Dance of the Shining Stars on the Shore of Memory

???: Ahahaha! That tickles!

Chloe: Um… excuse me…

When Chloe called out to him hesitantly, the red-haired young man jumped up in surprise.

???: Wha--!?

Arthur: My apologies if we’ve startled you. We’re the Sage’s Wizards. And this, of course, is the Master Sage.

Akira: I-it’s nice to meet you. I’m the Sage, Akira.

Heathcliff: We’ve come to this island because we wanted to help that White Bridesveil get home safely.

Mitile: This little guy came down out of the sky in the City of Affluence…

While the wizards were earnestly explaining their reasons for coming here… the young man’s eyes grew wide with surprise, and then he held his stomach as he practically doubled over with laughter.

???: Ahahahaha! What’s with that? Is that what happened? Usually, all of the White Bridesveils stay pretty close to my house, so I was thought it was weird that one had gone missing. I guess I’m realizing what happened a little too late! I’m sorry, did you miss me?

The red-haired young man looked apologetic as he gently stroked the White Bridesveil’s fluffy body.

???: But thanks to these kind people, it looks like we were able to be reunited after all! When something fortuitous like this happens, you can’t help but want to celebrate!

He said this and then cast a spell, sending a burst of fireworks up into the sky above the forest.

Sage’s Wizards: --!

Chloe: Whoa, nice! If that’s the case, then I want in, too! 《Suispisiva Voitingoc》!

Chloe’s spell sent even more fireworks up, and soon the entire sky looked like a shining garden of flowers.

???: Whoa, those are really nice! See, the White Bridesveil’s happy, too!

White Bridesveil: Myu~myu~!

Rustica: It’s a beautiful show, quite befitting of such a wonderful happenstance. Please allow me to extend my congratulations as well. Congratulations to the two of you.

Chloe: Congratulations~!

???: Thank you! It’s a joyous occasion!

The rest of the wizards stood and stared with bewilderment at the Western wizards’ revelry.

Bradley: … right. Western wizards are crazy.

Heathcliff: Should we be celebrating too…?

Mithra: No. There’s no point in celebrating with someone whose name you don’t even know.

???: Oh, that’s right! I was so happy, I totally forgot to introduce myself!

The red-haired young man smiled and turned to face us.

???: Thanks so much for helping this little guy! My name is Fran. Like the rest of you, I’m a wizard.

Cain: Fran! Nice to meet you. My name’s Cain.

Fran: Whoa, the pleasure’s mine! Can’t remember the last time someone shook my hand.

Akira: So… Fran-san, do you keep White Bridesveils?

Fran: Well, you say “keep”, but I think I’d say it’s more like I live with them? We eat at the same table, and we sleep in the same bed. These little guys are so fluffy, so sleeping on them is super comfortable…

White Bridesveil: Myu~!

Fran: I know, I know. When we get home, I’ll be sure to give you lots of your favorite flower nectar.

Arthur: It seems like you get along very well with the White Bridesveil, Fran.

Mitile: Right? It’s like they’re family!

Fran: Eheheh, family, huh… well, sure, I get where you’d get that impression.

Akira: (I wonder if the White Bridesveil was drawn to Chloe because he has red hair just like Fran does…?)

Bradley: So, Fran. We’re getting kinda hungry right about now.

Mithra: Now that you mention it, yes. Do you have anything for us?

Before I knew it, the two of them approached Fran-san with smiles on their faces, grabbing onto either one of his shoulders so he couldn’t escape. The situation was quickly spiraling out of control.

Akira: W-wait, you guys! You can’t do this to somebody you just met—!

Fran: Of course! It’s the least I can do to treat you. After all, you helped out my little friend!

Fran said that and showed us a toothy grin, as if he hadn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary.

*

[int: Fran’s home]

Fran: Please enjoy!

Bradley and Mithra: …

We had been invited back to Fran’s house, and lined up in front of us was food the likes of which were never served back at the manor. There were small sun-dried fish, and a massive green-leaf salad. Bradley and Mithra looked despondently at the many plates lined up on the dining table.

Bradley: Yeah, I’ll pass…

Mithra: I wasn’t expecting to be served fish and grass.

Mitile: Hey, you two. It was a meal that was prepared especially for us, you should eat it without complaining.

Mithra: Hah…

Heathcliff: Hey, how is it that you’re meant to eat these fish?

Cain: Like this! You eat them in one gulp.

Heathcliff: Huh? In one bite?

Arthur: [gulp!] … how was that?

Cain: Like that! Haha, but you’ve got a little bone on your lip! Don’t worry, Heath. If you make a mess, I’ll be here to wipe your mouth for ‘ya!

Heathcliff: Something that embarrassing won’t be necessary…

Mitile: [munch, munch]… Oh, the dressing on this salad is really good!

Fran: Yeah? I’m really proud of it!

While everybody enjoyed their meal, a number of White Bridesveils were accumulating around Chloe, Cain, and Mithra.

Chloe: Oh! Other White Bridesveils are gathering around us!

Rustica: I wonder if they enjoy sharing a lively meal together?

Arthur: I must admit, it’s amazing. I thought White Bridesveils were supposed to be rare, but there are so many of them!

Chloe: Hey, Fran, why are you raising so many White Bridesveils?

Fran: Ah! Well, you see, that’s because…

Chloe: Ah, sorry! You don’t have to tell us if you don’t want to…!

Fran: No, not at all! I just haven’t ever really told anyone about it, so I’m a little nervous. … the reason I’m raising these little guys is… there’s a girl to whom I want to show a special starry sky.

Fran scratched his cheek with embarrassment, and a White Bridesveil perched on his shoulder. He held it gently.

Fran: I was born in this town that was super poor. I didn’t even know who my parents were. For as long as I could remember, I lived alone. I got by cleaning and polishing shoes. Both my body and my clothes were always dirty, and nobody would ever look at me twice or talk to me. But one day, I heard the explosions of huge fireworks coming from the city across the river. I didn’t know what could possibly be going on, since I was so little, so I crossed the river on my broom. On the other side of the river… I met a girl named Layla, who had eyes like the night sky.

*

【Flashback】

[ext: City, by the river, night]

Fran: Whoops… ah… it’s really hard to fly with a broom… alright! Just a little bit further to the other side…!

Layla: …

Fran: Huh? There’s a girl by the river over there… and the way she walks is kind of…

Layla: Ah—

Fran: Ah! This is hard…! … hey, are you okay!? Are you hurt? Here, take my hand!

Layla: I—I’m sorry! I fell by accident… … are you… a wizard? Did you just fly across the river…?

Fran: A—ah! I’m sorry, I’m just a wizard from the slums, and here I am, trying to…!

Layla: You don’t need to apologize. Thank you for your help. … why are you over here in this town?

Fran: Ah, well… I heard a really big noise from the fireworks. I’ve never seen anything like that in the town I live in, so I was curious what was going on…

Layla: I see… well, there’s a festival going on. A big festival that we put on every year.

Fran: A festival…! That’s nice. Why aren’t you attending it, though? It seems kind of lonely all the way out here. Wouldn’t you be having more fun there?

Layla: … it’s alright. I... was born with bad legs, you see. I can’t get around in crowds very easily… I walk really slowly, and everyone thinks it’s rude.

Fran: Rude? Why would that be rude? The way you walk seems very polite to me, like you’re taking in how wonderful the world around you is.

Layla: Polite…? You think I seem polite?

Fran: Yeah! I’m usually in a big hurry, so I walk around really carelessly and clumsily and tend to miss important stuff. I try really hard every day, but just like that, a year goes by and there’s a lot that gets left behind… so I think the way that you walk through the world is really nice.

Layla: …

Fran: U-uh! Sorry! We barely know each other, you probably didn’t need to hear all that…

Layla: Fufufu… it’s fine. I’m really happy to hear someone say something like that. … hey. What’s your name?

Fran: Ah, me? My name’s Fran.

Layla: Fran, is it…? Fran… my name is Layla. … if it’s okay with you, do you want to be my friend?

【Flashback ends】

*

[int: Fran’s home]

Chloe and Akira: … … that’s so romantic~!

Akira: Even just being told the story now, you really get the impression that both Fran and Layla are both very kind people… it really warms the heart.