Serialized Novel "Hina of the Heart: Sequel" Final Chapter: The Fairies

Previous ChapterChapter 1 Afterword

Hina had said it just a moment ago.

"You don't need to buy me those cute clothes you always get for me anymore."

I knew that a parting would come someday. I thought I had been prepared for it since the moment we met... but in reality, I wasn't prepared at all. Is it because it's autumn? I tried to force myself to be strong, telling myself it was just the changing of the seasons... but perhaps, deep down, I was mourning the parting with Hina.

The three fairies and Hina handed me a piece of paper.

"Please open it, Kokoro-sensei."

Hina's voice was calm and direct. As told, I unfolded the paper that had been folded into quarters.

It was a letter.

I gazed at the short words on the paper, one character at a time, over and over again.
I suddenly remember. Several years ago, I had put up a large "Hiragana Chart" on the lower part of the wall where the calendar was.
It wasn't that she intended to learn Katakana or Kanji, but it was Hina's wish to be able to read Hiragana. We read picture books every night, but little by little... as if tracing the growth process of a young child, Hina learned Hiragana.

The power that words possess.

The letters in my hand blurred. Various emotions overflowed one after another, permeating the kindness of Hina and the others. "Get strong"—those words were incredibly important to me. Because they were the last words I received from my master.

"Sensei..."

My tears dripped onto Hina's head, wetting her hair.

"Tha... you..."

My voice, which I had managed to squeeze out, was trembling, and I don't know if it was conveyed properly. Even so, not only Hina but the other fairies also gathered around, touching the "human tears" with curiosity and scooping them up with their hands, experiencing them for the first time.

"Human tears don't harden, do they?"
"This... it's warm..."
"Wow, it's so squishy!"

Everyone has a past. Within that past are beautiful memories and happy recollections, but also painful and sad things we'd rather forget. Daily life repeats itself as various things are tucked away in each person's memory box.
Although I faced many difficulties due to the environment I was born into, I am alive here "now" because I met my mentor and kind people who taught me things only I could do.
Saving the chick was also an important event.
I once saw a "tragic incident" on the news. An incident where someone was hurt after calling out to a person in need right in front of them. When things like this happen, people probably think this:

That one should not get involved with others unnecessarily.

Of course, since everyone has different values, perhaps it's inevitable that they think that way.
But I...
If there is someone in front of me in need, I cannot help but do something.

Just as I saved the chick. I will continue to do so without hesitation in the future.

If it were my mentor, he might arm himself to avoid being counterattacked before calling out to someone. That way, even if a knife were thrown, he wouldn't get stabbed. If it's a verbal counterattack, one can feel safe by setting up a shield in their heart.

Just as it is written in the letter.
I must become strong.
If I become strong and meet a patient like Mr. R, I will not give up on helping them heal.

"Thank you for sending such a warm letter to a human like me."

"Even saying 'human,' there are all sorts of humans, aren't there?"
Grin said with a grin.

"Thank you for the flowers, always! Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Suma! That's just because your stomach has been completely won over!"
"Eh? But, big brother, you're always drinking it saying how delicious it is, right?"
"That's true, but this is one of the ways an old guy can make amends!"
Raaf (since he said 'big brother,' they must be family) pointed out to the smiling Suma. Even at the orphanage where I lived when I was small, everyone used to talk about all sorts of things like this.

"Kokoro-sensei? As you can see, Suma doesn't hate you at all, and Grin and Raaf don't exactly hate you to death either!"

Hina said, tapping the fist I was clenching.
I had started planting herbs as a trial with a thick textbook in one hand, but I never dreamed it would lead to food for the fairies in this way.

Just as I cherish my memory pudding, I want them to cherish this backyard as well.

"Yes. I will continue to grow plenty of herbs as much as I can."

I said with a smile while wiping away the tears that had gathered at the corners of my eyes.
Hina's face lit up with a smile, as if a flower had bloomed.

Winter comes, frost descends, and life slows its pace.
Savoring the stillness, slowly and gently, the days turn toward a season of vibrant color.

Spring.

The plump buds, which had been awaited with such longing, begin to sprout all at once. The land, rich in nature, fills with dazzling colors.

I, Towako Kanou, have come to the depths of the forest for the first time in a while.

I had disciplined myself never to come here again, but suddenly I felt an urge to see him, so I asked my secretary and traveled all the way here from the city. Now, what kind of face should I wear to meet him?

There was some distance from the road to Kokoro Okuno's clinic. Perhaps it rained a little yesterday, or maybe it was just wet with morning dew because it's a forest, but my pumps were instantly covered in mud. I was glad I had chosen a pair without heels, but I reaffirmed that I could never live in such great nature.

"I suppose it's been a few years since we last met..."

I committed a grave sin in the past. I wanted the power of the fairies so much that I lost myself and tried to capture the fairy Okuno kept. I failed to capture it and ended up injuring Okuno himself. And with a wound deep enough to be fatal, at that...
I shudder at the memory and shake my head.
From there, I talked with Okuno, laid bare the depths of my heart, screamed, sobbed, and spewed out truly terrifying filth, only to be unexpectedly and neatly sorted out and brought back to the surface. All the while, Okuno responded in the same steady tone... despite being a mere youngster. As someone more than a decade his senior, he was a person I found somewhat heavy-hearted to meet.

No, no. Okuno shouldn't be someone I direct my competitive spirit toward.

I rang the doorbell, but there was no response.
Today was supposed to be a day off. In my busy daily life, I often end up coming here without an appointment.
But in truth, one could say I refrain from making appointments.

I believe that not even a speck of dust should remain as evidence that I am meeting with Okuno... or by extension, the fairy fledgling.

"Well, it is a day off, after all... he might have gone out to do some shopping..."

Abandoning the method of hunting fairies while simultaneously searching for something that would be an effective medicine for the human body and mind was the height of difficulty. It wasn't something that could be resolved in a few years. I just hope I can see a glimmer of hope while I'm still alive... I can only sigh.

"Oh, come on. Okuno! ...The souvenir is going to go bad."

I crossed my arms in front of my chest and gritted my teeth. Just as I stepped off the porch, thinking I should give up and go back to work, I heard a voice coming from the dense area in the back.

"...What?"

There are bugs in places full of plants. I'm not good with spiders or springtails. However, having a personality with more curiosity than the average person... I timidly approached the place where the hedge-like grass towered high.

Rustle.

There was a gap in the wall of plants just wide enough for a person to pass through, and from there, I could look into the space beyond. Inside was a cozy garden, and in the distance, colorful flowers were blooming in dense clusters.

No way...!

I stared at the scene with wide eyes. In the garden, first of all, Okuno was standing there wearing a straw hat, a white short-sleeved shirt, and work gloves, and beyond him, many butterflies were fluttering about. Some butterflies were on the ground. I wondered if there were chicks too, and as I strained my eyes to look closer and closer, I realized that everything I thought were butterflies were actually fairies.

No way...!!!!!!

The bag of souvenirs slipped from my hand, and the garden was thrown into an uproar by the sound of my voice and the luggage hitting the ground. Okuno turned around to face me, looking slightly surprised. This man is truly hard to read.

The fairies in the garden scattered all at once like spiders, and just as I thought they were flying into the sky, they all clung to Okuno's back to hide.

Only the flightless chick sat on Okuno's shoulder, looking at me with a slightly surprised expression.

Silence.

I had been nothing but surprised since a moment ago. I didn't care about the souvenirs on the ground. Okuno took a deep breath while facing me. It was a familiar action to me.

Why is it familiar?

It is because I, like Okuno, am a person who possesses the nature of being able to know the 'heart' and 'emotions' of those I touch.

Why doesn't Okuno collapse?

That was truly a mystery to me.

When I come into contact with a variety of people, the more there are, the more emotions flow into me. This is truly equivalent to violence. Emotions are shoved into me, leaving me unable to resist, tossed about, and beaten down to the point where I cannot fight back. Taking a deep breath is one way to calm myself down. If I empty my mind and breathe, I can often manage to hold on.

Why isn't Okuno collapsing now? Even though so many fairies are touching his back.

Long time no see, Towako Kano-sama. You seem to have a surprised look on your face.

Just as he did in the past when he treated me with rough methods, Okuno greeted me with a smile.

"When spring comes and the flowers begin to bloom, something appears. For me, it's something that's a bit of a nuisance when it shows up. Does anyone know what it is?"

　Me! Me! The fairies in front of me were waving their hands, trying hard to answer. What is this situation? I'm a doctor, not a school teacher.
　Tilting my head, I called on Grin. He had been raising his hand with a grin on his face, too.

"Bugs!!!"
"Ah, bugs appear too, yes. But, I'm sorry to say, bugs appearing doesn't bother me. Bugs are necessary for the pollination of flowers..."

　Me! Me! The fairies interrupted me, waving their hands. Changing my mindset, I called on Raf.

"Weeds!!!"
"That's correct."

　I was trying to teach the fairies how to grow herbs by turning it into a riddle. It's because I hope that even after my lifespan ends, they will be able to survive by using the flowers here as food.
　For some reason, Hina seems to know that feeling. It's not that I should do everything for them. Even if this backyard is managed now, when I get old or when the situation eventually demands it, they will have to live on their own strength.

　Given the strange name 'Dr. Heart's Herb Class' (Hina's idea), we decided to hold lessons on my days off. What I wanted to convey to them on this day was...

"Let's pull the weeds!"

　That was it.

　Maybe I should have just said that from the start. But it's better if they feel it's necessary rather than feeling like they're being made to do it.

　I made a schedule for weeding.

　The day of the operation.
　Now, Towako Kano was standing in front of me.

"It's been a while, Towako Kano. You look a bit surprised."

　She seemed more haggard than before. But since the look of genuine surprise and the 'thorny' atmosphere she had faintly worn when we last parted had somewhat disappeared, I imagined that she might be living more in accordance with her heart.

　Hmm, my back is itching and ticklish. Before I knew it, the number of weeding participants had increased significantly, and today I spent about an hour pulling weeds in the garden. That's how many fairies are touching my back right now.

　Because they are touching me, well, it's only natural, but their 'emotions' are flowing into me.

　——Hatred, fear, anxiety, impatience, curiosity, doubt

I braced myself, thinking I might faint from the sheer number of them.

But in reality, I did not faint. There was no nausea, and I remained here in a perfectly calm state of mind.

The heart of the Hina perched on my shoulder flowed into me. While there was a sense of 'astonishment,' there were no negative emotions at all; instead, I felt nostalgia, encouragement, and affection... that is what those emotions seemed to be.

I was very happy that Hina was not connecting the painful events of the past with the Kanatowako before her, but was simply viewing them as facts.
I realized that Hina had become strong.

“Kokoro-sensei, are you alright?”

Hina spoke words of concern for me. By hearing Hina's words, I was able to detach the emotions flowing from my back from my consciousness.

“I am fine. Thank you, Hina.”

I whispered softly.
I was truly alright now. Although this situation was a first in my life, and I never expected so many emotions to flow into me, I did not lose consciousness, and my awareness remained intact.

I lifted the corners of my mouth gently.

I have been saved by Hina many times.
Helping and being helped, and the separation that will surely come one day—...

But even after I first met the surviving fairies, Hina continues to live with me at my house just as before, rather than with them. She rides on my shoulder, sometimes just poking her face out of my pocket, and we spend the same time together.

“I honestly thought you would go with Suma and the others, Hina.”

One day, I voiced my honest impression. Hina widened her eyes and said:

“Eh? I have never thought of such a thing!”
“Is that so? But you did say you didn't need any more clothes as gifts, didn't you?”
“Yes, because I have the clothes I have received until now, and that is enough.”

Hina covered her small mouth with her hand and chuckled.

“I wonder why, but it seems I have started to find it hard to think of things I want, just like you, Kokoro-sensei. There are so many happy and important things right in front of me. Just being with you, Kokoro-sensei, is enough to satisfy me.”

Ignoring Kanato’s dumbfounded expression, Hina, the fairies, and I started the work of pulling weeds again. Hina, who had become much more agile compared to when we first met, began to pull the 'strong' weeds with 'strength,' putting all her might into it.

Hina has truly become strong.

I, too, must become much, much stronger.

The weed Hina is trying to pull out right now seems to be quite a tricky one. It must have deep roots, because even with her feet planted firmly, it doesn't look like it will come out at all. One by one, the fairies come to help, but even then, it won't budge.

“Kokoro-sensei...”
“Yes?”

Hina turned around with a troubled look on her face.
I adjusted my worn-out work gloves and rushed over to Hina to do something about that weed, which was as tough as a master.

(The End)
Thank you so much for reading until the very end!

Afterword is here
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