Gatekeeper Rain Episode 25: Sure thing, son

Episode 25: "Sure thing, son"

Chirp, chirp.

The sound of small birds drifted faintly over the roof of the dormitory.

The morning was peaceful.

The late spring breeze was lightly brushing the dirt in front of the entrance.

That morning, Rain woke up easily.

He finished getting dressed as usual, ate breakfast, and stepped out the front door to head out on his patrol.

Well then, time to head out.

The dirt in front of the entrance.
The morning breeze.
The sound of the birds.

Everything should have been the same as always.

But, it was different.

Just ahead, something brown was lying there, rolled up.

(Huh...)

Rain stopped in his tracks.

The only reason it caught his eye so strangely was because it had a shape he felt he had seen somewhere recently.

It was a sense of déjà vu he didn't want to have.

(...Again?)

His hand moved reflexively toward his pocket.

He stopped it immediately.

He hadn't tripped, and he hadn't picked it up yet.

There was what happened last time.
Before picking it up, I should look around first.

Rain looked around the area just a little bit.

(No one here, good.)

After confirming that, he quietly crouched down and picked up the brown nut.

He placed it in his palm.
He adjusted his grip and gently shook it near his ear.

Clatter.

Something inside made a small sound.

It wasn't a wood carving.

It was just a real walnut.

(A real one. If it's real, what was I supposed to do again?)

Rain started to think that far, but immediately stopped himself.

If he thought too much, something would start again.

He had learned that last time.

With the walnut still in his palm, he looked around the area once more.

A nearby tree branch rustled.

A squirrel was sitting there, staring right at him.

It didn't run away, but moved its front paws just a little.

It almost looked like it was saying, 'Give it back.'

A real walnut.
Probably the squirrel's.

If so, there was no reason to take it.

Rain gently rolled the walnut toward the shade of a tree.

Roll.

He took a step back, deciding not to get involved any further.

He decided to leave it at that and let out a breath.

He felt like he had managed to dodge it well today.

That sense of relief was a mistake.

The usual village scenery flowed past Rain.

His patrol was already in its final stages.

He was about to pass through the street in front of the gate.

"Morning, Rain."

The voice of the greengrocer's mistress called out.

It was her usual voice.

"Good morning."

He could have replied normally and just kept walking.

But he found himself thinking he should buy something.

Maybe I should buy something for breakfast tomorrow.

Spring cabbages were lined up at the storefront.

The leaves looked soft, catching just a little bit of the morning light.

However, one head is quite large.

It is a bit too much to use for breakfast.

As he hesitated, the shopkeeper called out to him.

"Rain, if that's the case, shall I cut a little off for you? If you're putting it in your morning soup, this much should be fine."

It was the usual voice.

It was such a natural, caring voice.

"Then, just a little of that--"

Up to that point, it was normal.

The shopkeeper took a knife and sliced through the spring cabbage.

"There you go, that's for tomorrow morning's portion."

That voice slipped right in.

In that moment, Rain's mouth moved on its own.

"...Mom, that"

(Ah, I messed up.)

He said it.

He had said it.

A two-second pause.

The female owner of the greengrocer's smiled.

"Sure thing, son"

A reply came back as if nothing had happened.

Clink.

Episode 26: "The Warmth of Spring Cabbage"

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