Drawn Mochi Volume 1 Chapter 6: Searching for Paint*5

　Blue. A vibrant blue.

　I knew there was a color called robin’s egg blue. A bright sky blue with a hint of green.

　But this was the first time I had seen it in person. It was as if the egg had been cut out of the sky, a vivid blue. I wondered how such a colorful egg really existed.

　Seeing the glossy blue eggs… I was completely fascinated.

　Because in the bird’s nest in the tree next to mine, there is blue! Blue! A blue that I had almost given up on, thinking it was nearly non-existent in nature!

　I’d love to use that as paint!

　I once forgot to paint the bird because the eggs were blue. I had no choice.

　I move along the branch to the next tree. It feels quite dangerous, but I can’t help it.

　Perhaps it was fortunate that I was very light, for the branches supported my weight without breaking anywhere.

　Carefully but quickly, I made my way to the bird’s nest. Sometimes it was dangerous, but even though I was terrified, I did not stop moving forward.

　…After 10 minutes of doing so,

　I managed to get into the bird’s nest.

　A sigh escaped my lips.

　There was a bright blue egg in a position where I could touch it with my hand.

　It was about 30 centimeters in diameter, about the size of my head. About the size of my head. And it had a smooth, shiny… blue surface!

　From a distance, it looked unrealistic, almost like a piece of the sky had fallen, but seeing it up close like this, it was still a mystery. I wonder why the color is like this. Is it because they are just beautiful? No, I don’t think so…

　There are a total of three eggs in the bird’s nest. If there were any broken eggshells, I would have taken them, but alas, there are no eggshells.

　I think that all three eggs here must be live eggs… No, they might be unfertilized eggs.

　But if it’s a living egg, I’d be hesitant to scratch it and use it as paint. on second thought.

　When I picked one up as a test, I felt a faint warmth, which made me even more hesitant to hurt the egg.

“……What should I do.” (Tougo)

　I want blue paint. That’s why I want this egg shell.

　Still, I want to draw that bird that is probably using this nest.

　But… well, what should I do?

　As I think about it, I hold the egg in my arms and look up at the sky in a daze…

“…Oh, sorry for bothering you…” (Tougo)

　My eyes met with the giant bird.

　…I suddenly break out in a cold sweat.

　Isn’t this bad?

　The bird sees me as a suspicious person who has entered its nest without permission and is holding its eggs, right?

　Even if I tried to deceive it, I am holding its egg firmly.

　The bird in front of me is massive and can spread its wings about 5m. The bird’s head is also much bigger than mine. If it opens its beak, it could easily hold my head…

“Well. I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t come for the eggs. I just thought it was beautiful… and I touched the egg, but I didn’t injure them, so…” (Tougo)

　I was in a hurry to explain myself, but I wondered if there was any point in talking to the bird. You see, the bird also tilted its head… With a dubious look on its face.

　The bird looks… doubtful.

　The bird. An expression.

　…Is this possible?

“Um, I’m sorry for entering the nest without permission. I’ll be out soon.” (Tougo)

　But maybe, just maybe… this bird could understand my words. I put my hope in the bird’s understanding and gently put the egg in its place, and slowly, slowly, I retreat. Out of the bird’s nest.

　The bird did not allow me to do so…

“Ah.” (Tougo)

　The bird’s beak extends. It grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and pulled me back into the nest.

　Then I was dragged into the bird’s nest and knocked down. Although I fell on my back, the bird’s nest seemed to absorb the impact, so there was little pain.

　But, unable to move quickly, I looked up at the bird, which was looking down at me, and watched in slow motion as its beak closed in again.

　I was pecked, very gently, rather unreservedly.

　I managed to roll my body to protect my head and stomach from being pecked, and the poking stopped.

　Instead, the bird deftly rolled the eggs and pushed them between my stomach and knees.

　…And then the bird flew away.

“……huh?” (Tougo)

　And I, completely out of it and unable to move, just lay there… holding the egg, unable to comprehend the situation.

　The situation was a complete mystery.

　What on earth is being done to me?

　At any rate… I was not killed. Yes, I was really lucky. I would probably die if I was pecked around by that huge bird, and I would probably die if I was dropped from this tree. I was really lucky to survive.

　But… what situation have I found myself in?

　I have the three eggs now. I think that bird wanted me to be like this because that bird created this situation…

“Woah.” (Tougo)

　Just as I was thinking that the bird from earlier came back. Then, it pushes the nut in its beak into my mouth.

　I thought it was telling me to eat it, so I ate it anyway.

　It tasted like spicy persimmon… What is this? Oh, come to think of it, birds can’t taste spicy, right? No, but even so, this taste is terrible. I don’t mind astringency and bitterness, but spiciness, not so much.

　I spent some time lying there staring at the bird, not knowing what to do with the mysterious taste that filled my mouth.

　I was lying there, staring at the bird, and feeling bad. …I was sluggish. My body is hot. I think it’s because of the fruit I just ate. I thought chili peppers had the effect of raising body temperature. I wonder if the fruit I just ate had that effect. Or maybe I just got tired while lying down.

　Now that I’m in a state of ill health, I can’t even escape from the top of the tall tree. I was like a carp on a chopping block, or me in a bird’s nest. With this feeling, I gave up and decided to stay still.

　Then the bird patted me and the egg with its wings and flew away again.

　…that’s when I realized.

“Could it be… it wants me to keep them warm?” (Tougo)

　Apparently, I’m being made to help incubate.

　I’m sleepy, slugging, and hot. So, I decided to keep the eggs warm.

　I got cold on the way, so I took out a blanket from my bag and wrapped the eggs with me. I am not as big as that bird, so it is a little difficult for me to keep the three eggs, which are about 30 centimeters around, evenly warm with only my body.

　I kept the three eggs warm by rolling them around and switching places as needed.

　…Still, it’s a mystery.

　Why am I doing this? When I calmed down a bit, I started to think this was strange.

　I’m warming up a huge egg of a huge bird.

　How did this happen? I was supposed to be here to paint that bird, but the eggs were so beautiful, so when I entered the nest, something like this happened…

　…yes. It might have been better to move a little more cautiously.

　A while later, in the evening, the bird came back.

“Huh, oh, welcome back…?” (Tougo)

　When the bird looked down at me… it didn’t even attack me, it just pushed a nut in its beak into my mouth.

　I’m not sure if this means it wants me to eat it or not. Could it be that I am being raised? Am I being fed?

“I don’t like it. This doesn’t taste good.” (Tougo)

　I tried to reject it, but the bird kept coming without regard, so I had no choice but to eat it. The taste was the same as ever. It was terrible.

　After watching me eat the nuts, the bird came into the nest. It sat down next to me and closed its eyes.

　…It seemed to be going to sleep.

　What should I do? If the bird is going to sleep, can I go home now? But I don’t feel comfortable leaving the eggs alone…

　…Not yet. Let’s stay here for the night. I’ve got nothing but a tent and it would be the same no matter where I slept.

　Thinking about it, I started to feel sleepy. Was it because of the nut or because I was tired? My body is still hot, somehow. I feel hot. I’m burning up. This is no good. I’m not in good physical condition to move down a tree in the dim light.

　I can’t help it. There is only one thing to do.

　…Good night.

　Good morning.

　When I woke up, the bird was in front of me, which was amazing and scary. Also, I was still feeling strange.

　…there’s something a little different.

　Something was moving around my stomach.

“……Hmm?”

　I rolled up the blanket and found that the egg closest to my stomach was wobbling.

　And then.

　With a crack, the egg cracked, and a bird chick came out from inside.

　After that, I was made to incubate again, but that’s fine.

　What was more important was that a bird was born. In other words, the egg was broken. The eggshells should have been used by now, so I could take them.

　The pieces of the broken eggshell are thick enough to be from a large egg. The blue color seems to be only on the surface, but it is enough. I am sure I can make blue paint with it.

　In the evening, another egg hatched. Then another the next morning.

　By then, I was back to normal, so I was ready to climb down the tree.

　I said goodbye to the chirping chicks and to the giant bird, who seemed somewhat content in watching them…

　I decided to paint a family of newborn birds before leaving the tree.

　On the way, the giant bird shared some nuts with me. A rather tasty one this time. I didn’t feel sick.

　I wonder if this is intended as a thank you for hugging the eggs. In other words, the one I was fed yesterday that didn’t taste good was for that… I wonder if it was meant to raise my body temperature to the optimum temperature for incubating eggs. I wonder what it is, but it’s quite scary.

　…whatever. I am honored to be of service to the bird family.