn’t come back?’
...Please, tell me one thing.”
[The teen raised their face —half in tears and half with an almost dead expression— and replied quietly:]
Yes?
“Do you have a place to return to?”
Eh?—— Yes. But…
“That’s good. That’s really good. You must return there. But it’s already too late, so please stay for a night in ‘this country’.—— I’ll make some tea.”
[The teen starts, beginning to rise from their chair, but the woman stops them.]
“It’s alright. You don’t need to help me. Stay where you are.”
Edited 2022-02-26 06:59 (UTC)
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[She goes to the kitchen, starting up a fire to boil the water. The teen just stares listlessly at the coat in front of them - startling faintly, and then carefully placing their hands in their lap as they wait.]
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—
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.
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
Y-yeah. Okay. Let's go.
[They get Hermes loaded onto the truck, and the woman settles herself in the driver's seat. The teen looks to Hurricane, seemingly waiting for him to board too.]
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
I'm right here next to you, okay?
Whatever happens.
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
Thank you, Hurricane.
[They look legitimately grateful for his presence as they climb aboard.
It's a fairly uneventful drive past some fields, though the truck eventually stops in front of a log house, standing among the trees. The woman climbed out of the truck, turning to Hermes still strapped in place:]
“Would you mind staying here? It’ll be troublesome to load and fasten you again.”
Well? What do you think?
[Hermes addressed the teen, already in the process of climbing down from the truck as well.]
...Hurricane will be with me. So I'll be okay.
Okay.
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
You ready...?
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
Y-yeah. Um... I'll go first.
[There was not a soul in the living room that they just entered. There was a table with two chairs and a brick fireplace that had no fire lighted.
The teen took off their hat, put their goggles in it and held it under the folded coat.]
“We are here.”
[And from inside, a woman's voice responded:]
“Yes, I’m coming.”
[Soon a single woman came out of the back room.
It was a slightly thick-set woman of 45-55 years old, wearing round-lens glasses. She was wearing an apron above a one-piece dress. Seeing the teen, the woman addressed them with a smile.]
“Ah, it’s you. I was told that you know something about my son. What a charming traveler.”]
……Yes.
“What is your name?”
×××××.
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[She offers them both chairs, indicating to the other woman that she can leave them be until later. The woman with the truck nods and returns outside, closing the door behind her.]
…Um,—— I’m returning this!
[The teen put the folded coat on the table. The woman took it and slowly looked at the number on the inner pocket.]
“There’s no mistake. This belonged to my son, Kino. Where did you——”
“I’ll tell you everything! I’ll tell you!”
“…I understand.”
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
During that time, the clouds on the sky were blown away, exposing the setting sun. An evening glow lighted up the greenish brown rural country and the log house. The room was filled up with a mix of light red and orange.]
“...So, that was it.”
I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry...
[When the woman responds, her voice is indifferent, lacking in emotion.]
“Thank you for letting me know.—— I almost gave up, since he didn’t come back and I didn’t receive any letters from him for a long time. When I heard about the coat, I thought that he probably passed away. There’s no point in blaming yourself.”
Still… I’m sorry. If I haven’t said such things to my family…
“Then you won’t be you, right? That child…”
[The woman's tone suddenly changed. She started speaking lightly, as if chatting about ordinary things.]
“That child told me that he would like to travel. He said that it relates to his own growth and the growth of the country. He left the country many times, then came back, then left again… Since he “became an adult”, he rarely appeared in his own country. That’s why, every time he left, I would be waiting for him, thinking, ‘What if he doesn’t come back?’
...Please, tell me one thing.”
[The teen raised their face —half in tears and half with an almost dead expression— and replied quietly:]
Yes?
“Do you have a place to return to?”
Eh?—— Yes. But…
“That’s good. That’s really good. You must return there. But it’s already too late, so please stay for a night in ‘this country’.—— I’ll make some tea.”
[The teen starts, beginning to rise from their chair, but the woman stops them.]
“It’s alright. You don’t need to help me. Stay where you are.”
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
We don't mind helping.
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[She goes to the kitchen, starting up a fire to boil the water. The teen just stares listlessly at the coat in front of them - startling faintly, and then carefully placing their hands in their lap as they wait.]
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
...hey.
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
Huh?!
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[Their gaze drifts restlessly before settling on the coat in front of them again.]
...Y-yeah. If you say so and she says so then... I guess it isn't.
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
It was how he wanted to live his life. And what he decided in the end was that there was something more important than that to him.
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
[Their gaze remains on the coat, but they nod when they say that.]
Yeah, I-- it's not like I could stop him...
Re: Finale: “To Do Something • a” —life goes on. • a—
He gave you a chance to live, yourself.
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