Drawn Mochi Volume 5 Chapter 18: To The Wide, Wide Land*5

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　…To sow or not to sow the seeds.

　I think it is a very difficult question. The seeds are like a memento of Lila’s mother, so to speak, and I understand her desire to cherish it. But at the same time, I think it is right to raise it into a plant because the seeds sprout when they are sown.

　But I also know that a sown seed does not always sprout. …If nothing sprouts from the seeds we sow and it just goes back to the soil, that would be sad.

　I think that Lila’s feelings are also wavering in that way. She is much more composed than I am, so she must be much more anxious than I am. Of course. These seeds belong to her, and they belong to her mother…

“…Well, it’s fine. I’ll think about it some more. If I’m going to sow it anyway, it’ll probably be a little later.” (Lila)

　Lila looked out the window with a sigh.

　It was snowing outside the window. It is true that it may be a little early in the season to sow seeds… I’m not sure if it’s a good time to sow seeds, but there are certain seasons that are better than others. Or maybe it’s better to sow them in spring, I’m not sure. Hmmm.

　…I wonder if it can be done somehow.

“…it was about that.” (Tougo)

　That’s why I came to ask for advice. …to Ryuu and the bird.

　The Ryuu still had a deep growl in his throat and offered me fruits, and the bird was sitting on the crystal islet, looking like it belonged to them. The Ryuu was looking at me like, “What the heck?” at first, but the bird was there so naturally that he seemed to give up.

“I’m a forest spirit, right? If so, would I be able to make seeds sprout or something like that, right?” (Tougo)

　…I’m asking about the seeds that Lila has.

　You see, ryuus can even be seen as fertility gods, so they might know something about it, and the bird, in case you’re wondering, is my senior spirit. I just thought this would be a good place to ask if I need help.

　I’m just not sure how the two would react.

　The Ryuu just pokes me with his beard and watches me drink the contents of the fruits, and the bird is acting like a bird and just grooms their feathers. I’m not sure if they are listening to me or not.

“I think it’s irresponsible to ask people to sow something they don’t know will sprout, and I wish there was something I could do to help…” (Tougo)

　However, when I said that, the bird turned towards me for a moment, then moved closer and snuggled closer to me.

　…It’s fluffy.

　After snuggling together for a while, the bird moved away again. Ah, they’ve started preening their feathers again, you know…

　I was in trouble, and now the Ryuu began to do the same. The Ryuu wrapped itself around me and squeezed me very lightly, and when I was enveloped in just the right amount of pressure, the Ryuu eventually unraveled and moved away.

　The Ryuu continued to stare at me from a short distance away. I noticed that before I knew it, the bird was also staring at me.

“…stick together and then move apart?” (Tougo)

　When I said that, thinking that it was not right, the Ryuu looked a little taken aback, and the bird tilted its head. Oh, I knew it wasn’t right.

　Well, they both stuck together and then separated. Squeezing me, they…

　…Oh.

“Um… I guess you mean I should stay with them.” (Tougo)

　When I said that, both of them nodded with satisfaction.

“Lila!” (Tougo)

　When I called out to Lila who was preparing the meal, she looked a little surprised.

“Oh, what’s going on? It’s unusual for you to shout.” (Lila)

　I caught Lila’s hand as she was stirring the pot with a ladle and quickly said,

“Would you like to plant the seeds?” (Tougo)

　The fact that Lila is unsure means that she also wants to sow it. Otherwise, they’d just decide to put the thought away because she’s such a composed girl, and they’d do just that.

　The reason she can’t do that is because she is confused.

　Lila, too, is lost. She’s torn between the thought that the seeds she planted might not sprout and the desire to let them sprout and grow rather than leave it as it is.

　…I can’t do anything about that. But I thought about drawing seeds to increase the number of plants, but I think that would probably be too cunning. So, there is only a little I can do.

“If we sow it and it fails…I’ll mourn it along with you.” (Tougo)

　The only thing I can do for people who don’t know whether they will succeed or fail is to be with them.

　But… that made me happy.

　That’s not necessarily the case with Lila either, but that’s why she didn’t make an offer because she felt it was somehow different.

“……I see.” (Lila)

　Lila’s eyes blinked… and then she bursts into laughter.

“Then, I guess, please take care of me.” (Tougo)

“Yeah. I see. Maybe I wanted someone who could mourn it with me when I failed.” (Lila)

　Lila said that while grinning a little, and then… she grabbed my hand and said,

“Thank you. I look forward to depending on you.” (Lila)

“Yes.” (Tougo)

　There’s not much I can do… but I already know what it’s like to have someone who can cry and laugh with you when you fail.

　So, I want to be able to give it back this time.

　…The winter in the forest continued after that.

　In addition to just painting, I also worked as the forest spirit. I checked the barrier properly, and to keep the forest creatures from getting too cold, I dug a hole to use as a burrow, and prepared a fluffy bed made of plant fibers there. It would have been quite difficult to do that for all the creatures in the forest.

　But I think it made the forest a lot more enjoyable and helped them survive the winter. The creatures spent a relaxing time in their burrows, huddled together on their fluffy beds, keeping each other warm, and we spent a relaxing time doing what we could inside our houses.

　… Oh, yes. I can chop wood now. Of course, I’m not as good as Laocles, and it takes time.

　But once I learned the tricks of the trade, I’ve managed to get the job done… Sometimes I even chop wood for Laocles.

　…I’m just hoping that if I chop wood like this, I’ll gain some muscle and become less short. No, I think of it as a bonus, but…

　I’m getting better at chopping wood, which is good because it’s getting to be my job, and… I’m getting better at lace knitting. I’ve already been able to make things that are as good as Ms. Croix and Lila’s.

　…I still have mixed feelings about it!

　If we spend our time enjoying winter like that, spring will eventually come.

　The melting snow starts to flow a little bit and make a stream. If you look at the branches of the trees, you can see the buds swelling. The air is loosening a little at a time… as if the coldness of winter air is gradually fading away and it is becoming more and more like spring.

　…And so, we began to find the buds of plants with young leaves on the soil where the snow had melted.

　Yeah. It’s already spring!

　Lila was still a bit distressed when spring came.

　But… one day, as if she had made up her mind, she came to me.

“I’m thinking of sowing those seeds in the field next to my house. Will you do it with me?” (Lila)

“Yep. Of course.” (Tougo)

　With Lila looking a little nervous, we went out to the field next to Lila’s house.

　The snow had already melted in the small field next to Lila’s house, and the plump, black soil that belongs to the forest was peeking out.

“…Um, then, this way.” (Lila)

　Lila said that and placed the seeds lightly on my palm. …The tiny black bits are light but felt very heavy.

“How should I sow it?” (Tougo)

“What? Well… just take your time. Anything is fine.” (Lila)

　I was a bit puzzled, but I thought it was a good idea…

　I was a little confused, but remembering the time I sowed seeds in the field at Teacher’s house, I made a little depression in the soil with my finger, dropped the seed into it, and gently covered it with a thin layer of soil. No, I don’t know if this is the right way to sow the seeds, but I don’t want to just sow them randomly and be done with it.

　…That’s how I sow the seeds, as carefully and as gently as possible. When I suddenly saw Lila’s expression, she looked very serious, and seemed a little worried.

“…I hope it grows safely.” (Tougo)

　I said to her. Then I saw her face, she looked a little surprised, but then she smiled and said, “Yes, me too.”

“If it doesn’t work out, we can mourn it together.” (Lila)

“Yep. Of course.” (Tougo)

　That’s how we sowed the seeds.

　I strongly wished that it will sprout.

　…I went every day to check on the seeds we had planted. I knew that it was not good to water them too much, and it was Lila’s job to water them, so all I really did was watch them.

　I was watching the field next to Lila every day, and eventually Lian and Ange started coming to watch, and the fairies, horses, Ms. Croix and Laocles started to pay attention, and soon everyone was peeking at the field in turn.

“What can I say… this forest is a nice place, isn’t it?” (Lila)

　Within five days of sowing the seeds, the area around the field was buzzing with activity, and Lila was smiling happily.

“I like it because we all did this.” (Lila)

“Yep. I like it too.” (Tougo)

　I feel very blessed. This forest is full of good people, good creatures, and good things.

“…Recently. I’ve been wondering if the buds will sprout soon. I’m not wondering if they’ll actually sprout.” (Lila)

　Lila said that and looked out at the field.

“I feel like the buds are coming out because they are being watched over carefully!” (Lila)

　… After about ten days of peeking into the fields together.

　When I went to see it in the morning, Lila was standing in front of the field.

“…what happened?” (Tougo)

　When I quietly approached Lila… she gently pointed to the soil in the field without saying a word.

　…On top of the black soil, a green sprout was peeking out, just a little bit. The shell of the seeds we had sown was covering the tip of the sprout.

“…Its coming out.” (Lila)

“…They’re out.” (Tougo)

　Lila and I didn’t even look at each other, just staring at the sprouts that were peeking out of the soil.

　Before long, the horses came over as if to say, “What’s going on?” And just like us, they ended up staring at the buds that had sprouted. Lian, Ange, and the fairies who came to see it also started jumping around the field, overjoyed by the buds in the field. When Ms. Croix and Laocles saw this, they came to see the field as well, and their gazes dropped.

　Then it started raining quickly over there, and suddenly a rainbow began to appear. Could it be that the Ryuu is celebrating with us? I think to myself as I watch the giant robin crossing majestically in front of the rainbow.

　…This is why this forest is such a nice place.