The Scent of Plum Blossoms and Sunshowers
Ⓚ "Nausicaa. It smells so nice of plum blossoms. Spring is almost here, isn't it? 🌸"
Ⓝ That's right, Kaze-san. I wonder when the first spring breeze will blow? ♬ I want to ride that wind and set off on a journey to new, unexplored lands soon!!
Ⓚ I wonder why plum blossoms smell so good. Every time I come here, I think about the green plums that will grow in abundance after these flowers fall.
Ⓝ It sounds like another wonderful song is about to be created!? I wonder what kind of music it will be this time! I'm looking forward to it.
Ⓚ Yes, well, a scene just came to mind... two foxes playing happily on this hill where the plum blossoms are blooming...
Ⓝ Oh my. Could it be the foxes from the Inari shrine we saw earlier?
Ⓚ ...Maybe, but one fox gently approaches the other and tucks this pink plum blossom behind its ear. 💕
Ⓝ My! What a stylish gift! And then? And then?
Ⓚ And so, the two of them spend some time happily wandering around the plum trees, but eventually, the time comes to June, the season of green plums, and even though the sky is clear, it starts to rain...
Ⓝ Could that be... a sunshower, a 'fox wedding'!?
Ⓚ Yeah. Well, that's true, but here's the thing. There's only one fox there...
Ⓝ Kaze-san. Why is there only one?
Ⓚ The girl fox ended up marrying into another fox family.
Ⓝ What did you say!! Why is that? Why did you make the two of them part ways, Kaze-san...?
Ⓚ I'm not entirely sure myself, haha. There must have been a reason she had to get married. Since one of the meanings of the plum blossom is 'patience', maybe the fox endured it for the sake of the other's happiness?
Ⓝ That's heartbreaking (´；ω；`) *sob*... That's just too heartbreaking. Why don't you give them a happy ending? A heartbreak song doesn't suit you at all, Kaze-san.
Ⓚ But people and foxes alike are creatures that grow stronger by 'losing' things. I've lost many things myself. But it's only by losing them that I've realized what's truly important... Life is a constant lesson.
Ⓝ That's true. I do think it's important to look inward and think carefully about what you truly want when things don't go your way. But isn't this story a little too sad?
Ⓚ Oh no, no. Actually, there is still more to the story. He diligently gathered the green plum fruits in June and went to deliver them to the house where she had married. Wishing her good health and hoping her family would enjoy the plums...
Ⓝ Eh, wait. Isn't that person—no, isn't that fox being too good? Doesn't that just make it impossible to forget when he wants to? Isn't it pathetic to be so full of lingering attachment?
Ⓚ Isn't it fine not to forget? A fox thinking of a fox. There is no lie in those feelings, right? I think he purely and faithfully wished for her happiness! He just really wanted to deliver those plums from their memories. Because those were the plums they had gathered together since they were little.
Ⓝ Hey, Mr. Wind. You're going to make me cry ( ；∀；). I want the little fox to be happy. Please do something for him!!
Ⓚ That autumn. Around the time the chestnuts ripened. She returned to the fox ♬
It seems she realized that one's own happiness isn't something for others to decide, but something to decide for oneself!! Good for them, good for them lol (It worked out somehow 💦 haha)
Ⓝ Oh! What a wonderful turn of events✨ As expected, you are made of kindness, Mr. Wind! I respect you. Maybe I'll try making plum juice this year too!
Ⓚ Please be sure to share some with me lol
(End)
I think I'll come back here again when the June plums are ready.
Nausicaa ᵃʳⁱᵍᵃᵗᵒ~(˘͈ᵕ ˘͈♡)ஐ:*