Will Sprout's Card story – Not Alone

[kozvme]

 

Will: (Patrol is over, maybe I'll stop at Little Tokyo before going home since it's been a while.
And I haven't eaten Akabeko manjuu recently...
I might find new wagashi, too. Fufu, I can't waitー)

Sound of cats: Meow~

Will: ......!



Cats: Meow~ meow~

Will: (The cats are so loud...
But they're not hissing... they're purringー)

Ren: Is it good? I have more of it, so take your time to eat.

Will: Ren...?

Ren: !!

Will: ーI see. So you came to feed these kitties.

Ren: ... I just learned recently that there are many stray cats here.
I had a feeling someone was feeding them from time to time, but was it you, Will?

Will: Yes, I do that sometimes. But I've also been feeding them since very recently...

Cats: Meow~ ♪

Ren: ... They sure are sociable for strays.

Will: Fufu. Someone looks happy.

Ren: Wh...

Will: You've always loved cats, right?
That reminds me, you were taking care of a cat at the tower not long ago, right? A serval, if I remember correctly?

Ren: Yeah... I temporarily looked after one that escaped from the zoo.

Will: It was a big cat, huh? It even jumped on Akira's face... 
It went back to the zoo, right? Do you still go visit it?

Ren: Perhaps.

Will: Huh... You don't?

Ren: ... I don't have a reason to.

Will: Aren't you worried?

Ren: Even if I don't go check on it, I'm sure it's living happily... I'm not worried.

Will: I see... Its family is there, it has a roof over its head and food, nothing is giving it trouble either.
Fufu, you're so kind, Ren. It's not like you don't care, you're actually thinking about its happiness.

Ren: That's not...

Will: You don't have to deny it. I also understand well that feeling...

Ren: ...?

Will: Aah, right. Is Wrestler doing okay?
It's a conspicuously big and gluttonous cat; the other day it got into a fight and was injured, so I brought it to a clinic. 
Ah! There it is. Looks like it's diligently eating its food. Good, good...

Ren: ......
Will... you've always worried about others, no matter who it is.

Will: ... Huh?

Ren: It's a given that you worry and take care of Akira... but you acted that way .
When I fought with Akira, of course, but also when I got lost, when I fell and when I got injured... You've always worried about me, called out to me.
Even when my family died...

Will: ......

Ren: I worried you so much... and yet, I've never responded to that.
I feel bad.

Will: ...! Don't think like that, of course I'd worry about you...
Or rather, I should be the one saying that, my feelings alone weren't helpful at all, I was just spinning my wheels...
And consequently... my behavior at the time only ended up hurting Akira...

Ren: ......
I wasn't able to respond properly, but I understood well enough that you were worried.
The fact is... I know for sure that I was saved by your existence.

Will: Eh...

Ren: Your parents and Akira's... Akira himself, too...
I think I was able to make it through that situation because there was always someone around me, I was never alone.

Will: Ren...

Ren: ......

Will: I didn't think I'd hear such thoughts coming from you.
Your words right now touched my heart... Thanks, Ren.



Ren: No... I talked a bit too much.
For some reason, I tend to run my mouth when I'm with you.

Will: Fufu, It's fine if you talk to me more. ♪

Ren: ...... It's about time I return to the tower.

Will: That's too bad...
Oh, right. I was thinking to stop at Little Tokyo for a bit, so, if you're okay with that, do you want to come along, Ren?
I'm going to go to some Japanese sweets shops, so it might be a bit boring for you, but... 

Ren: Little Tokyo, huh...
Can we stop at Chinatown, too? ... I want to eat again the cat mantou I had before.

Will: Cat mantou? What is that, some confectionary name?

Ren: It's like a manjuu, but there's nothing inside.
But, I'm sure there are many different kinds, so there'll probably something to your liking.

Will: Waah, really?

Ren: But there's a problem...

Will: ?

Ren: ... I'm not sure I can get us to the shop.

Will: ...!
Then leave it to me. I'll look for the way on my phone.

Ren: Is that right...

Will: Fufu, I'm so happy. It's been a while since I spent my time leisurely with you.
Oookay, let's go, Ren. ♪