[ooc] Adventure Story text: Chapter 5
last one for today
"You get the feeling that it's deep into autumn when gentian flowers bloom."
I looked back at Reese's voice as I walked, kicking the falling leaves.
"Yeah. It's gonna start snowing soon."
"Mm-hm. They even say November is snow waiting month."
"Is that so? You sure are smart."
"No, it's nothing like that. I've never seen snow, so I'm really looking forward to it. I just thought of 'snow waiting month', because it seemed appropriate."
"When it snows, Grandma makes me shovel the snow off the roof. I don't look forward to it that much."
"Aha. I guess living in snow country has its own problems."
Reese laughed and shrugged his shoulders.
"...!"
Then his smile suddenly froze.
"Hm? What is it?"
I tracked his line of sight as his lips trembled.
"...!"
Focusing my eyes on it, I gasped. Reese was looking at the headlines on the station news stand.
The headline read, 'Popular Pianist Kareena F. In Love with Slayheim Orchestra Violinist?'
"You look exactly like your mother, Kareena Farlain," Violetta's words from some time ago crossed in my head. Could it be...? I quietly peeked at Reese's face. Ugh...his big eyes were all misty. I couldn't stand watching him so sad.
"You wanna go see the snowplow that's inside the station engine house?"
Mission failed...I didn't want to make it seem like sympathy, but it came out too blunt. As I clicked my tongue, looking off the side, Reese rubbed his eyes and smiled gently.
"I've never seen...a snowplow."
"All right, then. Good timing. Although it would've been better if we can see it moving. It's got a pointy head and shoves all the snow off flying, like this. It's really cool!"
I kind of over exaggerated it (I'm not good at explaining, okay?), but continued to describe it to Reese.
"Really? It makes me want it to snow even more...Oh?"
Reese stopped walking again.
"Hey, Jack. Isn't that Marivel?"
Reese pulled his hands out from his pocket, and pointed towards the station platform.
"You sure? Why would she come here?"
"Over there. You see?"
"You're right..."
There's no mistaking that strange costume.
"What are you doing, Marivel?"
"Oh, it's you two. A friend I made over shortwave radio owns a cottage near this town. We promised to meet when she comes over to see the crimson foliage."
"Hmmm. Is she a girl?" Reese asked casually.
"Yes, she's a girl just like me."
"Uh, a girl just like you...?"
"What is it Jack? Do you have a problem with that?"
"Uh, well..."
I continued to say 'no,' but the steam whistle blew over my words.
Marivel waved her hand at one of the passengers getting off of the train. "You there! You must be Anastasia?"
Hearing her named called, the lady turned around slowly. Her long black hair gently swayed, and I smelt a nice fragrance. She was a beautiful young lady, about three years older than me. The beauty mark under her eye makes me, uh, my heart thump. I tried to hold myself while my heart beat loudly.
"Yes. You must be Marivel?"
"I didn't expect you to really come in a costume," she continued. Marivel smirked.
"Oh, yes. These two are my followers. This is Jack and Reese."
"Followers?" Reese whispered, and crinkled his nose. Taking no heed of him, Marivel continued.
"They insisted on being your guides today. Use them to your heart's content."
Isn't she going too far? But...when I was greeted by a smile from this beautiful girl in a white coat, the brusque words from Marivel disappeared from my head.
"Um...ah..Nice to meet you."
"Oh, my. Don't be so nervous. You're making me nervous, too," Miss Anastasia laughed jokingly.
"Nice to meet you, too."
"Y-Yes."
Me and Reese nodded up and down, saw each other's cheeks blushed red, and felt really embarrassed.
"I'll leave the planning up to you two."
Miss Anastasia looked down at us with apparent enjoyment as she exchanged a meaningful glance with Marivel. Hmm, something smells fishy, but I'll just let it go.
So after a small discussion with Reese, "How does a picnic by a nice stream sound? There's a great view of the town's trademark drawbridge, too." That was the plan we came up with.
Miss Anastasia gave us a nice smile, and patted our shoulders in approval.
"Yes, That's a wonderful plan. Let's go."
We turned our backs to the station and walked off.
---
"Isn't it too cold for you?"
Although the weather was nice, it's already late autumn. The cold might be too sharp for people from the city.
"If it's about me, there's no need to worry. The nice sun will warm me up."
Scones, sandwiches, and apple pies arranged on the mat rolled luscious scents that increased our appetites.
"My, they look delicious!!" Miss Anastasia laughed appreciatively.
"Chow down!"
And off to the food we went.
"You really do eat a lot..."
"Buth ith tho gooth," said Miss Anastasia, while she bit into the egg sandwich.
"I'm flattered if you say so. We picked the eggs in that sandwich from the chicken that me and my uncle look after."
"Ohh, so it's direct from the Reese family. Yes, it's really good," Miss Anastasia replied gleefully to Reese. Attracted by her smile, Reese also smiled happily. He's usually the
bashful type, but it looks like Miss Anastasia had the upper hand on him.
"Hey, isn't that?"
I saw the Bubka sisters coming from the side road of the bridge with a basket in hand.
Finding us, Violetta came running down the hill raising a shrill voice until...she quieted down and her blue eyes opened wide, finding Reese talking cheerfully with Miss Anastasia.
(Uh-oh, we've been found...) I had a bad feeling about this...
"Is something wrong, Jack?"
"No, it's nothing."
I was caught a little off guard, and returned a taut smile.
"Ahh, that was so delicious."
As she rubbed her tummy in delight, she started to nibble on the sweets that Marivel brought us today.
"How can you still be hungry!?"
"Hee hee...you know what they say. Sweets go to a different tummy!"
"Besides...," she continued, taking Reese's hands, "You two have to eat more. Especially you, Reese. Your wrists are so thin."
"Uh..." Reese flushed red, and froze like a picture.
Not noticing, Miss Anastasia skimmed over Reese's fine fingers. "Oh? Do you play the violin, Reese?"
"Y-Yes I do." Reese nodded nervously.
"That's what I thought. I'm learning how to play, too. Look, we have calluses at the same spot."
Right then, a shadow came over me. I looked up and saw a blue ribbon swinging in front of me.
"Good day...how do you do?"
Violetta was smiling...with fixed eyes that scared the living daylights out of me.
"Fine, thank you. This is a wonderful town," Miss Anastasia replied nonchalantly, as if she didn't notice anything.
"Tourist? You don't seem to be a relative of Reese's."
"Yes, she is, but...Violetta, that's a rude way to say it."
Violetta's eyes slanted up. "What? Are you telling me that an occasional tourist is more important than your own classmate?"
"That's not what I mean, Violetta. You understand, don't you?"
(Ohhh, Reese you fool. You're only going to fire her up even more...)
Marivel and I exchanged glances in suspense. Violetta put her hands to her hips and cornered Reese.
"That's what I meant. Didn't you feel anything when she pawed your hand so indecently?"
"I-Indecently?"
Reese was bewildered by the word that may not have even existed in his world.
"That's right. She kept fondling your hand." Violetta pointed her chin up and glared challengingly at Miss Anastasia.
But Miss Anastasia still had the upper hand in every respect. She gently warded Violetta's glare
and replied with a smile, "Uh huh, yours truly is a very kinky land," she said, as if it were nothing. Then she approached the stunned Violetta and whispered something into her ears.
"..."
Leaving behind Violetta, who looked taken aback, Miss Anastasia took her coat and stood up. "It's about time for my train home. Thank you all for everything today. It was so much fun."
"We'll see you off to the station."
Watching us stand up in a hurry, she titteringly bowed her head.
"In that case, I'd be obliged."
The lights of the train heading into the mountain gradually grew smaller and disappeared into the afterlight. Lowering the hand that I was waving, I look towards Marivel and whispered into her ear.
"I wonder what Miss Anastasia said to Violetta?"
"What? Did you expect that I'd overhear the conversation with my hearing?"
Marivel glanced at me with an amazed look. I nodded, as I blushed red for the umpteenth time today. Marivel shrugged her shoulders and pushed the hood off her head. Brushing her ruffled hair back, "Well I guess I can tell you. What she said was..."
"Was?"
"If you really like him, be more honest with yourself."
"Ahh. That explains it..."
As I nodded deeply, Marivel sighed and left me with riddling words.
"I wish she would have said those words to you as well."
"You get the feeling that it's deep into autumn when gentian flowers bloom."
I looked back at Reese's voice as I walked, kicking the falling leaves.
"Yeah. It's gonna start snowing soon."
"Mm-hm. They even say November is snow waiting month."
"Is that so? You sure are smart."
"No, it's nothing like that. I've never seen snow, so I'm really looking forward to it. I just thought of 'snow waiting month', because it seemed appropriate."
"When it snows, Grandma makes me shovel the snow off the roof. I don't look forward to it that much."
"Aha. I guess living in snow country has its own problems."
Reese laughed and shrugged his shoulders.
"...!"
Then his smile suddenly froze.
"Hm? What is it?"
I tracked his line of sight as his lips trembled.
"...!"
Focusing my eyes on it, I gasped. Reese was looking at the headlines on the station news stand.
The headline read, 'Popular Pianist Kareena F. In Love with Slayheim Orchestra Violinist?'
"You look exactly like your mother, Kareena Farlain," Violetta's words from some time ago crossed in my head. Could it be...? I quietly peeked at Reese's face. Ugh...his big eyes were all misty. I couldn't stand watching him so sad.
"You wanna go see the snowplow that's inside the station engine house?"
Mission failed...I didn't want to make it seem like sympathy, but it came out too blunt. As I clicked my tongue, looking off the side, Reese rubbed his eyes and smiled gently.
"I've never seen...a snowplow."
"All right, then. Good timing. Although it would've been better if we can see it moving. It's got a pointy head and shoves all the snow off flying, like this. It's really cool!"
I kind of over exaggerated it (I'm not good at explaining, okay?), but continued to describe it to Reese.
"Really? It makes me want it to snow even more...Oh?"
Reese stopped walking again.
"Hey, Jack. Isn't that Marivel?"
Reese pulled his hands out from his pocket, and pointed towards the station platform.
"You sure? Why would she come here?"
"Over there. You see?"
"You're right..."
There's no mistaking that strange costume.
"What are you doing, Marivel?"
"Oh, it's you two. A friend I made over shortwave radio owns a cottage near this town. We promised to meet when she comes over to see the crimson foliage."
"Hmmm. Is she a girl?" Reese asked casually.
"Yes, she's a girl just like me."
"Uh, a girl just like you...?"
"What is it Jack? Do you have a problem with that?"
"Uh, well..."
I continued to say 'no,' but the steam whistle blew over my words.
Marivel waved her hand at one of the passengers getting off of the train. "You there! You must be Anastasia?"
Hearing her named called, the lady turned around slowly. Her long black hair gently swayed, and I smelt a nice fragrance. She was a beautiful young lady, about three years older than me. The beauty mark under her eye makes me, uh, my heart thump. I tried to hold myself while my heart beat loudly.
"Yes. You must be Marivel?"
"I didn't expect you to really come in a costume," she continued. Marivel smirked.
"Oh, yes. These two are my followers. This is Jack and Reese."
"Followers?" Reese whispered, and crinkled his nose. Taking no heed of him, Marivel continued.
"They insisted on being your guides today. Use them to your heart's content."
Isn't she going too far? But...when I was greeted by a smile from this beautiful girl in a white coat, the brusque words from Marivel disappeared from my head.
"Um...ah..Nice to meet you."
"Oh, my. Don't be so nervous. You're making me nervous, too," Miss Anastasia laughed jokingly.
"Nice to meet you, too."
"Y-Yes."
Me and Reese nodded up and down, saw each other's cheeks blushed red, and felt really embarrassed.
"I'll leave the planning up to you two."
Miss Anastasia looked down at us with apparent enjoyment as she exchanged a meaningful glance with Marivel. Hmm, something smells fishy, but I'll just let it go.
So after a small discussion with Reese, "How does a picnic by a nice stream sound? There's a great view of the town's trademark drawbridge, too." That was the plan we came up with.
Miss Anastasia gave us a nice smile, and patted our shoulders in approval.
"Yes, That's a wonderful plan. Let's go."
We turned our backs to the station and walked off.
---
"Isn't it too cold for you?"
Although the weather was nice, it's already late autumn. The cold might be too sharp for people from the city.
"If it's about me, there's no need to worry. The nice sun will warm me up."
Scones, sandwiches, and apple pies arranged on the mat rolled luscious scents that increased our appetites.
"My, they look delicious!!" Miss Anastasia laughed appreciatively.
"Chow down!"
And off to the food we went.
"You really do eat a lot..."
"Buth ith tho gooth," said Miss Anastasia, while she bit into the egg sandwich.
"I'm flattered if you say so. We picked the eggs in that sandwich from the chicken that me and my uncle look after."
"Ohh, so it's direct from the Reese family. Yes, it's really good," Miss Anastasia replied gleefully to Reese. Attracted by her smile, Reese also smiled happily. He's usually the
bashful type, but it looks like Miss Anastasia had the upper hand on him.
"Hey, isn't that?"
I saw the Bubka sisters coming from the side road of the bridge with a basket in hand.
Finding us, Violetta came running down the hill raising a shrill voice until...she quieted down and her blue eyes opened wide, finding Reese talking cheerfully with Miss Anastasia.
(Uh-oh, we've been found...) I had a bad feeling about this...
"Is something wrong, Jack?"
"No, it's nothing."
I was caught a little off guard, and returned a taut smile.
"Ahh, that was so delicious."
As she rubbed her tummy in delight, she started to nibble on the sweets that Marivel brought us today.
"How can you still be hungry!?"
"Hee hee...you know what they say. Sweets go to a different tummy!"
"Besides...," she continued, taking Reese's hands, "You two have to eat more. Especially you, Reese. Your wrists are so thin."
"Uh..." Reese flushed red, and froze like a picture.
Not noticing, Miss Anastasia skimmed over Reese's fine fingers. "Oh? Do you play the violin, Reese?"
"Y-Yes I do." Reese nodded nervously.
"That's what I thought. I'm learning how to play, too. Look, we have calluses at the same spot."
Right then, a shadow came over me. I looked up and saw a blue ribbon swinging in front of me.
"Good day...how do you do?"
Violetta was smiling...with fixed eyes that scared the living daylights out of me.
"Fine, thank you. This is a wonderful town," Miss Anastasia replied nonchalantly, as if she didn't notice anything.
"Tourist? You don't seem to be a relative of Reese's."
"Yes, she is, but...Violetta, that's a rude way to say it."
Violetta's eyes slanted up. "What? Are you telling me that an occasional tourist is more important than your own classmate?"
"That's not what I mean, Violetta. You understand, don't you?"
(Ohhh, Reese you fool. You're only going to fire her up even more...)
Marivel and I exchanged glances in suspense. Violetta put her hands to her hips and cornered Reese.
"That's what I meant. Didn't you feel anything when she pawed your hand so indecently?"
"I-Indecently?"
Reese was bewildered by the word that may not have even existed in his world.
"That's right. She kept fondling your hand." Violetta pointed her chin up and glared challengingly at Miss Anastasia.
But Miss Anastasia still had the upper hand in every respect. She gently warded Violetta's glare
and replied with a smile, "Uh huh, yours truly is a very kinky land," she said, as if it were nothing. Then she approached the stunned Violetta and whispered something into her ears.
"..."
Leaving behind Violetta, who looked taken aback, Miss Anastasia took her coat and stood up. "It's about time for my train home. Thank you all for everything today. It was so much fun."
"We'll see you off to the station."
Watching us stand up in a hurry, she titteringly bowed her head.
"In that case, I'd be obliged."
The lights of the train heading into the mountain gradually grew smaller and disappeared into the afterlight. Lowering the hand that I was waving, I look towards Marivel and whispered into her ear.
"I wonder what Miss Anastasia said to Violetta?"
"What? Did you expect that I'd overhear the conversation with my hearing?"
Marivel glanced at me with an amazed look. I nodded, as I blushed red for the umpteenth time today. Marivel shrugged her shoulders and pushed the hood off her head. Brushing her ruffled hair back, "Well I guess I can tell you. What she said was..."
"Was?"
"If you really like him, be more honest with yourself."
"Ahh. That explains it..."
As I nodded deeply, Marivel sighed and left me with riddling words.
"I wish she would have said those words to you as well."