Will Sprout's Card story – Blessings of Nature

[kozvme]

Will: ~~~♪

(This flower has grown quite a lot. The peduncle has also gotten firmer, so maybe it's time to put it in a wider pot. Since I have tomorrow off, maybe I'll check out the pots at the shopping mallー

Hm? It's a message from mom. Let's see...

「Our business partner, "Récolte(1) Farm", asked us to help them with their crops this year as well. If you don't mind, I'd like you to lend them a hand...」

Right. It's that season already. The vegetables harvested at "Récolte Farm" are really delicious.

Sure. I've got tomorrow off, so I'll go help them... and sent.

Ah, but... every year I always go there alone and it's pretty rough. Maybe I should ask Akira if he wants to help.
He should still be training with Oscar-san. It's urgent, so the earlier the better.)

Will: (Nice. He was really hereー
Huh? Ren and Marion-san are here, too. A joint training, maybe?
T- The mood isn't the best, though. Are those two fighting again?)

Akira: ......

Ren: ......

Akira: I've hit more.

Ren: ... I'm telling you /I/ have hit more. You're so persistent.

Oscar & Marion: ......

Akira: I shot down far more drones than you! Don’t just say whatever!

Ren: You too. What basis do you have for saying that when the data is missing...?

Akira: Bring it back, then. We'll see who's hit more.

Ren: Haven't I been telling you I can't because the machine does not work? You technoklutz...

Akira: Say whaaat!?

Oscar: Y- You two, it's about time you stopー

Marion: Stop butting into every little quarrel.

Oscar: Still...

Marion: What a waste of time. This is no elementary school.

Oscar: That is true, however, if someone doesn't stop them...

Will: (This is bad... At this rate it'll get ugly even for Oscar-san...)

U- Uhm, excuse me, Oscar-san!

Oscar: Will?

Will: I'm sorry for interrupting your training, but there's something I have to ask Akira.
Ren's here, too, I see. Perfect. I have a favor to ask you both.

Akira: What...?

Will: Mom just sent me a message. I'm going to help a farm out of town harvest tomorrow. Do you want to come with me?

Akira & Ren: ......

Will: I'm sorry this is sudden, but they're short on people...

Oscar: If you don't mind, I can help.

Will: ! Really? That'd be great, Oscar-san.

Oscar: You should come too, Akira. Working in the fields uses muscles you don't usually use, so it'll be a worthwhile exercise.

Akira: ... Sure, whatever.

Will: Nice. Thanks, Akira.

Oscar: Are we harvesting vegetables?

Will: Yes. Récolte Farm grows flowers and vegetables but around this time of the year every year I help them harvest vegetables.

Marion: Récolte Farm...?

Will: I always get vegetables as a thank you, they're super delicious!

Marion: Hey, Will... Can I come help out too?

Will: Eh- You too, Marion-san?

Marion: Nova wants the vegetables from that farm. To make sweets, he said. So, if it's okay...

Will: Ah, if that's the case then, by all means!

Marion: Thanks.
You're coming too, Ren.

Ren: ...... I...

Will: Can't you come, too, Ren? The more manpower the better.

Ren: ......

Marion: Ren...

Ren: Okay...

Will: Thank you! Let's meet at the tower entrance tomorrow morning and go together!

Akira: Morning? Ain't there someone here who sleeps through his alarms?

Ren: Shut it... You still want to go?

Will: Wai-... Come on now!

Akira & Ren: ......

Will: (Those two never change...)

ーThe next day.



Will: Aaah~ I'm glad there's nice weather. The air feels great~.

Marion: I was expecting nothing less from Récolte Farm. The plants look fresh.

Will: That's right. I really love this farmー

Akira: W-... The heck's that thing on that truck...!?

Will: Huh- Oh, that's a vegetable.

Oscar: Vegetable...? That is...

Akira: Humongous! There ain't no vegetable like that!

Marion: You didn't know? Vegetables from Récolte Farm are renowned for their sweetness and size.

Ren: ... This isn't a substance doing?

Will: The farm was built before substances appeared. It seems the vegetables grow big due to the soil components and sunlight. You can see similar phenomena in other areas as well.

Marion: Nova said it's rare to come across those large vegetables on the market and they appear at fairs only a few times a year. It's also my first time seeing the real thing.

Oscar: I can only imagine how hard harvesting must be, looking at that size.

Will: That's right. They also take more time harvesting than normal sized vegetables, so let's get to work right away.

Oscar: Got it.

Will: (Waah, they've grown so big this year as well. The turnips seem to be especially abundant. They have a nice color and are heavy. They're overflowing with vitality, somehow I feel like they're recharging me. ♪
How are Akira and Ren doing? I hope they're getting along todayー)

Akira: Look at this, Ren! This voltage max turnip I harvested!!

Ren: Isn't that... normal? My turnip is bigger.

Akira: Haah!? Ain't your eyesight getting worse from all the books you're reading? MINE is bigger, obviously!

Ren: I could say the same to you. Go get your eyes checked at the medical office. If you look at the length of the leaves and root, it's obvious that mine is bigger.

Will: Come on you two! You're fighting again...

Akira: Don't you stop me, Will!

Ren: I haven't done anything. He's the one snapping at me...

Akira: Wh- Don't fuck with me! I mean youー

Will: Okay, enough of that. Observe and learn from Oscar-san and Marion-san. See how seriously they're harvesting... Hm?

Oscar: Huff!
Oh, this is quite big.

Marion: ...... Heh~
Huff...!
Not bad...

Oscar: !

Oscar & Marion: ......

Will: (Huh...? Something feels off...?)

Oscar & Marion: ......

Will: (T- They're not saying anything, but they're also competing against each other...!?
What do I do... I was not expecting this...)

Akira: I ain't gonna lose either! I'll find you an even bigger turnip!

Ren: ......

Akira: Oi, Ren! Don't try to steal a march on me!

Ren: I was not. Now shut up. You're in the way.

Akira: YOU are in the way! You're always copying me...

Oscar: ... I'll go over that field.

Marion: I'll go over there.

Will: (Sigh... What do I do...)

Akira: UWOAAAAH!!?!? THE HECK'S THIS!!!!

Will: ! What's wrong, Akira!?



Akira: Look at this, Will! A monstrous turnip!

Will: (T- This is...)

Ren: This is not your average size, isn't it? All the other turnips around look small in comparison...

Akira: Alright! I found this first so I'll pull it out!

Ren: Oi, I found it first. I'll do it.

Will: Wait a second, you two. There is no way you can pull such a big turnip on your own.

Akira: Only one way to find out, right?

Will: It's already obvious to me, considering all the experience I have. You won't pull it out even if you try, Akira.

Akira: ......
How about the 3 of us do it together, then?

Ren: !

Will: No, that won't do either. We'll need Oscar-san and Marion-san's help too here.

Ren: ... Okay. I'll call them.

Akira: Me too!

Oscar: This is...

Marion: It's like the lord of the field...

Will: I think this will be a arduous task. Let's work together and pull it out in one go.

Akira: We're ready here, Will.

Ren: On your count.

Oscar: Whenever you're ready.

Marion: Same here.

Will: Thank you. Okay then, here we go-



Ready...!



Will: Sorry for the wait. Here's the turnip miso soup Oscar-san and I made ♪

Marion: Is this okay? You even invited us...

Will: But of course. And I wanted to thank you for your help. Besides, this is the turnip we all picked together.

Marion: Thank you. Help yourselves to the turnip cake Nova made.

Will: Waah, thank you very much! I'll cut it right away!

Akira: Here, Ren. Your bowl of miso soup.

Ren: Yeah...

Akira: ......
Listen...
I'm sorry for competing against you over dumb things. And about yesterday, too...

Ren: ... No, I've also said too much.

Akira: ! W- What, you're awfully honest today... What's up? Caught a fever?

Ren: ......
I take it all back. You're totally in the wrong. It's all on you, idiot.

Akira: Haah!? Did you just call me idiot!?

Will: Enough you two. Here, the turnip cake Dr. Nova baked. I've cut it, so help yourselves.

Oscar: To make a cake out of turnips... Dr. Nova must know his way around the kitchen, huh.

Ren: He made both sweet and savoury cakes.

Marion: This much is no problem for Nova.

Oscar: Amazing...

Marion: ......
I will reflect on it, too...

Oscar: What's wrong?

Marion: ... I mean, I competed against you when we gathered crops, and my actions set a terrible example for the rookies.

Oscar: I, too... have been thinking about my shameful behavior in response.
I have to apologize to you too, Will.

Will: Eh-...

Marion: Sorry... and I was the one asking if I could help...

Will: W- What are you saying...! It's thanks to you two if we finished harvesting faster than usual!
The owner of the farm was also grateful. They want you to help out next year as well.

Oscar: That so...

Marion: If the offer comes around, let me know. I'll definitely help out.

Will: Of course.

Akira: Will, this turnip miso soup is hella good! Can I get some more?

Ren: Me too...

Will: There is still a lot left! Dive in ♪

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Notes: 

1. Récolte is the French word for harvest, crop.