Mink:

Finally, my first journey has come to its end. Today, the reason I brought you here is to begin my second journey.

Aoba:

Your second one?

Mink:

My journey with you. My soul has been released from its first death by you. The journey towards my next death begins now, Aoba.

Aoba:

I searched for Mink, who had disappeared from my life. I left Midorijima and followed him to this distant land. One year has passed since I began my life with Mink. At first, being in an unfamiliar land was difficult, but now I feel that I’m fairly familiar with it. For work, I help out three days a week at a shop in the city closest to our home. Even though the language and customs are completely different, I felt like since it’s inevitable, it’ll work out somehow. It’s certainly not a life of plenty, but I’ve enjoyed my life with Mink in its own way.

And then, one day…

Aoba:

coughing

Ren:

Aoba, are you all right?

Aoba:

Mhm…it’s just like I suddenly got a fever…even though I didn’t feel like I was getting sick.

Ren:

It’s likely fatigue. Although you may not have noticed it yourself, your levels of fatigue have been increasing.

Aoba:

Ah…is that it?

Mink:

(enters the room) How do you feel?

Aoba:

Mink…

(Mink comes over and sits by Aoba)

Aoba:

I think I still have a fever…

Mink:

Rest for a little while longer.

Aoba:

But…

Mink:

Rest up.

(he leaves the room)

Aoba:

(settles back under the covers)

Mink:

(returns, sitting next to Aoba’s bed with a wet cloth, he puts it on Aoba’s forehead)

Aoba:

Ah…hah…that’s cold…it feels good.

Mink:

This should make it easier. Did you take your medicine?

Aoba:

Yeah. Mink…

Mink:

What is it?

Aoba:

Thank you.

Mink:

(sighs) I’ll bring a change of clothes. You’ve been sweating, haven’t you? Wipe down your body.

Aoba:

Ah, sorry. I can get it myself, it’s fine.

Mink:

What did I say?

Aoba:

Ah…sorry.

Mink:

Behave yourself and sleep.

Aoba:

Right…

(Mink leaves)

Ren:

That’s the sort of affection you’d expect from Mink.

Aoba:

Do you think so?

Ren:

Yes.

Aoba:

Hah…at first I had trouble understanding him, but Mink’s really a worrywart, huh… He’s really gentle.

Ren:

He is.

Aoba:

Heh.

Mink:

I’m coming in.

Aoba:

Ah, mhm.

Mink:

(approaches the bed)

I brought a change of clothes and a cloth to wipe you down.

Aoba:

Ah, thank you.

Mink:

Can you sit up?

Aoba:

Mhm. (he sits up)

Mink:

Take your clothes off.

Aoba:

Ah…mhm… (he does so)

Mink:

(wets the cloth)

Here.

Aoba:

Huh?

Mink:

I’ll wipe you down.

Aoba:

Eh? I’m fine. I can do it myself.

Mink:

It’s fine, so stay still.

Aoba:

Ah…hah… (Mink wipes him down)

Mink:

What about here?

Aoba:

Here…? Eh?! D-D-Down there’s fine! I can do it myself later!

Mink:

(laughs faintly) All right.

Aoba:

Mmh…

Mink:

(finishes wiping him down)

Lie down and take it easy.

Aoba:

Mhm… (he lies down, sighing) Thank you, Mink. Ah…though you have to leave for work soon. I’m sorry. I didn’t make breakfast.

Mink:

Don’t worry about it. I’m leaving now, so I’ll leave Huracan with you. If something happens, tell me.

Aoba:

Mhm.

Mink:

Rest up today. All right?

Aoba:

Yes~

(Mink leaves, Aoba sighs and drifts off to sleep)

Aoba:

(dreaming) Mmh? This place is…?

(the sound of the wind blowing through the trees and running water)

Aoba:

This scent…I know it. It’s the incense that Mink burns in the house sometimes. But…this is the middle of a forest, isn’t it? Huh? Hah…it’s really a beautiful place. The sunlight’s warm so it feels great. But…I wonder why. I’m sure I’ve never been here but it feels really strangely nostalgic.

(indistinct voices start murmuring, a man and a woman)

Aoba:

Someone’s saying something…but I can’t make it out…what are they saying?

(the voices continue)

Aoba:

Ah? (he wakes up, sighing)

Ren:

Aoba:

Aoba:

Ah…Ren. Good morning.

Ren:

Good morning. How are you feeling?

Aoba:

Mmh…I’m still sluggish but I think I’m mostly feeling better.

Ren:

It seems your fever has gone down.

Aoba:

Yeah? That’s good. Ah…well…I had a dream.

Ren:

A dream?

Aoba:

Mhm. It was a dream within an incredibly beautiful forest.

Ren:

By forest do you mean the forest around here?

Aoba:

Hmm…I don’t know exactly where it was. I could sort of make out the shapes of people. Everyone looked like they were having fun. It was a really comfortable place. In the middle of it, it felt like someone was trying to talk to me, but I couldn’t hear them. Somehow I felt like “I’ve gotta listen,” really desperately, but it wasn’t any good.

Ren:

I’ve heard that the content of dreams is influenced by your mental and physical condition. You likely saw a frustrating dream like that due to your current sickness.

Aoba:

Is that how it is?

Ren:

Most likely.

Aoba:

Hmm…well, lately I definitely feel like it’s finally calmed down since I came here. Up until now I’ve been all caught up thinking about returning to Midorijima and finding a job.

Ren:

Yes. Your fatigue came all at once. It would be best to not push yourself for a while.

Aoba:

Right. Oh…what time is it now?

Ren:

10 in the morning.

Aoba:

Then, I should get up soon.

Ren:

Do you think that’s best? Right now you’ve been told not to push yourself countless times.

Aoba:

Heh, I want to wash my face and get something to eat. It seems like my appetite’s returned a little bit.

Ren:

I see. However, please do your best to not strain yourself.

Aoba:

Okay. (with some effort, he gets out of bed) Right. I’m going to the bathroom. (he slowly walks there)

Mink: The end of my first journey has finally come. Today, I came here with you to start on my second journey. 

Aoba: Second journey?

Mink: Our journey. You freed my soul from the first “death” with your powers. My journey to the next “death” starts here, Aoba.

Aoba: I came all the way here from Midorijima in search of Mink who had disappeared. Days have passed, and it has been a year since I started living with Mink. At first it was an unfamiliar place, and I had a lot of troubles, but I think I’ve probably gotten quite used to it by now. I’m working at the shopping street nearest to our home, 3 days a week. Even if our language and culture are different, if I tried hard enough, I felt like I could get my point across. It wasn’t easy, but I have come to enjoy my life here with Mink. Then one day…

~~

Ren: Aoba, are you alright?

Aoba: I think I’ve caught a fever somehow… even though I was feeling perfectly fine before…

Ren: You must’ve caught it because your exhaustion piled up without you realizing.

Aoba: You really think so?

Mink: How are you feeling?

Aoba: Mink… I think I still have a fever.

Mink: Sleep a while more.

Aoba: But…

Mink: Sleep.

Aoba: Oh, the coldness feels good.

Mink: This should make you feel better. Have you taken your medicine?

Aoba: Yeah. Mink…

Mink: What is it?

Aoba: Thank you.

Mink: I’ll bring you a change of clothes. You must be sweating. You should wipe your body.

Aoba: It’s alright I’d feel bad. I can get them myself.

Mink: Did you say something?

Aoba: Oh… it’s nothing.

Ren: It’s Mink’s way of being kind.

Aoba: You think so? At first it wasn’t very obvious, but Mink is quite a caring person. He’s kind.

Ren: Yes he is.

Mink: I’m coming in.

Mink: I brought you a set of clothes and a towel to wipe your body.

Aoba: Thanks.

Mink: Can you sit up? 

Aoba: Yeah.

Mink: Take off your clothes. Here. I’ll do it.

Aoba: It’s alright I can do it myself.

Mink: Just keep still. …What about this part?

Aoba: This part? Eh!? I- I can wipe my lower body myself later.

Mink: I see. Lie on your side and hold still.

Aoba: Ok. Um… Thank you Mink. It’s almost time for your work isn’t it? I’m sorry… I couldn’t make dinner today either.

Mink: Don’t worry about it. I’m leaving now, but I’ll leave Rurakan with you. Call me if anything comes up. Just rest for today.

Aoba: Okay~

~~

Aoba: Mm? This place… This smell… I know it. It’s the same smell as the incense Mink occasionally burns at home. But… this is in the middle of a forest… It’s a really beautiful place. The sun is warm, and it feels good. But I wonder why it seems so nostalgic, although this place should be new to me.

“He…..lp…. plea…se…”

Aoba: Someone is saying something… but I can’t really hear it. What are they saying?

~~

Ren: Aoba. 

Aoba: Ren. Good morning.

Ren: How are you feeling?

Aoba: I’m still feeling a little sluggish but I think I’m better.

Ren: Your fever seems to have gone down.

Aoba: I see. That’s good. I… kinda had a dream.

Ren: A dream?

Aoba: I was in a really beautiful forest.

Ren: Forest? Do you mean the one nearby?

Aoba: Hm… I’m not too sure where it was. I could sort of see some people… They seemed to be living quite happily… It felt like a nice place. But half way through it felt like someone was trying to speak to me, but I couldn’t really hear them. For some reason I felt like I HAD to listen to them so I got rather frantic, but it was impossible.

Ren: It is said that dreams are a reflection of your emotional and physical state. Perhaps it was because of your fever that you had such a frustrating dream.

Aoba: Really?

Ren: I believe so.

Aoba: Well, I guess things have finally become stable for me since I’ve come here. Before this I was going to and fro from Midorijima and busy looking for a job and all that. It was hectic.

Ren: Yeah. Your exhaustion must be showing. You should take it easy for now.

Aoba: I guess. What time is it now?

Ren: 10am.

Aoba: I should get up then.

Ren: Are you sure you’re alright? I just told you to take it easy.

Aoba: I want to wash my face and I feel like eating something. My appetite seems to be returning.

Ren: I see. But don’t overwork yourself.

Aoba: Okay. I’m off to the washroom.