Episode 3: The Autumn-Colored Round House #TheEndOfTheSadAlien

At first, I thought it was an autumn-colored ball.
But as I got closer, I realized the ball was much larger than I had thought. And finally, I realized: this is a house.
After all, a man about my age came out of that big ball.
The weather was so nice this morning that I had come to the nearby forest for a walk. The man who came out of the ball-shaped house used tree branches to string up a rope and started hanging out his laundry. I looked away when he started hanging out his underwear, but I was convinced: this man definitely lives here.
But I was in a bind. I am a graduate student researching plants. I have a personality where I can't rest until I've thoroughly checked anything that piques my interest. To be honest, the man's face looked a bit like my favorite idol. Before I knew it, I couldn't take my eyes off him and couldn't move a single step.

"Who's there?"

It seems I had been discovered by the man. I had intended to watch him while hiding behind a small tree, but perhaps I was in plain sight to him. I wanted to at least convey that I wasn't a suspicious person.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to peek. My name is Midori Yamamoto, and I live in this neighborhood. I often take walks in the forest, and since there was such an unusual house, I just couldn't help but come and see it."
"Whoa, even if you say so much at once..."
"Oh, I'm sorry! I'm always like this. I end up rambling on one-sidedly, saying everything I think when something catches my interest, without any regard for the other person's convenience. Oh, look, there I go again! I'm truly sorry."
"You can stop with the 'I'm sorry's now. What do you do?"
"Me? I'm a researcher. Your way of speaking is a bit unusual, isn't it? Hehe."
"Is it?"

The man stopped talking after that. I might have made him angry. Because I said his way of speaking was unusual. Oh, what should I do? I want to know more about this man.

"Um, I'm sorry, did I make you feel uncomfortable?"
"...No, I don't feel bad. You don't have to say 'I'm sorry' anymore."
"Oh, I'm sorry! Oh, no, I won't say it anymore! Um, I still haven't heard your name. Could you tell me?"
"My name? My name is Mamoru."
"Mamoru-san. That's a nice name. What kanji do you write it with?"
"Kanji? ...Well, I guess it's the usual one."
"The usual one? If it's a common kanji, would it be the 'mamoru' from 'seme' (attack) and 'mamoru' (defend)?"
"Oh... yeah. That's fine."
"Hehehe, it's like you just decided that now. Mamoru-san, you're an interesting person."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I'd like for us to be friends."
"Friends? ...Well, I guess that's fine."
"Yay! I'm so happy. Thank you. I'm in a research profession and I'm introverted, so I don't have many friends. I don't have many opportunities to meet people either. I've been lonely because there are so few people to eat meals with."
"...Midori-san, you really do talk a lot at once."
"Ah! I'm sorry! I'll be careful! So please don't hate me."
"I don't hate you. It would help if you spoke a little bit at a time."
"Yes! I'll try to speak a little at a time! Can I come again?"
"...I suppose that's fine."
"Great! Then I'll come again. Goodbye."

Mamoru-san, who lives in an autumn-colored round house. Isn't that just wonderful? Am I the only one who thinks so?
No, it's fine, it's fine, even if no one else understands. It's enough for just me.
Oh, this feeling, it's been such a long time. I want to go see Mamoru-san again soon.

(1471 characters)

※ I participated in the White Bear Literature Club's prompt from two weeks ago 🙇‍♂️

I'm trying to write this as a series, and this is the third episode.
Once I can see a bit further ahead, I hope to upload it to Tales as well.

Komaki-san,
I'm sorry for always being late. I plan to catch up in about three episodes.

Thank you for your support.

#WhiteBearLiteratureClub
#ShortStory
#AutumnColor