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Table of Contents:
Card Story
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
Training Sub-Episode
- Celebrated by Everyone
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Date and Reverse Gift, Chapter 1
Location: Common Room (Day)
Murr: “What about butterfly’s wings? Oh, and those pretty-looking rocks? Unique shaped leaves?!”
Shylock: “Those are what you would like as a gift, Murr. I wish you wouldn't trouble Chloe more than he already is.”
Chloe: “What should I do…. I really can’t decide on anything….”
Akira: ( The west wizards seem troubled about something. I wonder what’s up? )
Akira: “Hello everyone. I saw you all gathered here and was rather curious. What’s the discussion about?”
Shylock: “Why, hello, Master Sage. We’re not plotting anything bad, rest assured.”
Murr: “We are thinking about what Rustica would like as a gift!”
Akira: “Rustica?”
Chloe: “Yes. Actually, tomorrow is his birthday. So we were discussing about what we should get him for his gift.”
Chloe: “But I just couldn’t come up with something good…. Master Sage, do you have any suggestion?”
Akira: “Birthday gifts….. Personally I think he would appreciate anything for a gift though?”
Chloe: “Yup. I don’t doubt he will, he’s so kind-hearted like that.”
Chloe: “But that’s why I want to give him exactly what he wants, you know?”
Akira: “So that’s what you’ve been pondering about…. Chloe is also a kind-hearted one.”
Chloe: “Ehehe… Thank you, Master Sage.”
Shylock: “Anyhow. Since it’s tomorrow, I’m afraid we’re rather pressed for time here.”
Murr: “Then why don’t we just ask Rustica himself?”
Shylock: “....I don’t fancy being too frank, but I suppose it’s the most certain way to know.”
Chloe: “Surely there’s no harm in trying! I will go and ask Rustica now!”
Location: Hall (Day)
Rustica: “I can’t thank you enough for this, Sir Snow.”
Snow: “Oh please, it was nothing big. …...My, seems like we have a guest here.”
Rustica: “...Ah, you’re right.”
Akira: ( ...It’s not everyday you see just the two of them together. I wonder what are they talking about. )
Rustica: “Good day, everyone. What’s the occasion?”
Murr: “Hi, Rustica. We were searching for you!”
Rustica: “Who, me? Is there something I can help with?”
Chloe: “I guess, yeah. ...Rustica, do you have anything you want in particular, as of now?”
Rustica: “Something I want in particular?”
Shylock: “Anything is fine, so you don’t have to hold yourself back.”
Rustica: “Let’s see. Something I wish for at this moment…”
Rustica: “Oh, I know.”
Akira: ( E-eh? Is he looking at me? )
Rustica: “Master Sage. If it’s fine with you, I wish to borrow some of your time tomorrow.”
Akira: “What.. do you mean?”
Rustica: “To spend some time with you together tomorrow, is what I want to do.”
Shylock: “Fufu, so that’s what it is.”
Snow: “A date, in other words! My, sounds like so much fun.”
Akira: “A date?!!”
Murr: “That’s great! Sage, let’s go on a date with me next time!”
Shylock: “I will be waiting for your next time as well, Master Sage.”
Akira: “Hold on, who even says I’m going on a date?!”
Chloe: “Enjoy the date, the two of you!”
Akira: ( ...Let’s forget about the date for now. )
Akira: ( Is this what Rustica would really want for his birthday present? )
Date and Reverse Gift, Chapter 2
Location: Town (Day)
Rustica: “I’m aware this might be a selfish request, but I thank you deeply for agreeing to come with me, Master Sage.”
Akira: “Oh no, you’re not being selfish. Besides, I’m actually happy you invited me for some walk outside.”
Rustica: “In that case, please let me be your escort for today.”
Akira: ( Thank you, is what I want to say, but… This is his birthday, is it really okay like this? )
Rustica: “I’ve been wanting to show you around this town, even just for once.”
Akira: “This town must have some special meaning to you, then.”
Rustica: “Yes. This is a town which Chloe and I have visited countless times.”
Rustica: “At first, we got separated… I think lost is more the word.”
Akira: “You got lost?”
Rustica: “In the middle of our travel, I got distracted with a festival held in a village we passed by. That’s when I got separated from Chloe.”
Rustica: “After searching for a while, we finally met each other again in this very town.”
Akira: “Thank goodness....”
Rustica: “We were fortunate at that time. Otherwise, we could’ve been separated from each other until this day. Simply thinking about the possibility still makes me scared.”
Rustica: “We made an agreement then. That if we are to get separated from each other again, we would head and find each other again in this town.”
Rustica: “Chloe got mad at me, though. Saying he doesn’t want to get separated anymore.”
Akira: ( But he also said he often come here before… I wonder how many times they got separated again after that. )
Akira: “Not only your luck and bond, I think the compassion you have for each other is also wonderful.”
Rustica: “Your compliment flatters me, Master Sage. I sure hope it is the case.”
Akira: ( ...Is that music I hear? )
Akira: “Rustica, do you hear something?”
Rustica: “Ah, so they’re finally coming. They will hold a musical performance here today.”
Akira: “Musical performance! So that’s what you brought me here for.”
Akira: ( There are more people the clearer we can hear the music, flocking to it’s source. The crowds somehow remind me of a busy train station back where I’m from.... )
Akira “...Ack!”
Akira: ( This is bad, we’re getting swarmed…! )
Rustica: “Sage, please come here.”
Akira: “T-Thank you..”
Rustica: “It’s becoming lively here. Shall we go and adore the festivities from up in the air instead?”
Akira: “From up in the air? ...Wait, Rustica, where are you going?”
Akira: ( We’re getting further away from the performance…. )
Rustica: “I suppose here is fine.”
Rustica: “Apologies for taking you here, Master Sage. I want us to enjoy the performance from above while riding on my broom. Your hand, please?”
Akira: “Ah, I see… So this is what you meant.”
Rustica: “I’m afraid it would only cause chaos if I were to suddenly fly on my broom there, see.”
Rustica: “Come, let us off now.”
Date and Reverse Gift, Chapter 3
Location: Town (Evening)
Akira: “That was a wonderful performance. The songs are nice, a little bit nostalgic.”
Rustica: “The special seating, I hope it’s to your liking.”
Akira: “Well, it was the first for me, so… I can really feel the extravagance there.”
Rustica: “Say, Master Sage, are you enjoying today so far?”
Akira: “Very! I am realy thankful you brought me here. It was so much fun.”
Rustica: “I’m glad to hear that. I enjoyed today as much as you do.”
Rustica: “And for the last… I hope you would accept this.”
Akira: “This is…. Really beautiful. What is this, Rustica?”
Rustica: “It’s a sun catcher made from stained glass. I had wanted to express my appreciation for you, Master Sage. Please take it as a token of my gratitude.”
Akira: ( I can see the sunset reflected on the sun catcher. It’s so beautiful. )
Akira: “Rustica, thank you so much. Are you sure I can take this?”
Rustica: “Of course. You are always helping us wizards on the manor, so I want to give you something back, even just a little. That’s why I asked you to come here with me.”
Rustica: “To you who have always been so thoughtful, caring and supportive, dearest Sage, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You had saved us many times.”
Akira: “...That makes me so happy. Even though today is your birthday, you know?”
Rustica: “............Ah.”
Akira: “Don’t tell me…. You just remembered?”
Rustica: “How embarrassing. I had completely forgotten, ahaha.”
Location: Manor's Common Room (Night)
Snow: “Ah, so you two are back.”
Akira: “Hi, Snow. We just got back.”
Snow: “That thing you are holding… I see now. Good thing I finished it on time.”
Rustica: “Yes, this is thanks to you, Sir Snow.”
Akira: “...Eh?”
Rustica: “Truthfully, I had asked Sir Snow to make that sun catcher.”
Snow: “Hehe. If it’s about stained glass, you can always trust I’m the best in the field.”
Akira: ( Oh, so that’s why those two were together before…. )
Akira: “Yeah, I don’t doubt that. Snow, thank you so much.”
Snow: “When it comes to loved ones, it’s better you appreciate your gratitude while they’re still around, you know. Else it will be too late to regret.”
Akira: ( Snow’s regret… I guess it’s about White. )
Murr: “Sage and Rustica, found you!”
Chloe: “Welcome back, you two. Was the date fun?”
Snow: “Hoho, why do you need to ask? Of course it is!”
Akira: ( Alright, he’s clearly enjoying it… )
Shylock: “Great timing. We just finished the preparation for the party. All that’s left is just for the main character to show his face.”
Rustica: “...Was yesterday’s question meant for my birthday’s sake, then?”
Chloe: “Eeh, did you just realize it now? How very Rustica-like, I admit.”
Snow: “Come now, what else are you waiting for? We need you to make an appearance.”
Akira: “Rustica, happy birthday!”
Akira: “This time, I will be the one to express my gratitude for you.”
Rustica: “Master Sage…. Very well. I thank you sincerely.”
Location: Common Room (Day)
Akira: “We had so much fun at your birthday party, Rustica.”
Rustica: “I'm glad it's the case for you as well. Just reminiscing about it now fills my heart with joy.”
Rustica: “Do you recall how Shylock even went made me a special cocktail, only for that day?”
Akira: “If I’m not wrong, that cocktail was made based on your image, right? The colour was pretty, a refined feel that suits you. They taste really nice too!”
Rustica: “Yes, they were delicious, exactly my taste. How did Shylock find out about it? I end up drinking a bit too much thanks to him.”
Akira: ( He was drinking so nonchalantly, though… )
Akira: “By the way, the decoration was also pretty intricate. Murr and Chloe must have worked on them since the sun was still up.”
Rustica: “You think so? There was a lot of them too, I figure the job must be tiring. I wonder if I should have helped with them.”
Akira: “It’s for Rustica’s birthday party so to have Rustica work on it himself is a no no!”
Rustica: “Ahaha, if you say so.”
Rustica: “To tell you the truth, the decoration was too lovely that I think it would be a waste to throw them away just like that. So I had them collected and brought back with me after the party."
Rustica: "They're now to decorate my room as a memento of the memory. If you'd like, you can come to my room and see it for yourself."
Akira: "Really? I would love to! Excuse me in advance, then!"
