“WOW!” Nichika exclaimed in awe of the scenery spreading before her eyes just outside the forest. Grass-covered plains stretched out as far as the eye could see. Skipping through the beautiful landscape she had only ever seen on TV screens, she said, “This is so amazing! I can’t believe it’s real! How far does it go for?”
Clouds dotted the clear blue sky like they had been dashed across with white paint. A gentle breeze blew the green grass down at her feet.
Wolfie stretched with his rear end up in the air. He happily informed her, “This grassland is the biggest patch of grass on the entire continent!”
“Are there no villages nearby?” Nichika asked, holding her hair down to keep it from being whipped up by the wind.
Wolfie chuckled as best a wolf could and drooled. “There’s Lisette Village. They’re famous for their whole pheasant roast…” His drool plopped on the ground.
Beside his gluttonous familiar, Oswald surveyed the sprawling grasslands and sporadic trees dispersed throughout, calculating their present location. Realizing they were off from where he had planned, he frowned.
“We went off course a bit. We’ll probably reach the town in less than an hour at this distance,” he muttered.
“Mm! Walking somewhere with such a great view is actually pretty nice. We might get there sooner than you expect,” Nichika responded optimistically.
“……”
“Wh-What?” She flinched under his scrutinizing gaze. She didn’t know how to take his expression, aside from that he looked startled.
“You’re surprisingly perky today—especially for someone who was sobbing about how much they wanted to go home just yesterday.”
“D-Don’t bring that up…” Now that he mentioned it, she did remember something like that happening. “It’s not like the situation will get better if I cry about it. You have to stand up and take action if you want anything to take a turn for the better,” she declared, holding her head high. Then she bashfully scratched her cheek and added with a smile, “Well, that’s what Mom says all the time at least.”
“…You have a mother?”
“Of course I do!” she snapped at his stupid question. Remembering the mother she loved dearly in her mind’s eye, she babbled excitedly, “She’s an incredibly wonderful mom! She’s strong and kind and is raising me and Miiko—my little sister—by herself, as a single mother.”
Suddenly losing steam, Nichika’s gaze fell to the grass underfoot. Wrapping her hands around her elbows as if to hug herself, her voice sank into melancholy, “…I have to return home as soon as possible. I’m certain she’s worried about me.”
Determination flashing through her eyes, Nichika abruptly threw her arms open, held her head high, and smiled, faster than either the man or wolf could respond. “So! That’s why I decided not to cry anymore. Taking a step forward is way better than staying in the same place curled up in a ball crying,” she announced.
It was the conclusion she’d come to after a night of crying all alone in a ball in the corner.
Oswald laughed derisively at her resolve. “How admirable—not that your lesson has anything to do with me.”
“You’ll eat those words someday!” Nichika quipped back.