You haven’t forgotten, have you?

Carol.

The song you named.

Though that song suits winter best, if you arrange it simply, it would be quite good for listening in the summer too. I’ll look forward to it, Sha.

Do you like life in the capital? Though it’s a neat and large city, it’s not the best city for enjoying art. Though the royal palace and parliament are there.

There are separate cities with many theaters, art galleries, and publishers. Since it’s not far from the capital, shall we go there together during this vacation? How about it?

You’ve been complaining that letters take too long to exchange. It would be nice to look around while we’re at it. The grace period Aila gave you is almost up too.

The period she said she’d rent you a room in the capital is almost over, right? Aila has a cold side. I want to hear your plans for that too.

From your own mouth.

By the time this letter arrives, you’ll probably be busy packing. Maybe you’ll board a train for the first time.

I have the key, so if you’re busy, you don’t need to come meet me. Of course, if you’re waiting in front of the station, I won’t be able to suppress my surging heart and will run out.

See you soon.

Sending love, Cas

P.S. Do you remember what we did that night in Iota three years ago?]

[Dear Cas

What a long, long letter as if making up for the busy period! I’m very satisfied. I read and reread your thick letter.

True to you, you didn’t leave out appropriate questions. About my whereabouts, I mean.

As you know, my responsible older sister showed mercy to me when I had just become an adult. The opportunity to live somewhere other than Iota.

I had to solve other problems like living expenses myself, but I was grateful that she let me live in a small house in the capital without paying rent.

Aila said she would end her role as guardian with this, and I told her to go ahead. To be honest, I was surprised that my sister even thought about truly ‘protecting’ me.

As I told you, Aila doesn’t particularly favor me. I still don’t understand Aila’s true feelings well. Even though I’ve now grown as much as Aila was back then.

What does it mean to become an adult?

Do you remember the first alcohol we drank? You turned down the opportunity to drink with your family to celebrate becoming an adult and waited until the day you met me.

I thought being able to drink alcohol and wander the night streets without permission made you an adult. But I still have more things I’m clumsy at than things I’m skilled at.

Not long ago, I didn’t expect it to rain and hung out laundry, only to have to do it all over again. The disaster happened to occur during the time I was out.

Only my clothes were left hanging forlornly on the clothesline, soaking wet…… That day, after hastily gathering the laundry and doing it again, I suffered from body aches for two whole days.

I must have looked so pitiful that the person living next door gave me soup. I heard the city was harsh unlike my hometown, but kind people seem kind enough.

As you predicted, I’ll probably have to leave this house soon.

A letter came from Aila recently. It said to move out by next month, or pay rent like everyone else.

It’s not a terribly expensive price, but it does make me think. It’s not because of the rent. While there’s no major flaw, it’s not a house I chose. Of course, could I have found a better place than the house Aila prepared when I left Iota at that time…… No, I couldn’t have.

The place I’m living now isn’t bad. Vegetables are cheap nearby, and I can quickly buy freshly baked bread. I have to share the clothesline, but since I don’t have much laundry, it’s not particularly inconvenient.

The only regrettable thing is that you’re far away.

What to do…… I’ll have to think about it a bit? Actually, the answer is already decided.

Do you remember that day, Cas?

My birthday three years ago. It was the first birthday I celebrated somewhere other than Iota. It happened to be the day the snowstorm stopped.

You bundled me up so tightly that you might as well have wrapped me in a blanket. I saw the scarf, hat, and gloves you knitted for the first time that day. You’re not at all accustomed to showing off.

If it were me, I would have bragged to everyone in the world about making something so wonderful. You put in such splendid patterns I couldn’t even imagine, yet you were excessively modest.

Thanks to that, even though we wandered outside on such a cold day, I didn’t catch a cold. It was also thanks to you practically carrying me around.

I don’t have the skill to step lightly through snow piled up to my knees, but you did. You hopped over thin branches where all the leaves had fallen, moving forward. While carrying the burden that was me.

Because you worked so hard for me, I was able to touch the snow with a body full of energy. I could even dip my feet in the hot spring that was once a dragon’s nest.

Until then, I never imagined I would swim in the water with you. Life is truly unpredictable, isn’t it?

I believed I would know everything once I became an adult. It’s a bit disappointing, but I’m not upset since I’m not the only one who doesn’t know.

How are your studies these days? Magnum’s letters are full of praise for you. He says your hands are skillful and your responses are quick. With this level of skill, you could soon open your own shop and leave.

Though he would be inclined to try to keep you if you were to leave.

When you first said you wanted to become an optician, how surprised I was! Do you remember my reaction then? Actually, I don’t remember it well.

Except for repeating ‘Suddenly?’ and ‘Why?’ about twenty times. If I had known you would be so disappointed, I should have put aside my bewilderment and cheered you on first.

Even while writing a letter to Magnum asking him to train you, I tilted my head wondering, ‘Is this really happening?’ I had heard about your dexterity, but you who grew up in Kasoche where not a single person wore glasses, really ‘suddenly’, ‘why’?

It was only after a year had passed since you went to Delling to train under Magnum that I heard the exact reason. You said you wanted to fix and make my glasses.

Did I cry a little then?

I didn’t cry.

Right, I didn’t cry?

Actually, even before you told me, I did speculate ‘Could it be because of me?’ But I wasn’t certain, and you had always wanted to learn something other than estate management somewhere other than Kasoche.

At most, I thought I was just a catalyst. Because it would be embarrassing if I was wrong.

But I was right.

I’m glad that making and repairing glasses suits your aptitude. There are many customers at the shop who specifically ask for you too. Oh, there goes the third customer who turned away because you weren’t there.

Oh, how do I know that?

Cute Carol, do you know where I am right now?

Right at Magnum’s optical shop! To be precise, I’m sitting in the reception room waiting for you. You must be excited, thinking about taking the train as soon as today’s work ends, right?

That’s why you gladly took on even the delivery fifty minutes away from the optical shop.

But, Cas. I was one step ahead.

You weren’t the only one whose body was burning with longing and missing someone. After learning your vacation dates, I absolutely couldn’t stay still.

I had just finished all the short stories the newspaper requested. Nothing could stop me from boarding the train to Delling that day!

It was a bit, no, quite expensive, but the train was much better than a carriage! Comfortable, less vibration. Most of all, having assigned seats meant I didn’t have to jostle with people.

There was no fainting and losing consciousness in the middle either.

Thanks to that, I arrived in Delling very safely and securely. The optical shop isn’t far from the station. It wasn’t very difficult either.

So you won’t have to struggle and worry about my complexion today. Even if you do, it’s fine. If someone else did that, it would be annoying and unpleasant, but if you do it, it would be cute and joyful.

You know, Cas? There’s no moment more lovable than when you lower your gaze to look at me properly. No, I can’t assert this definitively.

That’s what I think right now.

Ah, I can see you through the window with two buttons undone. At first you couldn’t understand a that’s weather hot enough to unbutton, but now you’ve completely adapted?

Our eyes met.

You’re running over. Your shoes look worn out, should I buy you new ones?

See you soon.]

Ding-a-ling.

The small bell hanging on the glass door rang. Urgent footsteps echoed loudly, and

“……Sha?”

The man who had become a complete young adult entered inside without even responding to his boss’s greeting asking if he had just arrived.

“Hello, Cas.”

“How are you here, no, I was going to go today……”

“I know. But I have something to say intimately, with my own lips.”

“Huh?”

The pen nib was dipped in dark blue ink. There was no hesitation in the movement ending the letter. Sentences full of truth and sincerity flowed smoothly, and

“Shall we become family?”

Thud.

It was finished.

Outside the letter, tears and kisses continued, but the sentence that completed the thin paper’s end, the sentence that would not be corrected, was just one.

Sending love, Sha.

-End-