<Picture Book> mozomozo③

"Just because you can't see something, does that mean it doesn't exist? I don't think so."

The cat spoke toward the bottom of the sea, which was full of holes.
"Hey, mozomozo. Can you hear me? You see... the plants on the island where I live have withered. My friend the tree told me it's because you're angry. Why are you so angry?"
"..."
There was no reply.
"If you stay silent, I won't understand."
"..."
Still, there was no reply.

The cat stayed quietly silent and touched the bottom of the sea.

Then, inside the cat's heart,
he felt feelings of anger, loneliness, sadness, and pain
welling up more and more.

"I see. You're angry because so many holes have been poked into your body, aren't you?"

"It must have been painful and hard. You've been holding it in all this time without saying a word."
The cat stroked the bumpy bottom of the sea.
"That's right, the tree said this leaf could heal a wounded body."
The cat untied the string on his tail and took the leaf in his hand.
"I'll give this to you. I hope it heals the wounds on your body."
The leaf fluttered down into a hole at the bottom of the sea.
"Oh no! Without the leaf, I won't be able to breathe... Oh dear."

The cat collapsed right there.

Then, the ground began to move little by little.

Mozo mozo mozomozo mozo mozomozo

When the cat came to, he was lying limp under the tree in the middle of the island.
The tree, whose leaves had turned yellow, spoke while crying.
"I'm glad you woke up."
The cat said in a small, thin voice,
"You know, I met 'mozomozo.' I gave it your green leaf. So, everything is okay now, right?"
And then, he smiled.

The island came back to life. Both the tree and the cat are doing well.
The island grew even bigger, and there are more friends now.

The End

Thank you for reading.

<Picture Book> mozo mozo①｜toga.shi｜note
<Picture Book> mozo mozo②｜toga.shi｜note
<Picture Book> About mozo mozo: Preface｜toga.shi｜note