That Summer ①
None of the members of Fang of Thunder have Relics.
“But Ax-san’s mother is a famous Seeker, right?”
“Uh-huh. She has a rare wearable-type Relic, you know.”
“And yet her son doesn’t have a Relic?”
“That’s right. It’s actually not that unusual; Relics aren’t something you inherit, you see.”
So they aren’t hereditary?
Then what about the Edda race, who always possess two Relics?
What am I?
“But everyone doesn’t have one?”
“Now that is very rare, you know.”
“I thought so.”
“Well, well, there are many people who work as Seekers without Relics, you know. However, most of them form Parties, and they have members with Relics, you see.”
Then why…? Ah, I see.
“Is it a complex?”
“Kon kon?”
“I think the reason they don’t have any Relic wielders is psychological.”
“Hmm, hmm. What do you mean by that, I wonder?”
“His parents have Relics, but he doesn’t. It would be a lie to say he doesn’t mind.”
“Well, of course, of course. Is that why he doesn’t let Relic wielders join, because he minds it, I wonder?”
“I think it’s stubbornness. Especially since his parent is famous.”
“I see, I see. So it’s not that he hates Relic wielders, perhaps?”
“I wonder about that.”
Jealousy and envy towards Relics. I think there’s admiration there too.
But that’s just speculation.
What Ax-san really thinks about Relics…
…only Ax-san himself knows.
“As expected, as expected of Wof-boy. In that case, I don’t need to spell it out for you, right?”
“You mean I should keep the fact that I have a Relic a secret, right?”
“Uh-huh. Well, still… They are Tier IV Seekers. Their skills are solid, you know.”
“I don’t really mind, but what about your apprentice?”
She became a Seeker under special circumstances, so she must have a Relic, right?
The Witch slowly swished her tail and hummed thoughtfully.
“That’s right. That’s the point, you see. I wonder what Emi is thinking?”
“Emi. Is that Ax-san’s mother?”
“That’s right. She should know about Fang of Thunder too, you see.”
Which means she also knows that none of them have Relics.
“I’ll try asking your apprentice indirectly.”
“Uh-huh. I’m counting on you. Oh, right, right. Hey, hey. Wof-kun.”
“Yes?”
“How did that thing go? You know, the medicine Compounding that even you can do now.”
“Ah, well, about that… various things happened, and I haven’t tried it yet.”
That village. Because of what happened there, I just can’t seem to get motivated.
Even though I have the ingredients, I don’t feel like Compounding. The Witch spoke, sounding surprised.
“Oh my, that’s unusual for you, isn’t it?”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, no, there’s no need to apologize. Just let Kon know if you succeed, okay?”
“Yes. I definitely will.”
I feel a little guilty.
I left The Witch’s House.
On the way back home.
I bought cucumbers and lemons at a vegetable stall.
“…”
The complex reminded me of something.
A memory from my past life. From my student days.
There was someone I absolutely didn’t want to lose to.
But she was better than me at everything.
So I worked hard.
I thought if I tried my best, I could surely surpass her.
It was summer.
Summer vacation. Around noon, it was hot, and the cicadas were noisy.
I was drinking barley tea in the living room.
The ice had melted, making it taste a little weak.
The TV show I had on wasn’t interesting either.
I turned it off midway through a ghost story special.
I was unbearably bored.
I was hungry too.
But I was tired of somen noodles.
What should I do?
‘That’s right. That thing. There were cucumbers in the fridge.’
I’ll make that thing I saw yesterday afternoon.
Even I can make that.
It was then.
The doorbell rang, ding-dong.
I wasn’t expecting any visitors.
It was summer vacation, and no one else was home but me.
Thinking it might be a salesperson, I went reluctantly to the entrance hall.
I was surprised.
It was the person I had unilaterally decided was my rival.
Shortish black hair. A sun-blocking straw hat.
A pure white one-piece dress.
Slightly tanned skin.
Pitch-black eyes staring at me.
Filled with the same strong will as always.
She was standing there.
Even now, I don’t understand.
Why she came to my house.
For the time being, I invited her in.
I showed her to the living room and prepared barley tea with ice.
I didn’t ask why she had come or anything.
She sat, drank her barley tea, and remained silent.
I tried to talk to her several times.
But for some reason, the words wouldn’t come out.
We knew each other.
We spoke occasionally as ordinary classmates, though not often.
I saw her as a rival, but she didn’t know that.
It was just me, unilaterally jealous and envious, striving to catch up to her.
Thinking back on it now.
I liked her.
That’s why I didn’t want to lose.
Feeling awkward in the silence, I turned on the TV.
The ghost story special had ended.
News about a convenience store robbery or something was on.
She watched the TV silently.
And I watched her.
It was unconscious.
Suddenly, I noticed her cheeks were slightly flushed.
She had also realized I was watching her.
But she didn’t say anything.
She was being watched, realized it, and looked embarrassed.
Even so, she remained silent, letting me watch her.
When I realized that, I felt strangely comfortable.
What was it?
She would accept everything I did.
If I reached out my hand, I could obtain all of her.
That’s what I felt.
Why did I think that?
Now I understand.
It’s just, back then, I was young.
“—Hey, aren’t you hungry?”
“Eh?”
“There was something I wanted to try making just now.”
“What?”
“Of that summer…”
Thinking back now, that was, at that time…
…all the courage I could muster.