Epilogue 2:
Our Intertwined Hands
and an End to the Cold and Solitude
HE HAD TO DO whatever was necessary to survive. He’d feel the pangs of hunger no matter what he did. Those blessed with wealth and abundance wouldn’t miss anything he stole from them.
I’m not going to possess anything anymore. Then no one can steal from me.
It was lively in the downtown district, where a child’s brown-skinned hand stretched up toward one of the food stalls. Fresh cucumbers were lined up there. Reo snatched one and took off running. The shop owner rained curses on him from behind. Inwardly, he stuck his tongue out at the man. The real fool is the guy who let a kid steal his stuff.
Reo retreated to a dry, deserted riverbed and caught his breath. He glanced down at the prize in his arms and felt a wave of relief. Suddenly, a droplet of water beaded over the skin of the cucumber. He looked up to see that clouds gathered overhead, pelting rain down at him.
“Tch…”
What a waste of his good mood.
Right as he was contemplating where he might take shelter, a voice from behind broke in, “Why did you steal?”
He flipped around to find a boy about the same age as him standing there. The only difference was that this boy seemed completely relaxed compared to him.
So he saw me?
“So what? You got a problem with it?” Reo roared back at him, lips peeling back over his pointed teeth.
The other boy showed no signs of flinching. “No, I don’t. Do you always steal?”
“Yeah, that’s right. I don’t have any money. Not that spoiled, prissy boys like you would understand what that’s like!” Reo’s rage fueled him and he went off.
The boy’s green eyes, hidden behind his glasses, widened. Their eyes were the same color. The same, and yet completely different.
As if the rain wasn’t enough of a nuisance, now there’s this kid, too.
Reo started to walk away, but something grabbed the hem of his tattered clothing, causing his body to pitch forward and slam into the ground. “Ouch!” The moment he lifted himself up, his eyes landed on his cucumber, now soaked in mud. “You’ve gotta be freakin’ kidding me…” His body trembled.
A small hand outstretched toward him. When he glanced up, he found himself face to face with those green eyes.
“My name’s Mabu. If you’re alone, then let’s go together.”
No way.
Reflexively, Reo slapped the other boy’s hand away.
“Ow!” Mabu cried, retracting his hand.
Serves you right. You ruined my dinner!
On Mabu’s hand, the dark red marks where Reo’s nails dug in stood in stark contrast to the pallor of his skin. Mabu just stared at the wound before poking his tiny little tongue out and lapping at it. Then, he held his other hand out toward Reo. “It’s okay, really. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“What is wrong with you?! Do you think you’re God, or something?!” It irked him so much. Reo could feel tears spring to his eyes.
“…You’re the God here, aren’t you?”
Stunned, Reo blurted, “Huh?”
“Never mind, let’s go.” Mabu grabbed his hand.
It had been a long time since he felt another person’s warmth. It was surprisingly hot. Reo felt like crying, which he was sure had to be the rain’s fault. Or the fact that his stomach was growling.
They were moving steadily forward when Mabu suddenly looked back at him. Panicked, Reo averted his eyes. “Wh-what?”
“What should I call you? I’m Mabu.”
“Yeah, you told me that just a minute ago.” He paused, then said, “Reo.”
“That’s a beautiful name.”
“Huh?”
What a weirdo. A pretentious weirdo. But what else did he expect from a rich person?
“Hey, you,” Reo said. “You owe me for that cucumber.”
“Yeah, I’ll take care of it. Is there anything else you want to eat?”
He’d said that mostly as an excuse for digging his heels in. He never expected Mabu would take him seriously and entertain further requests. Was this guy really that loaded?
After a beat, Reo answered, “Broccoli and ningyo-yaki.”
“That’s a strange combination,” said Mabu. “Is it tasty?”
“You don’t eat them together!” Or was he just really that much of an airhead?
Reo suddenly glanced down and noticed their hands were still intertwined. The mud from his own hand now stained Mabu’s pure white one. He suddenly lost his appetite.
“I like that too.” Mabu’s abrupt declaration made his heart jump out of his chest.
“Wh-wha?!”
Mabu looked back at him quizzically. “Ningyo-yaki. I like it too.”
“I-I didn’t actually say I like those things,” Reo huffed.
“Oh, really?”
“I’m done with liking things and wanting things.”
“You can’t say that!” Mabu suddenly shouted.
Reo’s shoulders seized up. The two of them stopped walking.
Mabu turned and faced him head-on, a serious expression on his face. “Don’t let go of your desire. Desire is what keeps you alive!”
“Okay…”
“Someone I respect taught me that. If we stop wanting or liking things, we can’t keep living.” Mabu grasped Reo’s hand more firmly, unconvinced that his point was getting across. “That’s what I’m doing right now. I want to hold your hand, so that’s what I’m doing.”
I don’t get this kid. I’m dirty, disheveled, pathetic, and underhanded. I’m nothing. I even hate myself. But he’s saying he’ll humor my desires?
“Heavy words. You better hold yourself to them, Mabu.”
Then I’ll just have to mess with him!
“I plan on it,” Mabu said. “I take good care of anything I rescue off the streets.”
“Huh?! What kind of rubbish is that?!”
“It’s not rubbish.”
“I’ll snap your plate in half!”
The two continued their lively bickering all the way to the castle of the Kappa Kingdom’s crown prince.
There’s no way I’m ever letting go of this hand, now that I’ve held it.